Bear Essentials

J. Graham Brown School Weekly Family Newsletter

May 22 | Issue #39

Brown School Home Page - Click HERE

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Dear Brown School Family,

As we approach the last week of school, it's time to bid farewell to another incredible academic year. It's been a journey filled with growth, learning, and unforgettable memories. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation and wish you all a fantastic summer ahead!

To the parents, I extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support throughout the year. Your dedication and involvement in your child's education have made a significant impact on their progress and achievements. From attending parent-teacher meetings to assisting with homework, you have been the guiding light for your children. Your love, encouragement, and countless sacrifices have shaped their success, and we are truly grateful.

To the students, I have witnessed your growth, not only academically but also in character, as you have embraced new challenges and pursued your passions. Your accomplishments, big or small, have filled our classrooms with pride.

Now, as the summer break arrives, we encourage you all to take this time to recharge, rejuvenate, and explore new horizons. Use these weeks to indulge in activities that bring you joy and allow you to unwind. Whether it's spending quality time with loved ones, embarking on adventures, or pursuing hobbies, let this summer be a celebration of your achievements and a time to create cherished memories.

Remember, learning is not confined to the walls of a classroom. Embrace the world as your classroom and seek knowledge in every experience. Explore new books, visit museums, engage in community service, or simply find solace in nature. Let curiosity be your guide and never stop discovering.

To the parents, I encourage you to continue nurturing your child's thirst for knowledge beyond the classroom. Engage in meaningful conversations, encourage their creativity, and provide opportunities for growth. Embrace the precious moments of togetherness and cherish the laughter and joy that summer brings.

As we bid adieu for now, I want to express my deepest gratitude for being a part of this wonderful school community. I am immensely proud of each and every one of you. May your summer be filled with endless laughter, sunshine, and beautiful memories. Stay safe, embrace the warmth of the season, and return in the fall, rejuvenated and ready for new adventures.

Love,

Dr. Angela

QUICK LINKS

THIS WEEK'S ESSENTIALS

Morning Traffic

JCPS & LMPD have asked us to reiterate that students being dropped off should only happen in the lane against the curb and not 2 or 3 lanes over. This causes a concern for emergency vehicles getting through and increases the likelihood of accidents and students getting struck by vehicles. Please use the entire block of First Street. This may mean that you drive beyond the doors of the school. If you want to visually see your child exit your vehicle and enter the school, the drop-off lane in the alley (enter from Chestnut Street) between the school and the YMCA is your best choice.

Weapons Detection Systems & Upcoming Ceremonies

We are excited to have families attend upcoming ceremonies and events. JCPS has implemented a safety measure that requires all students, employees, and guests to enter through a Weapons Detection System. This is NOT a metal detector, so you do no need to remove everything from your pockets like at the airport. Our staff walks through daily with items like keys, wallets, and cell phones without alerting the system.

What to expect:


Tips:

The easiest way to avoid secondary screening is to limit the items you bring. You may only pass around a Binder, Laptop, Umbrella, and Eyeglass Case. Everything else must go through the system. The less you bring in, the better. 


If you have a reason you can not go through the system, such as being in a wheelchair, you must be scanned with a wand at the secondary screening table.

INTERNATIONAL TRIP TO LONDON, PARIS, and ROME 2026

Thank you to everyone who joined our meeting tonight about our upcoming trip to London, Paris, and Rome in the Summer of 2026. I appreciate your willingness to explore international travel opportunities for your students. If you missed the meeting, it is recorded for your viewing pleasure. Just click HERE.


You can lock in one of the limited spots available with a $95 Enrollment Fee by May 24, 2024. The trip is open to current 6th-10th grade students.


By enrolling now, you will also receive a tour scholarship and qualify for your risk-free enrollment period!


Enroll now with this link: www.eftours.com/2776321UF

**Space is limited and is first-come, first-served!


Please view the Parent Guide to Travel from EF Educational Tours, our travel partner. This guide covers all the details about EF, including options for payment plans and what to expect on tour. 


Still have questions? Contact Dr. Kat (kathleen.mattingly@jefferson.kyschools.us). Copies of the itinerary are available in room 328.

School Supplies for 24-25

Our studies show that people who don't order before the end of the school year are likely to miss the order deadline once summer starts! The end of the school year is approaching fast! Let this be your last chance reminder to order your 1st Day School Supplies before this year ends! 

Order now >> https://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/kits.php?sid=1178883&utm_source=coord&utm_medium=emailfwd&utm_campaign=c-wk8-2-fwd

Google Takeout for Seniors ONLY

Seniors that are wanting to save their JCPS Google Drive files please visit Google Takeout linked HERE by Tuesday, May 28th. Sign in to your JCPS account and follow the directions / screenshot images attached. 



Seniors, after you receive the Google Takeout email, you will then need to forward the download link you receive in your JCPS email to a personal email to keep a copy of all of your files. 

WEEKLY FEATURES

PTSA

look what you did!!!

Check out all the amazing things the PTSA was able to do for our students this year. We could not have done any of this without your support. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated time, items, and funds. 

sbdm nominations

The SBDM is looking for two parent representatives to join the committee. Nominations are open until May 27. Information and nominating form for these positions is available here

PTSA Has New board members

We are excited to announce that we had several new board members elected for the 2024-2026 term, as well as three board returning board members!!!

President - William Mansfield

Treasurer - Autumn Neagle

Secretary - Brianna Crawford

VP of Marketing and Communications - Lauren Yates

VP of Ways and Means - John Nordgauer

We still have two positions open: VP of Membership and VP of Programs. Please contact the PTSA if you are interested. We would love to have you!!!

move-a-thon is today!!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in helping with the Brown PTSA Move-A-Thon.  We hit our goal and are so excited to let you know that as of 5:00 am this morning we raised $12,604.00. 


We would like to congratulate the 2nd grade class for raising the most money per grade level with a whopping $5,260!  


Congratulations to the following top place winners who will receive our stunning trophy created by Drew in our technology lab!

1st Place - Logan C.

2nd Place - Olivia W

3rd Place - Carmen A. 


We are very excited to start working on our Atrium and hopefully it will be complete before school starts in the fall!


Thank you again for helping the PTSA make our school such a wonderful place for all our students! Check out our facebook page for pictures from today's event.

ATHLETICS

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

High School Athletics

Fall Sports 2024: If your student is playing a sport in the fall, please join the “Band” app for your sport(s). The link is below. This is where all communication will occur about team schedules, locations, tickets, required forms, etc. 

Cross Country- https://band.us/n/a4a80cG2PaJaT

Boys HS Soccer- https://band.us/n/aaa305G8P2

Jah

Girls HS Soccer- https://band.us/n/a9a40aGbP4k9B

Golf- https://band.us/n/a0aa0fGdP1kav

Girls HS Volleyball- https://band.us/n/a1a00fGfPal2O

Girls MS Volleyball- https://band.us/n/a2a005GdP3kfo

MS Tennis- https://band.us/n/a7a102GfP2l2L


2024-25 Required Athletic Forms: We are now using Final Forms for our required athletic paperwork. From now on, we will not need the athletic packets or physicals (you will upload only the "Medical Eligibility" page to the website using your phone). The rest of the forms will be filled out online by parents and athletes. If you already have a physical on file with us, we will upload it and update those sections. Many of you already have started using Final Forms. You will just need to login and fill out the new forms when they are released. When your page turns from red or yellow to green, you are complete. Final Forms will update about your athlete's sports physical expiration dates. Upcoming 6th grade parents, the required 6th grade physical is not the same as the sports physical. 6th grade athletes will need to get both. 

Registration for Final Forms/Fall Sports will begin on Monday, June 10th. We will email all parents and students the link and instructions on that day. 

Gym Ad Banners: Advertising Banners for the gym can now be purchased. 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. You can request that all money for your banner go to support a specific team. For prices and more information, please email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us


Interested in Coaching? We currently have openings for assistant and/or head coach positions for middle school tennis, volleyball, cheer, track and potentially more. JCPS has several requirements that have to be met in order to begin coaching. Please email an athletic director if you are interested. We have to submit all requirements to JCPS before you can begin any type of tryout or practice.


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


Track will take on Regionals tonight (5/22) at Ballard.  We are expecting some great results and to send a lot of athletes to State next Thursday in Lexington.  Come out to Ballard at 5:00 and see greatness from our athletes, and cheer them on to State!!


Middle School Athletics

2024-25 Athletics Information: See High School section above.


Middle School Girls Soccer-  The Lady Bears finished first in the regular season for JCPS. They will play the winner of Kammerer Wednesday 6 PM at Ramsey Middle School. The Lady Bears were undefeated and unscored on this season! You can follow the tournament updates here


Middle School Boys Soccer- JV and Varsity boys soccer teams will play their final game of the season today at 5:30 and 6:45 at Brown's soccer field behind Van Hoose. 


Middle School Track- Track had a meet Monday May 13th at Norton Track (5/13/24 Results). James Zausch had a PR in the 1600 and finished 9th overall. Kaidynce Fant had a PR in the 100m and finished 12th overall. Taryn Farmer had PR's in both the 100m and 200m and Romi White had a PR in the 200m. Lots of improvement this year! The final regular season meet of the year is Thursday and the JCPS Championships will be on Sunday at 1pm. 

Elementary School Athletics

Announcements coming soon!

MUSICAL NOTATIONS

Graduation Music Performance

The underclassmen in the HS band and orchestra will play for graduation ceremony on May 28 @ 9am.  Please arrive by 8am to be prepared for the ceremony. All students in the full orchestra will wear performance black. Contact amy.noon@jefferson.kyschools.us or tamika.carr@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have any questions.

MS 7/8 Advanced Band

The Brown MS 7/8 Advanced Band is invited to participate in a celebration luncheon at Parlour Pizza Place 133 W. Liberty Street on May 23. Food and drink will be provided. Permission slips must be on file for this trip. Please reach out to amy.noon@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have any questions.

Here is the trip itinerary:

1:15pm Come to lobby

1:20pm Walk to Parlour 133 W. Liberty Street

1:30-2:30pm Eat and Celebrate 

2:35pm Return to Brown

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

The Brown School has a year round food pantry.  If you are in need of food over the summer, please contact me.  I would be happy to help!


Mental Health Practitioner

For mental health services over the summer, please reach out to Care Solace at caresolace.com/jcps.

Elementary School Counselor

christy.teague@jefferson.kyschools.us

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

Need to reach Miss Christy?

I am happy to announce that KSA Testing is OVER!!!  Our students did a great job, and I am so proud of them!

STAR STUDENTS!!!

High School Counselor

It has been such a bitter sweet week as we launch our Class of 2024! We are so proud of you all. Grades will be final Wed 5/22. Please order transcripts in Parchment NOW to send to your colleges. Currently they are free! After 7/1/24, you will have to pay JCPS Records. 

If you are attending graduation, please be aware the Weapons Detection System will be on. Please limit what you bring with you to graduation to expedite your entrance. Also, no balloons or noisemakers are allowed in the auditorium. Please also remember parking at Brown can be difficult, you want to arrive with plenty of time to find family and friends so you can sit together. We cannot hold seats for people that are not present by 8:50 am.

CONNECTIONS

SBDM UPDATE

The SBDM is looking for two parent representatives to join the committee. Nominations are open until May 27. Information and nominating form for these positions is available here

FAMILY MATTERS

Elementary Summer Enrichment Site

If your student is in K-5th, please check out this site for some learning activities for this summer.