Blind High School -

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)

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)

Hello, FSDB Families!!! The first Parent Engagement Workshop for the 2024-25 school year themed "Don't Bottle It Up!" will be held on Friday, September 13, at 9 am at Moore Hall CLD. Details and RSVP information are below. About Childhood has changed over the last several years. This change began long before the pandemic and has had a significant impact on how our children and youth engage with the world. In the book, The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt describes the transition from play-based childhood to phone-based childhood and how ‘safetyism’ blocks the experiences that build resilience in young people. Let the fear and anxiety go away! Find the joy in academics and assessments as we venture through the core memories of the FSDB academic program. This session will provide some highlights from the book and a discussion on how we can support our young people at home and school. President Tracie Snow will POP-IN! and lead an interactive game. RSVP Remember to RSVP by September 10 to ensure we have sufficient supplies, lunch, and cookies! Please RSVP at the following link: https://bit.ly/PEW-SEPT-2024 For more information, contact Misty Porter, FSDB Parent Liasion, at 904-827-2988 or porterm@fsdbk12.org Travel reimbursement is available for this event. All guests must check in at campus police prior to joining us for the workshop.

This is Markeil Jordan (MJ).   MJ is a senior in the Blind High School and has been attending FSDB for four years.   Some of MJ's favorite subjects include Math, Science and History. MJ is a member of the Dance Troupe and plays on the goalball, cheerleading, flag football and track & field teams.   All of MJ's favorite memories are from Homecoming over the years. One year, President Snow brought MJ on stage to do a "Call and Response" chant for all of Blind High School. Another year, MJ dressed up as a wacky clown and did wacky magic tricks.   Fun fact: MJ is a music artist, an advocate, and an influencer.   #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam #GrowingUpAtFSDBFridays

This is Markeil Jordan. Markeil is a junior at Blind High School. She has been attending FSDB for four years. Some of her favorite subjects include Math, Science and History. All of Markeil's favorite memories are from homecoming over the years. One year, President Snow brought her on stage to do a "Call and Response" chant for all of Blind High School. Another year, she dressed up as a wacky clown and did wacky magic tricks. A fun fact about Markeil is that she is a music artist, an advocate, and an influencer. #ThisIsFSDB #YouBelongAtFSDB #FSDBFam #GrowingUpAtFSDBFridays

Two weeks until Homecoming! We are so excited to see former students, families, FSDB staff, students and new faces gather to socialize and cheer on our teams on September 7! Show your support by wearing red or dragon gear! Below is the schedule for September 7: 8:30 a.m. - Volleyball 3 team ( Florida, Louisana & Tennessee) tournament @ Settles Gym 2:00 p.m. - Academic Bowl (Students vs. Alumni) @ Kirk Auditorium 5:00 p.m - J.V. Football vs. TBA @ Usina Field 7:00 p.m. - V Football vs. Tennessee @ Usina Field Let's go Dragons!!!! #FSDBSportSaturdays #Homecoming2024

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).   Join us for the 2024-25 Fall Virtual ECC Interactive Learning Series, "Life Essentials - Being Prepared - Tools for Success". Each student will receive a box of materials and join this collaborative virtual classroom that promotes creativity, conversation, and an opportunity to build skills connected to the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). Materials will be mailed to your home the week before the event. • When: Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 10:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. EST (Eastern Standard Time) • What: An interactive morning for students ages 6-15 who are deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH), blind/visually impaired (B/VI), or dual sensory impaired (DSI) and who live in Florida. • Where: Virtual classroom via ZOOM. You must register, and space is limited! Register at the link below: https://bit.ly/Fall-Virtual-ECC-2024 For questions, please contact Jennifer Valderrama at valderramaj@fsdbk12.org or 904-827-2454.

The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) announces public meetings 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, August 23, 2024 • 9 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. Members of the public are invited to address the board for up to three minutes per person. All public comments are limited to 45 minutes in total. Public comment registration cards must be turned in no later than the start of the event.

Family Open House will be held this Sunday, August 11, 2024, from 1–4 p.m. Families can meet teachers, visit the dorms and assist their child in moving in, bring medications to the Health Care Center and speak with representatives from the Transportation, Athletics, and other departments. Click the link below for more information. https://www.fsdbk12.org/family-open-house

The FSDB Campus Police and St. Johns County Sheriff's Office will be holding a Hostage Negotiations Training on Monday, July 15, 2024, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. The training will occur at Rhyne Hall, located within the compounds of the main campus. There will be clearly marked training signage posted around the area. You may hear loud discussions from scenario players which is part of the training. Please do not be alarmed by the public safety resources you will see on campus, as these exercises are not actual incidents.

FSDB Gym Shows were the most popular performance on campus, starting in the 1930s. The whole campus worked together to make it happen. Young and older students performed on the stage on the FSDB athletic field, where the current Settles gym and Vaill Hall now stand. Gym Shows took place on campus each year. In the 1970s, gym shows were no longer held. The FSDB Dance Troupe was founded by Cheryl Johnson (retired FSDB teacher and Dance Troupe sponsor). Currently, the FSDB Dance Troupe is still running. #TimeMachineTuesday #DeafHistoryMonth

May’s Spirit week is brought to you by Deaf Elementary School! Be part of the teacher and staff appreciation celebration with a nod to Taylor Swift and her Eras Tour. Remember to stay aligned to our dress code and expectations. Spirit Week begins on Monday!

Our Regional Braille Challenge, a significant event hosted by FSDB this past March, has produced some outstanding winners! Let's all give these students a resounding round of applause for their exceptional hard work and dedication! Rookie (Grades 6-12): 1. Shawn Long 2. Takiah Coleman 3. Aiden Tucker Congratulations Shawn, Takiah, and Aiden! #DomoreBemoreAchievemore #BrailleChallenge2024 #BrailleInstitute

On Friday, April 12, the 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year and School Related Employee of the Year were presented to the Board of Trustees. Congratulations to: - Madison Baggett, Blind Elementary School - Wes Homewood, Deaf Elementary School - Susan Fine, Blind Middle School - Maddy Brady, Deaf Middle School - Ken Morse, Blind High School - Maria Williams, Deaf High School - Tracey Dennis, School Related Employee of the Year

The Florida School and the Deaf and the Blind will hold a commencement ceremony for the Blind Department graduating class of 2024 on Thursday, May 23, at 12 p.m. The event will be live streamed on our Vimeo channel at the URL https://vimeo.com/934972691