Bear Essentials
J. Graham Brown School Weekly Family Newsletter
March 20 | Issue #31
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Brown School Family,
We now have dates on the school calendar for our 5th grade promotion ceremony and our 8th grade promotion ceremony.
Friday, May 24th @ 9:15 AM - 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony
Friday, May 24th @ 11:00 AM - 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony
We also have a date for our Kindergarten Promotion Celebration - Thursday, May 23rd. Eriauna's class will be recognized at 10:00 AM and Mayra's class will be recognized at noon.
Because these events are scheduled during the school day, visitors will need to bring a state-issued ID with them to show while signing in at the Welcome Center. Our Weapons Detection Systems will be live, so bringing in limited baggage will help speed up the screening process for our visitors. Visitors should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the activity to ensure they are seated prior to the event starting.
As a reminder, graduation is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Tuesday, May 28th.
Balloons can block others' view of the stage and are therefore not allowed at any of the above events. Noisemakers can be problematic for students and family members with sensory challenges. Anyone arriving with balloons or noisemakers will be asked to take them back out to their vehicle. I appreciate your understanding.
Love,
Dr. Angela
QUICK LINKS
THIS WEEK'S ESSENTIALS
Changes to Exterior Door Use at Dismissal
Soon, we will begin using the new weapons detection systems at our entrances. This will have an impact on student, staff, and visitor use of exterior doors in both the mornings and afternoons. In preparation for these changes, when students return from Spring Break, we will begin enforcing some new expectations at doors for dismissal. Please note these important changes below.
Once students exit any exterior door, they may only reenter the building through the Welcome Center and must pass through the weapons detection system.
After dismissal, all visitors must enter into the building through the Welcome Center and the weapons detection system until the Welcome Center closes at 4:00 PM.
Students will not be permitted to open any doors for students, parents, or visitors. It has been common for students in the lobby to open doors by the blue gates to allow others to enter after school. This will no longer be permitted as this is a safety/security issue.
All students must exit the building by 2:50 PM, unless they are with a supervising staff for a scheduled activity.
Clark Memorial Bridge Closure Today
Beginning at 9am today, a short-term full closure of the Clark Memorial Bridge will start, allowing crews to set up traffic control devices for an emergency repair project. The traffic control setup should be complete by late afternoon – before evening rush hour. Then, the bridge will be reopened to two lanes carrying southbound-only traffic from Indiana to Downtown Louisville.
Northbound traffic traveling from Kentucky to Indiana should detour by utilizing I-64 West (Sherman Minton Bridge) or I-65 North (Abraham Lincoln Bridge). Both sidewalks will remain closed to pedestrian travel until repairs have been completed.
This temporary traffic restriction will help ensure the least interruptions to Downtown commuter and delivery traffic while accommodating necessary safety barriers to protect workers and travelers.
Rising 9th Graders - Class of 2028 Signing Ceremony
On May 10 at 1:30 our rising 9th graders will be celebrated with a signing event (similar to an athlete signing to play for a college). The signing will be a symbolic commitment to graduating high school and being a contributing citizen of the Brown School. Families of the Class of 2028 are invited to join us for this exciting new event.
Drive for The Center of Women and Families
In celebration of Women’s history month, freshman girls from Girl Scout troop 2311 will be collecting donations for The Center for Women and Families from March 18th to March 29th. Drop off for middle and high school will be near Justin’s office during the school day, and in the lobby in the mornings and afternoons. Drop off for elementary will be in their classrooms. There is a list of needed items on posters located around the school, and online at thecenteronline.org. The class who donates the most items will win a popsicle party!
JR / SR Prom Info!
Prom Details
When: Saturday, April 13, 2024
Time: 7:00 - 10:00pm
Where: Mellwood Arts Center
Cost: $40
Tickets will go on sale starting next week through April 12th. Please check your Junior or Senior's Google Classroom for the MySchoolBucks link to purchase tickets.
Please contact Norah Wakefield if you have any questions.
JR / SR Seminar Classes
To stay in the loop of all of the upcoming Junior and Senior College Rep Visits, please visit the calendar linked HERE to view the current month's upcoming events.
Any qualifying Senior interested in delivering the Valedictory address at Graduation needs to make sure their draft is submitted by next Friday, March 22nd.
Junior Ring Ceremony will be on Friday, March 22nd
JCTC will do academic advising at Brown on 4/11. See the assignment in Google Classroom Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027 for more information and to request an appointment. Everyone has to complete advising to be a dual credit student!
International Culture Fair
Dear Parents,
We are excited to extend a warm invitation to you and your family to participate in our upcoming International Culture Fair! This event will be a celebration of diversity and an opportunity for us to learn more about each other's backgrounds and traditions.
Event Details:
Date: April 12, 2024
Time: TBA
Location: J. Graham Brown School
The International Culture Fair aims to showcase the vibrant cultures represented within our school community. We encourage families from all backgrounds to come together and share aspects of their culture through various activities such as traditional performances, art displays, and interactive presentations. Unfortunately, we cannot have food tasting.
Participation in the culture fair can take many forms:
Cultural Booths: Set up a booth to showcase artifacts, traditional clothing, crafts, and other items that represent your culture. Present a poster about a specific aspect of your culture, such as language, customs, or traditions.
Performances: Showcase traditional dances, music, or other performances that highlight your cultural heritage.
Each child will be given a passport. As they journey through the different "countries" represented by each booth, they will receive a sticker or stamp on their passport. This interactive activity is designed to make the experience even more engaging and educational for our young participants.
We need your participation and enthusiasm to make this event a resounding success. We believe that this event will not only foster a sense of unity and understanding but also provide a platform for us to appreciate the diverse backgrounds that make our school community so special.
If you would like to participate or have any questions about the event, please contact
Mary Sithu (mary.sithu@jefferson.kyschools.us) or Lisa Billings (lisa.billings@jefferson.kyschools.us)
Star Students
Click HERE to see the Star Students' Slideshow! We have so many amazing achievements of our Brown Bears from this past week!
WEEKLY FEATURES
PTSA
PTA Meeting Today
We will have our monthly PTSA meeting today at 3:00 pm in the Student Support Center Conference Room. Park in the garage and come in through the walkway to the second door on the left to get your parking validated and the conference room is right there also.
Hoodies are online
Our hoodies are back online. We will have the rest of our shirts back on line by the end of the month. Youth Small - Adult XL are $30.00 and Adult 2XL & 3XL are $35.00
Louisville V/s Lexington
Will you help us?
In their own version of March Madness, KY PTA is hosting a friendly competition between the 15th District (Louisville) and 16th District (Lexington) to see which district can sign up the most new members in March. Remember that, when you join Brown PTSA you are also joining the KY PTA so it all counts. So go find a friend or two (or 10?), within your district of course, and help them sign up for PTA this month! The competition runs from March 15th - April 15th. The winning district will be announced in April. Ready, set, go!
We at the Brown PTSA also want to incentivize you to join with a the friendly competition. Every new membership gets $5.00 in bear bucks that can be used to purchase merchandise and gets their name put into a drawing for a Taste of Kentucky Basket. If you are already a member - wonderful - we will also be drawing for a basket from our already awesome members. Did you know that anyone can join - parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and students (6th grade and above)!
ATHLETICS
High School Athletics
New Brown Home Athletic Field
Brown now has an athletic field behind Van Hoose. Until we purchase a mower, we will need help maintaining the field. If anyone would like to volunteer to help mow please email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us or justin.leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us. Also, if anyone can help us with seeding bald spots on the field, please let us know as well.
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
Required Paperwork
ESports- is playing well! They dropped a close match to Campbellsville High School last Wednesday (3/13). They take on Nicholas County tonight (3/20). Lets go Bears!
Track is ready to run in some meets, and are excited to be at the St. X All Comers Meet tonight (3/20). They will be at Fairdale next Tuesday at 5:00 as well. Run fast Bears!!
Tennis- picked up a big win over Bullitt East last night, with both our girls and boys teams winning their matches. Way to go Bears!
Softball (HS) has the largest number of players in a very long time and we have a lot of talent. They will start their games on 3/27 at Valley.
Baseball dropped 2 really close games last week, before picking up a big 22-5 win over Western on Tuesday night, They will play Thursday 3/21 at Moore at 5:30, so come check them out. This is a fun group to watch
Middle School Athletics
Soccer- Girls soccer plays their first match of the year Thursday, March 28th at TJ. Boys play their first match of season Monday, March 25th vs Meyzeek at Highland Middl School.
Track- Track has its first meet of the year on Monday at Waggener Hih School at 5pm.
Transportation- There will be a bus to soccer, track and tennis practice unless otherwise posted on the app. Games and matches will vary. Please look at the app for information on whether or not there will be transportation to games and matches.
Communication- Any change to schedules or transportation will be immediately posted in the app. If you are a player or parent who has joined the app yet, please ask your coach how to join.
Elementary School Athletics
Stay tuned for more potential offerings for our elementary students.
MUSICAL NOTATIONS
KMEA Large Ensemble Assessment
The Brown MS Beginning Band will be performing for the KMEA Band Assessment Festival Wednesday March 27. Performance time at Atherton HS—10:00am
The Brown MS 7th and 8th grade Band will be performing for the KMEA Band Assessment Festival Thursday March 28. Performance time at Atherton HS-- 9:40am
Both of these happen during the school day and are field trips for both groups. Please click here to see the agenda for both trips. Permission slips are due! Please email amy.noon@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have any questions.
Trills and Thrills Rehearsal!
Middle School and High School Band members going on the spring trip:
You have an after-school rehearsal on April 26, 2024, from 2:40-4:30 in the auditorium. Please make plans to stay full time so we are prepared for Trills and Thrills.
NEW FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND!
Middle School bands (6-7-8 grades) will be presenting their spring concert on May 17, 2024 at 1:30 in the J. Graham Brown Auditorium. End-of-year awards will also be given just after the concert music concludes. This is a change in the spring calendar of events so please get this on your calendar!
If you are a parent or friend of a band member and would like to attend, please reserve your seating HERE.
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
Click HERE to request Student Support and a member of our team will reach out!
Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator
Big Smiles in-school dental program will be at Brown on Friday, March 22. Any student who has completed the enrollment form will be seen by the dentist on that day.
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!
I would also just like to mention as a reminder that all students are welcome to request time in our quiet space in the Student Support Center. All they need to do is ask their teacher and they will be able to use the space for up to 15 minutes before needing to speak with a Support Team member.
High School Counselor
This week in advisory, students in grades 9 & 10 will receive a lesson on scheduling. Juniors will receive it on Tuesday and current 8th grade will be met with in class right after spring break. Robin will be in study halls 3/25-3/29 to consult with students individually on class choice, transcripts, GPA, Dual Credit, etc. Students and supportive adults, please have conversations this weekend and have any questions ready for advising next week <3
JCTC will do academic advising at Brown 4/11. See the assignment in Google Classroom Class of 2025, 2026, or 2027 for more information and to request an appointment. Everyone has to complete advising to be a dual credit student!
Middle School Counselor
Hello everyone! This week in the middle I am discussing scheduling with 5th-7th grade and will be going into Erin's 8th grade class with Robin in a few weeks to discuss high school scheduling. We are also finishing up individual learning plans and gearing up for testing season.
Please mark your calendars for the next Coffee with the Counselor which will be April 9th and April 23rd from 8:15-10:00. More information and a sign up sheet will be forthcoming. Thanks!
Elementary School Counselor
Elementary's FINAL NOTES 🎶
Elementary's FINAL NOTES is the One-Stop-Shop for all things elementary at the Brown School.
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
Our next SBDM Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 9th at 4:00 PM in the Student Support Center.
FAMILY MATTERS
Spring Break Camps
JCPS has Lit &' Spring Break camps. They are filling up quick.
There is still time to register for Literacy & Fencing at Grace James (for 6th through 9th grade); Literacy & Boxing at W.E.B. DuBois (for 6th through 12th grade); and Literacy & Soccer at Olmsted North (for 6th through 8th grade).
Register online at bit.ly/3T3hRH0