Florida School for the Deaf & the Blind - Do More. Be More. Achieve More.

Say Hello to Lori Smith!   Lori has worked at FSDB since 1998. Her first position was in Accounting as a Fiscal Assistant. Lori has worked in Human Resources since 2009 but has had other positions before HR.   Listed below are all the positions and OPS she has worked during her time here at FSDB: - Related Services- Secretary - Special Needs- Instructional Assistant & Secretary - Deaf Elementary- Administrative Assistant - OPS Recreation - OPS Dance Teacher - OPS Chaperone - OPS Summer Camps - Assistant Girls Basketball Coach for C-Team - Assistant Girls Soccer Coach   Lori's daughter was born deaf. She learned about FSDB from an early intervention program serviced in the area where she lived. She started coming to the school to attend Silent Weekends and other parent events to learn to sign and be exposed to the Deaf culture for her daughter. At the same time, Lori enrolled her daughter in Pre-K and landed a job at FSDB! Now, she has a granddaughter who was born deaf and attends FSDB.   "FSDB has a special place in my heart as a Parent, Grandparent, and an Employee," shared Lori.   Lori has many unforgettable memories, and it is almost impossible for her to choose one. However, the first thing that came to mind was watching and being part of her daughter and granddaughter developing their language through friends and the deaf community at FSDB.   " I will eternally feel blessed and thankful for my FSDB Family and all it means to my family and me," shared Lori.   A fun fact about Lori is she loves the outdoors and spending time with her family!   We love having you as part of our FSDB Family!   #ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongatFSDB #FSDBGrowingUpAtFSDB

Takeover Thursdays are back! This week, our Recreation Department will be in charge of our social media. Don't miss out on the exciting content they will be sharing in our stories later today! #FSDBTakeoverThursdays

Then & Now: The top photo was taken around 1915 and the bottom photo was taken in 2020. The tree is now around 200 years old. There were not many changes over the years. Credit goes to Jamie McElfresh,  Museum Staff.   #FSDBHistory #FSDBWayBackWhensday

Blind Elementary School student McKenzie represented FSDB Blind Elementary School at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Game. Mckenzie was invited to sing the National Anthem before the August 31st game, and she wowed the crowd! #FSDBCamousLifeTuesday

St. Johns County Firefighters came to visit our Blue Classroom in the ELC! The students had a fantastic time meeting the firefighters! They loved feeling the different equipment pieces, exploring the firetruck's inside, and learning about how firefighters serve our community. It was a hands-on experience that brought their lessons to life! #FSDBAcademicMondays

Due to Hurricane Helene, not much happened in the FSDB community this week. However, we ensured our cross country team made it safely to Fremont, California, for their National Deaf Prep Cross Country Tournament! #FSDBRecapSundays #GoDragons #OneTeamOneHeartbeat

Next Saturday, October 5, Alabama School for the Deaf will be coming to take on our Boys Football at 2 p.m. Come on out to support our team! We hope to see you there! #FSDBSportsSaturdays #GoDragons

Say Hello to Kendall McDonald! Kendall is a senior in the Blind Department. She has been with FSDB for twelve years! Kendall enjoyed meeting all her friends throughout the years at FSDB. Kendall enjoys art of all kinds! We will miss you once you graduate!  #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam #GrowingUpAtFSDBFridays

Based on the most recent weather advisory, the strengthening of the storm, and the delay in the storm passing through our area, FSDB classes for Friday, September 27 are canceled and the campus will be closed. At this time, school will be in session and under normal operations on Monday, September 30. Boarding programs students will be picked up at their regularly scheduled time and bus stop. ––– Según el aviso meteorológico más reciente, el fortalecimiento de la tormenta y el retraso en el paso de la tormenta por nuestra área, las clases de FSDB para el viernes 27 de septiembre se cancelan y el campus estará cerrado. En este momento, la escuela estará en sesión y bajo operaciones normales el lunes 30 de septiembre. Los estudiantes de los programas de internado serán recogidos en su horario y parada de autobús programados regularmente.

Congratulations to Lois Creech! Lois is retiring tomorrow after twenty-one years of service with FSDB! She has worked as a Fiscal Assistant to the Comptroller and is currently Accountant II. She wanted to work at FSDB because she wanted to do something different. FSDB is unique to her because of the caring students and staff she sees daily! One of Lois's favorite FSDB memories was Mr. Hutto asking her to wear her hamburger har and meet the ELC kids. Lois has one daughter, Carrie, twin granddaughters, Madison and Hannah, and one great-granddaughter, Maria, who will turn two this upcoming January. Lois enjoys watching football and rooting for her favorite time, the Jacksonville Jaguars. After retirement, Lois will watch and spend time with her great-granddaughter, Maria, when needed! Happy Retirement! We will miss you! Thank you for everything you have done for FSDB! #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam

Welcome Holly Wright! Holly will be an Instructional Assistant working with our Early Learning Center students. She looks forward to helping them grow into their best and brightest selves. Holly is from Nashville, Tennessee and has a cat named Kiyoshi whom she loves! "I'm thrilled to be part of the FSDB community!" shared Holly. And we are thrilled to have you here with us! #ThisisFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

View in ASL: https://vimeo.com/1013311934 Based on the most recent weather advisory, FSDB plans to have classes on Friday, September 27. All Yellow Bus routes (morning and afternoon) will follow the regular Friday schedule. We will continue to monitor the weather and the impacts of the storm. If we need to cancel any bus routes on Friday morning, we will inform families via School Messenger, social media and our website. (Yellow Bus Routes: 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 29 ––– Según el aviso meteorológico más reciente, FSDB planea tener clases el viernes 27 de septiembre. Todas las rutas de los autobuses amarillos (mañana y tarde) seguirán el horario regular de los viernes. Continuaremos monitoreando el clima y los efectos de la tormenta. Si el viernes por la mañana necesitamos cancelar alguna ruta de autobús, les informaremos a las familias a través de School Messenger, redes sociales y nuestro sitio web. (las rutas de los autobuses amarillos: 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, and 29)

Due to Hurricane Helene, we are suspending our “Takeover Thursday” social media posts today. Everyone, please stay safe, and we look forward to having all of our students back on campus. #FSDBTakeoverThursdays

View message in ASL: https://vimeo.com/1012808962 Due to the impending storm, FSDB will cancel classes on Thursday, September 26. The remaining SHOW bus students will go home today (Wednesday) following the regular Friday bus schedule (see routes below). All Yellow Bus and Parent Pick-Up students will go home at 3:30 p.m. today (Wednesday). All after-school activities are canceled for Wednesday and Thursday. Classes are expected to resume on Friday. The following SHOW routes WILL go home on WEDNESDAY, September 25, at 2:05 p.m. • SHOW Route 4 – Orlando • SHOW Route 5 – Homestead • SHOW Route 7 – Titusville • SHOW Route 10 – Sebring • SHOW Route 12 – West Palm Beach • SHOW Route 13 – Dunn Ave./Fernandina Important notes: • As of Wednesday at 2:05 p.m., the Boarding Program is closed to all students for the remainder of the week. • All after-school activities are canceled for Wednesday and Thursday. Please visit our FSDB Alerts page for further updates (www.fsdbk12.org/alerts)

In 1982, the Blind Department had a spirit week during homecoming week. They played games, parades on the campus, skits show, dressed up for spirit week, and class banners. Source: FSDB 1983 Yearbook. #FSDBWayBackWhensdays

The FSDB Board of Trustees meetings scheduled for Friday, September 27th, have been canceled. The next meeting will be held on Friday, October 25th.

Welcome Brian Tingley-Carr to FSDB! Brian will work as a Behavioral Specialist. He looks forward to connecting and fostering authentic relationships with students, faculty, staff, and communities across Florida. Brian was a beautiful wife, adopted a twelve-year-old daughter, two dogs named Ruby Doo & Ginny Pickles, and a baby boy on the way! A fun fact about Brian is that he did not learn ASL until he was nineteen when he entered his college career at Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. Another fun fact is that Brian and his wife were wedded by Elvis in Las Vegas! We are so happy to have you here at FSDB! #ThisisFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Welcome Laura White to FSDB! Laura will work with the Deaf High School Department as an Instructional Assistant. She looks forward to returning to work with Deaf students and having a fresh start. Laura is originally from St. Augustine and was a former student at FSDB. She has also worked here at FSDB for five years. We are so happy to have you back, Laura! #ThisisFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Kramer girls, Brianna, Roslyn, Egypt, and Kiyan are learning how to sew. The materials were provided through Craft Corner, a project funded by the FSDB Advancement Department. #FSDBCampusLifeTuesday

FSDB participated in several weather briefings over the last few hours about potential Tropical Cyclone Nine. This system is expected to become a hurricane and could potentially reach the coast as a major hurricane. The leadership team has decided that five SHOW bus students will go home early this week following the regular Friday pick-up bus schedules (see routes below). We understand you may not have bad weather in your area, however, there is concern that the roads might not be safe later in the week because of the storm. We also have to make sure our bus chaperones have enough time to make it back safely to FSDB after dropping off your child. Our thoughts are with every family during this weather event and hope you all stay safe. Further communication regarding classes for the rest of the week will be shared as we learn more about the path and impact of this storm.   The following SHOW routes WILL go home on Tuesday, September 24 at 2:05 p.m. All students on these routes MUST go home. • SHOW Route 1 – Naples • SHOW Route 2 – Pinellas Park • SHOW Route 3 – Pensacola • SHOW Route 8 – Ocala  • SHOW Route 9 – Land O’ Lakes Please visit our FSDB Alerts page for further updates. (www.fsdbk12.org/alerts)