Bear Essentials

J. Graham Brown School Weekly Family Newsletter

May 1 | Issue #36

Brown School Home Page - Click HERE

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Brown School Family,

On May 10th, we will be celebrating our current 8th graders who have decide to make J. Graham Brown School their choice for high school, with our first ever Signing Day. Our new freshmen from other schools will be participating as well. We are inviting all families of these students for this fun celebration of their commitment to graduate transition ready from our remarkable high school. Feel free to copy the image and share on social media. We would like to have all families of these students filling up our bleachers at this milestone event!

Next week starts our state accountability testing as well as Advanced Placement testing. Families, we need your help.

Love,

Dr. Angela

QUICK LINKS

THIS WEEK'S ESSENTIALS

Chromebook Collection

Brown School Families, 

We are collecting all student Chromebooks for the summer during the last week of school. If your child is attending a Summer Backpack Program, they will have a Chromebook on-site for them to use. Remind them to bring their Chromebook, charger, and case each day in case it is their time to turn theirs in. If a student does not return any of the three items they may be charged a fee, if a replacement is needed. 

Please reach out to Drew Paige, our School Technology Coordinator, if you have any questions. 

5th Grade Promotion - Breakfast Sign-Up

4th Grade Families, 

The annual 5th Grade Promotion Breakfast is typically sponsored by the current 4th grade families. Please consider signing up at this LINK to bring supplies, food or drinks to the Breakfast.

Thanks,

5th Grade Team

Peewee Prom

Save the Date for Peewee Prom!


Monday, May 20th 

(no school Tuesday)



Come join us for lots of fun. 


If you have questions, please get in touch with Norah.Wakefield@jefferson.kyschools.us 

BSU Needs Your Help!

We are collecting donations for their summer activities–juice, snacks, jump ropes, bubbles, tye-dye kits, art supplies and sidewalk chalk.  Please drop your items off in Neysa’s room, 326.

Thanks!

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


School Supplies for 24-25

J. Graham Brown Parents, 

Help us qualify for the 1st Day School Supplies 50 Kit Challenge! If we sell 50 kits between 4/22 - 5/6 our school will be entered to win $2,500 in free school supplies. Buy your kit early this year!

Order Now --> http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=1178883

Star Students

Click HERE to see the Star Students' Slideshow! We have so many amazing achievements of our Brown Bears from this past week!

International Travel Opportunity Summer 2026

Dear Families, 

We’re going to London, Paris and Rome in Summer 2026, and you’re invited! 

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://bit.ly/3Qe4rXU 

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure. 

In this info session, we’ll talk about:

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity! Current 6th-10th graders are eligible for our trip.

Thanks,  Dr. Kat

WEEKLY FEATURES

PTSA

volunteers needed for ptsa board

We are needing volunteers to step up and be a member of the PTSA board. Please check out the many opportunities we have for you to be involved today! Descriptions for all positions and nominating forms are right here. Nominate someone else or volunteer yourself! 

We will be holding a general meeting on May 20 at 6:30, at the basketball court in Peace Park following the PeeWee Prom. We will be voting on budget changes and officers, discussing Move-A-Thon updates, and having a MEMBERSHIP RAFFLE!!! The meeting will last 15-20 minutes, and your children are welcome to play at Peace Park while the meeting is in session. Hope to see you there!!!

spring move-a-thon is here!!!

It's FINALLY that time! This year, our Move-a-thon funds will be going towards fixing up and furnishing the Atrium. This will give our students extra outdoor space for multiple uses. As always, the highest earner in each grade will get the opportunity to PIE AN ADMINISTRATOR!!! Please follow this link for Move-a-thon FAQs. Register your student here to start raising funds! There is also a printable page you can print for your student. Look for information coming home with your student today or tomorrow.

ATHLETICS

Justin Leonard, Athletic Director | Justin.Leonard@jefferson.kyschools.us

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

High School Sports Physical

Concussion Form

Safety Video Form

Lock In- The annual high school (9th-12th) lock in will begin this Thursday, May 2nd at 9:00PM and will end on the morning of Friday May 3rd at 7:00AM.  Please have your child picked up prior to or at 7:00AM.  Students should bring their permission form and their $25 dollars to the lock in on May 2nd. Students will have access to the gym and lobby area to play games (will be provided, but students can bring games they would like to play with friends.)  Students should bring snacks/food and drinks for themselves or they can order food to be delivered and light concessions may be available.  This is always an event that students look forward to, so we hope to see everyone there.  Any questions, please email Justin Leonard. Permission slips can be picked up from Justin, Josh, Dr. Kat, Mike Moreland or Matt.

Boys Volleyball picked up a big win over Seneca last week, winning 2 of the 3 sets.  It was a complete game from the whole team and an exciting win for the team.  We are getting better every game.

Track was at the Iroquois Invitational meet last week, doing really well in all events.  They will be at Waggener on Thursday (5/2) for the Charles Riley Relays.  Run fast Bears!

Tennis- had a multi team match last night.  All of the players had fun and played well.  We are looking forward to a nice post season run with this team.

Softball (HS) lost a heartbreaker to Seneca last week and had Monday nights game canceled.  They are looking forward playing and getting back into the win column on Wednesday (5/1) at Western.

Baseball picked up a huge 17-5 win over Central on Monday night, with all players getting a hit and not striking out. They will take on Western on Thursday (5/2) at Western.

Middle School Athletics

Girls Soccer- Girls soccer defeated Newburg 8-0 on Tuesday. The are in first place in the JCPS standings at 4-0 and are unscored on this season and take on Kammerer tonight at 6:45 at Kammerer. 

Boys Soccer- JV and Varsity soccer has shown dramatic improvement and looks forward to playing Highland the last game of the year on Monday at Central. It will be 8th grade night. 8th graders please fill out the for ceremony.

Track- Track had a meet Monday at Waggener. The team did great but the results have not been sent out yet. We will have the names of our top finishers in here next week. Great job Bears!

Transportation- There will be a bus to soccer, track and tennis practice unless otherwise posted on the app. Games and matches will vary. Parents and athletes, please look at the app for information on whether or not there will be transportation to games, meets and matches.  

Field Maintenance- If anyone would like to help mow our soccer field over the summer, please reach out to matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us 

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 elementary sport offerings

MUSICAL NOTATIONS

Middle School Band News

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.  

High School Band Awards Breakfast

The High School Band Awards breakfast is the last day of school at Wild Eggs from 8am-11:05am. Parents are welcome to make plans to join us. The band is taking care of the breakfast bill for the students.  The last day of school is May 24th!!!

STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM

Click HERE to request Student Support and a member of our team will reach out!

Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator

It's almost summer!  The Louisville Free Public Library has a lot of free programming for students of all ages. Click here for more information.

For more family events, check out the Louisville Family Fun website.  They have a calendar of events and a list of summer camps for kids.  Click here for more information.

Mental Health Practitioner

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 student services based on preference and need (provider fees may vary). Many mental health service providers can also 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 like to remind students that they 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

Next week we begin BOTH AP testing (Gr 9-12) and KSA testing (Gr 10-11). Please make sure chromebooks are charged each night starting Sunday and that your student is getting adequate rest and eating a good breakfast each day! You are so much more than a number, but since we have to test, we should absolutely give everyone everything they need to succeed!

Testing Schedule

Middle School Counselor

Next week we begin KSA testing (Gr 6-8). Please make sure chromebooks are charged each night starting Sunday and that your student is getting adequate rest and eating a good breakfast each day! You are so much more than a number, but since we have to test, we should absolutely give everyone everything they need to succeed!

Testing Schedule


Elementary School Counselor

Elementary's FINAL NOTES  🎶  is the One-Stop-Shop for all things elementary at the Brown School. 

Need to reach Miss Christy?

KSA testing is right around the corner, May 6th-9th.  Please see the schedule below and ensure that your darling is on time and at school every single day of testing.  Please do not schedule appointments on the days your child is testing.  We test from 8:15-11:15 each day.

Testing Schedule

STAR STUDENTS!!!

CONNECTIONS

SBDM UPDATE

Our next SBDM Council meeting is scheduled for May 7th at 4:00 PM in the Student Support Center conference room.