The Leopard Link

The Leopard Spotlight Award for 8.12.22 goes to Mrs. Theresa Dollinger! Mrs. Dollinger teaches Biology and AP in the impressive LHS Science Department. Students are completely engaged in her classes and she always goes the extra mile to ensure each student is successful. She is a wonderful resource for other teachers and models a growth mindset in all opportunities.

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Dollinger and thanking her for all she does for the staff and students at Lovejoy HS!

Dear Lovejoy HS Families,

Our amazing staff had an excellent 2 weeks of learning and we are looking forward to welcoming our students to the first day of the 22-23 school year on Monday. Please pay special attention to the list of items and links below, as we want each Leopard student to feel prepared for the first day of school. Arrival, Dismissal, Lunch Procedures, The Bell Schedule, The Lunch Schedule, The Lovejoy HS Student Handbook Addendum, The Parent Presentation, Information Regarding the Senior Breakfast/Walk, PTSO Info, and much more is included in the 8.12.22 Leopard Link.

Again, we are so excited to partner with all of our families this year, and we can't wait to get started on Monday.

Dr. Travis Zambiasi

Principal

Lovejoy HS

All families should have received their campus’ Beginning of Year Truancy Letter, via Bright Arrow. We felt that it was important to follow up with additional information.

In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law that was addressed in the letter, there is also the 90% law; state law mandates that a student is in attendance at least 90 percent of the academic year.

In order to receive credit for a final grade in a class, a student is required to attend 90% of the days a class is offered, regardless of whether the student’s absences are excused or unexcused.

All absences count towards the 90% law and Truancy, except for the following absences with the proper documentation:

• Religious Holidays with written request prior to the absence
• Attending a required court appearance
• UIL eligible absences- Educational Competition administered by school staff

• Academic, Athletic, and music contests (uiltexas.org)

• Medical-Related absences, when the student attended a portion of the school day and presents documentation from the health care professional for the same day

• All day Medical-Related absences do NOT exempt a student from the 90% law or Truancy. Medical Documentation for a full day absence is only used in consideration by the Attendance Committee)

• Sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral held in Texas

Attendance notes for an absence must be submitted to your student’s campus no later than 5 school days after the absence. Notes will NOT be accepted after the 5th day, and your student’s attendance will not be changed.

Absence notification timeline, all absences are counted, (excused and unexcused):

• A letter will be sent home if your student is absent 3 times in a 4 week period
• Another letter will be sent home once the student has accrued 6 absences

• Intervention will begin with the campus attendance committee

• A 10 day letter will be sent home once the student accrues 10 absences

• Your student can be referred to Truancy Court

Although we know that students will get sick or other challenges may arise during the school year, consistent and timely school attendance is of the utmost importance. We all share the goal of enabling the students to reach their full potential and achieve all of their educational goals. The way to allow a student to reach their full potential and educational goals starts with consistent and timely attendance.

As you check student schedules online, please know that our counselors will be balancing courses, and proofing schedules for accuracy throughout the next few days. It is really important that all of our students check their schedules at 8AM on Monday morning to double check their courses/schedule. While many schedules will stay the same, it is not out of the norm for a class period (order) or portion of the schedule to change prior to the first day of school.

Additionally, If there is a scheduling error, your student may use this Google form to contact the counselor. There is a list of boxes to check and this is a faster way to get the information in front of the counselor(s). 9th-11th graders should be utilizing this form now (please don't fill it out for the same reasons if you already submitted it yesterday or earlier today). 12th graders, please begin using this form on Monday if your schedule is incorrect. Senior schedules are being finalized right now due to dual credit and singleton courses, -so please make sure you are checking frequently for updates.

All visitors must first report to the main office and comply with all applicable district policies and procedures. This is to ensure the safety of those within the school and to avoid disruption of instructional time. All visitors are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of courtesy and conduct. Disruptive behavior will not be permitted.

Arrival Procedure

LHS will open at 8:00 am. Only the main front entrance and back courtyard entrance will be unlocked at this time; all other exterior doors will remain locked throughout the school day. The courtyard doors will promptly be locked at 8:40 am, however, the main front entrance will continue to be monitored for students, parents and visitors throughout the day.

Certain areas of the school will be accessible to students before 8:00 am for specific purposes only. If students are participating in activities outside the normal school day (athletics, band, tutorials, retesting), entrance to the building must be supervised by a staff member. Students must check with their teacher, coach and/or sponsor ahead of time to determine what supervised door to enter through in the morning. Any student arriving late to these activities will be asked to enter the campus using the main front entrance or back courtyard entrance at 8:00 am.

Students are required to remain in the area where their activity is scheduled to take place. Unless the teacher, coach and/or sponsor overseeing the morning activity gives permission, a student will not be permitted to go to another area of the building or campus.

Students who are not participating in activities outside the normal school day (athletics, band, tutorials, retesting) will remain in the cafeteria until dismissed at 8:35 am.

Closed Campus

LHS is a closed campus. Students are not permitted off campus at any time unless a parent/guardian provides a written letter or email request to the attendance office in advance. Attendance personnel will verify all written parent requests, and students will then be called to the attendance office to sign out. Violations of this expectation will be subject to truancy and/or other disciplinary consequences.

Lunch Procedures

Students may not eat in the restrooms, locker rooms, hallways, classrooms or their vehicles. LHS will only accept lunch deliveries from parents and food delivery services between 10:45 am - 12:30 pm. Lunch items must be dropped off in the main front entrance, using the security pass-through shelves. Students will only be able to collect their lunch during their lunch period, by visiting the foyer and collecting their lunch from the designated area. Students will not be able to pick up food deliveries at any other time or location other than the approved time window.

School staff are not responsible for misplaced or stolen lunches. Lunch deliveries that arrive late, will not extend the lunch period for any student. Food delivery service employees will not be permitted to enter the building for any reason. Any issues that arise from the delivery will not be the responsibility of the school.

Dismissal Procedures

Students will be dismissed from school at 4:20 pm by their classroom teacher. Unless students are attending tutorials, retest and/or participating in a supervised after school activity, students must leave the campus immediately. Once students leave the building, they will not be allowed to reenter the building without permission from a school administrator.

Students are required to remain in the area where their activity is scheduled to take place. Unless the teacher, coach and/or sponsor overseeing the afternoon activity gives permission, a student will not be permitted to go to another area of the building or campus.

After school/weekend activities

Certain areas of the school will be accessible to students, parents, volunteers and visitors for specific purposes only. If students, parents, volunteers and/or visitors are participating or observing activities outside the normal school day (performances, events, practices, etc.), entrance to the building must be supervised by a teacher, coach, advisor, sponsor and/or a designated LHS staff member. These designated staff members will communicate to students, parents, volunteers and visitors regarding the (1) purpose of the event, (2) start/end times, (3) event location and (4) entrance/exit door location. Students, parents, volunteers and visitors arriving late to these activities may experience delays in entering the event or may not be permitted to enter the building.

Students, parents, volunteers and visitors are required to remain in the area where their activity is scheduled to take place. Unless the teacher, coach, advisor, sponsor and/or a designated LHS staff member overseeing the activity gives permission, students, parents, volunteers and visitors will not be permitted to go to another area of the building or campus.

Student pick-up/Drop Off

Maintaining a safe and well-organized arrival and dismissal procedure is critical to students, staff and visitor safety. Please review the following maps to familiarize yourself with our traffic flow.

Please click on the Lunch Schedule to view the times that your class will have lunch.

Admin

Principal – Dr. Travis Zambiasi, Ed.D. – Travis_zambiasi@lovejoyisd.net

Associate Principal – Michael Montague – Michael_montague@lovejoyisd.net

Assistant Principal – Dakota Nguyen (A-Gw) – Dakota_Nguyen@lovejoyisd.net

Assistant Principal – Fernando Ocampo (Gx-O) Fernando_Ocampo@lovejoyisd.net

Assistant Principal – Caitlin Eldredge (P-Z) – Caitlin_Eldredge@lovejoyisd.net

Counselors

Sarah Thrash – College & Career/504 – Sarah_Thrash@lovejoyisd.net

Carrie Robbins – (A-Gw) – Carrie_Robbins@lovejoyisd.net

Melissa Fletcher – (Gx-O) – Melissa_Fletcher@lovejoyisd.net

Natalie Coonrod – (P-Z) – Natalie_coonrod@lovejoyisd.net

If you have not picked up the parking sticker you reserved, please see the LHS Receptionist during school hours.

Please bring your valid Driver’s License and Proof of Insurance with you.

The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. Please click here to access the Parent Portal. Completion of these forms is required every year for each student, and need to be completed by Friday, September 16th.

Instructions for completion are attached.

If you need assistance with account access or password reset, please use this link . Access requests and password resets will occur during business hours: 8:30am-4:30pm. We are unable to fulfill requests after hours, holidays or weekends. You’ll be notified via email once your request is complete.

Click below for the PowerSchool Parent Portal Instructions

Parent Portal

Parents and Players:

I wanted to pass along a quick note regarding changes to our letterman jacket program.

Historically Lovejoy ISD has provided a sixty dollar credit towards Lovejoy high school letter jackets. Lovejoy ISD will no longer be providing this credit. We still will be providing the same service with letter jacket ordering through the school store.

See below for information from our Booster Clubs!

See below for information from our PTSO

The PTSO would like to welcome you to the Lovejoy district! Please click on the invitation below for details to the Ladies Coffee on September 13, 2022

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) waiver that allowed Lovejoy ISD to offer free meals to all students at our schools (K-6) who participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has expired. Congress did not fund the waiver program for the 2022-2023 school year.

Due to this change in federal policy, Lovejoy ISD families will return to submitting an application to qualify for free/reduced-priced lunches.

Families are encouraged to apply now!

Submitting an application can do more than just provide access to free and reduced-price meals. Some of the Additional benefits may include:

• Funding for state and federal programs and services for our schools

• Discounted rates on internet services

• Free or reduced registration fees for AP, SAT, and/or ACT test

• Discounted rates associated with college applications

• Free or discounted fees to participate school activities

Here also are links to MySchoolBucks documents on how to load lunch accounts: https://www.lovejoyisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=388507&type=d&pREC_ID=881396

Click HERE to view the 2022-2023 Fall Semester Events