Hello FSDB Families and Students,
Another reminder that this weekend is a very long weekend as FSDB will host the Clerc Classic Basketball Tournament and Cheerleading Competition. All students will go home tomorrow, Wednesday, January 14, at 2:05 p.m. (Friday Schedule). Students will not have classes on Thursday, January 15th and Friday, January 16th. School will also be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
(NOTE: The Clerc Classic is a sold-out event and you must have already purchased a ticket in order to attend the tournament.)
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, January 14, at 2:05 p.m. – All students will go home. (Friday Schedule)
Thursday, January 15 – No Classes
Friday, January 16 – No Classes
Monday, January 19 – No Classes, but SHOW Bus students will be picked up at their regular time.
Tuesday, January 20 – Classes Resume
We hope you enjoy the extra time with your child!
📅 Date
Friday, January 23, 2026
⏰ Time
8:30 a.m. – Enrollment and Outreach Committee Meeting (215)
9:15 a.m. – Regular Board Meeting (CLD)
📍 Location
Moore Hall, CLD Meeting Room and 215
Hello FSDB Families and Students,
Next weekend is a very long weekend as FSDB will host the Clerc Classic Basketball Tournament and Cheerleading Competition. All students will go home on Wednesday, January 14, at 2:05 p.m. (Friday schedule). Students will not have classes on Thursday, January 15th and Friday, January 16th. School will also be closed on Monday, January 19, for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
(NOTE: The Clerc Classic is a sold-out event and you must have already purchased a ticket in order to attend the tournament.)
IMPORTANT DATES
Wednesday, January 14, at 2:05 p.m. – All students will go home. (Friday Schedule)
Thursday, January 15 – No Classes
Friday, January 16 – No Classes
Monday, January 19 – No Classes, but SHOW Bus students will be picked up at their regular time.
Tuesday, January 20 – Classes Resume
Hey Families, we hear you! Holiday fatigue is real!
The Parent Engagement Workshop scheduled for this Friday has been canceled.
Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered! The presentation will be offered during our final PEW on May 1st.
In the meantime, remember to visit the Parent Services website to learn about other engaging opportunities!
Thank you for understanding, and we look forward to seeing you then!
Topics at this event:
• Tech Talk:
“Parental Controls Made Simple: Keeping Kids Safe Online”
• Safe Connections:
“Preventing Bullying and Building Respect”
• Math Matters:
“Making Numbers Work for Your Child’s Success”
• President Pop-In:
FSDB President Tracie Snow will POP-In and lead an interactive game.
RSVP at the following link:
https://bit.ly/PEW-JAN-09-2026
Please remember to RSVP to ensure we have sufficient supplies, lunch!
Travel Reimbursement is available for this event.
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) announces public meetings open to all members of the public. Members of the public may address the board for up to three minutes per person. All public comments are limited to 45 minutes in total. Only the Regular Board meeting will be livestreamed at https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/board-of-trustees-livestream
📅 Date
Friday, December 12, 2025
⏰ Time
10:30 a.m. – Endowment Committee Meeting (215)
11:15 a.m. – Regular Board Meeting (CLD)
📍 Location
Moore Hall, CLD Meeting Room and 215
The new Mentors and Models Program is designed to support children and youth who are blind or visually impaired by engaging with adults as role models. The Models for our group represent a variety of people with visual impairments who share strategies and suggestions from their own lives to support your successful progression into the world we all live in.
Click the link below to register and participate in casual informational panel discussions from a variety of FSDB Mentors and Models who will share information, resources, and details about their lives as persons who are Blind or Visually Impaired.
Manny especially enjoyed marking familiar landmarks from the block where he often practices his neighborhood travel skills. Connecting the tactile map to places he knows made the lesson both meaningful and fun, reinforcing the strategies he can use in real-world travel.
During her lesson, Maddie discovered just how important organization is in the kitchen. She quickly realized that cooking requires far more planning than she had expected. One of her proudest moments was overcoming her fear of using the oven and stove. With guidance on safety techniques, she grew more confident and even enjoyed experimenting with different types of oven mitts—longer ones for the oven and glove-style mitts for the stove. Learning that oven mitts are heat-resistant was a revelation for her, and it gave her the courage to handle hot cookware safely.
Each class ended with a full meal, complete with a main course, side dish, dessert, and drink. The students loved that they could enjoy a delicious dinner after practicing new skills. Billy and Aubrey prepared Hamburger Helper with Texas Toast, Fruit Punch Kool-Aid, and Chocolate Chip Cookies. Maddie’s menu featured spaghetti with meat sauce, breadsticks, lemonade, and a rich chocolate cake topped with chocolate icing.
For Maddie, the highlight wasn’t just mastering her cooking—it was being able to share her leftovers with her sister and mom, turning her lesson into a family moment.
Hello, FSDB Families!!! Our next Parent Engagement Workshop, "Growing Together," is next Friday. Don't miss out on this excellent opportunity to engage with other families and FSDB staff members.
Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 9 AM – 2 PM
Location: Moore Hall, CLD
Topics:
Planting Success at Home: Presentation by the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System. Grow your toolkit to help your children thrive in routines, communication, academics, and positive behaviors.
Cultivate Conversations: Tools for talking & skills for growing in active listening, conflict de-escalation, and supporting emotional growth.
Rooted in Reading with FSDB Literacy Specialists
President Pop-In!: FSDB President Tracie Snow will POP-In and lead an interactive activity.
Please remember to RSVP to ensure we have sufficient supplies and lunch! Travel Reimbursement is available for this event.
Click here to RSVP
Usually, we have a separate parade to celebrate Blind Awareness Month; however, we decided to combine the two events this year due to the weather.
The Deaf Department and other groups all came out to support the Blind Department during their parade this morning.
To view the rest of the photos from the event, click the link shared below:
https://fsdb.zenfolio.com/p1001397920
#ThisIsFSDB
Penelope, a Blind Elementary School student at FSDB, and her mother were recently featured in an exclusive story in People Magazine!
You can read the original article, titled "Mom Creates Adaptive Pajama Line to Help Blind Daughter," written by Brittany Talarico, by clicking the link below:
https://people.com/mom-creates-adaptive-pajama-line-to-help-blind-daughter-exclusive-11827999
Photo credit: Renelita Montesano
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) announces public meetings to which all members of the public are invited to attend. Members of the public may address the board for up to three minutes per person. All public comments are limited to 45 minutes in total. The Regular Board meeting will be livestreamed at https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/board-of-trustees-livestream
Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – Regular Board Meeting
Location: Moore Hall, CLD Meeting Room
FSDB Families...We're Planning Parent Events...And We Want To Hear From You!
The Parent Services Department is committed to offering quality educational classes for our FSDB families. Please take a quick moment to share your ideas and requests for upcoming trainings and workshops.
FSDB Parent Engagement Workshop presents "Growing Together"
Date: November 7, 2025
Time: 9 AM – 2 PM
Location: Moore Hall, CLD
Topics:
Planting Success at Home: Presentation by the Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System. Grow your toolkit to help your children thrive in routines, communication, academics, and positive behaviors.
Cultivate Conversations: Tools for talking & skills for growing in active listening, conflict de-escalation, and supporting emotional growth.
Rooted in Reading with FSDB Literacy Specialists
President Pop-In!: FSDB President Tracie Snow will POP-In and lead an interactive activity.
Please remember to RSVP to ensure we have sufficient supplies and lunch! Travel Reimbursement is available for this event.
Click here to RSVP
This is an incredible achievement for McKenzie and a landmark moment for FSDB's music program. Here are the details:
~The FMEA conference: McKenzie will join approximately 200 other top elementary students from across the state. She will rehearse and perform under the direction of a guest conductor as part of the conference, which is attended by more than 10,000 music educators, students, and professionals.
~A rigorous process: Students selected for this highly competitive ensemble endure a multi-tiered audition process that evaluates their musicianship and vocal quality.
~Past performances: This is not McKenzie's first time wowing an audience. She recently represented FSDB by singing the national anthem at a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball game. She has also performed at Jacksonville Sharks arena football and Icemen hockey games, and is scheduled to perform for the Icemen again in March.
This historic selection is a testament to McKenzie's talent, dedication, and hard work, as well as the strong support of FSDB's music program. It highlights the school's commitment to providing students with opportunities to showcase their abilities and excel in the performing arts.
Join us in congratulating McKenzie on this remarkable achievement! We can't wait to see her shine on the all-state stage in Tampa
Hello FSDB Families and Students, We wanted to send a reminder that this weekend will be a "Long Weekend." All students will go home today, Friday, October 10, at 2:05 p.m. SHOW Bus students will be picked up on Monday, October 13, at their normal pick-up time. Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 14. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend!
FSDB Interactive Learning Series presents: Cookies for Family & Friends. Join us on Saturday, November 15, from 10 am to 12 pm, where students will learn cooking techniques, explore service project ideas, practice social and compensatory skills, and bake cookies to share with loved ones.
This class is available for BVI, DHH, and DSI students ages 6-17 living in Florida. Parent supervision is expected, and siblings are encouraged to join.
Click here to register.
To learn more, visit our ECC Interactive Learning Series page or contact Jennifer Valderrama, 904-827-2454, valderramaj@fsdbk12.org
Celebrate Independence at the White Cane Day Parade
FSDB students, staff, and families are invited to join us for the Annual White Cane Day Parade on October 10th at 9:30 AM at the Usina Athletic Field track. This heartwarming celebration honors student empowerment and independence. Come witness the pride and determination of each student as they walk with confidence, celebrating their journeys and achievements.
We are excited to share a preview of some powerful and creative posters designed by our students. Each poster vibrantly reflects their unique voices and the spirit of independence.
Let’s come together to cheer them on and celebrate the strength, resilience, and pride that make this day unforgettable. #WhiteCaneDay #BlindnessAwarenessMonth
