Blind Elementary/Middle School -

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) will host a job fair to recruit talent for all departments and positions on Friday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event will be in Moore Hall on the FSDB campus in historic St. Augustine and is open to the public. Join us to learn about employment opportunities! FSDB is a state of Florida agency and a major employer in St. Johns County, offering many challenging and rewarding career opportunities. For more information about current openings and benefits, visit www.fsdbk12.org/careers

Hello FSDB Blind Department Families! Parent University will have a Braille Workshop on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. at Cary White, room #203. Blind Department students and their families are invited to join us for a Lunch & Learn Braille Workshop. Please RSVP at the link below: https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/parent-classes Parents must check in at the Front Gate on Genoply Street. Travel Reimbursement is also available.

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.

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

Hello FSDB Families, We wanted to send a reminder that this weekend will be a "Long Weekend." All students will go home today, Friday, May 9, at 2:05 p.m. There is no school on Monday, so students can spend time with their families on Sunday for Mother's Day. SHOW Bus students will be picked up on Monday, May 12, at their normal pick-up time. Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 13. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend and a Happy Mother's Day!

Join us on May 9, 2025, at 9 a.m., for our final Parent Engagement Workshop of the 2024-25 school year, "Keep Kids Learning All Summer Long." All FSDB families are invited! Topics to be covered are: • Fun with Literacy • Mental Health and Community Connections • Parent FAST Portal • Online Safety and Digital Citizenship Please RSVP by May 7, 2025, to ensure we have sufficient supplies, lunch and cookies. Travel reimbursement is available for this event. Click the link below to RSVP. https://bit.ly/FSDB-PEW-MAY-9

Arnolfo Bada, “Mr. Arnold” as he is known to students and staff, is a beloved custodian who works in the BEMS department. Born in the Philippines, Mr. Arnold immigrated to Guam in 1979. He later returned to the Philippines where he married his wife. In 2000, Mr. Arnold and his wife immigrated to the United States and settled in Florida where they raised their son and daughter. Mr. Arnold’s son is currently in the United States Air Force and his daughter works in the banking industry. Over the years, Mr. Arnold worked in his field at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, the naval hospital, and at the University of Florida. Mr. Arnold enjoys woodworking and spending time with his family, including his grandson. Eventually, Mr. Arnold made his way to FSDB where he has worked for the past five years. When asked what he likes about FSDB, Mr. Arnold says, “The staff and students are so friendly. I talk to the kids and ask them what they learned today.” Mr. Arnold can often be seen engaging with students and staff as he travels through the building doing all the many things that are required to keep our building immaculate. We often receive comments from visitors, staff, and students about how immaculate Mr. Arnold keeps our building and classrooms. When asked to share comments about Mr. Arnold, staff and students responded as follows: - The students love Mr. Arnold! - I ABSOLUTELY love how he remembers the kids’ names and always has a smile on his face!!! - Mr. Arnold is always willing to help at the drop of a hat, he is kind, positive, and is dedicated to making our school shine! Our students love chatting with him, and he even goes out of his way to participate in events we have, such as handing out candy to the students on Halloween. We love Mr. Arnold and all that he does for us! - I sincerely appreciate Mr. Arnold’s dedication to the students and staff. Mr. Arnold is always going above and beyond to help everyone! I am very grateful for Mr. Arnold and his wonderful happy smile! - I appreciate Mr. Arnold’s humility, kindness, infective joy, and ability to remember everyone's name. Mr. Arnold is a valued member of our team, and I am grateful for the work that he does for us. - Mr. Arnold is incredibly kind! He greets everyone with a warm smile and a friendly hello. His dedication to keeping our buildings immaculate is truly commendable. - Mr. Arnold is extraordinary, his dedication to our students and school is commendable. He regularly goes above and beyond in his duties to improve conditions for all. #ThisIsFSDB #FSDBFam #YouBelongAtFSDB

Hello FSDB Families, We wanted to send a reminder that this weekend will be a "Long Weekend." All students will go home today, Thursday, April 17, at 2:05 p.m. (Friday schedule). There is no school on Friday and Monday (Easter Weekend). SHOW Bus students will be picked up on Monday, April 21, at their normal pick-up time. Classes will resume on Tuesday, April 22. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

Congratulations to Dayton Newman on receiving the title of distinguished Wrestling Coach of the Year! This honor reflects his exceptional ability, dedication, and passion for inspiring, mentoring, and guiding his wrestling team to greatness. We look forward to seeing his continued success in the years to come. #GoDragons #oneteamoneheartbeat #nationaldeafinterscholasticathleticassociation

Interested in participating in athletics for the 2025- 2026 school year? FSDB will offer free sports physical exams on the following dates: • April 15th, 3:30-6:30 pm (Football Players and Current High School Student-Athletes) • May 6th, 3:30-6:30 pm (All Current Middle School and 5th Grade Student-Athletes)

FSDB announces a public meeting to which all persons of the public are invited. Location • FSDB Campus: 207 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084 • Building: Moore Hall (corner of San Marco Ave. and Macaris St.) • Rooms: Center for Learning and Development (CLD) and Room 215 Date and Time • Friday, February 28, 2025 • 8:30 a.m. – Audit Committee Meeting (Room 215) • 9:30 a.m.– Regular Board Meeting (CLD) Note: Only the Regular Board Meeting will be livestreamed and available on the FSDB Board of Trustees Meeting webpage at https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/board-of-trustees-livestream

On Friday, February 28, BMS civics students participated in "Women's Suffrage Day" as the culmination of a mini-unit on the women's suffrage movement. After studying the road to the Nineteenth Amendment and the "visual rhetoric" of period suffrage-inspired postcards, students were tasked with creating educational presentations and designing suffrage postcards to present on "Suffrage Day." Students researched and worked in groups of 2-3, preparing drafts and final versions of presentations and postcards. Students delivered the following presentations, after which a short intermission took place. Following the brief intermission, students returned to the stage and presented their postcards. Ms. Hillary and Mr. Ferguson then presented students with actual certificates of completion. "Women's Suffrage Day" was a valuable experience for students. In addition to learning social studies content, students practiced the ECC skills of Compensatory Access, Assistive Technology, Self-Determination, Orientation and Mobility, and Social Interaction while working in groups. #FSDBAcademicMondays

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 to participate on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m. EDT for 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. https://www.fsdbk12.org/page/mentors-and-models

Due to the winter storm passing through our area tomorrow (Wednesday, Jan. 22), FSDB will not run Yellow Bus routes 22, 25, 26, and 27 (morning and afternoon). The forecast includes freezing temperatures, rain and the possibility of ice on roads. Driving our buses in these conditions is unsafe. School will still be in session, and parents may drop off and pick up their children for classes. We will continue to work with the SJC Emergency Operations Center to monitor the weather. We will relay any changes to our operations through our mass notification system, the FSDB website and social media. Please stay safe and warm.

Hello FSDB Families, We wanted to send a reminder that this weekend will be a "Long Weekend." All students will go home tomorrow, Thursday, January 16, at 2:05 p.m. (Friday schedule). There is no school on Friday and Monday (Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday). SHOW Bus students will be picked up on Monday, January 20, at their normal pick-up time. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 21. We hope you have a wonderful long weekend!

We are looking for our next Executive Director of Mental Health! Visit www.fsdbk12.org/careers or click the link below to learn more about the position, qualifications, and how to apply. Take this opportunity to make a difference in a student's life and become part of a great school! #YouBelongHere https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/ST-AUGUSTINE-EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR-OF-MENTAL-HEALTH-48008299-1-1-1-FL-32084/1240264900/

FSDB is hosting the 2024 U.S. High School Goalball Championships! Starting tomorrow at 9 a.m., 10 boys teams and 11 girls teams from across the U.S. will compete to become National Champions. Pool play will be held on Friday and Saturday. Bracket play begins Saturday afternoon/evening, and the Medal games will be held on Sunday morning. For more information about the schedule, scores, and livestreaming, visit https://www.fsdbk12.org/goalball-championships

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) announces a public meeting to which all persons of the public are invited. Location • FSDB Campus: 207 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084 • Building: Moore Hall (corner of San Marco Ave. and Macaris St.) • Room: Center for Learning and Development (CLD) Date and Time Friday, December 13, 2024 • 9:30 a.m.– Regular Board Meeting (CLD) The Board meeting will be livestreamed and available on the FSDB Board of Trustees Meeting webpage at www.fsdbk12.org/board-of-trustees-meetings.

Save the Date!!! The FSDB Braille Challenge will be held on February 27, 2025, on the FSDB campus. Open to students in grades 1-12, the Braille Challenge provides a fun and friendly competition for students to show off their braille skills, meet new people, and participate in the day’s activities! Braille Institute developed the Braille Challenge to motivate students to practice and hone their braille literacy skills, which are essential to academic and employment success. For more information, please contact April Wallace at wallacea@fsdbk12.org or 904-827-2355.

The FSDB campus has been assessed and determined to be safe for staff and students to return. Classes will resume on Tuesday, October 15, as originally scheduled after the long weekend. Click the link below to read the full announcement and view it in ASL. https://www.fsdbk12.org/alerts