Principal Message: August 31, 2017
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Dear Parents,
We have had a fantastic second week of school. Students are mastering procedures, creating strong relationships with their peers and teachers, and beginning their learning journey. Thank you for sending us awesome children! It is an honor and pleasure to be apart of this community.
As a reminder, we do not have school on Monday, September 4th in observance of Labor Day. My family and I are traveling to California to see a USC game, and of course, the Texas A&M season opener versus UCLA. Yes, we really do love football that much! I hope that you have a happy and safe three day weekend.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Wendy Craft
469-742-8077 (office)
214-551-4503 (cell)
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LEOPARD LIFE SKILL
As part of our commitment to developing the whole child, we will be continuing our focus on monthly Leopard Life Skills to enhance our character education program. Our Leopard Life Skills are based on character strengths promoted by a company called Character Lab. Character Lab is a non-profit organization that has identified specific character qualities that can help our students live healthy, successful, and fulfilling lives. The character strengths are instrumental in helping our kids develop three main character strengths: strength of heart, strength of mind, and strength of will. Strengths of heart are "helping" strengths that help you relate in positive ways to other people. Strengths of mind are the "thinking" strengths that enable a fertile and independent life of the mind. Strengths of will are the "doing" strengths that help you achieve your goals. Altogether, we refer to these character strengths as "Leopard Life Skills" since they encompass skill sets that are predictive of current and future life success.
The first Leopard Life Skill for the month of September will be "Growth Mindset." Students will learn that having a growth mindset means understanding that intelligence can be developed. We want our leopards to learn that they
can
get smarter through hard work and practice, and that struggling with something is an opportunity for them to grow their intelligence. The key word we will use with students to underscore this skill is the word "yet." They may not be able to do something right now, but that doesn't mean they can't or won't ever be able to . . . they just don't know how to do it
yet
. While we will be teaching and practicing the Leopard Life Skills here at school, it would be beneficial to reinforce them at home as well. Please enjoy identifying real life examples of how these skills can help them tackle life's challenges. If you would like to know more about the character strengths and the Character Lab organization, you can visit their website at
www.characterlab.org
. You can also contact me at any time. Thank you for your ongoing support in growing heart strong leopard leaders! Mrs. Ruggeri ☺
Reminder: JOIN PTA
Did your child love Dennis Lee and Nana Puddin last Friday?
Does your child love our Annual Ice Cream Social?
Does your child love coming to our Fall Festival?
Does your child love our Reflections Program?
Do you like the student PTA directory that you receive each year?
This is just a few of things that our AWESOME PTA does each year. Our PTA can only be great if
YOU
are apart of it. Please support our school and our children by becoming a member of the Lovejoy Elementary PTA!!!! If you do not join the PTA, then you will not be included in the directory. If you have questions, please contact Abby Gray , LES PTA Membership Chair,
abbybauer@hotmail.com
.
On
Monday, September 4
th
, we will not have school in observance of Labor Day. I hope that your family enjoys their 3 day weekend.
NEW! Change in Lovejoy ISD Calendar
Please note that we had a small change in our current school calendar. The Early Release day has been moved from April 11th to April 18th due to state testing guidelines. On this day, our students will be released at noon. Please make note of this change in your calendar. If you would like a copy of the corrected calendar, please click
here
.
NEW! Calling All Volunteers
We will have our Room Parent and Volunteer training Meeting on Tuesday, September 12th at 9:30 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering this year, I highly encourage you to attend. This is a great opportunity to learn where items are stored, how to use the copier, etc. We hope you'll be able to attend, but this isn't a required training.
 NEW! Watch Me Sculpt
Sign up for Watch Me Sculpt on Mondays after school for 6 weeks starting on September 11th. The cost is $78 for the six week session. All supplies are included. Registration ends on September 8th! To register please click here. For additional information or questions, please contact paul@watchmesculpt-texas.com.
NEW! Picture Day Thursday, September 14th
Two weeks from today is our fall picture day! All students will have their picture taken for the 2017 - 2018 school yearbook. Should you want to purchase picture packets, there will be an order form in your child's Thursday Folder next week.
Approximate picture times are:
8:30 - 8:45 - 1st Grade
8:45 - 9:10 - Kindergarten
9:10 9:30 - 2nd Grade
9:30 - 9:45 - 3rd Grade
9:45 - 10:15 - 4th Grade
Adjustments will be made should our grade levels move through the line slower of faster than expected
REMINDER!
Ice Cream Social
Our PTA will, once again, host the Lovejoy Elementary Ice Cream Social. I highly encourage you to attend as it's a great time to meet or to reconnect with other Lovejoy families. This is a free event for our families to meet new families. I hope you'll be able to join us on September 21
st
at 6:00 in the Lovejoy Cafeteria. Also, our staff member will be attending and serving ice cream and toppings to all who attend! Following the meeting, we will have a PTA General Meeting.
NEW! Talent Show Tryouts
Attention 1st - 4th Graders! The LES Talent Show is coming soon! Registration is now open and specific information for our October 5th shows can be found on the LES Music website.
Click here
to view.
NEW! 4th Grade Austin Field Trip
On Friday, January 19th, 2018, our 4th grade students will be taking a field trip to Austin on chartered buses to tour the Texas Ranger Museum, Bob Bullock State History Museum, and the State Capital. Please see the included flyer for specific details and permission slip. The money and permission slip are DUE no later than October 20th.
NEW! 4th Grade Showcase -PTA Directory 
Congratulate your child on a job well done at Lovejoy Elementary. Place an ad in the LES 2017-18 Directory showcasing your 4th grader. Please see included flyer for details and form. For more information, please email Anna Sides at gabbygray21@yahoo.com.
REMINDER! Double L Choir - 3rd & 4th Graders
Join the Lovejoy Elementary Double L Choir! Choir rehearsals start on August 28, 2017 from 3:00 -
4:00pm. Join us for some singing fun. Please
visit our registration page
by the first rehearsal. And, Don't forget to bring a snack! If you have any questions, please contact Wendy Hebert at
wendy_hebert@lovejoyisd.net
.
REMINDER!
LOVEJOY CHILDREN'S CHOIR - 4TH, 5TH, 6TH GRADERS
The Lovejoy ISD Children's Choir, directed by the Lovejoy ISD Elementary Music
Speciali
sts, is designed to serve the needs of our district's 4
th
, 5
th
and 6
th
grade students who are committed to a musically exceptional experience. Auditions will be held for any and all LISD 4
th
, 5
th
and 6
th
grade students interested in participating.
Returning members do not need to audition.
Audition Dates:
-
Thursday, September 14 (3:30 - 4:30PM) Sl
-
oan Creek Intermediate School Choir Room
-
Tuesday, September 19 (3:30 - 4:30PM) Sloan Creek Intermediate School Choir Room
Singers selected to sing with the Lovejoy Children's Choir will rehearse weekly to prepare for a short performance at the LISD Fine Arts Festival on
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 12PM and the final concert on Tuesday
, F
ebruary 27, 2018 at 6:30PM.
Questions can be directed to your child's music teacher or Anne Tracy (Anne_Tracy@lovejoyisd.net).
REMINDER!
Please Complete FERPA and General Waiver Forms
It is, once again, time to complete the FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) and General Waiver forms electronically. Also, please take the time to verify that all other required forms have been completed. You can find these forms on line by:
Click on Parents
Power School Parent Portal
Input your user name and password
You should now be in PowerSchool. Click on the blue "Click here to access the Enrollment
Packet Forms or to update student information."
There are multiple forms you can click to update, but the required forms are the two on the bottom - "FERPA" and "General Waiver"
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Monday, September 4th
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No School - Happy Labor Day!
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Thursday, August 31st
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
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North Texas Giving Day
The Foundation for Lovejoy School's Annual Appeal, #WeLoveLovejoy, is underway. Our goal is to receive donations from 650 donors totaling $200,000. The Foundation Board of Directors asks you to join them in giving to the Foundation on North Texas Giving Day, Thursday, September 14th, from 6:00 AM - midnight.
New This Year: Scheduled Giving
If you are unable to give on September 14th, you may schedule your gift between September 7th and 13th.
Visit
Northtexasgivingday.org
for additional information, to schedule your gift, and to donate. Every gift is valuable to the mission of enhancing education in Lovejoy.
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Lovejoy ISD Pre-Kindergarten
Lovejoy ISD is accepting applications for tuition-based Pre-Kindergarten. This comprehensive program will be staffed by credentialed teachers and housed on the Puster Elementary School campus. This program will offer enhancements in music, fitness, art, library, science, technology, engineering, and math. We are enthusiastic to provide a Lovejoy education for community members looking for a rich learning experience which will provide a firm foundation for kindergarten and beyond.
To apply, please
click here
. To schedule a tour of the Pre-Kindergarten program, please contact
Stacey Dillon
at 469.742.8003.
Pictured above: Kevin Parker, Principal of Puster Elementary School, "shoots hoops" with incoming Pre-Kindergarten student, Crew Thomas.
HELP for Greater Houston
On behalf of Lovejoy ISD, please join us in sending support to the victims of Hurricane Harvey in the great Houston community. You can drop off your items in the office. All items will be delivered to the Red Cross and Salvation Army specifically for Houston relief efforts.
Blackout Homecoming Shirts
Lovejoy Homecoming is Friday, October 13th. Be a part of the Homecoming tradition by wearing the "Black Out" spirit shirt. The deadline for orders is Friday, September 29th. T-shirts are $10 each. To print the Order Form, please click here. Additionally, "Black Out" spirit shirts will also be available during lunches at WSMS and LHS from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM during Homecoming week.
DEADLINE TOMORROW! St. Jude Art Show
The St. Jude Parish Carnival Art Show is an annual event in conjunction with the St. Jude Church Family Carnival. There is no cost to enter the art show and it is open to all ages. For additional information, please
click here
.
 Tom Landry Classic: September 2
Lovejoy will open the 2017 football season in the Tom Landry Classic against the #2 state
ranked Argyle Eagles on Saturday, September 2nd at 7:00 PM at Allen Eagle Stadium.
Founded in 2000, the Tom Landry Classic was created to honor the legacy of legendary NFL Coach, Tom Landry. This scholarship event awards students for their commitment to academic excellence, leadership among their peers, and service to their community.
Leopard fans are invited to bring their extended family, friends, and neighbors so we can fill our side of the stadium and support all of the students participating in the event. The greater the number of attendees, the more scholarships Lovejoy students will receive. We hope to see you on the 2nd.
Volleyball Elementary Night: September 5
The six time State Champion Lovejoy High School Volleyball Team invites you to join them on Elementary Night:
Tuesday, September 5, 2017
Lovejoy High School
Competition Gym
6:30 PM
Lovejoy vs McKinney Boyd
Support the Lady Leopards and enjoy a special demonstration by Young BYOP players and their parents between sets 1 and 2. Admission is free for all elementary age guests.
Lovejoy Running Club: September 12
You are invited to attend the organizational meeting for the newly forming Lovejoy Running Club. The first meeting will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday September 12th, in the Lovejoy High School Library.
We will be meeting to discuss the formation, purpose, and workout schedules for the running club, which will be open to adults and children of all ages and levels of fitness, who are interested in participating in group runs/ walks on Tuesday/ Thursday evenings at 6:00 PM. Training assistance and guidance will be provided with the goal of preparing members for participation in road races throughout the year.
Our first organized run/ walk will be Tuesday September 19th at Celebration Park. We will meet by the southeast parking lot closest to the duck pond.
If you have questions, please email Greg Christensen. We look forward to seeing you.
Gifted and Talented Referrals for 2017-2018
The referral window for gifted and talented services is now open.
Click here
for referral forms which are located online in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. The window will close September 8, 2017.
Testing is scheduled for Saturday, September 16 and 23 for students in grades 1-12. Kindergarten students will be tested at a later date.
A brief information session will review the gifted and talented referral process and services offered in Lovejoy.
Lovejoy ISD Administration Building
Board Room
August 29, 2017
9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 4:30 PM, or 6:00 PM (Session Information Repeats)
If you are unable to attend and would like more information, a slideshow presentation will be available on the
gifted and talented webpage
after the August 29 presentation.
For questions regarding referrals, please contact
Kari Lockhart
(469.742.8015) or
Brie Smith
(469.742.8032).
Lovejoy High School Mini Cheer Camp
The Lovejoy High School Cheerleaders will host a Junior Leopards Mini Cheer Camp for ages 4 through 4th grade. For detailed information, and to register, please
click here
. The registration deadline is Friday, September 1st.
Text Messages from School Messenger
Lovejoy ISD is adding text messaging capability to SchoolMessenger, the system we use for phone calls and email communications for information such as school closings due to inclement weather. SchoolMessenger will be configured to send text messages to your wireless phone number(s), with your approval. Please confirm we have your accurate wireless phone number in the PowerSchool Parent Portal and then opt-in to participate by following the directions below.
In order to receive messages from Lovejoy ISD or your student's school via SMS text we must have your wireless number(s) in SchoolMessenger and receive an "Opt-In Confirmation" from your wireless device.
You can easily opt-in by simply sending "Y" (or "Yes"), via text message, to our SchoolMessenger Short Code number 67587.
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"Nurturing the hearts and minds of students with knowledge, skills and character."
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