Principal's Message
Dear Brown School Family,
On Tuesday, December 6th, our SBDM Council will be reviewing an approval request for the objectives, goals, strategies, and activities detailed in our Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP). The CSIP is not 100% finalized as of today. Our curriculum and instruction committee is reviewing it for suggested revisions and feedback this week and our leadership team will be reviewing the feedback and making final adjustments before the SBDM Council meeting. If you have any comments or feedback about our plan, please reach out to me and let me know. You are also welcome to attend the meeting if you wish to comment in person. The meeting starts at 4:00 PM and will be held in the conference room in the Student Support Center. You may park in the YMCA Garage and enter the school on the pedway (just ring the buzzer); you can get your visitor sticker and your parking validated.
We are heading into the homestretch of the first semester with just two and a half weeks left! Keep up the momentum and positivity! Encourage your students to get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast. We are getting close to that much needed break.
Love,
Dr. Angela
This Week's Essentials
LOST AND FOUND
Please have your child check the Lost and Found for any missing shirts, jackets, hats, lunchboxes, water bottles, etc. The Lost and Found is located in the stairwell on the 1st floor across the hall from the main office. Any item that is left on December 9th will be washed and donated to the community.
SAFETY
If you see unsafe acts on First or Second Street, school personnel can not address public roadways. Please call and inform the police if it needs to be immediately addressed. Otherwise, let our Safety Administrator, Curtis, know and he can schedule police to be present and observe.
Main things he needs are what is happening, when, and where.
JR / SR College Prep Visits
To stay in the loop of all of the upcoming Junior and Senior College Rep Visits, please visit the calendar linked HERE.
GSP with Robin 1st and 3rd Block - Thursday, December 1st
Senior Meeting on Tuesday, December 6th
Technology Spotlight
6th Grade Math - Mrs. Alayna
Our sixth graders recently had to create an advertisement for their business project. They used the Ursa Innovation Lab to create buttons, stickers, t-shirts, 3D prints and wood designs from the Glowforge.
Check out their products in the pictures!
Holiday Spirit Week is Coming Soon!
Weekly Columns
Concession Stand
Brown PTSA is in charge of the concession stand that is open for all volleyball games. basketball games, and other events such as this Saturday's Kentuckiana Invitational High School Science Olympiad Competition at Brown. We managed to keep the stand open with about 3 main volunteers for 14 volleyball games however - with basketball season - we can not do this alone.
We have 19 middle/high games during the upcoming school weeks. In additional Brown hosts Saturday elementary basketball games for not only Brown but for the entire district. It is a full day of basketball games. We have 7 confirmed and 2 tentative tournament Saturday dates. We need volunteers to help. Please consider taking a shift to help us.
High School students are welcome to be food runners! We will sign any community service paperwork. Volunteers also get a $10.00 food allowance for thier hard work!
Winter Sale
We are having a holiday sale on in stock Brown School Merchandise. We have dropped the anniversary polos down to $25.00 and almost all other in stock merchandise is 20% off. We also have a hanging rack of left over shirts and sweatpants from previous years that are priced at $5.00 each.
Spirit wear makes great gifts for family members.
Athletics
Elementary Athletics
Basketball has been going great and we are ready to start games. The blue team will take on Shelby 2 this Saturday at 9:00am at Brown. Come out and cheer them on. The Golden Girls team will play Carter next Saturday at Seneca and our white team will play their first game on the 17th at Seneca.
Cheer team is going great and our 21 girls are ready to cheer their hearts out Saturday at Brown. We can't wait to see them cheer.
Middle School Athletics
Concession Stand Volunteers are needed for this basketball season. This will be for elementary, middle and high school basketball games. Without volunteers we will not be able to open the concession stand. This helps fund athletics and the PTSA, which provides opportunities for all of our students. Concession Stand Volunteer Sign-Up Link
Student Season Tickets are on sale now for $20 to all middle and high school athletic events. All students over 6 years old will need a ticket for games this year. There is no more free admission. Single game student tickets for middle school are $5 and high school are $7. The season ticket package includes $10 in Bear Bucks for anything in the concession stand PLUS an exclusive Brown Bears t-shirt. Tickets can be purchased online here. The shirt and Bear Bucks offer ends on December 1st.
Basketball season is now in fulll-swing. The middle school JV girls earned their first victory of the season at Shawnee on Tuesday. The middle school varsity boys and girls teams are back in action on Thursday at home vs. Shawnee. Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate.
Swimming has their second JCPS meet of the year on Friday at Mary T followed by the Brown Bear Sprint #2 on Saturday at Shawnee. Volunteers are still needed throughout the season. You can sign up here: Swimming Volunteer Sign-Up Sheet
Tennis is continuing to do fast-feed lessons through the winter months at Advantage Tennis and Fitness on Mondays at 5:30. For more information, email matthew.davis@jefferson.kyschools.us. All students (middle and high) are welcome to attend. It is a great and fun way to quickly improve.
Archery started practice and our team is excited to start competitions. If you are interested in joining, please email coach Jennifer at jennbeanfest@aol.com.
High School Athletics
Concession Stand Volunteers are needed for this basketball season. This will be for elementary, middle and high school basketball games. Without volunteers we will not be able to open the concession stand. This helps fund athletics and the PTSA, which provides opportunities for all of our students. Concession Stand Volunteer Sign-Up Link
Student Season Tickets are on sale now for $20 to all middle and high school athletic events. All students over 6 years old will need a ticket for games this year. There is no more free admission. Single game student tickets for middle school are $5 and high school are $7. The season ticket package includes $10 in Bear Bucks for anything in the concession stand PLUS an exclusive Brown Bears t-shirt. Tickets can be purchased online here. The shirt and Bear Bucks offer ends on December 1st.
Archery started practice and our team is excited to start competitions. If you are interested in joining, please email coach Jennifer at jennbeanfest@aol.com.
Bowling is ready for their match against Christian Academy at King Pin Lanes on Thursday 4:00pm They would still like to add some bowlers if anyone is interested. Any student in grades 7-12th that are interested, should reach out to coach Justin at justin.young2@jefferson.kyschools.us
Basketball- Our teams have started their seasons and are looking to have a really good season. Our JV boys had a big win over Heritage Academy on Monday night, with our varsity losing a heartbreaker in the last few seconds. Both girls and boys played Shawnee last night and showed a lot of growth and effort, but both teams lost in very close games. Our girls travel to Model Lab on Thursday and both teams will play at Atherton on Friday.
Swimming and Diving hosted the Brown Bear Sprint Meet #1 last Saturday, with our boys team placing second overall. Last night, they were at the Central Invite and did awesome. Jackson Skeeters took 1st in the 50 Breast stroke and Ellie Leonard came in 1st in the 50 Butterfly. Our girls team of Raya Jones, Ellie Leonard, Erin Rogers, Kate Kelley and Zoey Tyrell finished 3rd overall. They will host the 2nd Brown Bear Sprint Meet Saturday at Shawnee.
Elementary Counselor
Click HERE to find out what's happening in the elementary world.
Middle School Counselor
Our middle schoolers sprinkled kindness like confetti the last couple of weeks before break during our 1st Kindness Challenge. 8th graders won with over 200 acts of kindness. Next week we'll have our second kindness challenge, so be sure to encourage your child to think beyond themselves and do something kind for someone else.
MAP testing is this week and next week in middle school land, with the reading test happening tomorrow and the Math test happening next Wednesday. Remember the power of positive self talk. Think of coming up with a mantra or catchphrase with your student that will ground them when the going gets tough.
I will be visiting classrooms next week to speak on Motivation and tips and tricks to stay focused this time of year. Be sure to ask your middle schooler what helps them stay motivated.
And finally, this time of year is joyous but also bittersweet for many. Check in with yourself and your student. Allow them a safe space to express themselves. And remember, reach out if you need any support.
High School Counselor
This time of year can be full of joy but also sadness as we remember those we have lost. Our school family is grieving the loss of a beloved recent graduate. As we look for ways to celebrate this student and all of those who have transcended, please remember to reach out for support for yourself and your student. The Student Support Request Form is a powerful tool in helping you and your student get the services they need.
If your child or family are struggling with big emotions for any reason, here is a guide to Helping Kids Cope from our District Partner Erika's Lighthouse.
Mental Health Practitioner
Hey Brown School family! Thanksgiving break flew by in a flash, and we are on the count down to winter break! While this is an exciting time of year, we know in the student support team that it does not mean that our students need any less support than any other time of year. However, sometimes that need does not necessarily mean that a student needs to talk to someone. Thanks in part to the advocacy of students on the Disability Advocacy Club, Brown has been approved to put together a low sensory space (still to be named) for our students who just need a moment to collect themselves and calm down.
The low sensory space is for all Brown students, and is available in the student support office on the pedway. A lot of times when students are feeling anxious or upset, harsh lighting and loud noises can make these feelings more intense and keep the student from self-regulating more easily. With low lighting, quiet sounds, and variously textured surfaces students have the opportunity to self-regulate in a more controlled and safe environment. The sensory space is not intended to be used for long periods of time, but is a short-term space available for students to self-regulate and de-escalate safely.
Below I have included a few pictures of the progress the sensory space has had so far this year. We are still waiting on a few other pieces to be delivered and installed, and look forward to keeping you all updated on the progress! If you have any questions about this space, or how your students can have access to it please feel free to reach out to me.
Family Resource/Youth Services Center
CAP, our Clothing Assistance Program will be having a "Take What You Can Tote Event" on Saturday, December 1. For more information, click here.
A mobile dentist will be coming to school on January 25th. Forms will be sent home this week. If you would like your student to receive a dental cleaning and they have not had one in the last six months, please complete the form and return it to school.
Just a reminder - we now have a food pantry at school. If anyone is in need of food, please contact me.
Comet was at school on Monday and met a guinea pig in the library. Neither one of them were too sure about the other one. They both behaved themselves and were very sweet!
Connections
SBDM Update
We have an SBDM meeting coming up on Tuesday, December 6th at 4:00 PM in the Student Support Center Conference Room. HERE is the tentative agenda.
Cultural Connections
December Holidays
12/8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception: A feast day celebrated by Roman Catholics that celebrate Mary’s conception without original sin.
12/18* to 12/26 – Hanukkah: The 8-day celebration of the “Festival of Lights” that honors the victory of Jews over Syrian Greeks.
12/21 – Yule: A Pagan and Wiccan holiday that begins at sundown at the winter solstice.
12/25 – Christmas: The holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
12/26 – The Feast of St. Stephen: Also called Boxing Day, this day commemorates the life of a saint known for his service to the poor who became the first Christian martyr.
Family Matters
ACT Help
Do you know a teen who needs resources for the ACT? Visit the Louisville Free Public Library's teen page for ideas.