Bear Essentials
J. Graham Brown School Weekly Family Newsletter
January 31 | Issue 25
QUICK LINKS
THIS WEEK'S ESSENTIALS
Class of 2024 Valedictorians
Congratulations to our 21 Valedictorians in the Class of 2024! Valedictorians are students with a 4.0 cumulative weighted GPA on their 7th semester transcript.
These students have been invited to submit a speech to be considered for graduation. Hats off to the Class of 2024!
Star Students
Click HERE to see the Star Students' Slideshow! We have so many amazing achievements of our Brown Bears from this past week!
Homecoming Dance
We are having the Homecoming Dance Friday, February 9th from 8:00-10:00 pm. We really need volunteers and chaperones. We can't have the dance without them. Please try and volunteer for this one.
Thanks,
Randy
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B44A5A92BAAF58-45090540-spirit
Free Math Enrichment
Dear Brown Bear Parents,
I hope this message finds you well. The Mathematics Department is excited to share an exciting opportunity for academic growth for our Mathematics Students. To support their journey in mathematics, we are offering FREE math enrichment sessions exclusively for 11th grade high school students (other grades are welcome to attend just send andrew.gray@jefferson.kyschools.us an email answer will reply with details). Multiple areas and a variety of problem-solving strategies will be explored. College Readiness will be our main focus.
🔍 What: Free Math Enrichment Sessions
📅 When: All sessions will run from 3:00-4:00 after school.
Monday 2/5
Monday 2/12
Wednesday 2/14
Monday 2/26
Wednesday 2/28
WEEKLY FEATURES
Spring Enrichments
Spring Enrichments will be starting the week of March 11th. Registration opens February 5th at 4:00 am. Here is what it open for each day.
Monday
Yoga (K-2nd)
Introduction to Recycled Art (3rd - 5th)
Tuesday
Ballet (K-2nd)
Martial Arts (3rd - 8th)
Intro to Architectural Design - (7th - 9th)
Wednesday
Chess (K-5th)
Drama (2nd- 5th)
Archery (5th - 8th)
Thursday
Martial Arts (K-2nd)
Fencing (3rd - 8th)
We are rescheduled for Tuesday, February 6th to help out at CAP. What is CAP? CAP (Clothing Assistance Program) is a wonderful program that is primary run by volunteers that assist our families with uniforms, clothing needs, shoes, and other needs. Click the sign up link for details on time and duties.
Want to find out about CAP - click here is a recent Spectrum news story.
ATHLETICS
High School Athletics
Spring Sports- We are having Spring Sports meetings at 3:15 pm and 5:30 pm on Monday February 12th in the auditorium. In this meeting, we will discuss schedules, practice/game locations, transportation, tryouts, expectations, athletic fees and required paperwork. Athletes will then meet with their respective coaches. This meeting will cover middle school and high school tennis, track, baseball, softball, high school volleyball and middle school soccer. As a reminder, spring tennis, baseball, and softball are high school sports, but open to Brown School students 7th grade and above. Middle school track and soccer are open to all 6th-8th graders.
Homecoming Dance- The Homecoming Dance will be on February 9th after the Homecoming game vs Burgin from 8-10pm in the cafeteria. Tickets are $10 cash at the door. The dance is for Brown School students in grades 9-12.
Kroger Community Rewards for Brown Athletics
Please consider adding J. Graham Brown Athletics to your Kroger Community Rewards on your Kroger account. It does not affect your fuel rewards or cost you anything. Here is how to enroll or switch your Community Rewards account to J. Graham Brown Athletic Department:
1. Go to Kroger.com and sign in.
2. Go to your account on the right side of the page.
3. Scroll down to "Community Rewards"
4. Search for "J Graham Brown School Athletic Department" (If you need to switch organizations, click the change organization option)
5. Enroll
*Feel free to add grandparents and anyone who wants to enroll!
Here is a video of how to do this: Adding Brown Athletics to Kroger Community Rewards
If you have any questions, please email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us or justin.leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us
Gym Ad Banners
Advertising Banners for the gym can now be purchased. The banners are 3X5 and will be displayed in the gym for all of the next school year. Please see the attachment LINK for more information, and if you know of any businesses that would like to sponsor/advertise with us, please pass it along. We can have designers create the banner for you, or we can use your current design.
For prices and more information, please email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us
Brown School Merchandise
Purchase Brown School merch and swag: Brown School Merchandise Store
Live Stream all games played at Brown gym! Our Hudl camera is now up and running and anyone can watch from their computer, phone or smart tv. Attached are directions from Hudl. The prices for the live streams are $5/game, $25/month and $50 for the season (Brown Athletics receives 60% of the revenue). This will give you access to all games (Elementary, MS and HS) played at Brown.
Information for Live Streaming
Required Paperwork
Archery had a great shoot last weekend at Atherton last weekend and will spend a little time practicing before their next shoot. Shoot straight Bears!
Swimming/Diving- Regionals are this weekend at UL and our divers and swimmers are excited to represent. Hopefully we can send some students on to semi-State to show off our hard work!
Bowling season has come to an end. They all made a ton of improvement and had a great time doing it. Thank you to our our seniors, Gracie Rice and Layne Pry for all they have done for the program!Girls Basketball (HS) had a small break before picking up a big win over Western last night. They will take on KCD at 7:00 tonight (1/31) at Brown and will be at Fairdale next Tuesday. Lets go Lady Bears!
Boys Basketball (HS)- dropped a very close game against North Bullitt last week at Hoosier gym. It was a very exciting game that was decided in the last 30 seconds. They will be back in action Wednesday night against KCD at 5:30 at Brown and next Tuesday at Fairdale. We want to give a huge shoutout to our awesome boys JV team has only lost 1 game all year. The future is bright!!
Middle School Athletics
Spring Sports- We are having Spring Sports meetings at 3:15 pm and 5:30pm on Monday February 12th in the auditorium. In this meeting, we will discuss schedules, practice/game locations, transportation, tryouts, expectations, athletic fees, and required paperwork. Athletes will then meet with their respective coaches. This meeting will cover middle school and high school tennis, track, baseball, softball, boys volleyball and middle school soccer. As a reminder, spring tennis, baseball, and softball are high school sports, but open to Brown School students 7th grade and above. Middle school track and soccer are open to all 6th-8th graders.
Brown School Merchandise- Purchase Brown School merch and swag at the Brown School Merchandise Store.
Basketball- Brown heads to post season tonight, with our boys traveling to Barret and our girls going to Knight. Good luck to our teams!
Elementary School Athletics
Our Golden Girls and Team White picked up huge wins last week, both winning by 1 point. This weeks schedule:
Elem. Golden Girls/Cheer vs Bloom @ Stuart 1:10pm
Elem. Team Blue vs Brandies Girls @ Stuart 9:00am
White Team has a bye
MUSICAL NOTATIONS
Pep Band 2024
PEP BAND BEGINS TONIGHT! (1/31/24)
BOYS GAME @ 5:30 and GIRLS GAME @ 7pm. All students will be dismissed by 8pm.
Pep band is a fun activity to show school spirit
Pep band is not required
Pep band students are under direct supervision of the band director
Pep band students may stay after school in the band room for study hall before the games [check in time is by 3pm]
Pep band students may order food until 4pm to be delivered to the main office. Otherwise they may eat at the concession stand or have parents bring them food during the games
Pep band students may go home and return to play in the band for free entry into the game(s)
Pep band shirts will be given to each student compliments of the band
Weeknight games will always be dismissed by 8pm
BAND PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WORK THE CONCESSION STAND ON PEP BAND NIGHTS.
If you have questions about pep band, please contact amy.noon@jefferson.kyschools.us
ATTENTION ALL (HS AND MS) BAND STUDENTS AND PARENTS
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
Event: KMEA Solo and Ensemble for BAND
Location: Atherton High School | 3000 Dundee Road | Louisville, KY 40205
Performance Time: Students who have signed up for this event will be given a schedule very soon, so they know when to arrive and what time they play.
Stay Tuned!
Performing Opportunity (2nd-8th grades)
If your child is interested in being a part of a wonderful drumming organization, then check out this world drumming Friday opportunity. Contact amy.noon@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have any questions.
World Drumming Friday registration for 2nd-8th graders is now open at https://leopardmusic.org/programs/world-drumming-friday/
🎵💥🪘
Louisville Youth Orchestra Classes
LYO is relaunching our energized Presto! Strings Program! Presto! Strings aims to provide first-year strings education for 3rd thru 5th grade students.
Beginning Feb. 4, LYO will host 10 Presto! Strings classes at St. Matthew's Pavilion rehearsal location. Tuition will be $150. Tuition assistance is available. Email info@lyo.org to register or for more information.
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
Click HERE to request Student Support and a member of our team will reach out!
Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator
Mental Health Practitioner
Do you need help finding mental health services for your student? JCPS has teamed up with Care Solace to provide referrals for JCPS students to find mental health service providers. This program allows us to make specific requests for services for students based on preference as well as need (provider fees may vary). Many mental health service providers are also able to meet during the school day, although they must have a contract with JCPS to do so (please ask your provider if this interests you). So if you are interested in any services please feel free to reach out and we will be happy to put in a referral for you!
High School Counselor
Robin is out on leave. If you need assistance, please reach out to Cordia.
Middle School Counselor
I have to give a big shout out to our middle schoolers this week! Our Peer Mediators have helped students solve peer conflict, I've had several students use the Student Support Request Form to appropriately reach out for support, and academically so many of our students are soaring above grade level standards. WOO HOO!!
Please see below for important dates and info:
Black Expo Career Fair: February 15th, 8:45-2:40
Coffee with the Counselor: Rescheduled to Wednesday, Feb 28th from 8:30-10:00. More info to come.
8th Grade Dance: 8th grade parents, it is a tradition at Brown that 8th grade parents/families put on the 8th grade dance at the end of the year. If you would like to be involved in putting this together, send me an email and I will connect you with other parents.
Elementary School Counselor
HOT TOPICS
We are in the midst of testing season for some of our students (ACCESS for ELLs for our ML/ESL students and NAEP for our 4th graders). Click on Important Upcoming Events link below for more information:
SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)
Our Star Word of the Month is Empathy that goes along with our Star Word of the Year - KINDNESS. Check out our Parent Newsletters that connect school to home - EMPATHY . "In a world where you can be anything, be kind." Miss Christy's Classroom Lessons' Schedule.
HIGH-FLYERS
We are also beginning the process of identifying students for JCPS's Advance Program, G/T Primary Talent Pool (PTP), and G/T VPA (Visual/Performing Arts) students. For more information about Gifted/Talented and/or Advance Program click on the link below:
Advance Program identification process
PTP identification process
Gifted/Talented, Advance Program, and Advanced Placement (presentation)
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTARY RESOURCES
Need to reach Miss Christy?
Please reach out to me through the Student Support Request form if you have any questions/ concerns.
CONNECTIONS
SBDM UPDATE
The next SBDM Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 6th at 4:00 PM in the Student Support Center.
FAMILY MATTERS
JCPS students, please check out an upcoming College Access Workshop. The next one is this February 6th. You can get help with filling out the FAFSA.
Please register online at at https://bit.ly/3r5lmSN to receive more info!
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