J. Graham Brown School
Bear Essentials
February 2, 2022, Issue #23
Principal's Message
Dear Brown School family,
It's Spirit Week, and I'm blessed to work in the most magical school on earth! Today has been my favorite spirit day so far - "Anything But A Backpack!" Be sure to check out our Facebook page after school to see some of the photos.
Love,
Dr. Angela
This Week's Essentials
Everybody Counts
"Every young adult in Kentucky counts. We want to do everything we can to ensure each one of these graduating seniors is on a path for success – a path that can change in the future if their goals change. We are at a unique moment in time. There's never been more opportunity to get higher education and training, and for the first time in my lifetime we have more jobs than people to fill them. We want to give these students a chance to select that path they want to be on before they graduate." —Governor Andy Beshear
Everybody Counts is​ a new program that will help every Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) graduate secure one of three pathways: a job, post-secondary enrollment or both.
The program will begin in the 2021-2022 school year and will be in place to assist the class of 2022. 
Everybody Counts is a new program that will help every Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) graduate secure one of three pathways: a job, post-secondary enrollment or both.
The program will begin in the 2021-2022 school year and will be in place to assist the Class of 2022.
Everybody Counts guarantees job placement for all eligible JCPS graduates of the Class of 2022 at either Ford, UPS, Kroger or GE Appliances.
Students will be accepted on a first-qualified, first-accepted basis at one of the four companies.
Our goal is to have 3,000 graduates participate in post-secondary education through the scholarship with Evolve 502 or employment at one of the business partners listed above or both!
 
Qualifications may vary for each employer. Any student not eligible for employment through one business partner should seek employment with another company invested in Everybody Counts. 
COVID Quarantine Procedures
Please note that JCPS continues to follow our previous guidelines on students for quarantine due to COVID. Although the CDC shared new guidance, we are awaiting protocols from the Kentucky Department of Public Health to determine how the state might require schools to implement any new rules. Until we receive this from the state, we will continue to follow the existing guidance of a ten-day quarantine for those who test positive. Please review the current guidelines below.
For students who test positive, they will quarantine for 10 calendar days starting from the day after either the positive test or the onset of symptoms, whichever comes first.
For students who are identified as close contacts of individuals who have tested positive, they will quarantine for 10 calendar days starting the day after exposure. These students will have the opportunity to participate in the Test to Stay program, which would enable them to return to school with a negative COVID test from the previous school day.
If and when procedures are updated, the district and our school will communicate accordingly.
School Newspaper
Please read the Bear Necessities, a student publication that gives students the opportunity to share their voices on current events.
Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship (KEES) ~ 8th-12th Grade Students
Kentucky students may earn money for college through the KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship) program. ​Students who try to get the most from high school by studying hard and making good grades (2.5 GPA or higher) can earn scholarships for college or technical school​. ​The better students do in high school, the more they will earn toward college scholarships. ​Students receive bonuses for doing well on the ACT​, ​SAT​, ​and for students who qualify for the Free and Reduced Meal program​, ​on the Advanced Placement (AP​) ​exams. For more information about the specifics of the KEES program, visit www.kheaa​.​com​.
The KEES scholarship funds are assigned via the qualifying student's social security number. ​To be eligible to receive earned KEES scholarship funds, a copy of the student's social security card is needed.
If you have not already done so, you need to subit a copy of your student's social security card to the Records Clerk. You can scan and email a copy to our Records Clerk HERE, or make a copy into the office in a secure envelope marked "Records Clerk". If you are unsure if the school has a record of your student's social security number and want confirmation or have any questions, please email Stacey Powell and she will respond accordingly.
Parent-Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
WE NEED OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS!
We have the following openings for Officers and Committee Chairs for the PTSA.
Vice President, Ways and Means (1) - Fundraising
Vice President, Ways and Means (2) - Fundraising
Secretary
Merchandise Chair
Concessions Chair
Enrichments Chair, Spring 2022
If interested, please email Shawna Stenton or Membership VP here. New Officers and Committee Chairs will be either be appointed or elected in a special election.
PTSA Meetings for 2021-2022, 6:00 PM
Our meetings are in person at the school, or via Zoom, CLICK HERE
February 15, 2022
March 15, 2022
April 19, 2022
May 10, 2022
Support PTSA fundraising efforts, Read about Members, etc. - CLICK HERE
JOIN THE 2021-2022 PTSA!
Parents/Guardians, Staff, middle/high school students, and even grandparents are eligible to join the PTSA and enter the drawing. Membership is only $5.00 and benefits our school in so many ways.
Click here to join.
All new memberships through the end of November will be entered for a drawing of a gift bag of Brown School merchandise, clothing, and other goodies.
Visit our new Merchandise Site!
All new merchandise will be fulfilled by our third-party partners and will ship directly to you.
To visit our new site... click here
Sticker Contest!
The PTSA will be purchasing stickers for all Brown School students but we need your help designing them. We’re asking students from each level (elementary, middle, and high) to submit their sticker design to Dr. Shawna Stenton (Shawna.stenton@jefferson.kyschools.us) no later than noon on Friday, February 18th. You will then vote to determine the design of the stickers to be given to students at each level this spring. Thanks and good luck!
Robin Cash, Middle/High School Counselor / robin.cash@jefferson.kyschools.us
Counselors
Connect with us: To connect with a member of the student support team complete THIS SUPPORT REQUEST FORM and we will assign a student support staff member to meet with the student as soon as possible based on the student's needs and our availability.
For students in grades 3-10 who took the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) in Oct as a qualifier into the Advance Program. Packets were given to students yesterday and today with important information for parents about the next steps in the Advance Program and possibly Gifted/Talented (General Intellectual-category) for their child. Please click HERE for a brief outline of the next steps.
STAR STUDENTS grades K-2
STAR STUDENTS grades 3-5
ELEMENTARY (K-5)
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) Scores posted now in Parent Portal
Need to talk to the Elementary School Counselor? Click HERE to see how.
MIDDLE/HIGH (6-12)
Mental Health Check-in lessons are happening in Grades 6 & 7 Math classes and Study Hall for Grades 8+ this week. Students that miss the lesson or do not have a study hall will be followed up with in Feb. Please talk to your student about their mental health <3
Repeat info:
Robin will be visiting classes in February to discuss scheduling courses for next year. Many opportunities are available such as new electives, UPS, Dual Credit, Career Pathways, and Work-Based Learning. Start thinking about which classes and/or programs will best enhance your educational experience!
Transcripts for seniors need to be requested on parchment.com for mid-year reports!
We are creating the schedule for next year and at this time we need to make sure we offer the right number of sections of the right classes! Please complete the survey based on your current grade level (use your JCPS email):
College Connection
Jostens has visited Juniors and Senior regarding class rings and ALL things GRADUATION: order your cap & gown, class ring, and yearbook at THIS LINK.
Athletics
Winter Sports:
Swim/Dive Team
Our High School Divers, Daphne Powell and Maisie Smith, are competing today at the Regional Dive Meet in Versailles, Ky. Go Lady Bears!
Regional Swim is scheduled to begin this Friday at UofL's Natatorium, with Prelims on Friday and the Finals on Saturday. Go Bears!
Bowling Team
Congratulations to Nathan Shannon, who finished 2nd in the Region and will represent us at State next Tuesday 2/8 at Executive Strike and Spare. We are proud of you Nathan.
Our girls single bowlers will head to regionals tonight at Ten Pin. Good luck to Ruby Guelda, Kaitlynn Keith, Gracie Rice and Niara Snowden.
Archery
Archery had a great day at the Sacred Heart Shoot this past Sunday. They will head to the duPont Manual Shoot this Saturday. Good luck Bears!!
Basketball
Middle school boys basketball finished their season last night, after playing very well against Ramsey. The boys improved a lot over the season and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
Girls middle school will host the second round of the tournament on Thursday 2/3 against Moore. The girls earned a bye after a great regular season. Good luck ladies!!
High School basketball got some big wins last night vs the LKY Saints. The boys won 68-29 and the girls won 39-15. We will have homecoming Friday as the girls take on JTown and the boys take on Walden.
Elementary Basketball/Cheer
The elementary basketball team will start their season this Saturday at a 12:30 game against Fern Creek. Go Bears!!
*All student-athletes must complete weekly Covid testing and have all eligibility paperwork turned in before they can participate. Those forms can be found on the athletic page of mybrownschool.org, under eligibility documents, or in our main office.
High School Winter Coaches:
Boys Basketball- Jermill Bibb - jbibb20@gmail.com
Girls Basketball- Josh Luttrell - rja172307@gmail.com
Bowling- Justin Young - justin.young2@jefferson.kyschools.us
Cheer- Aruna Keswani - aruna.keswani@jefferson.kyschools.us
Swimming/Diving- William Kolb- wmkolb@gmail.com
Archery- Jennifer Pasewalk - jennbeanfest@aol.com
ESports- Andrew Boling - andrew.boling@jefferson.kyschools.us
Athletic Director- Justin Leonard- Justin.leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us
Elementary & Middle School Winter Sports:
MS Boys Basketball- Jermill Bibb- jbibb20@gmail.com
Girls Basketball- Josh Luttrell- rja172307@gmail.com
Elementary Basketball- Shawn Wilson
shawn.wilson@jefferson.kyschools.us
Swimming (grades 6 & up) William Kolb- wmkolb@gmail.com
Middle School Cheer- Ally Cunningham- alexandria.cunninham@jefferson.kyschools.us
Alexandria.cunningham@jefferson.kyschools.us
Athletic Director- Matt Davis- matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Family Matters
Register to join the Jefferson County Public Schools Chess Academy on Wednesdays. http://ow.ly/qL5x50HG21y
February is Black History Month & The Louisville Free Public offers book discussions, film screenings, history talks, storytimes, exhibits, and more for patrons of all ages. Please visit LFPL.org/BlackHistory more details.
Family Resource Youth Service Center
Hello! I am Elona Mack, and I am Brown/Central FRYSC Coordinator. Need help? Your FRYSC is here to provide assistance. Click HERE for community resources.
Please contact me with questions or concerns.
Email: Elona.mack@jefferson.kyschools.us
Phone: 502-631-9146
Cultural Connections
Chinese New Year
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, is Chinese New Year, but many families will begin celebrating this weekend. 2022 is the year of the tiger. The main Chinese New Year activities include 1) putting up decorations, 2) offering sacrifices to ancestors, 3) eating reunion dinner with family on New Year's Eve, 4) giving red envelopes and other gifts, 5) firecrackers and fireworks, and 6) watching lion and dragon dances.
CLEP TESTING PROGRAM
CLEP (College Level Examination Program) Now Available to All Brown Students
Click the link to learn about the CLEP testing lab located at Brown. This is an opportunity for our students to earn college credits for what they already know. CLICK HERE
COVID Testing
Drive-Thru Testing Option
Our 22 drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites for JCPS staff, students, and families are open from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m Monday-Friday every week. Doss High School, Highland Middle School, Meyzeek Middle School, and Newcomer Academy are NEW sites starting this week. SphereDX, the testing company, highly recommends pre-registering to ensure you will be tested. Click here to register. Please be sure you enter the correct information like name and birthdate, or your test results won't be available.
Weekly Testing at Brown
Families, please make sure to complete all of your required forms in Parent Place. That includes the weekly voluntary COVID-19 diagnostic screening testing form. More than 10,190 students are now signed up for this opportunity!
Please make sure to complete the form to indicate whether you would like your child to participate in the voluntary COVID-19 testing at Brown if you haven't already.
Click here to complete a student consent form.
CONTACT TRACING | Families will be notified if their student is a close contact with a COVID-19 case through text messages and email. If you are not already receiving JCPS text messages and emails, please text the letter "Y" to 67587. If you have any further questions, please reach out to your school directly to update your contact information, including your cell phone number and email address.
Click here or above to learn more about this new notification process.
Lost and Found
Here is a slideshow of items currently in the Lost and Found located in the lobby. Please look through it if your student has any missing items. LINK