J. Graham Brown School
Bear Essentials
March 9, 2022, Issue #28
Principal's Message
Dear Brown School family,
Our vision at Brown is that we forge reasoned minds and educated hearts of self-directed lifelong learners. After watching the video of our students in Gregory Grazette's Computer Science class, you'll have a great idea what that entails.
Our performing arts team attended training yesterday on our new programmable sound system in our auditorium. This will benefit all our performing arts (orchestra, choir, band, drama) along with other special programs such as our Black History Program, promotion/commencement ceremonies, and assemblies. This is going to be especially amazing for our drama program. If you have attended theatrical performances at Brown in the past, it has been a struggle to hear our performers in spite of renting headset mics and other equipment. The new system is going to change that! Again, I am grateful for the investment that JCPS is making in our students.
Please pay special attention to the SBDM Update today!
Love,
Dr. Angela
This Week's Essentials
SBDM Update
A note from Dr. Angela about the upcoming SBDM Council meeting:
Every spring, one of the most important tasks that SBDM Councils complete is approving the proposed school budget for the following school year. As always, I want to invite you to review our proposed budget and provide your feedback. You may do that in two ways. You may attend our SBDM Council meeting on March 15th at 4:00 PM in room 220 and sign up as a public comment speaker. (We are able to hear from five public comment speakers at each meeting.) Or, you may reach out to your role group representative, and they may share your feedback on your behalf. Our parent representatives are as follows.
Walter Zausch - walter@zausch.com
Camara Douglas - cudoug07@gmail.com
Felicia Alfred - felicialalfred@gmail.com
Ashley Chesman - ashley@chesmanfamily.com
Our proposed budgets were developed through a collaborative process.*
Multiple "Needs Assessments" were conducted where teachers/staff identified priority areas for school-wide funding and grade-level/departmental priorities.
Our Budget Committee, made up of teachers, parents, and administrators, reviewed these Needs Assessments and earmarked funds to meet these needs.
Regular, recurring costs were then budgeted for that includes the daily operation of our school.
Wish list items were identified and funds set aside to help make those happen. Our wish list items this year are a large mounted electric projection screen and a rear-mounted projector for our auditorium.
Our SBDM Council has the final authority to approve the budget for the 2022-23 school year.
*At the time of this newsletter, the Flexible Focus Funds Budget is not complete. The Budget Committee will be meeting on 3/14 to finalize the remaining unallocated funding.
SBDM Council Meeting
4:00 PM
March 15, 2022
Room 220
Agenda**
Opening Business
Agenda Approval
Approval of the Minutes of the Meetings of February 15 and March 1, 2022
Sharing of the Vision
Good News Report
Public Comment
Committee Reports
Budget Committee Report (2/21, 2/23, 2/28, 3/14)
Curriculum & Instruction Committee Report (3/10)
Professional Development Committee Report (3/14)
Racial Equity Committee Report (3/9)
Safety & School Climate Committee Report (3/2)
Budget Report
Flexible Budget Summary
Activity Accounts: District-Based; School-Based
Policies for Review and REAP
First Reading of the Wellness Policy
Second Reading of Travel Policy
Second Reading of Writing Policy
Second Reading of Assignment of Students to College Level Courses
New Business
Approval Request for the FY23 ESS Budget
Approval Request for the FY23 Instructional Materials Budget
Approval Request for the FY23 Sections 4 and 5 Staffing Change
Approval Request for the FY23 Flexible Focus Funds Budget
Adjournment
**Additional live links and agenda items may be added until the time of the "Agenda Approval." For the most up-to-date agenda, visit THIS LINK.
Workshop for Families of Students with IEPs
Please see info about a parent workshop on March 18 for academic supports in reading, writing, and math. Lunch will be sponsored by Metro United Way.
Book Fair Information
Buckle your safety belts!! Book Fair is BACK!!! We will be running things the same as in the fall, to keep crowds to a minimum, but give everyone plenty of chances to come up and see us. Mark your calendars for 3/14-3/25. We need LOTS of parent volunteers (From setup, to running it during the day, to tearing it down). Please contact our librarian, Amanda K., with any questions. Or, you can sign up HERE to help.
CLICK HERE to get your Backpack questions answered.
Norah Wakefield8th & 12th Grade Backpack Leadnorah.wakefield@jefferson.kyschools.us
5th Graders are Creating Defense Presentations
How can you help your 5th grader prepare for their defense? Have them show you their Google Slide Defense. We have worked together in class to complete slides 1 through 4, and they can tell you all about artifacts they have chosen for Productive Collaborator.
Slide 1-Directions
Slide 2- Title Slide
Slide 3- All About Me (they need family pictures)
Slide 4-Productive Collaborator
5th Grade Backpack Defenses will take place on April 18, 19, & 20.
Cultural Connections
The 2022 Women's History theme, “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope,” is both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.
Learn more about Women's History Month HERE.
Parent-Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
March 10 Digital Safety and Citizenship Workshops
Sign up here - https://bit.ly/BrownPTSA-DS
Sticker Contest Winners!
Congratulations to Dolly (elementary), Kelley and Samuel (a tie for middle), and Michelle (high) for winning the PTSA Sticker Contest! This spring all students will be given a Brown School stickers based on their grade level. Thanks to everyone who participated! The middle school stickers are pictured above and below:
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.
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.
CLICK HERE to visit our new site.
PTSA Meetings for 2022, 6:00 PM
Our meetings are in person at the school or via Zoom
March 15, 2022 (Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82833427989?pwd=YUFOVDg0K2xYc2xjcEhneHRkaDQzQT09)
April 19, 2022
May 10, 2022
Support PTSA fundraising efforts, read about members, etc. - CLICK HERE
Robin Cash, Middle/High School Counselor / robin.cash@jefferson.kyschools.us
Need Student Support?
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.
Counselors
Repeat info:
Robin will be visiting classes in early March 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!
TESTING: Juniors will be taking the ACT on March 8. While we know all of our students are so much more than a number, this allows us to identify how we can best support our students to be ready for college so they have every opportunity to further their education. We have partnered with the Louisville Free Public Library to give every junior access to free test prep materials. Please encourage all of our junior students as they prepare!
JCTC Accepting Applications for the JCPS Rotary Bridge Program
JCTC is now accepting applications for the 2022/2023 JCPS Rotary Bridge program. This is a dual credit program for students who will be seniors during the 2022/2023 school year. Students in Bridge take college classes in person at Jefferson’s Southwest Campus. Most students who participate in this program will not need to take classes at their high school.
Students must apply to the program by April 1 by going to https://JCTC.me/JCPSBridge.
There will be an information session on Wednesday, March 16, 5:30-6:30 PM at which students and parents/guardians can learn more about the program and have the opportunity to ask questions before the application deadline. The session will be held on Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+1 859-286-5834
Phone Conference ID: 232 886 688#
Important Dates to Remember
· March 16th, 5:30-6:30 PM – Online info session to learn more about the program and ask questions.
Microsoft Teams meeting Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join the meeting Or call in (audio only) +1 859-286-5834 Phone Conference ID: 232 886 688#
· April 1st – Deadline to complete the program application below
· May 1st – Complete KCTCS Application and JCTC Dual Credit Agreement with a parent/guardian.
· May 17th, 6:30-8:30 PM – In person student orientation at the Southwest Campus (Required)
· June 7th, 6:30-8:30 PM – Makeup in person student orientation at the Southwest Campus (Required for those unable to attend May17th)
· August 10th, 10:00-12:00 – In person Fall Semester Kickoff at the Southwest Campus (Required)
· August 15th – Beginning of the Fall Semester
· January 9th – Beginning of the Spring Semester
Program Application: Tell your high school counselor you are applying and complete the program application at https://jctc.me/JCPSBridge.
JCPS Rotary Bridge Program Highlights
• JCPS seniors take college classes in person at Jefferson’s Southwest Campus. Most students in the program will not take classes at their high school.
• Classes count towards high school graduation and college graduation.
• Students graduate from their home high school and can participate in sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities.
• Students take 3 or 4 classes in the fall semester and 4 classes in the spring semester.
• Classes follow the JCTC Academic Calendar.
• Tuition is paid by scholarships from KHEAA and the Rotary Club of Louisville.
• Students are responsible for their own transportation to Jefferson’s Southwest Campus.
• Basic class materials (notebooks, pen/pencil, calculators, etc.) are the responsibility of the student.
• Textbooks for classes will be provided to students at the kickoff event prior to the start of the semester.
• The Bridge program is only for JCPS seniors (apply during the Junior year) who have demonstrated college readiness. Students need either:
o 3.0 cumulative unweighted high school GPA
OR
o ACT Math 19, English 18, and Reading 20
OR
o Passed Accelerate to College (A2C) English
• Students must attend required orientation and kickoff.
Athletics
Winter Sports:
Archery
Archery will finish out their season on 3/5 at the JTown shoot. Its been a great season and are thankful to coach Jennifer and all of our student archers. Good luck on the 5th Bears!!
Elementary Basketball
The elementary basketball team played a great game last week, coming up a little short. They will take on Okolona this Saturday at 10:00 at Brown. Come and cheer our Bear Cubs to victory.
Spring Sports:
Spring sports are underway, with the exception of middle school soccer and tennis. Our softball and baseball teams are practicing at Beechmont and our track team at Central.
There is a tennis interest meeting for all 7th-12th grade students on Thursday after school in the library.
*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 Spring Coaches:
Baseball (7th-12th)- Jake Amettis - jacob.amettis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Softball (7th-12th)- Amanda Gravens - amandaggravens@yahoo.com
Track- Jelly Green- william.green@jefferson.kyschools.us
Tennis (7th-12th)- Matt Davis- matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Athletic Director- Justin Leonard- Justin.leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us
Middle School Spring Sports:
Boys Soccer- TBA
Girls Soccer- Josh Luttrell- rja172307@gmail.com
Track- Jelly Green- william.green@jefferson.kyschools.us
Athletic Director- Matt Davis- matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Family Matters
Looking for outdoor learning opportunities for your child? Submit the form below to Louisville ECHO for more information. (Louisville Engaging Children Outdoors: https://louisvilleky.gov/.../jefferson.../louisville-echo)
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
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.
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.