🐻 February 11, 2026 | Issue #26 🐻
Embedded Files
Principal's Message
Principal's Message
❤️ Happy Valentine's Week! ❤️
I hope your upcoming Valentine's Day is full of love and joy. Take some time this week to intentionally show your student some love.
❤️ One of the best ways to share your love with your student is to tell them that they are important. In this big world, it is easy to feel unnecessary or irrelevant. Every person's life comes with hills and valleys. You don't have to be famous or the best at something to be important.
❤️ It may sound silly, but one of the best ways to tell your student you love them is to tell them you're happy that they were born! Cherish them and tell them that you are lucky that you get to experience life with them. Make sure they know that your life is better with them in it.
❤️ Sometimes people have a hard time believing that they deserve good things. Everyone deserves good things in their life and should be given the opportunity to find happiness. Be sure to share these affirmations with your student and also remember that YOU deserve positive things in your life as well.
❤️ Many of our students struggle with negative thoughts. If this is your student, remind them that they are so much more than their negative thoughts. There are so many things that make them special and unique, and these things outweigh anything negative that may pop in their head.
❤️ Make sure your student knows they are doing a great job! In life, we are all doing the best we can. Sometimes we are on top and sometimes we are on the struggle bus. Tell them that you are proud of them and let them know that you are doing your best, too.
A few months ago a group of students met with me to discuss the need for bottle filling stations on the north side of our building. On our second and third floors, the current stations were located in the center of the building and were out of the way if your classes were located in the north hallways. When we received our carry-over funds (unused funds from last year's budget that we had saved), I met with the Budget Committee to incorporate additional bottle filling stations into our spending plan. The plan was approved by the SBDM Council, and the building modification request was submitted to the district. Two weeks ago the work was completed on both new stations! Thank you so much to the students who saw a need and then advocated for it.
Love,
Dr. Angela
Quick Links
Quick Links
Dates to Remember
Dates to Remember
February 11 - NAEP Testing
February 12 - 4th Grade Field Trip to Locust Grove
February 12 - Budget Committee Meeting
February 13 - Black Career Expo
February 13 - Parents Night Out
February 16 - No School
February 17 - Student Led Conference Day
February 18 - 8th Grade Field Trip to Ali Center
February 19 - Spring Portraits
February 19 - Budget Committee Meeting
February 19 - PTSA Board Meeting
February 20 - Black History Wax Museum (Grades 3-5)
February 20 - Black History Parade (Grades K-2)
February 23 - Budget Committee Meeting
February 23 - SBDM Council Meeting
February 24 - Counselor Conversation
February 26 - MS/HS Orchestra Concert
February 27 - 31st Annual Black History Program
Weekly Essentials
Weekly Essentials
Parents Night Out
Parents Night Out
It's the best time of the year! Parents, make reservations and the leave the rest to us! We are having our second parents night out on Friday, Feb. 13th. For students in grades K-5, return the reservation sheet with $35 (discount offered for siblings ($25 each) and just pick them up at the blue doors at 8pm. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Norah.Wakefield@jefferson.kyschools.us
All proceeds go to benefit the Senior Class of 2026
Student-Led Conferences
Student-Led Conferences
Teachers at all levels are excited to host families for student-led conferences on Tuesday, February 17th! You can expect your child to lead the conversation about their learning and growth in these special milestones of their learning. Teachers will be reaching out with schedules for Student-Led Conferences.
Further information from the district and prompts for parents linked in the Toolkits for each level here.
Spring Portraits
Spring Portraits
Say Cheese:
Parents don't miss your chance to order Spring Portraits. Spring Portraits will taken on Febrauary 19th. Envelopes were sent home for all pre-orders. After Feb. 19th - you will need to order the photos online through their link.
YEARBOOK DEADLINES
YEARBOOK DEADLINES
Parents of 5th, 8th and 12th graders, the absolute final deadline to order recognition ads is Thursday, February 12th at midnight.
Addionally - final numbers for yearbooks have to be submitted by February 23rd. Please preorder your yearbook to ensure you are able to get one!!
Weekly Features
Weekly Features
Athletics
Athletics
Middle and High School Athletics
Middle and High School Athletics
Gym Dedication Ceremony- Join us on February 18th between the high school girls and boys basketball games for the dedication and renaming ceremony of the gymnasium in honor of Wade Houston. Coach Houston began is coaching career in the Brown Gymnasium and went on to win championships and break barriers coaching for UofL, the University of Tennessee and become a leader in the community. See the attached flyer for details- Wade Houston Gymnasium Dedication Ceremony
Spring Sports Information- Please go through this slideshow for information on Spring Sports: Brown Spring Sports Information
Churchill Downs Fundraising/Volunteering- If you are interested in fundraising for the team of your choice by working at Churchill Downs on 4/29, 4/30, 5/1, or 5/2, please fill this form. We will send out more information soon: Downs Volunteering Form
Brown Athletics Website- For up-to-date information on Brown Athletics and everything you need to know about Brown Athletics (practices, announcements, photos, game information, how to join sports at Brown, merchandise, etc.) please visit www.brownbearsathletics.com.
Middle School Lady Bears In Final Four- The Lady Bears MS Basketball team is playing in the Final Four of the JCPS Tournament tonight at 6:45 at Thomas Jefferson Middle School vs Ramsey.
Register NOW for Spring Sports on Final Forms- If you are planning on or interested in playing a spring sport this year, registration is now open on Final Forms. If you already have a Final Forms account, the parent needs to login and add the sport OR email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us and I will register them. If you have not made one yet, please visit www.brownbearsathletics.com and select the Final Forms links and fill out all of the forms.
Boys Volleyball Tryouts- Middle School and High School Boys Volleyball tryouts are today in the gym from 3pm-5pm. Players must have an up-to-date physical and all forms signed on Final Forms to try out. The Final Forms link and directions are on www.brownbearsathletics.com.
Middle School Soccer Interest Meetings- Middle school soccer will have interest meetings Thursday, 2/12 from 3:00-3:30 pm. The boys will meet in room 140 (Heather's room) and the girls will meet in the lobby.
Tennis Interest Meeting- Tennis (7th-12th) will have an interest meeting Thursday, 2/19 in Heather's room (140) from 3:00-3:30 pm. *Not recommended for 7th and 8th grade beginners*
Track Information- Middle and High School Outdoor Track information will be in next week's Bear Essential. Registration is now open on Final Forms. If you already have a Final Forms account, all you need to do is log in and select Middle and/or High School Outdoor Track. If you have not made one yet, please visit www.brownbearsathletics.com and select the Final Forms link and fill out all of the forms. If you are in 7th or 8th grade, please join the High School Outdoor Track also.
💙💛Go Running Bears!💛💙
Athletics Sports Physicals- The nurse practitioner had an emergency and had to cancel the sports physicals scheduled for 2/10. As soon as they are rescheduled, we will email everyone that has signed up. Please have the physicals below filled out and turned into the school nurse prior to the day physicals will occurr. *Students cannot try out or practice w/out an up-to-date sports physical. If you need to know the status of your current sports physical, please email an athletic director. 6th grade school physicals do not count as sports physicals.
Brown School Booster Club- Join the Brown School Athletics Booster Club! They are planning fun events and ways our parents and community can help support Brown School Athletics.
Booster Club Informational Flyer
Brown Bears Athletics Instagram- Please follow brown_bears_athletics on Instagram.
Kroger Rewards- Please add Brown Athletics to your Kroger Rewards Program. It does not take away from your gas points and really helps out our athletic programs.
Elementary Athletics
Elementary Athletics
Elementary Basketball- There are no elementary basketball games scheduled for this week.
Elementary Soccer- Tryouts: We are going to have two days of tryouts. It’s not necessary to come to both.
Main tryout day will be Sunday March 1st 1-2:30pm
If people aren’t able to make that tryout we will also have an additional tryout the following day Monday March 2nd from 5:30-630pm.
Please arrive 15 mins early in order to check in and be assigned a number and tryout team.
Please bring a ball, water and have shin guards and cleats on.
We will have tryouts at Seneca park next to the middle softball field across from Rock Creek Riding Club
Please let the parents know that due to the large amount of interest we will have to make cuts to get the teams down to 15 each.
The coaches will then assign/build 3 teams.
Gold- competitive
Blue and White- developmental.
Parents will be informed by email and practices will start the following week.
Any questions have them email me rickbach72@gmail.com
Thank you & Keep Advocating
Thank you & Keep Advocating
Thank you to everyone who emailed the board this past week. We also want to thank Beatrice Marovich and Matt Kaufmann for speaking at the JCPS School Board Meeting Last Night. They are still working on the budget - so please keep emailing them. Brown Advocacy Site
SB 114 - Call Today!
SB 114 - Call Today!
🚨 ALERT: Senate Bill 114 would eliminate your right to vote for school board in Jefferson and Fayette Counties.
Under this bill, elected boards would be replaced with politicians' appointees. Nearly 1 million Kentuckians would lose their voice.
This isn't reform. It's a takeover.
📞 Leave a message for ALL legislators at 1-800-372-7181 and tell them to VOTE NO on SB 114.
#StopSB114
We have heard that this will be at the Senate Educational Committee tomorrow morning.
Student Support Team
Student Support Team
Mental Health Practitioner
Mental Health Practitioner
If you are interested in mental health services for your student outside of the school setting, we are able to make referrals for you through Care Solace. If you are interested in my services with your student to start off the school year please reach out to me via the student support form and I will be happy to talk with you and find the best services for your student. I am hoping to do more groups this year, so if you have an idea that you think would benefit your child feel free to reach out!
I am also excited to announce that we have gotten approval to have a makeup day for our Mental Health Fair! The event will take place on March 13 (3/13) fro 9-2. Families are welcome to attend. We will have a good amount of groups attending this year, and I am excited for all of these resources to be available to our students!
Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator
Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator
If you receive government assistance, you may be eligible for additional savings at Kroger when you verify your status! Click here for details.
Elementary Counselor
Elementary Counselor
What's up in the ES World? Check out Miss Christy's ES Counseling Corner to stay up-to-date on your child's school activities.
Middle School Counselor
Middle School Counselor
Hi all!
Please click the link above to see what we've been doing in middle school this week.
This Friday is the 3rd Annual Black Expo College and Career Fair from 9-2 in our gym. Students in grades K-12 will have the chance to engage and interact with over 25 different career fields and have the chance to win cool door prizes.
High School Counselor
High School Counselor
This Friday is the 3rd Annual Black Expo College and Career Fair from 9-2 in our gym. Students in grades K-12 will have the chance to engage and interact with over 25 different career fields and have the chance to win cool door prizes.
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We have been working to complete Individual Learning Plans in Advisory. Please talk to your student about their goals in Pathful!
Music Department
Music Department
Orchestra Upcoming Performances:
Orchestra Upcoming Performances:
PreKMEA Orchestra Concert (6-12th grade)- February 26, 2026 at 7:00 pm
High School Large Ensemble Performance- March 3, 2026 at 2:55 pm at Ballard High School
Middle School Large Ensemble Performance (7th/8th grade)- March 5, 2026 at 10:50 am at Ballard High School
Connections
Connections
SBDM Update
SBDM Update
The next SBDM meeting is February 23rd!
Brown Community Book Release and Conversation
Brown Community Book Release and Conversation
Please join us at Carmichael's Bookstore on Frankfort Ave for a Book Release for the young adult environmental justice book A Better World Is Possible by Danica Novgorodoff. There will be a Community Conversation featuring Brown junior and environmental club member Tatem Ballard on March 5, 7pm.
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