J. Graham Brown School
Bear Essentials
September 15, 2021, Issue #7
Principal's Message
Dear Brown School family,
Our locker room renovation has started! We are getting all new locker rooms for our athletic teams. As you can see, the current locker rooms are dark and haven't been updated since 1968. We have never had a locker room for our visiting teams - they usually use a classroom and cover the glass on the door with paper for privacy. The locker rooms are being restructured to add a new "visitors" locker room and also a set of restrooms for our students with classrooms in the basement to use. Currently students in classrooms in our basement have to come up to the first floor to use the restroom.
We are also getting our first elevator that will go to the basement, but the construction on that hasn't started yet. This will be a game changer for students in wheelchairs, on crutches, and for students with disabilities that make navigating the stairs difficult/impossible. It is also going to be amazing for our band and drama programs, which have classrooms in our basement, in regards to moving large musical instruments, props. etc. (Think about moving a marimba from the basement up the stairs!)
It is really exciting that the JCPS Board of Education is making this investment in our amazing students! I believe our students deserve the best!
Love,
Dr. Angela
This Week's Essentials
Advisory Feedback
The Five Goals Committee is collecting feedback on Advisory from Parents, Students, and Teachers. Please complete THIS SHORT SURVEY and make your voice heard.
Related Arts Open House
Our related arts teachers are hosting their Open House via Zoom, since they teach across multiple levels of our school. All Open Houses will be held on Thursday, September 16th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM unless otherwise noted. Just click the link for your child's teacher to join their meeting.
Jessie Magee, 8-12 Spanish
Stacy von Roenn, 8-12 American Sign Language (Monday, September 20th from 6:00 to 7:00 PM)
Matt Davis, 9-12 Study Skills
Norah Wakefield, 8th Study Skills, Junior Seminar, Yearbook
Kate Duff, 7th Digital Literacy, 9-12 Digital Game Design
Gregory Grazette, K-5 STEAM, 6-12 Robotics, 9-12 AP Computer Science
Curtis Moss, K-5 General Music, 6-12 Band, 6-12 Choir
Tamika Carr-Briggs, Suzuki Strings, 4-12 Orchestra,
Terrilyn Fleming, K-12 Drama
Christi George, K-6 Visual Art & 9-12 Ceramics
Laura Sebastian, 7-12 Visual Art (Wednesday, September 22nd from 3:00 to 4:00 PM)
Ryan Hudson, K-12 Physical Education/Health
Amanda Klakamp, K-12 Library Media Services (TBD)
Parking in the YMCA Garage
The YMCA is offering to sell Brown School parents a monthly parking pass to the YMCA Garage for $20 per month to help with picking up students after school. Parents could park in the "Y" Garage, then walk over to the gymnasium door on Muhammad Ali Blvd to pick up elementary students, or have middle/high school students walk over to the garage to board vehicles. If you would like to purchase one, please contact Brittany O’Brien, YMCA Membership Director at 502-587-6700 between 9:00am – 6:00pm Monday through Friday.
Free Vaccines
FREE VACCINATIONS | COVID-19 vaccinations are available across Jefferson County to anyone 12 years of age or older. Click here to find locations providing the vaccine near you.
Yearbook Update
As we all have adapted to change throughout this school year, one thing that has remained the same is the yearbook tradition of documenting the history of our students and our school year. We are pleased to announce that our yearbook adviser and staff are working hard to complete the yearbook and make sure it reflects all of the changes our students have made in 2021-2022.
We also have great news about our yearbook Baby Ads. Yearbook Baby Ads are a great way for parents, families and friends to commemorate student achievement and important milestones. To purchase your Ad(s) online hit Baby Ads !
Since copies are limited, we ask that you please order your yearbook online as soon as possible. Jostens offers a payment plan at checkout for your purchase if you would like to use that option. If you would like to purchase a yearbook, click on the hyperlink
Cultural Connections
You might not be aware, but the J. Graham Brown School is one of only two schools in the state of Kentucky that offers American Sign Language classes to students to fulfill their world language requirements. This is a huge opportunity for our students to be able not only learn a language but to learn more about the culture of the deaf community. Louisville has a vibrant deaf community. You can learn more about our deaf community in Kentucky at the Kentucky Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing website.
Make-Up
Picture Day
Our Make-up Picture Day will be on Wednesday, September 22nd, for those students that may have missed the initial days. Please contact Martha Work for questions regarding ordering. Martha is can take payments via Venmo: @Martha-Work or PayPal: mwork55@gamil.com
Dismissal Parking and Safety Reminders
Once again, we need to remind our families that you must use the designated dismissal pick-up procedures. Please do not use the Forefront Dermatology lot for parking or waiting on your student. Also do not use the alley between Forefront Dermatology and the law office next door to pull down to wait on your student to be dismissed.
Our friends at the YMCA have shared that they have seen families making left turns onto Chestnut Street from 2nd Street from the second lane (non-turning lane). They also have asked that anyone waiting in the car rider line before 2:40 PM not block the rear exit from the YMCA Parking Garage.
SBDM Update
Our monthly SBDM meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 21st at 4:00 PM in room 319. The tentative agenda is linked HERE.
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
Family Matters
National Center for Families Learning and Jefferson County Public Schools are working with families to transform their schools and community. Activate! promotes leadership through participatory democracy, economic opportunity, social justice, and equity. Apply now to join this amazing group!
Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
Win a Courtyard Pizza Party for your Class! STARTS THIS WEEK!
Join the PTSA for just $5 and help your child’s class win a pizza party in the courtyard! The more members of your family that join, the better chance your child’s class has to win! The contest starts today!
Parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, middle and high school students, and any other family members may join for just $5.00 per person. Click here to join by October 10th.
JOIN THE 2021-2022 PTSA!
Open to all Parents/Guardians, Faculty/Staff, Students (5th grade+), or Grandparents. Join Here
Open to all Parents/Guardians, Faculty/Staff, Students (5th grade+), or Grandparents. Join Here
PTSA Meetings for 2021-2022, 6:00PM
September 21, 2021
October 19, 2021
November 16, 2021
December 14, 2021
January 18, 2022
February 15, 2022
March 15, 2022
April 19, 2022
May 10, 2022
Support PTSA fundraising efforts, Read about Members, etc. - CLICK HERE
Walter Zausch, PTSA President brownptsa.president@gmail.com
Membership Drive: SWAG BAG Drawing
Join the PTSA and earn a chance to win a J. Graham Brown School Swag Bag!
All new memberships through the end of September will be entered for a drawing of a gift bag of Brown School merchandise, clothing, and other goodies.
August's winner will be announced here in Bear Essentials. Parents, 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.
Reflections
Show us your creativity. Participate in Brown PTSA Reflections. More information: https://bit.ly/BrownReflections
Counselors
Christy Teague, Elementary School Counselor / christy.teague@jefferson.kyschools.us
Robin Cash, Middle/High School Counselor / robin.cash@jefferson.kyschools.us
Tip of the week: If a student needs to meet with a member of our Student Support Team, we are just a few clicks away! Complete THIS 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.
ELEMENTARY (K-5)
Click HERE to view Miss Christy's Core Counseling Curriculum (CCC) Lesson schedule and lessons. Also check out Miss Christy's Virtual Office for more resources.
The qualifying test for the Advance Program, the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) will be given on October 21, 2021. All students in grades 3 and 4 will take this test. Students in grades 5 and above who are not yet identified as Advance Program are highly recommended to take this test. The deadline to request to take this test for grades 5 and above has passed. However, you may email Christy Teague at christy.teague@jefferson.kyschools.us if you want your child to test. If your child is already taking Advanced level courses in middle/high school, the student is most likely already an Advance Program student and does not need to take this test. Contact Christy Teague at christy.teague@jeffersonkyschools.us if you have any questions.
MIDDLE/HIGH (6-12)
Be sure and utilize the "to-do" feature in your google classroom to stay up-to-date with your assignments. In the upper left hand corner, click the "hamburger" and the drop down menu will give you a "to-do" list of all your assignments!
PSAT-Sign ups for the PSAT closed 9/14. Information regarded the location and time will be available soon! If you signed up, mark your calendar for Wednesday, Oct 13th!
Athletics
Fall Sports:
The Lady Bears soccer team brought back the "BearCat" Cup to Brown for another year, beating Waggener 1-0 (by forfeit). They will take on Iroquois at Louisville Soccer Park on Thursday. Lets Go Lady Bears!!
Boys soccer had some great games last week, taking on top ranked teams St. X and Collegiate, losing 3-0 and 2-0 respectively. They will take on Central High School Thursday night at Spalding.
High School volleyball is showing great growth as a team and individuals. They have a few days off to practice before taking on Male on Monday at home. Go Lady Bears!!
Middle School volleyball also continues to show improvement. On Monday they took on Grace James Academy and played a great 3 sets that could have gone either way. We came up short, but it was a a very good confidence builder. They will be back in action Monday, 9/20 at Meyzeek.
Middle and High School Cross Country put up some great numbers at the 9/20 meet. Our top 10 high school finishes were Taylor Morris (1st), Trista Morris (2nd), Duffy Oakley (2nd), Liltoyria Bohler (3rd), Ethan Wright (7th). In the middle school race, the top 10 finishes were our girls team (1st), Annie Gilbert (1st), Oliver Zausch (4th), Erin Rogers (8th), Adelynn Emnet (9th).
Elementary Cross Country had a great meet Monday at Charlie Vettiner Park. Our Top 10 finishes were; the boys 4/5 team, James Zausch (1st in 4/5), Remy Williams (7th in 4/5), Maya Smith (9th in 2/3), Berkeley Conley (6th in k/1).
Golf is coming off of a strong week, beating Shawnee and Fern Creek. They will be back in action Wednesday 9/15 at Shawnee Golf Course.
**Any student ages 13 and above, that is interested in playing ESports this year, should attend a brief meeting right after school on Friday 9/17 in Andrews room (210B in cafeteria).
High School Fall Coaches:
Cross Country- David Jaggers- david.jaggers@jefferson.kyschools.us
Girls Soccer- Josh Luttrell- rja172307@gmail.com
Boys soccer- Steven Phillips- steven.phillips@bullitt.kyschools.us
Volleyball- Kathleen Mattingly- kathleen.mattingly@jefferson.kyschools.us
Athletic Director- Justin Leonard- Justin.leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us
Middle School Sports:
Elementary and Middle School Spring Sports:
Cross Country- Cross Country- David Jaggers- david.jaggers@jefferson.kyschools.us
Golf- Barry Bridges- abbridges@aol.com
Volleyball- Anna Obryan- ajobry01@gmail.com
Athletic Director- Matt Davis- matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Community
Check back later for updates!