Margie Galligan-Prater, a teacher at the Blind High School, shares her favorite memory below:

"My favorite memories have always been planning several proms with the kids and working alongside my colleagues during the senior carnivals to provide fun games and memories for the students and their families."

 #FSDBMemoryMonday #ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB
4 months ago, FSDB
Margie is wearing an olive green shirt smiling for her photo with a black and white background. On the left side of her is a white textbox that says "My favorite memories have always been planning several proms with the kids and working alongside my colleagues during the senior carnivals to provide fun games and memories for the students and their families."
Last weekend, BEMS Social Studies Teacher, Mr. Ferguson, traveled to France for the bicentennial of braille! The bicentennial festivities were held in Coupvray (the birthplace of Louis Braille) and included numerous tactile activities, information tables, demonstrations, lectures, vendors, and games adapted for the BVI community. Mr. Ferguson visited the home of Louis Braille along with his original grave and national monument in Coupvray. In Paris, Mr. Ferguson visited the National Institute for Blind Youth, the Association Valentin Haüy, and Louis Braille’s second grave at the Panthéon, where all but his hands are buried (his hands remain in an urn in Coupvray). Mr. Ferguson also dined at Le Procope, the oldest café in Paris, where blindness was intensely debated among Enlightenment philosophers and Diderot’s Encyclopedia and Letter on the Blind were reportedly conceived.

“Walking in the footsteps of Louis Braille and other founding figures in the field of visual impairment was sensational, and continuing their work with students today is a great privilege,” Mr. Ferguson said. Mr. Ferguson has enjoyed sharing meaningful conversations about the importance of braille and ECC areas with students while enjoying assorted French cookies and chocolates, tactile graphics, and braille which he brought back as concrete experiences for students. As a former student of FSDB, Mr. Ferguson hopes that his travel experiences will inspire students to Do More, Be More, and Achieve More by pursuing their passions and overcoming obstacles.


#ThisIsFSDB
4 months ago, FSDB
Photo of Mr. Ferguson smiling for his photo inside the home of Louis Braille.
Inside a restaurant named "Le Procope" which is the oldest car in Paris.
Mr. Ferguson smiling with a wax figure of Louis Braille wearing a navy suit.
Demonstrations with tactile on each of the shelves.
Photo of Mr. Ferguson smiling for a photo with Louis Braille's grave.
Photo of cookies, chocolates, tactile graphics and braille that he had brought back home to share with his students.
FSDB Homecoming 2025 was a great success! Our swimming, volleyball, and football teams performed exceptionally well, and we are incredibly proud of them.

We want to thank the staff, students, their families, and all our fans for coming out to support us. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!

Below are the links to the football and volleyball albums from Homecoming:

Volleyball: https://fsdb.zenfolio.com/p867075543

Football: https://fsdb.zenfolio.com/p610163142

#FSDBSportsSundays #GoFSDBDragons
5 months ago, FSDB
Top photo is the football team running through the red banner that the cheerleaders were holding on the field, and the bottom photo is an action shot of the volleyball teams playing inside Settles Gym.
The SOAR Program sold Mexican candies at the Homecoming football game last Saturday. We hope you visited our booth, said hello, and purchased some candies!

#FSDBSOARSaturdays
5 months ago, FSDB
SOAR student smiling with a SOAR teacher at their booth selling Mexico candy outside Usina Field during the Homecoming football game.
🎓 This week's Question of the Week is for all FSDB alumni! When did you graduate from FSDB? Where has life taken you since then? We want to know! Share your journey with us in the comments. 🌟

#FSDBQuestionOfTheWeekFridays
5 months ago, FSDB
Faded photo of President Tracie Snow in a yellow dress smiling with the Blind and Deaf Class of 2024. On the top left is a blue speech bubble that says "Alumni! What year did you graduate? Where has life taken you since then?"
Welcome, Melissa Brasic, Director of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Early Intervention, to FSDB!

Melissa was previously a parent advisor with the Parent Infant Program before taking on her current role.

She is excited to join the DHH Early Intervention team, which includes parent advisors, to continue serving children and families throughout Florida.

Melissa enjoys nature and spends as much time outdoors as possible. Her favorite places include Lake Superior, areas with Giant Redwoods, and Tybee Island.

We are so happy to have you here with us at FSDB!

#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB
5 months ago, FSDB
Melissa is wearing a maroon color suit smiling for her photo with a silver backdrop and purple background. Below the photo is a white textbox that says "Melissa Brasic, Director of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Early Intervention"

Media Moment!

Some days, I get to do something a little different — like being interviewed on live TV! Yesterday, I had the honor of speaking with Tiffany Salameh from @news4jax as part of their "4 Your Neighborhood" series. Each month, they leave the studio to spotlight communities across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia — and this time, they chose beautiful Flagler College in St. Augustine!
 
It was a gorgeous Florida fall day on the West Lawn, and I had the pleasure of chatting with Tiffany about FSDB — who we serve, what makes our school so special, and even a few of our notable graduates. I always LOVE talking about FSDB, though I’ll admit… going live on the news definitely brings a few nerves! I just want to make sure I represent our incredible school and community well.

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPk2TW-9rwY 

One question we didn’t get to in the 4-minute segment was:  How can families learn more about FSDB?
- Well — if you’re reading this, you’ve already found us on social media! 🙌
- Visit www.FSDBk12.org to explore our programs, services, and more.
- Interested families and students can also sign up for a campus tour to see firsthand what we do.

A huge thank you to Alvina LaPlante for joining me so we could represent both Spoken English and American Sign Language. Love my team! 
 
#ThisisFSDB #4YourNeighborhood #DeafEducation #BlindEducation #ParentChoice #FSDBStrong #CommunitySpotlight #ThePrezSnowPost

5 months ago, FSDB
Tracie is wearing a white with green flowers scattered all over her dress pointing to the camera crew outside on Flagler College campus.
Left to right: News4Jax anchor, President Tracie Snow, and Alvina, Interpreter, smile for a selfie on the campus lawn of Flagler College.
Welcome, John Holman, to FSDB!

John brings with him an impressive background as he previously served as a Master Sergeant, dedicating thirty years to the City of Port St. Lucie Law Enforcement. He is excited to join FSDB as a Law Enforcement Officer!

John looks forward to interacting with students ranging from preschool to young adults and is eager to learn Sign Language.

Here are a few fun facts about John:
- He is a passionate animal lover and has two dogs and two cats.
- He is an expert on snakes and other reptiles.
- During his time as a Police Officer, one of his cases was featured on "America's Most Wanted," and he is proud to say that the suspect was caught.

We are thrilled to have you as a part of the FSDB family!

#ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB
5 months ago, FSDB
John is wearing his officer uniform smiling for a photo with a silver backdrop and purple background. Below the photo is a white text box that says "John Holman, Law Enforcement Officer"
In Koger Hall, the juniors are off to a great start in the kitchen! Over the past two weeks, students have been actively learning about kitchen safety, the importance of maintaining a clean cooking environment, and the value of taking turns preparing dinner.

These foundational skills are helping students build confidence and responsibility as they begin their journey toward independent living.

#FSDBAfterSchoolHoursWednesdays
5 months ago, FSDB
Three photos of blind juniors learning on their independence skills shopping in the grocery store and cooking food in the kitchen.
In Culinary Arts, students have learned to prepare stocks, soups, sandwiches, and a variety of desserts this semester, including cheesecake, custards, and tarts.

#FSDBCTETuesdays
5 months ago, FSDB
Three photo collage of culinary art students working on preparing and cooking various of meals this semester inside the kitchen.
Daniel Pletenets, FSDB's Class of 2022 and a Deaf Middle School teacher, shares his favorite memory as a student.

"My favorite part of FSDB as a student was walking on campus, feeling the beautiful, warm sunrise and seeing its light shining on the buildings and vibrant plants every morning. I still enjoy that moment every morning as a teacher."

#FSDBMemoryMondays #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
5 months ago, FSDB
Daniel is wearing a gray FSDB Athletics collar shirt smiling for his photo with the white text box on the right that says "My favorite part of FSDB as a student was walking on campus, feeling the beautiful, warm sunrise and seeing its light shining on the buildings and vibrant plants every morning. I still enjoy that moment every morning as a teacher"
The FSDB Dragons Football team have secured a victory last night against the California-Riverside Cubs!

FSDB: 34, CSDR:14

Great job, Dragons!

#FSDBSportSundays #PassionPridePerserverance #GoFSDBDragons
5 months ago, FSDB
A FSDB football player is scoring a touch down while the other team tries to tackle him on the Usina Football field.
Our SOAR students had the opportunity to participate in our Homecoming festivities! They collaborated as a class, created the SOAR banner, and walked in the parade!

#FSDBSOARSaturdays
5 months ago, FSDB
Two SOAR students wearing a red shirt walking with their banner that they created as a class during the Homecoming Parade.
In honor of the 85th Homcoming Football game tomorrow, when was the first FSD Homecoming Football game, and who did they play?

#FSDBQuestionOfTheWeekFridays
5 months ago, FSDB
A quote white box with the question "When was the first FSD homecoming football game, and who did they play?" with the photo of the first homecoming flyer beneath it.
We are less than a month away from our Fall Open House! Registration closes on October 5. Learn about FSDB programs, watch performances from FSDB music groups, and participate in a Q&A session with staff and students. Special guests include FSDB President, Tracie Snow and D&B Designs with unique gifts and apparel. If you are unable to attend, the event will be livestreamed.

Click the following link to register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/k8fz32c
5 months ago, FSDB
Open House – Fall 2025 Graphic
Today, Friday, September 19, we held our annual Deaf Homecoming Parade and Pep Rally. This marks the third year that the Homecoming Court was escorted in Jeep Wranglers. This year, we welcomed several new additions, including the St. Augustine High School ROTC, the St. Augustine High School Marching Band, Pirates, and UNF students.

Thank you to everyone who came out to support our Deaf High School Department and Homecoming Court.

We are excited for this evening's events, starting with swimming, followed by volleyball and football tomorrow!

To view the photos from the Parade & Pep Rally, click on the link below:
https://fsdb.zenfolio.com/p242823486

#HocoWeek #Homecoming2025 #FSDBHomecoming #ThisIsFSDB
5 months ago, FSDB
Homecoming Court King and Queen sit in the back of the Jeep Wrangler waving for the camera.
Two FSDB cheerleaders help an elementary school student dressed up in football gear during a race game in Settles Gym.
Two Homecoming Court sit onto of a Jeep Wrangler with red, white and blue balloons smiling for a photo.
A former staff member hold arms with Samy the Dragon inside Settles Gym.
FSDB Cheerleaders hold a Dragons flag and waving with their red and white pom poms outside during the parade.
The students get loud and hyper inside Settles Gym during the Pep Rally.
Students high five a woman dressed up as a pirate during the parade.
A ELC student smile with Samy the Dragon inside Settles Gym.
A student getting excited outside as the parade walks by him.
Deaf High School held its annual Homecoming Skits and Dance last night, featuring skits based on the theme "Avatar." The Dance Troupe performed songs from the movie.

Congratulations to Jonah Abenchuchan and Brenna Freeman for being named Homecoming King and Queen!

To view the photos from the event, click the link below:
https://fsdb.zenfolio.com/p527537799

#ThisIsFSDB #HocoWeek #Homecoming2025 #FSDBHomecoming #Avatar
5 months ago, FSDB
FSDB cheerleaders on stage in Kirk smiling and dancing with their red and white pom poms.
FSDB cheerleaders doing a stunt with the flyer who is holding her arms up on stage in Kirk.
Two students wearing green with green face painting and performing on stage in Kirk.
An avatar and an human dressed in camo push each other while acting on stage in Kirk.
A dance troupe student wearing camo dancing on stage in Kirk.
Two dance troupe students dressed in camo and blue relating to the Avatar theme dance on stage in Kirk. The boy is holding the girl on her shoulders.
A senior is dressed in a suit holding her parents arms on stage in Kirk.
Two ELC students are dressed fancy and holding the homecoming queen and king crown on stage in Kirk.
The Assistant Principal of DHS kneeling down with the Homecoming King as they smile at the ELC student who gave the crown to him on stage in Kirk.
The Homecoming Queen hands the ELC student her princess crown as she becomes the Homecoming Queen.
Congratulations to Jonah Abenchuchan and Brenna Freeman for being announced FSDB's Homecoming King and Queen!

#HocoWeek #HomecomingWeek #FSDBHomecoming2025 #ThisIsFSDB
5 months ago, FSDB
The senior King and Queen are smiling with two ELC students on stage in Kirk.
Yesterday, BHS members and BMS members of the Blinding Lights and Reflections Show Choirs had their first off campus performance of the year! They went to downtown St. Augustine for the Ringing of the Bells event. This event highlights the signing of the Constitution in 1787, and was hosted by the Maria Jefferson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Each Show Choir member received a personal bell to keep and participated with the rest of the attendees ringing their bells along with the city church bells at 4:03. The Show Choir, dressed in red, white, and blue uniforms, performed the Star-Spangled Banner to open the ceremony, entertained with Homeward Bound and A Million Dreams in the middle, and closed the ceremony with God Bless America.

With the help of the directors Laurie Wohl, Leslie Costello, and Brigit Jensen, every member has practiced how they would perform for this event and will continue to practice for upcoming events. They were excellent ambassadors. We can't wait to see where they go next!
5 months ago, FSDB
Group of blind students wearing red, white and blue clothing singing on the plaza in downtown St. Augustine.
A close-up photo of three girl singers wearing blue and red dresses in the plaza outside downtown St. Augustine.
A photo of an St. Augustine member making a speech introducing the choir.
A group photo of the students wearing variety of colors between red, blue and white smiling with President Snow outside of the plaza downtown St. Augustine.
A close-up of one student wearing a red dress with red bow doing a solo outside in the plaza of downtown St. Augustine. Her classmates surround her all around.
A photo of two St. Augustine members dressed as soldiers shooting the gun outside the plaza in downtown St. Augustine.
A close-up of a few boy students wearing red and white vests outside the plaza in downtown St. Augustine.
A Proud Moment in the Plaza!
 
It was an absolute joy to join our Blind Department Show Choir in downtown St. Augustine on Wednesday as they showcased their incredible talents during the Bells Across America event celebrating Constitution Day. Their voices filled the air with beauty and pride—I couldn't be more proud of them!
 
Did you know?
Bells Across America is an annual tradition commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787. Churches and community groups nationwide ring bells to honor this historic moment. The event is part of Constitution Week (Sept 17–23), established in 1956 thanks to the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution to promote public understanding of the Constitution's role in American democracy.
 
#ThePrezSnowPost #FSDBPride #ConstitutionDay #BellsAcrossAmerica #CelebrateHistory
5 months ago, FSDB
President Snow is taking a selfie and smiling with the Blind Department Show Choir outside downtown St. Augustine.