Bear Essentials
J. Graham Brown School Weekly Family Newsletter
April 24 | Issue #35
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Dear Brown School Family,
We are very excited to learn that U.S. News and World Report has ranked J. Graham Brown High School as the #2 high school in Kentucky and the #124 high school in the nation. We are also ranked as the #34 in magnet high school in the nation. This is the highest ranking we have earned to date. I am extremely proud of the hard work of our remarkable staff and students!
Love,
Dr. Angela
***The end of the year is fast approaching, and there are LOTS of events! Be sure to bookmark the school Google calendar linked on the Brown homepage under community.
QUICK LINKS
THIS WEEK'S ESSENTIALS
International Travel Opportunity Summer 2026
Don’t miss out! The Brown School is going to England, France, & Italy in Summer 2026 - it is going to be an amazing adventure! Visit and make sure to register for the meeting TODAY to learn more: https://bit.ly/3Qe4rXU
Anyone that enrolls between the meeting and May 24th is eligible for a $400 scholarship from EF Tours! Students in grades 6-10 are eligible for the trip.
Thanks! Dr. Kat
Peewee Prom
Save the Date for Peewee Prom!
Monday, May 20th
(no school Tuesday)
5:00 PM to - 6:30 PM
We will have food trucks and lots of fun!!
Just so you know, advance tickets are not required.
They are $10 for a student and one supportive adult.
Come join us for lots of fun.
If you have questions, please get in touch with Norah.Wakefield@jefferson.kyschools.us
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.
UofL reps will be here on Thursday, May 2nd from 9:00-12:00 to meet with every admitted student.
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
WEEKLY FEATURES
PTSA
General meeting
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!!!
Volunteers needed!!
We are in GREAT need of volunteers to help with testing in May. Brown School will administer both the AP and KSA end of year accountability test May 6th-May17 and we cannot do it successfully without volunteers. If you are available any of those days to help, please email Cordia as soon as possible at cordia.pickerill@jefferson.kyschools.us.
Move-a-thon
Move-a-thon information will be sent home with your student next week
kona ice day!!!
The Brown PTSA was very excited to give all of our awesome students Kona Ice last Friday in celebration of their accomplishments - specifically the US News ratings. Congratulations to all our hardworking students and staff. Check out the rankings here!
Rankings
#1 in Kentucky Magnet Middle Schools
#4 in Kentucky Magnet Elementary Schools
#1 in Middle Schools in JCPS
#8 in Elementary Schools in JCPS
#2 in Kentucky Middle Schools
#196 in Kentucky Elementary Schools
#2 in JCPS High Schools
#2 in Kentucky High Schools
#124 Nationally Ranked High School
#34 Nationally Ranked Magnet High School
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
Lock In- (EDITED) The annual high school (9th-12th) lock in will begin 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 or Matt.
Boys Volleyball has had some great matches so far, barely dropping games to Fern Creek and LKY. Then on Tuesday, they picked up a big win over Central High School. They will be back in action next Thursday against Seneca at Moore and they are fun to watch.
Track was at the Iroquois Invitational meet last night, and all of our runners did an incredible job. This is a great team and coach Jelly is proud of their effort and hard work.
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) has played some close games against some really good teams lately, but will be ready to take on Seneca on Friday night.
Baseball has also played some tough teams lately and will look to get back into the win column tonight (4/24) at Seneca. They will take on Central at Western next Monday.
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!
Boys Soccer- JV boys defeated Carrithers 3-2 on Monday at Central Stadium! JV and Varsity teams are back at it tonight at Noe at 5:30 and 6:45.
Track- Track had a meet Monday at Waggener. The results can be found here. Great job Bears!
Transportation- There will be a 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, 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
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.
NEW FOR HIGH SCHOOL BAND!
The High School Band and Orchestra will present their spring concert on April 30, 2024 at 6:30pm in the J. Graham Brown Auditorium. Please make plans to attend.
STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM
Click HERE to request Student Support and a member of our team will reach out!
Family Resource/Youth Services Center Coordinator
Summer is almost here! The Iroquois Amphitheatre will be showing free summer movies throughout the summer. For their schedule, click here.
Just a friendly reminder that we have a food pantry, on-site at Brown. Feel free to reach out if you are ever in need.
Mental Health Practitioner
Testing season is almost upon us, and with that a lot of anxiety tends to rise in students. 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
Students in grades 8-11 have met with Robin in study hall to schedule for next year! Please discuss at home what they chose and if they need to make changes, they can until 5/10. After that, they can request a change in August on the Schedule Change Request Form that will be published in Google Classrooms.
Teachers can now see the schedule and will communicate to students when they test. Please set reminders to charge chromebooks nightly for the next few weeks to reduce any test day stress!
Middle School Counselor
It's Promotion Time!!! Well, almost. As we prepare for end of the year festivities, I have two forms for you to check out. See below:
7th Grade: We would love for our 7th grade parents to contribute breakfast items for the 8th grade breakfast. Please sign up here .
8th grade families, use this link to RSVP for the 8th grade breakfast and promotion ceremony.
8th Grade Breakfast will be Friday, May 24th at 9:30 am. Promotion ceremony will be Friday, May 24th at 11 am.
Also, 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 below. We test from 8:15-11:15 each of the days below.
May 6th: Survey and Reading (6th-8th)
May 7th: Math (6th-8th)
May 8th: Science (7th) Social Studies(8th)
May 9th: Editing/Mechanics & On Demand (8th)
View the full schedule here
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?
Please reach out to me through the Student Support Request form if you have any questions/ concerns.
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.
CONNECTIONS
SBDM UPDATE
Our next SBDM Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 7th at 4:00 PM in the Student Support Center conference room.
FAMILY MATTERS
The How-To Fest is back for the 11th year at the Louisville Free Public Library on May 11th! This free, interactive learning extravaganza features more than 50 “how-to” sessions taught by local experts. Learn to design games, grow bananas and mushrooms, make a candle, sing in harmony, and so much more.
Sessions include lessons in home improvement, gardening, crafts, dance, music, business, art, and more! Plus – goats, chickens, rabbits and a miniature horse will be featured in our three garden tents outside thanks to our partners at the Urban Ag Coalition.