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A Message from Kevin Parker
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You may have noticed a fire truck on campus first thing Tuesday morning. We had our first lock down drill on that day. We invited the Fairview Fire Department and our district Director of Safety and Security to join our campus officer to ensure we are following best practices to keep your child safe. I will say once again the most important thing we do on a day to day basis is ensure student safety.
Tomorrow is an early release. We will start the day celebrating student successes in our first Puster Pride Assembly of the year. Everyone is invited to attend. Students will dismiss at noon. After the kids leave the building, the teachers will use the rest of the day in professional development in order to hone their skills so we can deliver the best experience we can for the students.
Tomorrow night is a special night in Lovejoy ISD. Leopard Friday is a tradition that allows us to celebrate what makes this district unique. The courtyard at the high school will be used to showcase the different programs in LISD before the football game. There will also be a community pep rally at 6:00 PM. Our families make this district second to none and I hope you can join me in celebrating that tomorrow evening.
Have a great weekend.
If there is ever anything you feel needs immediate attention, please don't hesitate to call or text me at 469-667-2280.
Pride in Puster,
Follow Mr. Parker on Twitter @peskevinparker and follow what's happening on our campus @pusterlearners.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 AT 12:00
FALL BREAK - FRIDAY OCTOBER 5 - MONDAY OCTOBER 8
September 28 - Puster Pride Assembly - 8:15 AM
September 28 - Early Release AT 12:00
October 1 - Choir and Chess
October 2 - Engineering K-1 and Spanish
October 3 - Engineering 2-4 and Spanish
October 4 - Talent Show Grades 1-4
October 5 - 8 - Fall Break
October 9 - Engineering K-1 and Spanish
October 10 - Engineering 2-4 and Spanish
October 12 - Alpha Omega Gymnastics
October 22 - Fall Family Fun Night
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
North Texas Giving Day: Thank You!
The Foundation for Lovejoy Schools would like to say thank you to the Lovejoy Community for raising over $114,000 from approximately 450 donors on North Texas Giving Day. The Foundation is well on their way to reaching their $200,000 goal by December 31 with great support from Lovejoy families and the community. Every gift is valuable to the mission of enhancing education in Lovejoy. If you are considering making a donation to the Foundation, please
click here
for more information.
Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
Men's Tailgate Tournament
Tickets Go On Sale Friday, September 28
Gentlemen, please plan to join the Foundation for food, beer, and a double elimination corn hole tournament, guaranteeing all players two games. The tournament will be at the home of John and Kris Dunaway on Wednesday, October 24. Sponsors for the event are Renfrow Dunaway Group, Lee Lewis, Fable Security, and Chick-fil-A Stacy Road and Twin Creeks Village. Registration and additional information to be announced at
www.foundationforlovejoyschools.com
. Please contact
Laura Berend
, Executive Director of the Foundation for additional information.
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New Security Procedures
Driver's License must be presented and scanned with every visit and student sign out, no exceptions.
Start and End Time
School hours have changed for the 2018-2019 school year. We will still begin the day at 8:00. Dismissal will now be at 3:10.
Absences
If your child is going to be absent please e-mail Kendra Card at:
kendra_card@lovejoyisd.net
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Lunchroom Visitors
Lunchroom Visitors (PreK-4)
You are welcome to have lunch with your child throughout the year. Please keep in mind that you may only bring food for your child to eat. We have many students on campus with food allergies and this will ensure that students are not put at risk. Also, just as in years past, we ask that only you and your child sit at the designated tables closest to the hallway windows.
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Morning Drop Off
This routine will stay the same as in years past. Cars will enter the north driveway and come to the back of the campus. Either staff or Safety Crew students will be waiting to assist your child out of the car. On the first day of school, students will go immediately to their classroom regardless of what time they arrive. Beginning on August 21, students who arrive before 7:45 AM will report to the cafeteria (3
rd
/4
th
graders) or the gym (KG, 1
st
, 2
nd
graders). They will then move to their classes when the bell rings at 7:45 AM.
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Afternoon Pick Up
Students will be dismissed at 3:10. Car riders will be dismissed to the back of the campus. Please have your car number visible so this procedure will go as smoothly as possible. If you plan to walk up to the front door to pick up your child, we will ask that you wait outside until the bus riders come through the front door. We will then release your child to you. This ensures the buses get out in a timely manner, as well as, we know exactly who your child is leaving campus with.
Please do not pull your child out of the bus line. The safety of your children trumps everything else we do at Puster.
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PUSTER NEWS
NEW! Puster Campout Dad's Coffee
Dads, please join us on October 11 at 8:00 am in the Think Tank to learn more about the Campout on April 26th and how you can get involved.
New! PTA Announces Reflections Contest
Heroes Around Me
Heroes don't always wear capes! The National PTA Reflections program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Through the program, National PTA, Lovejoy Local and Council PTAs, and PTAs across the country urge students in preschool through grade 12 to create and submit original works. This year's contest theme is "Heroes Around Me". We hope all Leopards will submit an entry in one or more of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Literature, Film Production, Photography, Visual Arts, and Music Composition - reflecting on the specific theme. There is a special artist division option for students with disabilities to ensure all students have the opportunity to participate in the program. Students are recognized each year for their artistic ingenuity to bring the theme to life in a way that is personal and meaningful
. For rules and entry forms,
click here
. The deadline is Friday, November 2nd.
Volunteer Background Application Now Available
For the safety of our students, a criminal history record is obtained annually for every person interested in volunteering at a LISD campus. Upon completion of the background check, applicants will be notified of approval to volunteer.
Please
click here
to access the Online Volunteer Application. The online application is a secure link.
All information regarding volunteer applications received for the 2017-2018 school year has been deleted. If you submitted an application prior to August 2018, you will need to complete another application.
Thank you for your assistance with this very important matter. Your interest in serving as a volunteer is appreciated. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact:
Stacey Dillon
Assistant to the Superintendent
469.742.8003
EV3 Robotics Class
The 2-4 Coding class is being replaced with the EV3 Robotics class. The dates and price won't change.
If your student brought home a flyer yesterday, please ignore it and click here for the EV3 information. An updated flyer will also be sent home this week.
Revel in robotics! Use the latest EV3 Robots to learn basic programming skills to make the Robot follow your directions. Increasingly, program robots to do more complex tasks such as arm flex, repair broken bridge and rescuing skiers trapped in an avalanche! Classes held on October 10, 17, 24, 31 November 7.
NEW AND RETURNING PUSTER FAMILIES:
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:
1. Go to the LISD Website
.
2. Click on Parents,
3. Power School Parent Portal
4. Input your user name and password for existing families/ Create an Account for new families.
5. You should now be in PowerSchool Click on Enrollment and Student Forms.
6. There are multiple forms you can click to update, but the required forms are the two tabs on the top right hand side of the screen: "FERPA" and "General Waiver"
7
. MAKE SURE TO HIT "SUBMIT" at the bottom of the page when completed
.
If you have any questions, please give Kendra Card a call at 469-742-8283.
Watch D.O.G.S. 2.0 "Another Year, Another 100"
Take a day or ½ day to be a hero for your child. Get your picture on the
Puster Watch D.O.G.S. wall with your child.
Signup below for your day. Let's see how fast we can fill this up.
What is WATCH D.O.G.S. and how do you participate?
Watch D.O.G.S. is a program that helps bring dads and other male role models into our school. Dad's spend a day with their child at school and get to interact alongside the teachers, help with carpool, monitor hallways, help out in the classroom, help with specials...the possibilities are endless.
Have you completed the districts background check?
Lovejoy ISD Volunteer process for the 2018-2019 school year is not yet open. Should be soon.
Each Watch D.O.G. dad is encouraged to wear a Watch D.O.G.S. T-shirt on the day he is volunteering at the school. Your child/children may also want a "My Hero" shirt to wear that day too. Below is the link to purchase your t-shirts. Watch D.O.G. t-shirts are not required but it's encouraged.
Here is the link to purchase your t-shirts:
FINE ARTS NEWS
Puster's Got Talent - Thursday, October 4th 8:15AM
Talented 1st - 4th grade Puster students will share their performances Thursday, October 4th at 8:15AM. All students, parents, and family are welcome to attend this exciting showcase of talent. If you have any questions please contact
Anne_Tracy@lovejoyisd.net.
Lovejoy ISD Children's Choir
Congratulations to Lily Corbitt, Ainsley Schmitz, and Arianna Ogle-Garza! They auditioned and were accepted to join the 2018-2019 Lovejoy Children's Choir. We are very proud of you!
Click here for PTA Highlights for the week
!
Don't forget to join Puster PTA to get the most updated information on events and programs for your family!
https://bit.ly/2xmDKIj
2018-2019 Reflections Competition
Celebrate the arts during the National PTA Reflections competition, where students can unleash their creative potential and share an interpretation of this years' theme, "Heroes Around Me!" Students may submit work in Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Competition, Photography, and Visual Arts. Entries are reviewed at local, council, state, and national levels, and will be judged on how well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, originality and creativity. Please click here for more information regarding this program, and click here for a copy of the student entry form. Entries are due on Friday, November 2, and can be turned in to the front office. Contact Alice Robison (alicerobison@hotmail.com
Puster PTA Membership and Puster Leopard Drive
Go to this for more information:
Boxtop Collection Time!
It's Box Top collection time! Start bringing in your box tops to class and be sure to write your teacher's name on it. As your class brings in Box Tops your teacher will start climbing on Mt. Box Top - who will get to the top first??? You can also drop your box tops in the collection bin under the bulletin board on the way to the cafeteria.
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LIBRARY LOWDOWN
Book Clubs--
Book clubs for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders will begin NEXT WEEK. We will be reading the first book from The Notebook of Doom series. Students can sign up on the Library Website. The deadline for sign-ups is Friday, September 28 by midnight.
Mrs. Smithwick will email parents of kids signed up to let you know about your student's interest and that he/she will need a book and a packed lunch on book club days.
Author Troy Cummings will be visiting our campus in October, so we will be reading his books and studying his writing style in order to be prepared for the visit. More information will be coming soon!
Author Visit-- Troy Cummings will be visiting Puster on Thursday, October 25. He will host three assemblies for large groups and then work with 4th graders in smaller groups later in the day. We will be offering his books to order in advance and have signed while he is here. More information coming on this soon. You are also welcome to buy books on your own and send them in for autographs the week of the visit.
Book Character Pumpkin Decorating Contest-- Every October, Puster Library hosts a contest for student and family participation. Start thinking about your favorite book character(s) and selecting your pumpkins! Families may work together to decorate (not carve) a pumpkin. Pumpkins will be on display in the library through October and will be released to take home before Halloween. More information will be coming soon!
Read with Me, Therapy Dog volunteers-- We are excited to continue our Read with Me program where licensed adult volunteers and their dogs read quietly with kids in the library. This has been a HUGE hit with our students, and we would like to involve as many kids as we can. If you are, or know someone who is, licensed with Pet Partners, please contact Alison Smithwick or Emily Peabody to start the process as a Read with Me volunteer. The more the merrier!
Volunteers
-- If you would like to volunteer in the library but have not yet signed up through PTA, please contact Emily Peabody
emily_peabody@lovejoyisd.net
.
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DISTRICT NEWS
Lovejoy Softball Grand Slam Club
October 1
The Grand Slam Booster Club will host a "Good Eats for a Good Cause" fundraiser at the Allen Chili's on Monday October 1. Chili's will donate 20% of your ticket to the Grand Slam Softball Booster Club when you bring this flyer to the restaurant. Come out to Chili's on October 1 and help support the Softball program.
Lovejoy Softball Grand Slam Club
Flats for Bats
The annual "Flats for Bats" fundraiser is underway. The sale will be held through October 11. Anyone interested in having flowers delivered to them please email
lovejoysoftball@gmail.com
. For additional information, please contact Tien Nguyen at
lovejoysoftball@gmail.com
.
Checks should be made payable to the Grand Slam Booster Club. Flowers will be delivered on October 20 or 21.
LHS Choir Presents
"War & Peace: a Fall Choir Concert"
Monday, October 1
The LHS Choir Department invites you to attend a multi-disciplinary concert of songs about war and peace on Monday, October 1 at 7:00 PM in the LHS Auditorium. All choirs will be featured along with the Majestics officers, flautist Wendy Hebert, and pianist Rebecca Baker. The concert will include songs by Mendelssohn, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and Craig Hella Johnson, among others.
Arrive early to view the artwork of LHS senior Evie McGowan with a personally curated music playlist beginning at 6:30 PM in the LHS Auditorium.
Admission is free
Senior Project
To Raise Funds for Autism
Zachary Taylor
, a senior at Lovejoy High School, is asking for your help with his senior project:
"Hi! My name is Zachary Taylor and I am a senior at Lovejoy High School. My senior project is on the topic of Autism. There are 2 events I would like to bring to your attention.
The first event is Leopard Friday on September 28th. I will have a table in the Lovejoy High School courtyard with information on Autism as well as selling the Autism Awareness ribbon for $1 each. All proceeds from this event will be donated to Autism Speaks. Their mission: "Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions." More information
The second event is the Autism Walk I will be participating in on Saturday, September 29th in Richardson. My goal is to raise $500 for the walk. Please consider donating to this great cause by
clicking here
. Please search for my name under the "Search for a participant" tab to ensure your donation is counted toward my goal of $500. If you would like to participate in this walk, you are welcome to join my team (Team Draeven) or create your own team.
Autism is on the rise. Together we can help work toward a great cause. Thank you for your time and donations."
Senior Class Council
Collecting for Those Affected by Hurricane Florence
The Senior Class Council is accepting donations for those affected by Hurricane Florence. Collection boxes will be located in each school from September 19th - September 28th. Requested items include:
Deodorant
Diapers
Baby Wipes
Travel Size Shampoos/Conditioners
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Soap
Other Hygienic Items
The Senior Class Council thanks you for your support and for your assistance in helping those in serious need.
Leopard Friday
Friday, September 28th
The Lovejoy Independent School District will host a free community event on Friday, September 28th from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Leopard Friday.
On Leopard Friday, the Courtyard at Lovejoy High School will be transformed into a showcase of our students, clubs, community, and organizations. There truly is something for everyone, regardless of age. Join us for choir karaoke, the rubber duck game, baked goods, the opportunity to try multiple sports, and much more.
A community pep rally will be held at 6:00 PM in the Lovejoy High School Courtyard. All Leopard fans are invited to form a spirit line on the field prior to kick off.
Sonny Bryan's will cater a BBQ dinner. Tickets may be purchased via the
Online Payment Center
, or at the Lovejoy High School store. The ticket order deadline is September 26th. A small number of tickets will be sold at the door.
September Student Nutrition Newsletter:
Willow Springs Middle School Theatre
Save the Date! Saturday, October 20th
for theSebastian and Friends Sing-A-Long. Join Sebastian and his "Under the Sea" friends for a morning of singing your favorite Disney's The Little Mermaid tunes. Meet the characters and enjoy fun activities with the cast of Disney's The Little Mermaid, Jr. Click
here
for more information.
Save the Date! November 1st, 2nd, 3rd
for theWillow Springs Middle School Theatre and Choir departments presentation of Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. Look for additional information in upcoming communications.
BYOP® Volleyball Fall Session
Pre-registration ends October 8
BYOP® Program Overview
: These training programs are designed for any volleyball player ages 10 and under, no matter what skill or ability level, as long as their goal is to become the best they can be. Parents must be fully dedicated to being actively involved in this program. BYOP® will provide excellent volleyball fundamental skills training, as well as life lessons to both player and parent.
BYOP® Program Details
: Each training session will build upon a solid foundation of all fundamental skills needed to participate in the sport of volleyball. Parents must be engaged in every training session and involved in the home training program involving physical and skills activities.
Join us for an introduction to BYOP® 101 on October 1st at Willow Springs Middle School. We will meet in the library from 6:00 - 7:00 PM.
Evening with the Majestics
October 12th
The LHS Majestics will host an Evening with the Majestics on Friday, October 12th at the Pink Out football game for Lovejoy ISD students in grades K - 6. The mini Majestics will learn a routine to perform on the field during the Pre-Game show. For detailed information, and to register, please click: Evening with the Majestics Registration. The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 3rd
Red Out Homecoming Shirts Available from LHS Band
Order Now!
Have you purchased your Red Out Homecoming Shirt? Click
here
for more information and a printable order form. The deadline to order is October 12, 2018.
Lovejoy Upper 90 Soccer Boosters Host Juggling-A-Thon
Saturday, October 13th
The Upper 90 Soccer Booster Club will host a "Juggling-A-Thon" to help raise money for the program. Each Soccer player will have 30 minutes to get his or her highest number of consecutive ball touches. Prior to this event, the players will be seeking sponsorships for the number of touches they complete during their 30-minute juggling drill. Please help support our 2019 Boys and Girls Soccer program with a sponsorship.
For additional information, please contact:
The team will perform their juggling drills for funds on Saturday, October 13th.
Additional information will be made available as the event nears
10th Annual Turkey Chess Tournament
Saturday, November 3rd
Register now for Lovejoy's 10th Annual Turkey Chess Tournament. This is a five round USCF (United States Chess Federation) event that will be held at Sloan Creek Intermediate School. Click
here
to register.
New! Tutoring for Students
Lovejoy teachers provide tutoring for students as the need arises. However, there are times you may decide an outside tutor would be helpful for your child. We are pleased to announce that Lovejoy ISD and Tutoring 101 formed a partnership to bring Tutoring 101 services to Lovejoy High School. Tutoring 101 will offer tutoring for K - 12 students in any subject area needed. This partnership is a revenue generating relationship for Lovejoy as we have signed a revenue sharing model. Click here:
Tutoring 101@Lovejoy High School
for additional information
LHS Cheer
The Lovejoy High School Cheerleaders will host a
Junior Leopards Mini Cheer Camp for ages 4 through 4th grade on October 20th. The Mini Cheerleaders will learn cheers, chants, and jumps to prepare for cheering at a Varsity football game. For detailed information, and to register, please click:
The Lovejoy High School Majestics will host an Evening with the Majestics on Friday, October 12th at the Pink Out football game for Lovejoy ISD students in grades kindergarten through 6th. The mini Majestics will learn a routine to perform on the field during the Pre-Game show. For detailed information, and to register, please click:
Evening with the Majestics Registration.
The registration deadline is Wednesday, October 3rd.
Lovejoy Senior Requests Assistance with Senior Project
A message from Lovejoy Senior, Alexandra Brungardt:
"As an incoming senior, I have selected a project that is close to my heart. There is a "Toy Closet" at the Cancer Hospital from which patients can choose an item to help during their stay. I want to stock the Closet with as many toys as possible. In order to purchase toys for the closet, donation bins will be placed at each of the schools and the red building. These bins will be collecting gently used Lovejoy Spirit Wear. Once collected, the spirit wear will be sold and the money used to buy Toys for the Closet.
The toys will be donated in memory of Walker Jack Rainey.
with any comments or questions. Thank you for your generosity."
Chess Club for Elementary and Intermediate Students
Chess Club Enthusiasts
: Lovejoy Chess Club registration is now open. The first session will be held the week of September 10th. You may
click here
for additional information and to register. If you have any questions, please email
Miles Knight
.
Back to School: Important Transportation News
The Transportation Department is looking forward to welcoming your students to the 2018-2019 school year. Important news regarding requesting bus service, bus routes, stop locations, time, and the SafeStop School Bus Tracking App is now available.
Click here for this important news.
Twitter and Facebook
Are
you following the district on
Twitter
? Have you liked us on
Facebook
? Join us on social media for news and announcements.
School Bus Safety Practices
We would like to remind everyone of the following school bus safety practices:
*When you see a school bus, assume children will be in the area, and take extra care: leave lots of space around the bus.
*When the bus turns on its flashing yellow lights, the bus is either preparing to stop at a railroad crossing or preparing to stop to pick up or drop off children. Please slow down and prepare to stop.
*When the bus turns on its flashing red lights traffic must stop in both directions. Never pass a school bus with flashing red lights.
Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our students safe.
SchoolMessenger
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.
The wireless number(s) you enter into the PowerSchool Parent Portal are updated nightly. If you update your wireless number, or add a new number, in the PowerSchool Parent Portal, the new number will automatically be sent an Opt-In message.
To access the PowerSchool Parent Portal,
please click here
. If you have any questions, or if we may be of any assistance, please contact Stacey Dillon at 469.742.8003.
Text Link
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