Message from Mike
February 26, 2021
In this week's edition:
  • Recognitions
  • CDC Updated Guidance
  • 4th 9-Weeks Learning Environment Selections
  • Save the Date - Leopards Live
  • Clay Thomas Chapman Memorial Scholarship
  • COVID Reporting and Dashboard
  • Community News
  • Upcoming Events
Dear Lovejoy Community,

Our Leopards had another amazing week! For the first time in school history, Lovejoy received state recognition in UIL Congress Speech and Debate, we received news of 5 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, and our fine arts and athletics teams continue to show their excellence each and every day!
Last week was certainly a challenging weather week across the state. Because of the severity of the weather and its impact on all districts, the Texas Education Agency has allowed school districts to waiver days missed last week due to this unique event.

Regardless of the days missed, Lovejoy ISD will meet the required instructional minutes due to our current campus schedules. Therefore, April 5th will remain a bad weather/holiday for the students and staff of Lovejoy ISD.
Recognitions
UIL Congress - State Champions - Speech and Debate

Huge congratulations to Tajvir Singh and Chisom Okorafor in their performance at the UIL Congress State Championship. After being delayed due to the winter storm last week, Tajvir and Chisom competed in the final round earlier this week.

Tajvir gave four total speeches in the finals, two in each session. Chisom gave two speeches in the morning session and was the presiding officer in the afternoon.

Tajvir Singh placed 1st and Chisom placed 2nd in the State.

These are the first medalists we have in this event in school history! We are Lovejoy Proud of you both!
National Merit Finalists
Congratulations to our Lovejoy High School National Merit Semi-Finalists who have met all the requirements to advance to the National Merit Finalists stage. We are #LovejoyProud of these scholars and their hard work.
HOSA
I'm delighted to report that Lovejoy HOSA again excelled at the latest Texas HOSA Virtual Conference in January. HOSA membership at Lovejoy High School has increased to 80 + members and continues to grow as interest in the health science programs has grown. Over 40 members competed in the virtual conference, and, as usual, they killed it.

Below are the highlights. Remember that in each category, there were over 300 students from all areas in North Texas, from Frisco to Mount Pleasant: 

Medical Art Poster *
Isabella Zinn - 13th Place

Medical Terminology*
Avigayl Zanzari - 14th Place
Tamanna Verma - 35th Place
Hannah Dollinger - 52nd Place
Ann Laos - 71st Place
Emma Bittlestone - 88th Place
Marco Laos - 102nd Place
Claire Easley - 136th Place
Savannah Starr - 141st Place

Pathophysiology *
Hallel Pang - 16th Place
Savannah Fanous - 21st Place
Humzah Ahmah - 26th place
Samantha Belatur - 38th Place
Knight, Vanessa - 48th Place
Ally Brownlee - 65th Place

Pharmacology*
Powell, Emma - 9th Place
Friesland, Major - 21st Place
Saldivar Garcia, Zach - 25th place

Health Education Teamwork Event
Sydney Spors, Lexie Collins, Kylie Ganno, Alexa Barajas - 25th Place

Human Growth and Development*
Carlee George #27

Sports Medicine
Jenna Kilpatrick - 4th place
Kailyn Allen - 29th Place

Veterinary Science
Sarah Muckelroy - 3rd Place

Dental Terminology*
Khan, Alisha - 33rd Place

Job Seeking Skills
Jacob, Salena - 9th Place
Lovejoy Boys Basketball
The Lovejoy Leopard basketball season finished their season this past Wednesday in the Area Championship as they fell to South Oak Cliff 44-46.  

The Leopards had an incredible season going 21-4 overall and captured the outright District title going 13-1 while defeating Frisco Memorial in the Bi-District Championship.  

In a year of many challenges, including playing and winning 8 district games in 12 days, the basketball team had a memorable season which made the Lovejoy Proud. 

Congratulations to the players, coaches, and families!
Special Board Meeting - Friday, February 26th
With a continued bright future ahead for Lovejoy ISD, the Board of Trustees will hold a Special Meeting on February 26, 2021 to consider the Superintendent search process, including but not limited to, accepting the Superintendent's resignation, selecting a search process, and identifying an interim Superintendent. The meeting will begin at 4:00 PM with the Board retiring into Closed Session in the Lovejoy Elementary School Music Room.

The meeting agenda can be viewed here.

The Board will return to the Open Meeting at 5:00 PM in the Lovejoy Elementary School Gym.

For members of the public interested in attending the public portion of the February 26, 2021 meeting in person, seating will be socially distanced, and face masks will be required.

For members of the public interested in attending the public portion of the February 26, 2021 Board Meeting virtually, you may access the webcast live feed by clicking here.
CDC Updated Guidance

On February 12, 2021, the CDC released updated COVID mitigation strategies to reduce the transmission of COVID in K-12 schools.
 

Schools providing in-person instruction should prioritize two mitigation strategies:
  • Universal and correct use of masks should be required at all levels of community transmission.
  • Physical distancing (at least 6 feet) should be maximized to the greatest extent possible. In hybrid instruction, scheduling should be planned to ensure physical distancing.

We have had several questions from our community about the impact of this new guidance for Lovejoy ISD. Lovejoy ISD must comply with the Governor's Executive Order GA-29 that requires the use of facemasks for anyone ages 10 and older.
 
Currently, all Lovejoy ISD students under 10 (grades Pre-K through 3) wear masks when entering/exiting the building, transitioning through the building, in music and art classes, during small group instruction, and in common areas where 6-foot distancing is not easily accommodated. Although it's not required by the State, we, along with our medical advisory board, highly recommend the use of facemasks for students under the age of 10 throughout the day, including in their classrooms. While we are required to enforce the Governor's Executive order of full-time mask usage for students ages 10 and up, students’ voluntary participation in the full-time use of masks for students ages 10 and younger is encouraged. The District will revisit our current mask practice if the Texas Education Agency and the Governor update their position.
 
In the event your student comes to school without a mask to wear, the campuses have masks available for their use. Additionally, Lovejoy ISD will continue the practice of maximizing social distancing to the greatest extent possible throughout the school day.
4th 9-Weeks Learning Environment Selection
As a reminder, students who have selected "On-Campus" as their environment are expected to attend all classes each day unless they are quarantined or isolated for COVID.
STEM T-Shirt Design Contest
Click on the image below for a PDF of entry rules and requirements.
Save the Date
Clay Thomas Chapman Memorial Scholarship
The Clay Thomas Chapman Memorial Scholarship has been established to remember Clay Chapman by acknowledging the academic, athletic, and personal achievements of one Lovejoy Senior student-athlete each year. The scholarship recipient will receive $1,500 towards the cost of their higher education, disbursed directly to the college or university as $750 each semester of the recipient’s first year.

For qualifications, requirements, and application, click here.

Applications are due March 31st.
COVID Reporting & Dashboard
Please continue to help keep our Leopards healthy and report any positive COVID test results or exposures to your students' campus.

The COVID Case Dashboard is accessible from the main district website, each campus website and accessed here.

For our complete 2020-2021 website with the Planning Guide and COVID procedures, click here.
Community News
Have information you want to share on the Community News website? Click here to submit your request.
Upcoming Events


Click here to view Lovejoy ISD and campus calendars and events.

Best Today. Better Tomorrow.
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Michael Goddard, Ed.D. 
Superintendent of Schools
Lovejoy Independent School District
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