Ladies and gentlemen, let's give a big round of applause to the FSDB Middle School Flag Football Team! 🏈
In their historic first-ever game on Tuesday, after just one practice, these incredible girls took to the field with determination and heart.
They worked tirelessly, learning the ins and outs of positioning, offense, defense, and the overall flow of the game. Kaliyah Jones and Cheyenne Phillips showcased their skills by sharing the quarterback duties.
Despite a tough 44-0 loss, the team displayed remarkable sportsmanship and an unwavering drive for improvement. This is just the beginning of their journey, and we can't wait to see how they grow and excel in the future.
#FSDBSportsSaturday
This is Wesley Homewood.
Wesley joined FSDB in 2007 at the end of fourth grade and graduated from the Blind Department as the valedictorian in 2015.
He attended the University of North Florida, where he studied Deaf Education. While in college, he began working in the FSDB Recreational Department, coaching football and wrestling.
After graduating from UNF, he took on the role of a fifth-grade teacher at the Deaf Elementary School (DES). Since then, he has served as a tutor for both DES and the Deaf Middle School (DMS), worked in the Recreational Department, and coordinated the K-2 Summer Camp for two years. He also partnered with the Recreational Department to coach the Youth League Basketball and Youth League Wrestling teams.
Wesley fondly remembers his time as a student at FSDB. Some of his most treasured memories include winning the 2013 National Deaf Football Championship, qualifying for the State Wrestling Tournament after years of hard work and support from his coaches, attending Close Up in Washington D.C., and participating in the Ski Club.
"FSDB provides many opportunities for its students," Wesley stated.
Working at FSDB has been a rewarding experience for him. He enjoys watching his students grow both academically and personally. He strives to be the best version of himself for his students and was honored to be recognized as the 2024-2025 DES Teacher of the Year.
Wesley strongly believes in FSDB's vision of preparing students for a lifetime of success. The school has allowed him to pursue this vision in various roles both in and out of the classroom. FSDB holds significant importance for him and his family.
A fun fact about Wesley is that he loves traveling to national parks and camping during FSDB's winter, spring, and summer breaks!
We loved seeing you grow throughout the years at FSDB!
#FSDBGrowingUpAtFSDB #ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB
Welcome Martha Stirrat to FSDB!
Martha previously worked as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and now serves as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist.
She looks forward to teaching students essential skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
A fun fact about Martha is that she moved to St. Augustine for her FSDB internship six years ago, and she is excited to be working here finally!
We are thrilled to have you at FSDB!
#FSDBFam #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB
FSDB wishes everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! We love our community, staff, students, and their families!
#HappyValentinesDay #ThisIsFSDB
We are excited to welcome Ashley Williams to FSDB!
Before joining FSDB, she worked as a Comptroller Assistant and is now a Professional Accountant Specialist.
Ashley is eager to explore this new opportunity and gain more knowledge in the accounting field.
A few fun facts about Ashley: she is from Mechanicsville, Maryland, and graduated high school at 17 and college at 20.
Welcome to the FSDB Family!
#FSDBFam #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB
Today, Scott Botelho, from our Technology Department, will be taking over our social media! You can often spot him bustling around campus, ready to lend a hand. Be sure to check out our stories and join Scott on his exciting adventures today!
#FSDBTakeoverThursdays
Continuing with #FSDBBlackHistoryMonth:
- **Photo A**: A Black Department workshop in the 1930s, where students are engaged in carpentry and farming, taught by Cary White.
- **Photo B**: Cary White’s classroom at Old Knowles Hall, circa the 1950s.
- **Photo C**: Girls in the Black Vocational Department participating in a cosmetology class in the 1960s.
- **Photo D**: Ida Hampton’s classroom at Old Knowles Hall with students, also from the 1960s.
Source: FSDB Museum
#FSDBWayBackWhensdays
Blind High School Close-Up students are in Washington, D.C.! We look forward to seeing their pictures and hearing about their learning. Have a great trip!
#FSDBCampusLifeTuesdays
Hello FSDB Deaf Department Families!
Parent University Presents: Let's Talk About Springtime Fun! Students, Parents, Siblings and Friends are Welcome! This class will be on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Bloxham Hall, Room 213.
During this class you will learn to communicate about all things spring! Learn signs for Spring: weather, clothing, activities, food, holidays and much more. Communicating doesn't just mean ASL. We will discuss strategies to use when others around you don't know sign language. All skill levels are welcome and needed. This is a perfect opportunity to learn and play together.
RSVP is required to ensure we have sufficient materials and dinner for everyone.
Please RSVP at the link below:
https://bit.ly/FSDB-SPRING-2025
This is a new location for us. It is the first building on the right after entering the gates at Palm Row.
Parents must check-in at the Front Gate. Travel Reimbursement is available.
For more information please visit the FSDB Parent Classes page at:
https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/parent-classes
Sakura Vinson did an outstanding job on Friday, February 7, in the Restaurant Service SkillsUSA competition.
The judge remarked on her resume skills, encouraged her to apply for service jobs through Disney and cruise ships, and commended her skills.
Sakura demonstrated table setting, napkin folding, order taking, serving, and table-side Caesar salad. Her interpersonal skills and serviceable attitude shined.
Well done Sakura!!!
#FSDBAcademicMondays
Welcome Taria Pellicer to FSDB!
Taria will be a Residential Instructor for Gregg Hall.
She is excited about her position because she enjoys working with kids. Taria loves the FSDB community, which inspired her to join us. She also looks forward to being involved in sports with the students.
Originally from Saint Augustine, Taria is passionate about sports!
We are thrilled to have you as part of our FSDB family!
#FSDBFam #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB
Welcome Megan Mizell to FSDB!
Megan is a Residential Instructor for Apartments, looking forward to her new job, which will allow her to interact with others.
Megan is from Fresno, California, and she enjoys camping and fishing.
We are so happy to have you here with us at FSDB!
#FSDBFam #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB
- Deaf Middle School attended the Jacksonville Iceman hockey game on Tuesday, February 4.
- From January 21 to January 26, the Blind Ski Club traveled to Whitefish, Montana, for their Annual trip. Thank you to DREAM Adaptive Recreation volunteers and staff for joining and teaching us to ski!
- Girls Basketball are 1A District 3 Runner-Up. The Lady Dragons fell just short of the District Championship, losing 42-44 to St. Johns Country Day. With an 18-4 record, the Lady Dragons will hopefully get an at-large bid into the regional tournament.
#FSDBRecapSundays
On Wednesday, February 5, we recongized our senior wrestlers at their last regular match meet.
- Adrian Vreeland
- Antawn Wanliss
- Joshua Newman
- Tyler Boskett
- Jackson Swartzlander (Manager)
We will miss every one of you!
#FSDBSportsSaturday #OneTeamOneHeartbeat
This is Raymond Giustiniani Jr.
Raymond enrolled at FSDB in 1994 and graduated in 1997.
From 2004 to 2016, Raymond worked as a Residential Instructor in McLane Hall for middle school boys. He then served in Rhyne Hall for high school boys from 2016 to 2018, and subsequently in Vaill Hall from 2018 to 2022. Since January 2023, he has been a Senior Residential Instructor for the Ray Charles Apartment Program.
In addition to his role as a Residential Instructor, Raymond has also been a bus attendant, an emergency driver, the head coach for elementary boys' basketball, and a coach for middle school boys' basketball.
Raymond returned to FSDB to teach students that they can achieve their goals. He aims to be a role model for deaf individuals and to support students in succeeding after graduation.
As a student, Raymond had two favorite memories. The first was a Close-Up trip to Washington, D.C., which was his first airplane trip. He enjoyed meeting many new friends and reconnecting with them at Gallaudet University. His other memorable experience was his senior trip, where he had a great time with his friends before graduation.
As an employee, he has many cherished memories, but one that stands out is when he coached the Elementary Boys Basketball team that won the championship in 2019.
A fun fact about Raymond is that he grew up in Woodstock, New York, before moving to Florida.
We love having you here at FSDB!
#FSDBGrowingUpAtFSDBFridays #YouBelongAtFSDB #ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam
Follow our stories today as we go behind the scenes with a production crew that will be videotaping for a series called VIEWPOINT with Dennis Quaid. FSDB will be featured in this short-form documentary series that will air on Public Television stations in all 50 states. They'll also be producing a one-minute educational commercial that will be broadcast in primetime on channels like MSNBC, CNBC, CNN, Discovery Life, The Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel.
#FSDBTakeoverThursdays
FSDB is excited to continue our Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Interactive Learning Series for children who are blind/visually impaired (B/VI) or deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH).
How to Make Almost Anything - Skills Workshop
Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Agenda: Students will learn or improve their personal interactions with others. Learn, practice and implement DIY skills to make or complete simple projects. Strategize what skills are needed to meet their own personal goals. Complete at least one DIY- Do It Yourself Project to keep or share.
Who: BVI, DHH, and DSI students ages 6-15 living in Florida. Parent supervision is requested, and siblings are encouraged to join.
Date and Time: Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time)
Location: Zoom virtual classroom – Materials will be mailed to each student’s home prior to the event.
Contact: Jennifer Valderrama, 904-827-2454, valderramaj@fsdbk12.org
Registration: Please register with your Parent/Guardian and siblings, so they can be included in this activity. Parent supervision is requested, and siblings are encouraged to join.
Click here to register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/b4fj2rz
We will share FSDB Black History for February to celebrate Black History Month.
A farm and cows were once located on the FSDB campus. In the 1930s, Casa Cola near Saint Augustine airport was where black students were helped to build a barn by Cary White and Eugene Hogle. The cows and chickens were relocated from the main campus of the FSDB to a new barn to be cared for and milk produced by a dairy farmer.
FSDB had a cow nicknamed "Victor Baby Hilda," who produced 16,553 pounds of milk and 753 pounds of butterfat in just 235 days. In the 1890s, an FSDB farm was on campus but discontinued in 1952. Every week, Cary White had to produce milk from cows, drive to Daytona Beach to have it cleansed, and finally return it to FSDB to provide meals for students.
Creds to FSDB Museum.
#FSDBWayBackWhensday #FSDBBlackHistoryMonth #BlackHistoryMonth #FSDBHistory
Spring Community Open House 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025 @ 9 AM – 12 PM
Please join us for an opportunity to learn about FSDB programs, watch a variety of performances from FSDB music groups and Q&A with staff and students. Special guests include FSDB President, Tracie Snow and D & B Designs with unique gifts and apparel.
Click the following link to register: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/vz9b7nk
In Apartments, Ja'Niyah prepared chicken and corn with white rice for dinner for her peers.
Looks delicious!
#FSDBCampusLifeTuesdays
