The Leopard Link
Lovejoy High School - Newsletter - January 12, 2024
Leopard Spotlight!
Our Leopard Spotlight Award Winner for 1-12-24 is Gloria Garcia. Gloria has made a positive impact from the moment she stepped on our campus. She collaborates with our band directors and leads our Color Guard both at LHS and WSMS. Ms. Garcia goes out of her way to invest in students and we appreciate all of her hard work this year!
Upcoming Dates
*In the event of inclement weather next week, the District will notify families of any change to our regular schedule through email and social media
January 15th: Student Holiday
February 2nd: Student Holiday
February 19th & 20th: Student Holidays
School Board Appreciation Month!
January is School Board Appreciation Month, we would like to recognize and thank Mr. Jason Jaynes! We appreciate his service, commitment and countless volunteer hours dedicated to Lovejoy ISD. Thank you!
LJVA Exhibition
LJVA is thrilled to invite you to the 1st Annual ETA Exhibition. The "Emerging Texas Artists" exhibition is a blind-juried selection of exemplars in approach, innovation, and ideation from over 230 HS artists in the DFW area. ETA is a celebration of HS artists challenging convention through their approach and thinking, taking risks with their media application, and creating work driven by personal voice and ideation. The work selected by the two jurors; Paige Whitcomb and Eli Ruhala ('18 LJVA Alum) is a phenomenal breadth of approach and thinking from our area's top HS artists. Please join us at the opening January 13th from 5-7pm; light snacks will be served. If you are unable to make it to the opening, contact brice_mccasland@lovejoyisd.net to schedule a tour of the exhibit from Jan. 16 - Jan. 19th, 8am-5pm.
LHS Musical
The LHS theater, choir, dance and orchestra have been working tirelessly to bring this classic adventure to life. We are so excited to present Lovejoy's first musical with a live orchestra. We will be performing in the LHS auditorium on Thursday January 25th, Friday January 26th, and Saturday January 27th at 7pm. Tickets will go on sale in Revtrak on January 15th.
2023 Campus Federal Report Card
Parents:
Please see the 2023 Campus Federal Report Card here. The information is being shared about the district and your child’s campus with you as part of its obligations under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). Federal Report Cards for the state, the district, and each of the district’s campuses are now available on the district’s website and also available on the Texas Education Agency’s website at: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/accountability/academic-accountability/performance-reporting/federal-report-cards. Information on these report cards includes:
- Part (i): General Description of the Texas State Accountability System
- Part (ii): Student Achievement by Proficiency Level
- Part (iii)(I): Academic Growth
- Part (iii)(II): Graduation Rate
- Part (iv): English Language Proficiency
- Part (v): School Quality or Student Success (SQSS)
- Part (vi): Goal Meeting Status
- Part (vii): STAAR Participation
- Part (viii): Civil Rights Data
- Part (ix): Teacher Quality Data
- Part (x): Per-pupil Expenditure
- Part (xi): STAAR Alternate 2 Participation
- Part (xii): Statewide National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
- Part (xiii): Cohort Rate of Graduates Enrolled in Postsecondary Education
- Part (xiv): Additional Information – Chronic Absenteeism
Student IDs
Students should begin carrying their student IDs with them while on campus. Whether it is on a lanyard or in a wallet, backpack, etc, the expectation will be that a student will be able to produce their Lovejoy student ID card upon request. See the front office or library for a replacement card. Thank you for your partnership.
Student Yearbook Photos
Don't forget to order student yearbook photos! The link to order from B&E is here: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001045115
The online code is your student id number. Questions: B&E Photography
Yearbook Orders Due 1/26 - Last chance to order
LOVEJOY HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND COUNSELORS
Admin
Principal – Dr. Travis Zambiasi, Ed.D. – Travis_Zambiasi@lovejoyisd.net
Associate Principal – Michael Montague (A-Gr) – Michael_Montague@lovejoyisd.net
Assistant Principal – Fernando Ocampo (Gu-O) Fernando_Ocampo@lovejoyisd.net
Assistant Principal – Elyse Pollard (P-Z) – Elyse_Pollard@lovejoyisd.net
Counselors/Testing/504
Carrie Robbins – Lead Counselor – Carrie_Robbins@lovejoyisd.net
Curtis McCarthy (A-D) & Carrie Robbins (E-Gr) – Curtis_McCarthy@lovejoyisd.net
Melissa Fletcher – (Gu-O) – Melissa_Fletcher@lovejoyisd.net
Natalie Coonrod – (P-Z) – Natalie_Coonrod@lovejoyisd.net
Sarah Thrash – CCMR/AP Testing – Sarah_Thrash@lovejoyisd.net
Andria Harris - 504/Testing Facilitator - Andria_Harris@lovejoyisd.net
STUCO
As part of Diversity Week, Lovejoy High School's Student Council and PTSO are working together to bring back multicultural food tastings. Our Taste of Culture event will take place on Friday, January 19th, during lunch and we need volunteers from our community to make, buy and/or serve samples of dishes from a variety of cultures.
On the sign up please indicate which dish you plan to bring, as well as the cultural affiliation and any particular significance of the dish (for example the holiday or event it is associated with). This is a great opportunity to expose our high school students to new customs, traditions and flavors.
Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BA4A829A2FFC70-46866762-taste#/
If you have any questions, please contact Christy Forte', VP of Programs for the LHS PTSO, at lovejoyhsprograms@gmail.com or 214-395-2855.
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Notes from Nurse
All needed forms can be found at LHS Clinic.
All medication must be dropped off by a parent/guardian to the nurse in the original unexpired bottle with the required paperwork. Medication cannot be left at the front desk. Please schedule an appointment for medication drop off.
Student Sign Outs
Student Sign-out Email: lhssignout@lovejoyisd.net
*Please use this email to sign your student out of school. We will be using the pass system again this year to release students from the classroom for appointments. Sending the request in early will ensure the student is released on time and with less interruption to classroom instruction.
*When sending us an email, please specify how your student will be picked up and who will be picking them up.
VOE (Verification of Enrollment)
If your student needs a VOE for driver's permit or license, please send requests to marisa_davis@lovejoyisd.net and your student can pick up at the front reception desk. The VOE expires in 30 days after the request. Thank you
Student Parking
To purchase your $65 parking permit click here. Stickers will be picked up at LHS in the School Store. Please bring your valid Driver’s License and Proof of Insurance with you at time of parking sticker pick up. Students will sign the Parking Expectations agreement at this time. The sticker must be placed on the passenger side lower front windshield. This google form with vehicle information will also need to be completed: Parking Google Form. Please call Deborah Martinez at 469-742-8703 with questions. For more information on student parking click here.
Academic Calendar For 2023-2024
To access the 2023-24 Academic Calendar, please click HERE.
LHS COUNSELING OFFICE
2024-2025 Course Registration Information:
February 7th:
Elective showcase 5:30-6:30pm (all grade levels)
8th grade (Class of 2028) student/parent night 6:45-7:45pm in auditorium
February 21st:
10th grade (Class of 2026) student/parent night 6:00-7:00pm in auditorium
Additional Information:
February 8th: LHS counselors at WSMS for 24-25 course selection meeting with the Class of 2028
February 16th: Bump Up Day
February 22nd: Class of 2028 course selection forms are due. (High School counselors will return to WSMS to help students enter their courses in PS)
February 26th: LHS counselors meet with Class of 2026 in auditorium during LT to discuss course selection
February 29th: Class of 2026 classroom visits during history class to enter courses in PS
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LHS counselors will be conducting Freshmen (Class of 2027) one-on-one meetings with students and parents starting in January through the beginning of March. Click on the counselor's name below to schedule your 20 minute one-on-one-meeting. Prior to the meeting, we ask that you complete the following items:
- Input your student’s 4 year plan in PowerSchool using the parent portal (On the left side, click 4 year plan to enter courses that you are currently taking and plan to take in the future). If you are not sure of a course, please enter the word elective.
- Using the attached course request form, choose 8 courses (4 core and 4 elective) and 3 alternate courses. Please print the completed course request form and bring it to your meeting.
Before scheduling a meeting, consult with your child to determine any academic or athletic conflicts. Please schedule your meeting with the counselor assigned to your child’s last name. Click on the counselor's name below to schedule your 20 minute one-on-one-meeting. Ms. Fletcher's students should schedule their one-on-one meeting with Mrs. Robbins or Mr. McCarthy. If you already have a meeting scheduled with Ms. Fletcher, the counselors are working together to attend the scheduled meeting. We look forward to visiting with you soon!
Mr. McCarthy: Student’s last name starts with A-D
Mrs. Robbins: Student's last name starts with E-Gr
Ms. Fletcher: Student’s last name starts with Gu-O
Mrs. Coonrod: Student’s last name starts with P-Z
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We are happy to announce that there will be several college presentations during Leopard Time over the next few months. These sessions will be open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors! Some of the schools that will be presenting include:
- Collin College
- Texas A&M (Juniors ONLY)
- Texas Tech
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Arkansas
- University of North Texas
- Oklahoma State University
- University of Oklahoma
- University of Texas at Dallas
- Brigham Young University
- Tarleton University
- Harvard
Due to limited seating, interested students must register. They can find the registration link in their respective "Class of" Google Classroom or HERE!
CCMR CORNER
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year 2024-25 has been experiencing some issues. Users have reported limited availability of the form, long waiting times, problems with creating FSA ID accounts, and issues with the actual FAFSA form. However, the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) has recently released a list of known issues and suggested workarounds for some problems. The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) recommends that students and their contributors review this list thoroughly to understand the possible issues they may encounter. Some problems may only be resolved once the system is fixed. For more information, please refer to the NCAN's WEBSITE.
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Revolution Prep and Lovejoy ISD have teamed up to provide free SAT and ACT practice tests to families. Students can establish a baseline score by taking practice tests for primary, secondary, and college admission exams. Taking practice tests helps students compare scores and determine which test best fits them.
ACT Practice Exam
Saturday, January 20, 2024
8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Live Online
Digital SAT Practice Exam
Saturday, February 3, 2024
11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Live Online
You can register here: https://www.revolutionprep.com/partners/5962/.
-Ms. Sarah Thrash
Seniors! Class of 2024
Need to Register to Vote?
We are excited to provide eligible high school students with the opportunity to register to vote under Section 13.046(a) of the Texas Election Code. You can pick up an application at the LHS Library or from Deborah Martinez in the AP Office. The voter registration deadline for the March 5, 2024 Primary Election is February 5, 2024.
Who: Students that are 17 years, 10 months of age may register, and can vote in the March 5, 2024 Primary Election if they will be 18 years of age on Election Day.
Notice to High School Students Registering to Vote
Senior Booster Club
Click here for a message from the senior booster club regarding spring calendar of events sponsored by the Senior Booster Club.
Senior Cap and Gown Orders
If you have not ordered your graduation announcements and/or cap and gown, please click here to place your order. The Senior Event Delivery is scheduled for April 22nd. In order to have your cap and gown available for delivery that day, your order must be placed by midnight on April 14th. After April 14th, all orders will incur an individual shipping charge and will be sent directly to your home address. If you have any questions, please call Jostens at 214-383-9502.
Click here to be taken directly to our school’s homepage at Jostens. If you have any questions or cannot find what you are looking for, please call the Jostens' office BEFORE placing your order.
Spirit Nights
MCCU Debit Card Design Contest
Lovejoy ISD recently entered into a partnership with My Community Credit Union. This partnership is intended to enhance student opportunities in the areas of financial literacy and provide hands-on learning experiences for future careers related to finance. An MCCU branch is scheduled to open at Lovejoy High School in the fall of 2024.
On Friday, October 27th, MCCU kicked off their Debit Card Design Contest. The contest is open to all Lovejoy ISD students. Three debit card design winners will be selected representing grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. The winners will have their designs on our Lovejoy Leopard MCCU Debit Cards and will receive a $100 gift card!
Content Rules:
Must be an original image/design/artwork.
Participants may submit up to 2 designs.
Parent consent is required.
Submissions are due to marketing@mccu.coop by midnight on January 26.
Winners will be announced on March 1.
Scan the QR Code for Official Rules and additional details, or visit mccu.coop/lovejoy.
SAT Prep Class
Recognitions & Celebrations!
Cheer
Congratulations to our LHS Cheer Team! They placed 5th in the 5A UIL State Finals last weekend! The girls finished 5th out of 70 teams. On day two, they had the highest band dance and fight song score out of all of the 5A teams (132 total). We are so proud of their accomplishments and they will be competing at NCA high school nationals next weekend. Go Leopards!
Robotics
Recently at a tournament in Southlake, TX, the LHS robotics team 1082X [ Glitch] performed so well in their skills score that they were able to qualify for the Texas Region 5 Championship! We are thrilled to share this success and excited to announce that they are the record-breaking 8th team that is now qualified for the Regional Championship! Our previous record was 7 teams, and now this record has been beaten. 1082X achieved a Driver Skills score of 151 and a Programming Skills score of 129. We are proud of their efforts and can't wait to see what they accomplish next!
2023 AP School Honor Roll
Lovejoy High School has been awarded the College Board's 2023 Platinum AP School Honor Roll and AP Access recognitions. The AP School Honor Roll celebrates schools that have done outstanding work to welcome more students into AP courses and support them on the path to college.
To qualify for the 2023 Platinum AP School Honor Roll, Lovejoy ISD had to meet the platinum criteria for all three metrics: College Culture, College Credit, College Optimization. Furthermore, the AP Access recognition celebrates LHS for providing all students the chance to participate in AP, including students of underrepresented populations.
District Information
Attendance Report
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Annual Bump Up Day to take place on February 16, 2024.
Sloan Creek Intermediate, Willow Springs Middle School, and Lovejoy High School will host 4th, 6th, and 8th graders on Friday, February 16, 2024 for Lovejoy ISD’s Annual Bump Up Day. Bump Up Day was created to assist students with transitioning to a new campus and to help generate excitement for the new experiences they will have. Students will travel to the campus they will be attending for the 2024-2025 school year and have the opportunity to tour the campus, ask questions, and eat lunch. Students will be able to charge lunch and any a la carte/snacks purchases to their lunch account during their visit to their Bump Up school. Please make sure funds are available in your student's lunch account. Lunch prices for students visiting Sloan Creek IS or Willow Springs MS will be $4.00 for a regular meal or $4.75 for a premium meal. Lunch prices for students visiting the high school will be $4.50 for a regular meal or $5.25 for a premium meal. A la carte/snack prices vary. Please refer to this document for specific pricing.
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Lovejoy ISD Design Contest
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Nutrition
The topic this month is 6 Weeknight Meals The Whole Family Will Love.
January Newsletter:
https://4.files.edl.io/a3cf/01/12/24/144656-e77a6204-da09-4e77-88f6-c703e053b072.pdf
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LCDC
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G/T Referrals
The LHS PTSO is treating our amazing staff to a "Taco Tuesday" on January 30th and we need your help! Please see the Sign Up below for requested donations. All crockpots need to be delivered by 10:00 am to the front desk of LHS. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084FA5A82CA3FFC25-47171533-taco#/
Parent Presentations
How does Lovejoy ISD calculate GPA?
Mark your calendar for January 24th at 6pm in the Lovejoy Childhood Development Center for a discussion around understanding course selection, GPA policy, and postsecondary planning.
Come Learn the Facts!
Intended audience: Willow Springs and Lovejoy HS parents
Hosted by: Council of PTOs
Presenters: Stephani Kranz, Carrie Robbins and Sarah Thrash
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If you missed a parent presentation from the fall semester, don’t worry, we have you covered. All parent presentations and helpful tools are posted at the link below. We have had some difficulty recording the presentations and we are looking into other recording options. Topics for the spring semester will be shared in January.
Parent Presentations – Counselors – Lovejoy Independent School District (lovejoyisd.net)
Lovejoy High School PTSO
To contribute to the LHS Leopard Drive, please go to: https://ptolhs.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/243306
PTSO Social Media
The Lovejoy High School PTSO is now on Social Media. Check it out!!
https://www.instagram.com/lovejoyhighptso/
https://www.facebook.com/Lovejoy-High-School-PTSO-103696425841136/?ref=page_internal
The Lovejoy ISD Community News website is intended to facilitate connections and raise awareness of local events, activities, fundraisers and organizations that might interest Lovejoy families. The information featured on the Community News website is submitted by community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizations and does not claim to endorse them.
Community News Webpage: https://www.lovejoyisd.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1601749&type=d&pREC_ID=1729844