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.
Some of our girls got the chance to cook their first turkey. The adventure began with removing the neck and giblets. There was a lot of back-and-forth—“No, I’m not putting my hand in there!”—until one brave student (JaNiyah) finally reached in. When she pulled out the neck, she exclaimed, “Wow!”
Next came injecting the turkey with flavoring. The girls joked, “No, no, that’s like surgery!” I reassured them the turkey wouldn’t feel a thing, which led to a playful smack on the turkey and a round of laughter. At first, no one wanted to use the injector, but after a staff member demonstrated twice, the girls rolled up their sleeves and jumped in. When I stepped away for a moment and returned, all the flavoring had been injected, teamwork at its best!
While making brownies, Joss and Mariska had their own comedy moment. One package exploded as they pulled too hard, sending brownie mix everywhere. They laughed so hard.
Visitors interested in attending the Wednesday night performance should 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.
To view more information, click the link shared : https://www.fsdbk12.org/article/2546808
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
The rest of the Homecoming Court includes Lord Carlos Pico Carattini, Lady Brilee Reynante, Duke Dino Jeudy, Duchess Jaylynn Ferreiro, Prince Aref Shabaneh, and Princess Meadow Schoen.
#ThisIsFSDB
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
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!
Mrs. Carr's English 1 and English 3 classes are working on a year-long Etymology Detective project. So far this year, they have taken notes on commonly used prefixes, their meanings, and examples of them in action. Students practiced with those prefixes, taking turns either studying in teams or playing Prefix Dominoes (in large print and braille), matching the prefixes to their meanings.
Alt text included on images.
On the last exemption day, Mr. Ward's U.S. History class enjoyed a Depression-era Mock Apple Pie. They followed this activity up with a trip to Raymond's Warehouse. As a side note: When deciding which Depression-era treat to try, students opted against Squirrel Stew!
Alt Text included in images.
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
