Dear Wonderful Lovejoy Community:
You know one of the greatest challenges of being a leader is the ability to maintain focus in times of stress.
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It is important to bring a group together to accomplish a task rather than one individual trying to do it on their own. Very often when placed in a leadership role or given a title of leadership, an individual will attempt to accomplish everything on their own.
I have found out, this week in particular, that your greatest strength as a leader comes from the collective group you lead, not in your own personal abilities.
Ted Williams was one of the greatest baseball hitters of all time. He was the last player to have a batting average over .400 during a season. When his time as a player came to an end, he moved to the position of a hitting coach in the major leagues. His success as a player did not translate to success as a coach. When his players were not hitting well, he would say “Keep your eye on the ball.”
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That advice was given by a man with extraordinary coordination, who was successful because he was able to look at the ball and tell what kind of pitch it was by how the stitching moved. In his mind, it was easy. All he did was keep his eye on the ball. Players, who were not as talented as he was, needed more instruction. Ted Williams was a great player, but he never made it as a leader in baseball.
Great teachers not only know their students, they know how the student sees - in order to truly bring success in focus as the best and only option.
Great teammates not only know their teammates, they know how their teammates see - in order to truly bring success in focus as the only option for the team.
Great communities not only know each other, they know how to support each other, lift each other and respect each other even when they may disagree.
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Simply putting a highly successful person in a leadership role does not guarantee success. A prerequisite to being a great leader is to be effective yourself, but that is only one qualification. You must be productive and have results, but more importantly you must possess the ability to take the entire team to a higher level. We must be willing to take on our part of the team or process and carry our weight.
How would you be described as a community teammate?
How often are you spending each day building up the community members around you?
How important is the health of your entire personal family and your community?
Are you so focused on your success that you look back and no one is following?
“The job of a leader is to build a complementary team, where every strength is made effective and each weakness is made irrelevant.” – Stephen Covey
Teamwork is pulling together, not pulling apart; many voices, ONE HEART. A culture of encouragement and support.
“A team is a group of people who may not be equal in experience, talent, or education, but in commitment.” – Patricia Fripp
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I’m honored to be on your team and to call you teammate!
We are:
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Student and Parent Concerns/Grievances
The faculty and staff of Lovejoy ISD are committed to the service of our students and their parents by responding promptly and professionally to concerns or grievances which may arise.
Student and Parent Complaints/Grievances are governed by LISD Board Policies FNG (LEGAL) and FNG (LOCAL).
How Do You Resolve Parent Concerns?
If you, as the parent or guardian of a Lovejoy ISD student, have concerns regarding your child’s education or performance, we want to talk with you. Sitting down and talking with the people who interact most often with your child on a daily basis – his/her teacher, counselor, coach or director– can remedy the majority of concerns.
Most concerns can be and usually are resolved at the classroom/activity/sports or campus level. However, if your concerns are not addressed by visiting with the teacher, campus counselor, coach or director, you may choose to follow the three-level process listed below:
Level One:
Within 15 business days of the incident causing the concern/complaint, you may request a meeting with the next level supervisor which could be the Athletic Director, Fine Arts Director or Campus Principal. The Level One form may be found
here.
Level Two:
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Level One process, within 10 business days of receipt of the Level One decision letter, you may request a meeting with the Assistant Superintendent of Operations (Athletics, Safety, Operations) or Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction (Teachers, Administrators, Student Discipline). The Level Two form may be found
here.
Level Three:
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of the Level Two process, within 10 business days of receipt of the Level Two decision letter, you may appeal the decision to the School Board by contacting the Superintendent. The Level Three form may be found
here.
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We continued to raise the bar again this week. Students and staff are settling into their routines and truly getting to know each other well. Our kids are incredibly amazing, and I look forward to seeing where their potential will take them this school year and beyond.
I knew I hit a new level of connection this week when a kindergarten student took a bite of his chicken nugget and then looked up at me and said, “Happy Birthday” and handed me his half-eaten nugget. An incredibly kind gesture, but then he gave me the googly eyes as if he would be heartbroken if I didn’t eat it. So…I took one for the team and ate it, slobber and all. His smile was worth it.
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You can see in his face…there was no other choice than for me to chomp it down.
The first part of the week brought a bit of cooler temperatures and some rain. I enjoyed the opportunity to share some good will with our high school students.
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This week, I met with the Lovejoy High School PTA and Sloan Creek PTA volunteer groups. It was great to visit with so many of our parent volunteers. We certainly appreciate the enormous amount of time, energy and effort our volunteers put into making great experiences for our students.
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You may have heard that I celebrated a birthday yesterday. I was overwhelmed with the number of students and staff who joined me in wearing Disney or Leopard spirt wear. I am most mindful of the value and importance of our community, our connections, and celebrating everyone. I love being a part of this community and cannot begin to describe to you how incredibly proud I am to be a Leopard. Thank you for your love of this district, community, and each other.
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This morning I had the pleasure of serving as the mystery reader for Ms. Lander’s first grade class and Ms. Berry-Dozier’s fourth grade class at Lovejoy Elementary School. It was great!
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The University Interscholastic League has selected Lovejoy High School Senior
Carol Xu
as an Outstanding Performer at the 2019 Texas State Solo-Ensemble Contest (TSSEC) in violin. Of the approximately 100,000 students participating in the regional UIL music contests and the 25,000 musicians who performed at TSSEC, only 2% of the solo performances earned the distinguished honor of being recognized as an outstanding performer. This achievement is truly a mark of musical excellence! Congratulations, Carol!
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Congratulations to Lovejoy Class of 2015 alumna
Logan Stallings. Logan graduated with high honors from St. Edwards’s University. She earned her degree in Graphic Design and English Writing and Rhetoric. She is the recipient of a Fullbright Teaching Fellowship scholarship. Logan shared, “I hope to make lasting connections and international friendships, and gain a new sense of adaptability. I’d like to start a book club in the small town where I’ll be teaching and focus on comparing narratives across cultures. My biggest goal is to contribute to openness and friendliness.”
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We are #LovejoyProud of Logan. She is a great example of the
Graduate Profile in action!
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Tom Landry Classic
Saturday, August 31
LHS Varsity football opens the 2019 football season against the Colleyville Heritage Panthers at Allen’s Eagle Stadium in the Tom Landry Classic on Saturday, August 31 at 7:00 PM.
Join us as we support Leopard football, cheer, band, color guard and the Majestics. Bring everyone you know, and let’s fill the stands.
Proceeds from the game will fund scholarships for Lovejoy students. The more fans we have on our side – the more scholarships our students will receive.
Tickets will be available for purchase at LHS the week prior to the game and at the stadium 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
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Leopard Friday
Friday, September 13
The Lovejoy Independent School District invites you to join us for our annual tradition – Leopard Friday! This is a free community event which will be held on Friday, September 13 from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM.
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 carnival activities, a pep rally and more!
After the festivities, we hope you will join us as we support our Lovejoy Leopards as they compete against Frisco Memorial. Join us as we celebrate living Lovejoy!
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LoJo Glow Community Pep Rally
Thursday, October 3
Mark your calendars and make plans to join us for the 1st Annual Black Light Community Pep Rally!
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We are pleased to announce the
Lovejoy ISD Community News Page
. This new addition to the Lovejoy ISD Website includes news from our schools, programs, booster clubs, student organizations, Foundation for Lovejoy Schools, community, and more. Check back often for up-to-date news on events and activities.
This Week's News:
Lovejoy Gifted and Talented Referral Form Open Through September 13.
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Foundation for Lovejoy Schools Award $405,103 in Grants
Chess Club Enthusiasts – Register Now!
BYOP Elementary Night with Lovejoy Volleyball
Evening with the Majestics
Leopard Friday
Junior Mini Cheer Camp
Public Lands Trail Cleanup
Lovejoy Leopards Inc. 11th Annual Golf Tournament
Lojo Glow Community Pep Rally
City of Lucas Farmers Market
Collin College News
For the latest Athletic News, download the "Lovejoy Leopards Athletics" app.
For the latest Fine Arts News, follow
@LovejoyArts on Twitter, or like them on Facebook at Lovejoy Arts.
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It’s going to be a great Leopard weekend!
Tonight, the Lovejoy Leopards Volleyball team plays Prosper at home. JV will start at 5:30 and Varsity at 6:30. Tomorrow morning our Cross Country teams will complete in the Marcus Invitational. Tomorrow evening we have the opportunity to celebrate a wide variety of our students at the Tom Landry Classic. We hope you will join us as we cheer on our Leopard football team in the first game of the season. I’m so excited to see our Cheerleaders, Majestics, Band and Color Guard perform.
The district will be closed on Monday in observance of Labor Day. We can't wait to welcome your students back to school on Tuesday!
I hope you and your family enjoy a safe and happy weekend.
Proud Lovejoy Leopard,
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Michael Goddard, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Lovejoy Independent School District
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Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
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