Senai Yemane Medhane is from Jacksonville, Florida. He is graduating with honors. While at FSDB, he was involved in the Dance Troupe and Yearbook Committee as the Portrait Editor. He was also a member of the cheerleading team. His favorite memories at FSDB were Dance Troupe's Lion King, socializing with his friends, and being part of the cheerleading team. After graduation, he plans to return to FSDB for the SOAR program and attend either Gallaudet University, RIT or UNF to become a fashion designer.
Congratulations Senai!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Haley McDaniels is from Lake Alfred, Florida. While at FSDB, she was involved in the Dance Troupe and color guard. She was also part of the cheerleading team. Her favorite memory at FSDB is socializing with her friends. After graduation, she plans to own a business as a nail tech and bake cakes.
Congratulations Haley!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Melissa Oramas Santana was born in Cuba and now lives in Pompano Beach, Florida. While at FSDB, she participated in Young Life, Ski Club, Close-Up, Chess Club, Cross Country, the National Honor Society, and the International Thespian Society. Melissa worked in the school store after school. After graduation, Melissa plans to return to FSDB to attend St. Johns River State College to earn her AA degree. After leaving FSDB, Melissa will continue her education to become a Braille teacher for elementary and middle school students.
Congratulations, Melissa!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Ann Le Luong is from Longwood, Florida. While at FSDB, she was involved in the Outdoor Club. Her favorite memories at FSDB include going to Washington D.C., playing outside with friends, going to Dunkin Donuts, and spending time with my favorite teachers and staff. After graduation, she plans to return to FSDB to be part of the SOAR program. Ann also plans to become a cake baker and work with animals.
Congratulations Ann!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
The FSDB Blind Elementary Theatre will present their production of Annie KIDS on Thursday, May 22, at 1:30 p.m. The performance is invitation only for students, families and staff. However, you can watch the livestream at the link below.
https://vimeo.com/event/4770188
Families who plan to attend in person, please arrive early. Enter the campus through the Genoply Street entrance, which intersects with San Marco Avenue, and proceed to the guardhouse to check in with Campus Police for parking instructions. Remember to bring identification.
Today, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) department will take over our social media! This includes on-campus programs such as Culinary Arts, 3D Animation, Construction, and Digital Media, as well as off-campus programs through First Coast Technical College. Be sure to check our stories for an inside look at our CTE programs!
#FSDBTakeoverThursdays
Vanessa Marie LoSauro is from Palm Coast, Florida. She is graduating with honors. While at FSDB, she was involved in the Dance Troupe. Her favorite memory at FSDB was getting the Elsa role in the Frozen performance. After graduation, she plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design with the goal of opening a fashion boutique and a cozy coffee shop.
Congratulations Vanessa!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Kaitlyn Nevins is from St. Augustine, Florida. In her spare time, Katilyn enjoys writing and doing what she can to make others smile. Kailyn’s favorite thing about attending FSDB is all of the wonderful friends she has made here. After graduation, Kaitlyn plans to return to FSDB to enter the S.O.A.R. program prior to pursuing a career in graphic design.
Congratulations, Kaitlyn!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
In 1981, FSDB Booster Club hosted the 16th Annual Sports Banquet and Award Ceremony. The Sports Banquet originally started in 1965 by the Booster Club.
Students, staff and parents went to the cafeteria. They had a delicious dinner: Oven Roast Beef, Southern Fried Chicken, Seafood Newburg, Baked potato-sour cream, hot dinner roll, fruit cup, cheese cubes and roasted peanuts, salad, key lime pie, apple and chocolate cakes.
After dinner, they walked to Kirk Auditorium for the award ceremony. They had an engaging guest speaker and recognized special guests. Athletics director, coaches and principal give awards to student-athletes who excel in sports. Many athletes received nice awards and trophies.
This Thursday, May 15, the FSDB athletic department will host the 62nd annual awards ceremony in Kirk Auditorium, and many athletes will receive awards. Wish them the best of luck!
Credit: FSDB Museum, 1981 Florida School Herald and Sports Banquet program book.
#FSDBWayBackWhensday #FSDBHistory
Joey Locklear III is from Jacksonville, Florida. While at FSDB, he was involved in bike motorracing. He was also on the football and wrestling teams. His favorite memory at FSDB was saying goodbye to his best friend. After graduation, he plans on becoming an underwater welder.
Congratulations Joey!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Congratulations to Raymond Casson for his promotion to Assistant Director of Safety & Facilities Operations!
Raymond, who previously served as a senior safety specialist, is excited about his new role. He is committed to fostering a safe and productive environment for our students and staff.
In his free time, Raymond enjoys playing music, particularly the guitar and bass, as well as engaging in art. He is originally from Baltimore, Maryland. Go Ravens!
#ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Ashlyn Marie Jackson is from Keystone Heights, Florida. She is graduating with honors. While at FSDB, she was involved in the Dance Troupe and the Yearbook Committee as the content manager. She also was part of the cheerleading team. Her favorite memory at FSDB was when her cheer team qualified for states and scored higher than expected. After graduation, she plans on attending the University of North Florida and becoming a teacher in Deaf Education.
Congratulations Ashlyn!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Derek Merced is an honors graduate from Palm Bay, Florida. While at FSDB, Derek participated in Ski Club, Book Club, Chorus, Show Choir, Close-Up, Young Life, Debate Club, and after school music lessons. He has earned 21 credits at St. Johns River State College through the dual enrollment program. After graduation, Derek intends to pursue a career in voice acting.
Congratulations, Derek!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
The FSDB Girls Youth League Basketball Team is league champions—again! 🏆 This is their second year in a row winning the title, and we (the recreation staff) are incredibly proud of them.
Wes Homewood and Zak Williams, both part of the recreation staff, coached the team.
Congratulations!!
#FSDBCampusLifeTuesdays
Dracob Gage Hunt is from Live Oak, Florida. While at FSDB, he was involved in the Culinary Arts Club. His favorite class was culinary, and he enjoyed learning new skills. After graduation, he plans on becoming a mechanic or chef.
Congratulations Dracob!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Congratulations to Aubrey Bilow (2nd grade) and Maely Porter (5th grade) from the Blind Elementary School, who have been selected as one of the top 50 braille readers from all participating regionals (across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.) and excelled in their age categories during the Braille Challenge Preliminaries. They will be traveling to Los Angeles, CA, with their families this summer to compete at the National Competition. Let's wish them the best of luck! #ThisIsFSDB #BrailleChallenge #YouBelongHere
Kyra Lexzandria Hollerman is from Jacksonville, Florida. She is graduating with honors as Valedictorian with an Industry Scholar diploma designation. While at FSDB, she was involved in Dance Troupe, Junior NAD, Outdoor Club, SkillsUSA, and was Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook Committee. Her favorite memory at FSDB was planning and organizing school events. After graduation, she plans to attend any college or university in Florida, majoring in engineering and business, and she plans to become an engineer or construction manager.
Congratulations Kyra!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Kendall McDonald is from St. Augustine, Florida. While at FSDB, Kendall was part of the Goalball team. After graduation, Kendall plans to attend college to study Business in the Equine Industry. Her goal and dream is to own and manage a horse rescue facility.
Congratulations, Kendall!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
Judy Frasure and Jessica Kaspar co-created the Mystery Readers to give our kiddos access to more Deaf readers.
They felt that our classrooms were missing some opportunities for good literature (aside from curriculum) and experience being read to by various Deaf adults. Although our kiddos get lots of reading time with us, something special happens when guests come to share their love of literacy with children.
Mystery Readers began in the Spring of 2024. They created a flyer to recruit readers and were able to start with a monthly guest reader who was a surprise. We wanted to get some volunteer readers who weren't "familiar" with our kids and tried to recruit from outside of DES. In the 24-25 year, we filled every month with a reader. They select books for the readers to choose from unless they have their own, and schedule a time for them to read to our classes.
As a thank you, our readers receive a pin to wear proudly. Our 2nd graders love seeing our Readers wear their pins. The responses from our Mystery Readers have been very positive. They have all enjoyed it, and we have had multiple offers for repeat readers. In fact, LaDonna, Calvin, and Lenore have all been back twice!
We asked a few of our kiddos if they enjoyed our Mystery Readers, and Kaiden said, "Yes, I like our Mystery Readers because they read us cool books." Xander said, "I like the Mystery Readers so I can learn new things."
We also asked a few of our mystery readers, LaDonna and Calvin, for their feedback. LaDonna said, "Once you share ASL reading with children, you will see the bright glow on their faces as they joyfully engage."
Calvin shared, "My experience as a mystery reader for 2nd graders was amazing. Jessica and Judy did an outstanding job of providing me with various book options to read aloud to their students, which made me feel comfortable and at ease. I enjoyed how engaged and fascinated the students were while I read to them. We have amazing teachers and students here at FSDB! If you ever get the opportunity to be a mystery reader, go for it!"
#FSDBAcademicMondays
Tewdros Hammons is from Ponte Vedra, Florida. He is graduating with honors with a 3.7 GPA. While at FSDB, he was involved in the Book Club. His favorite memory at FSDB was playing after-school P.E. games on Fridays. After graduation, he plans to attend FCTC to become a chef.
Congratulations Tewdros!
#ClassOf2025 #FSDBSeniors #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam
