Bear Essentials

As you know, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to install weapon detection systems in all JCPS middle and high schools. This safety-screening technology is an added layer of support for the safety and security of our students and staff. 

The district is installing Evolv Express systems in schools on a staggered basis. The installation process includes training for school staff.  

To prepare ahead of the use of the system in our school, families are encouraged to help reduce the possibility of “false alerts” on everyday items, while none are prohibited, using these guidelines will ensure a quick entry for everyone:

1. Select clear and plastic school supplies over covered/concealed and metallic when applicable.

2. Use three-ring binders with plastic spines/rings (non-metal).

3. Utilize plastic (versus metallic) BPA-free water/coffee bottles.

4. Use hard plastic eyeglass cases (versus metal).

5. Students should “pack-light” and limit the number of items in bags or other equipment.

6. Keep superfluous metallic items home (game consoles, beauty products, USB drives).

7. Laptops and umbrellas will be passed around the technology via a staffed table.

Note: Exact school supply lists are communicated individually by schools/teachers.

We anticipate our students, staff, and visitors will begin walking through the devices next week.

When the systems are installed, people entering the building will walk through an open-air kiosk that uses sensor technology to quickly scan for weapons. The system can identify dangerous items inside bags and pockets. For that reason, you can walk through the sensors without removing concealed belongings or being separated from personal items. Evolv scans as people walk through in real-time, ensuring that your entry to school is not delayed. If an item in your possession alarms the system, the system’s green lights turn to red, and a photo of the person will be shown on a tablet visible to trained staff. The photo will have a red box around the potentially dangerous item. A trained staff member will then search the area indicated in the alert.

While weapon detection systems are another tool for us to maintain safety in our schools, they do not guarantee a weapon will not make it into the building. We must all continue to work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our school community. 

For more information on the Evolv Express system, visit our website. 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the school office. Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff.

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:

• How this opportunity will benefit your student

• What we’ll see and do on our trip

• Everything that’s included in this experience

• How we’re keeping this safe and affordable

• How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period 

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

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.

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. 

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

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- is ready for regionals!!  Hopefully we get a break in this rainy weather, so we can play!

Softball (HS) picked up a huge 31-10 win over Western last week.  We were rained out on Monday against Moore, but are hoping to play tonight (5/8) at Seneca.  We will also play at Highland Latin on Thursday, 5/9 at 5:30.  Go Bears!!

Baseball was a part of school history last week, beating Western High School 12-0.  Oscar Wright pitched a perfect game, making that the first time that has happened in program history.  They will start post season play on Saturday at Butler.  

Cross-Country 2024- If you are interested in running cross-country in fall of 2024, please join the Band app: https://band.us/n/afac08F5fahfw

Girls Soccer-  The Lady Bears finished first in the regular season for JCPS. They will play the winner of Kammerer and Meyzeek Tuesday at Central. The Lady Bears were undefeated and unscored on this season! You can follow the tournmanet updates here. 

Boys Soccer- JV and Varsity soccer improved dramatically over the season and played tough against some of the best teams. Their final games were rained out on Tuesday but we are trying work with Highland to get those games made up.  Please pay attention to the Band app for updates. 

Track- Track had a meet Monday April, 29th at Waggener. Top 10 finishers in their events include: Romi White (100m, 200m), KaiDynce Fant (100m), Sara Rogers (200m, 400m, Long Jump), Chloe Cotham (100m Hurdles (2nd), Discus, (2nd), Long Jump), Taryn Farmer (Long Jump), Lola Ford (Shot and Discus, 1st place in both!), and L'Rayya Ford had a PR in Long jump. For the boys, James Zausch and Griffin Johnson finished 4th and 5th in the 800m. Official results can be found here. 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. 

Announcements coming soon!

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!!!

Here's what happened at yesterday's SBDM Council meeting.

Dr. Angela shared a Good News Report

• Nine of our juniors (16% of the class) were admitted to the Governor's Scholars Program! Congratulations to Makayla Brown, Victoria Grazette, Willow Pollard, Shayla Reynolds, Andrew Hankins, Dylan Hayes, Charles Pettit, Christopher Riley, and Mason Schneider.

• Two juniors were admitted to Governor’s School for the Arts: Makayla Brown and Shayla Reynolds, both for Creative Writing.

• Victoria Grazette was admitted to the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs.

• John O’Rourke, Chabely Perez Tolon, and Chris Riley were accepted into Commonwealth Honors Academy.

• The following Computer Science CTE students have earned industry certifications as of today:

  • Elias Najjar - Python, Computational Thinking

  • Sam Yauwanta - Python, Computational Thinking

  • Donald Chen - Python

• Lola Ford qualified for the state middle school track and field championship in discus with a personal best of 78-5.

• Our first ever Cultural Fair, organized by our Asian Student Association, was absolutely amazing.

• Walter, Kyle, Victor, and Veronica represented Brown in the JCPS All-County Band.

• Brown School Track and Field Coach William “Jelly” Green was featured in the JCPS DEP publication Envision Equity.

• Our middle school orchestra and our full orchestra earned superior ratings at Trills and Thrills Music Festival. Our band earned an excellent rating. Congratulations!

• Oscar Wright pitched the first perfect game in school history. We defeated the Western High Warriors 12-0.

• Justin Bibb signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Transylvania University.

The council reviewed these budget reports:

• Site-Based Budget Summary

• Activity Accounts: School-Based & District-Based

The council recieved these committee reports:

Budget Committee (5/6/24)

Curriculum & Instruction Committee (did not meet)

Professional Development Committee (4/15/24)

Racial Equity Committee (4/17/24)

Safety Committee (4/10/24)

School Climate Committee (4/17/24)

The council conducted a 1st Reading of Admissions and Program Standards

The council conducted a 1st Reading of Wellness

The council reviewed the J. Graham Brown School SBDM By-Laws

The council approved a request for the 2024-25 Professional Development Plan

The council approved a request for Hispanic Student Advocates