LISD Expect Excellence Newsletter

Lobos,

After more than three decades of dedicated service to Levelland ISD, Donna Pugh, Director of Curriculum and Special Programs, has announced her retirement effective in June. What a legacy...

Donna's career in education has made a lasting impact on countless students, teachers, and families across our district. Over the years, she has served Levelland ISD in multiple roles and has been instrumental in shaping instructional programs, supporting teachers, and ensuring our students have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. Her leadership in curriculum, federal programs, and student support initiatives has helped move our district forward and has left a legacy that will benefit Levelland ISD for years to come.

We are incredibly proud of Donna's career and deeply grateful for the passion, professionalism, and commitment she has given to Levelland ISD throughout her time here.

We know that replacing someone with Donna's experience and knowledge will certainly be a challenge, we are committed to developing a thoughtful succession plan to ensure a smooth transition. Over the coming weeks, we will work diligently to determine the right path forward while also providing time for Donna to help train and prepare the future of this position before she officially concludes her service in June. It is comforting to know that she has promised to answer her phone when we call with questions.

Thank you Donna for being a blessing for Levelland ISD.

Proud to be a Lobo,

Dr. Don Heseman

Levelland ISD Superintendent

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Over the past 4 months, the Levelland MS Symphonic Band has been preparing for the UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. This past Thursday, they finally got to show their hard work!
On Stage, they received a 122 rating from judges, giving the band a 2, an overall Excellent Rating. In Sightreading, they received a 111 rating, earning a Clean Superior rating! This is also the THIRD year in a row students in the Symphonic Band have earned a Superior rating in the Sightreading room. Mrs. Baern is so thankful for these hardworking students, and is incredibly proud of them! The future of the Lobo Band is so bright!

Levelland HS Allegro Winterguard started their season off with some awesome metal! Breanna Garza and Rosa Servin earned Division 1 ratings for their ensemble and were also awarded Outstanding Ensemble of the Day at the Howard County Indoor Festival. Mia Chavarria and Rosa Servin each received Division 1 ratings for their solos as well! We are so proud of these students and all the hard work they’re putting in. Up next: Frenship Open on April 11th. Let’s go, Levelland Allegro!

Capitol 2nd and 3rd graders recently attended a special Physical Education field trip with Mrs. Sanders to Premier Martial Arts in Lubbock. During the visit, students learned the importance of being kind, confident, and disciplined while also practicing a few basic self-defense and karate moves. Instructor Mr. James Yaeger led the session and demonstrated several martial arts techniques. To end the visit with excitement, he selected two students to help demonstrate how to break a wooden board with a kick. The students did a fantastic job, and everyone enjoyed this fun and educational experience! We thank Mrs. Sanders for giving her students one more way to get physical!

LHS hosted a Senior Ring Ceremony for students purchasing their senior rings. Herff Jones always brings the nicest ceremony, showing kids the symbolism of their ring! Each student’s name was called out, and then that student received their ring onstage. Congratulations to our LHS Juniors and Seniors receiving their Senior rings in the ceremony yesterday! We are so proud of our graduates!
https://files.smartsites.parentsquare.com/8584/ringceremony26.mp4

Yeehaw! Our ABC Littles blew in last week to celebrate Texas Public School Week by learning all about the Lone Star State. Students spent the day exploring what makes Texas special through a variety of fun, hands-on activities. The children enjoyed roping from a real saddle, riding their horses, reading books about Texas, thinking about Texas symbols in BINGO, and showing off their best boot-stomping dance moves. To make the day even more special, students had a Texas-style picnic lunch right in their classrooms. It was a wonderful day of learning, laughter, and Texas pride. Our ABC Littles had a fantastic time celebrating Texas Public School Week together!

It was a great Friday the 13th at LHS! Daniel Duran signed today to continue his eSports career in college! Daniel will be attending Messiah University in Pennsylvania, where he will compete in Valorant while pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity. Valorant is a team-based game, and through the program, Daniel has developed strong skills in communication, teamwork, and leadership. He is also a very talented player and has worked hard to reach this level. His eSports Coach Austin says, "We are incredibly proud of Daniel and excited to see him continue doing what he loves at the next level. He has been part of the Levelland High School Esports program for four years. During that time, Daniel has mentored students joining the program and is always willing to help others learn and improve." Daniel we are so proud of you and the recognition you bring to this amazing LHS program, inspiring others to follow in your footsteps. We wish you the best as you continue to make a difference in this cybersecurity and eSports!

Capitol & South both hosted their STAAR Parent Nights before spring break so parents could learn what their children must do on the STAAR reading and math tests in April. Third and fourth-graders will all be taking the exams on Chromebooks. Students showed their parents all the accommodations & resources that will help them during the exam. The reading/writing test will be given on April 14th and the Math test will be given on April 22nd this year. Practice tests are a great way to prepare for the STAAR exam and familiarize yourself with the format.

You can practice taking the tests with your children at https://www.texasassessment.gov/practice-tests.html. Scroll and click practice test log in. Choose "guest" on both icons, then pick your grade (3-12), then pick a test.

Practice makes perfect, and parents can help at home!

Did you know that your teeth affect your overall health? Capitol PE teacher Kristy Sanders had special guests from South Plains Rural Health visit her PE classes last week to teach students how to take better care of their teeth. Lacey Deanda and Yvianna Rodarte spoke with each PE class, reminding students to see a dentist for a cleaning and checkup at least twice a year. They also encouraged students to brush at least twice a day (especially after eating sugary foods), floss every day, and limit sugary drinks and snacks. Thank you, Mrs. Sanders, for helping keep our kids healthy from head to toe!

LMS students in Mrs. Missy Passmore's College and Career Exploration classes are so lucky to have enjoyed having several guest speakers visit with them to share information about the many different jobs and career opportunities available to them in the future. These speakers have talked about their education, training, daily responsibilities, and the paths they took to reach their careers. Students have had the opportunity to ask questions, learn about real-world experiences, and explore possible career paths they may want to pursue after graduation. Hearing directly from professionals in different fields has helped students better understand the skills and preparation needed for a variety of careers and has encouraged them to start thinking about their own goals for the future. Master Sergeant Michael Chad Drennan, USAF, (Ret.) talked to the class about his 20-year experience in the United States Air Force. Students learned about opportunities for careers in the military and what a typical day looked like for MSgt. Drennan and the benefits of being in the military. Christopher Cogdill, a former Levelland Middle School student, talked with students about Soft Skills and Hard Skills. He advised students on how to get the most out of High School and shared his experience with college and work. Josephine Barrera, RN MSN CCM told students that she started college right after high school to earn her nursing degree, but has never stopped learning and taking course work to better herself. She now supervises other nurses and says, "With nursing, everything you do, whether it’s big or small, you are making a difference and helping someone feel better." Emily Reddick a licensed Clinical Social Worker advised students to have patience as they go through school to find what fits them best. "You should not be afraid to choose and then start over." Coralia Mihu, MD an infectious diseases doctor opened doors for students telling them that they can do a lot of different things and even be a traveling physician all around the world. We thank Mrs. Passmore for always engaging students in their thinking about their future while letting them know too, that it's OK to change your mind!

Our Capitol 3rd-grade GT student visited KLBK and Chief Meteorologist Jacob Riley last week to plan for their semester GT project! They visited the KLBK studios to learn more about news production. Their project this year is to produce their own newscast! Jacob says, "I can't wait to see their final product!" and we can't either! Tune in this spring for that amazing feature!

LHS sends out a big congratulations to Casen Potter on signing to play football at the next level! Casen officially signed today to continue his education and football career at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. We're proud too, that he’ll still be a Lobo, just like here at LHS! Our LHS coaches are incredibly proud of Casen, not only for his talent on the field, but also for his dedication in the classroom. His hard work and commitment have truly paid off. We can’t wait to see all the great things ahead for him. Once a Lobo, always a Lobo!

LHS Girls Basketball Coach Bell shares the great news of his Loboettes earning All-District Honors! He says, "First and foremost, we want to say that we as coaches are very proud of our Loboettes this season. It's been a very long and hard season...going 24-11 on the year. On top of that, we are really blessed with how these girls represented Loboette basketball by making this All-District list. We are very proud of you!" We send out congratulations to all of our Loboettes on being named to this prestigious list!

LHS Boys Basketball Coach Durrett shared that several Lobos earned District Honors for their dedication both on the court and in the classroom. Coach Durrett said, “I couldn’t be any prouder of our boys for walking away with these District Honors! These awards are well deserved and a testament to how much these kids sacrifice day in and day out. Congratulations to these Lobos!” We couldn’t agree more! We are incredibly proud of each of you and the hard work you’ve put in this season. Keep representing LHS with pride! Congratulations on earning this elite recognition!

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Email: dheseman@levellandisd.net
Website: www.levellandisd.net
Location: 704 11th Street, Levelland, TX
Phone: 806-894-9628
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LevellandISD/
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