Parent Services
Hello from the Parent Services Department! We are so very happy to have our students back on campus. We are preparing for a wonderful year full of parent classes and workshops. We want to hear from you!
Please take a moment to complete this quick questionnaire to let us know what topics you'd like to know more about and which classes you'd like to see offered.
About
We are pleased you have chosen the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) for your child’s education. We recognize that family involvement has a powerful influence on a child’s achievement in school and encourage you to take an active and supportive role in your child’s education and help make learning a positive experience both at home and at school.
The FSDB Parent Services Department offers learning, engagement, and capacity-building opportunities for parents/legal guardians of enrolled students. Classes, workshops, meetings, and events throughout the year are designed to promote parental involvement in their child’s growth and learning.
The Parent Infant Program and the Early Learning Center (ELC) are under the purview of the FSDB Parent Services Department.
Campus tours are also provided for families of prospective students during school weekdays by appointment.
contact
General Information
PH: 904-827-2200
VP: 904-245-1022
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Outreach Services
PH: 904-827-2212
Resources
Parent-Student Handbook
Title I Handbooks
The Parent Services Department offers a series of educational opportunities for parents and caregivers through Parent University. This program offers classes and workshops to parents and families throughout the year to learn, increase knowledge of techniques, and promote student achievement. Classes target needs specific to parents of students who are blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing. Parents/legal guardians are encouraged to participate as informed partners with schools to support programs in an effort to encourage lifelong learning and improve student academic achievement.
Parent Engagement Workshops (PEW) are learning opportunities open to ALL FSDB parents, guardians and caregivers. During PEW, we discuss current and relevant information about our school, parenting strategies, helpful resources and so much more. Please join us for these educational events.
Dates
PEW Dates for the 2022-23 Academic Year
Parent Engagement Workshops dates will be listed soon!
Contact
For more information on resources for FSDB Families and the Parent Services Department, contact:
Parent Services Liaison
PH: 904-827-2988
VP: 904-201-4527
Parent Chat
Join us! On April 14, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for our Let's Make 2022-23 Out of this World! Parent chat. The parent chat is open to all FSDB parents and will be in-person and virtual and held at the Moore Hall CLD.
Event Schedule:
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9:00-9:15 a.m - Coffee Chat
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9:15-10:15 a.m. - Title I Parents will review the FSDB Parent and Family Engagement Plan and share ideas for the next school year (BEMS, DES, DMS, ELC).
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10:15-10:30 a.m. - High school families, please join in at this time.
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10:30-11:15 a.m. - Parents from all schools will work together to review IDEA Grant and make plans for the next school year.
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11:15-11:45 a.m. - Yummy Lunch
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11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Principal Chat – Carol Bogue and Angela Saunders, our amazing principals, will lead department-specific chats.
Lunch will be provided, and parent travel reimbursement is available—parents must check-in at the front gate before class.
Digital Citizenship Class
FSDB families are invited to a viewing party! You can participate face to face or virtually. Join in as we view the documentary Childhood 2.0 The Living Experiment as a group. We will pause periodically to discuss real-world applications for our FSDB kiddos. This event will be led by our new Executive Director of Mental Health, Erica Wortherly, LCSW. This is going to be a great event for us to learn together how to support and protect our kids in the digital age. Lunch will be provided!
Date: Friday, April 8, 2022
Time: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Moore Hall, Room 215
RSVP by April 1: bit.ly/RSVPOnlineSafety
Note: Parents must check-in at the front gate before parking and entering campus.
For parent travel reimbursement contact:
Misty Porter, Parent Liason
PH: 904-827-2988
Email: porterm@fsdbk12.org
About the Documentary
Childhood 2.0 The Living Experiment. Childhood 2.0 is required viewing for anyone who wants to better understand the world their children are navigating as they grow up in the digital age. Featuring actual parents and kids as well as industry-leading experts in child safety and development, this documentary dives into the real-life issues facing kids today — including cyberbullying, online predators, suicidal ideation, and more.
For more information about this film please visit: childhood2movie.com
"Let's Grow Together"
Join in on this fun and educational event. Participants will create a mini greenhouse and take home a plant. It's important that our students are given opportunities to learn by getting their hands dirty.
This learning event is open to Blind Department students and their families, siblings welcome. Parents must check in at the front gate before parking and entering campus.
RSVP by April 19th.
Parent travel reimbursement is available..
Parent Sign Language Classes
Hello FSDB Families! Our next ASL classes will begin on April 19 and will be meeting face-to-face and virtually via Zoom. For families with children in the residential program, don't hesitate to contact the Director of Student of Life to make plans if you plan to pick your student up from the dorm.
Parent travel reimbursement is available through FSDB Parent Liaison, email porterm@fsdbk12.org
Click the link below to learn more about classes and times.
FSDB Parents are Informed and Included
Parents are valued stakeholders. Stay informed on campus happenings and join the team to be included in decision-making opportunities.
School Advisory Council (SAC)
The FSDB School Improvement Process is a critical part of annual planning. Each year, school-level plans are developed to provide a strong foundation for a productive academic year for students and teachers. These plans are reviewed by a comprehensive school leadership team which include parents and community stakeholders. Final school improvement plans are filed with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), as also mandated by federal educational requirements.
Be a Part of the District Team!
The School Advisory Council (SAC) meets four (4) times a year to discuss FSDB-wide issues and topics including reviewing district-wide assessment data, parent survey feedback and School Improvement Plans. The purpose of the council is to hear from stakeholders about issues that impact our community as a whole and make recommendations for change/improvement.
Members of the council include parents, several high school students, the Principal for the Blind and the Principal for the Deaf, and several staff members including a boarding department representative.
Dates
SAC Dates for the 2022-23 Academic Year
Dates forthcoming.
Sub School Advisory Council (sub-SAC)
FSDB Assistant Principals host quarterly Sub-SAC meetings. These smaller meetings allow the group to focus more intently on school specific topics. During these meetings stakeholders discuss that individual School Improvement Plan. If you are interested in participating, please contact your Assistant Principal.
BEMS Dates
Dates forthcoming.
BHs Dates
Dates forthcoming.
DES Dates
Dates forthcoming.
DMS Dates
Dates forthcoming.
DHS Dates
Dates forthcoming.
Title I Parent Advisory Team
Title I is a federal grant that: provides supplemental funds to approved schools to meet educational goals, supports professional development of staff, and supports parent engagement programs. The purpose of Title I is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at minimum, proficiency on challenging state academic achievement standards and assessments.
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) receives Title I Part A funds for Deaf Elementary, Deaf Middle, and Blind Elementary/Middle Schools. These schools are classified as school-wide Title I Schools meaning that all students and families of these schools receive the benefit of Title I funded programs.
Parent involvement is a powerful influence on a child’s achievement in school. When schools work together with parents to support learning, children are more likely to succeed not only in school, but throughout life. Parents, families, and legal guardians are encouraged to participate as informed partners with school personnel in implementing the Title I school programs in an effort to improve student academic achievement and school performance.
Title I Mission: Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind strives to provide families and staff with capacity building opportunities to increase our combined abilities to support our students’ academic and personal growth. All parents of students in Title I schools are welcome to attend Title I meetings.
BEMS Dates
Dates forthcoming.
DES Dates
Dates forthcoming.
DMS Dates
Dates forthcoming.
Tech Tutorials
The FSDB Parent and Student Tech Tutorials site provides support for troubleshooting your FSDB assigned device and tutorials on common applications.
Hey Families!
"Hey Families!" is a collection of resources for FSDB families to use throughout the school year. Whether navigating individual learning environment (ILE) or attending brick and mortar (BAM), we are here to support you every step of the way. We hope you never feel alone, as we are on this journey of learning and discovery together.
Executive Director
Cindy Day
Cindy Day first began at FSDB as a classroom teacher in the Deaf Middle School and held progressively specialized positions working with deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired students and their families. She has worked as an Educational Diagnostician, Supervising Teacher, and as a Staffing Specialist. Ms. Day currently serves as Executive Director of the Parent Services Department, which oversees the Parent Infant Program (early intervention for deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired children ages 0-5 and their families), the Toddler Program (deaf/hard of hearing children ages 18-36 months), and the Early Learning Center (Pre-K deaf/hard of hearing and blind/visually impaired children ages 3-5). Ms. Day also supervises a Parent Liaison who provides classes, workshops, and networking opportunities for parents/legal guardians of enrolled students.
Master of Education, Special Education, University of North Florida
Bachelor of Science, Deaf Education, University of Tennessee
I believe parents are the most influential teachers. Our role is to empower parents to educate and advocate for their children.
Programs
Early Intervention
FSDB offers early intervention and outreach services, separate from the programs run on the school campus, because of a strong commitment to the needs of families and children with hearing and vision concerns across the state.
Toddler Program
For families who are local to St. Augustine, FSDB offers a center-based Deaf/Hard of Hearing Toddler Program on the school campus for parents of children 18 months to 3 years, with hearing concerns. Through this program, little ones and their parents are provided opportunities to socialize, interact, and begin to experience the world of a school environment with full language accessibility (spoken and signed) from Deaf role models. Please contact the Director for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, Parent Infant Program to discuss eligibility and enrollment.