Rose Ann and Chuck Points, owners of St. Augustine Sailing Enterprises, Inc. hosted students from Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) with on-board time on the water, a sailing and onsite classroom schedule, discussion groups and demonstrations.
Students attending the Nov. 22 are blind and deaf. The sailing company hosted the young people from elementary and middle school classes while incorporating the school’s Unique Learning System (ULS). ULS is a oneofakind program designed specifically to give students with complex learning needs meaningful access to a general education curriculum and a variety of life experiences. FSDB is located at 207 San Marco Ave. in St. Augustine.
During activities, students departed on sailing vessels to learn about points of sail with hands-on activities in tying different knots, leaning more about parts of the boat and their uses, among others. Each of the 17 students experienced a short time at the helm.
Afterward, an outdoor classroom discussion included customized, hand-held scale models of sailboats with a full range of moving parts to learn key features of sailing. Also, knot-tying instruction was included with small blocks, ropes and cleats given to which each student as a gift. A Q&A session and storytelling was also involved. All activities were held at St. Augustine Sailing headquarters, Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor, 3076 Harbor Drive in St. Augustine.
According to Rose Ann Points, company crew members and area captains volunteered their time during all activities with one-on-one student instruction while working with teachers from the school.
“Our companies continue to participate in helping children and adults learn how to sail and improve their abilities from beginners to seasoned sailors,” she said. “The programs with students are some of the ways we give back to those who may never experience sailing. The techniques and the water provide an environment with wind and nature for anyone to enjoy.”
The Points also donate their time, fleet of sailing vessels, and expertise to fundraisers with St. Augustine Sailing Sisters and Betty Griffin Center, among others.
During the summer, St. Augustine Sailing also hosted the school’s Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) Summer Academy for 9- through 16-year-old students who are blind/visually impaired, deaf/hard of hearing, or deafblind. In October, the Points hosted a program with Texas 635 and a peer supported weekend for law enforcement suffering from critical incident stress.
St. Augustine Sailing Enterprises serves the community as a certified American Sailing Association Training Facility with a fleet of best-in-class sailboats from 21 to 45 feet at the harbor-front office located along the Intracoastal Waterway and Matanzas River, near historic downtown St. Augustine and Vilano Beach. All captains and instructors at the business are certified by the American Sailing Association and are United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed.
For information, call 904-829-0648. Visit the website at sta-sail.com.
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About FSDB
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind is a tuition-free state public school and outreach center available to eligible Pre-K and K-12 students who are deaf/hard of hearing, blind/visually impaired, or deafblind. At FSDB, students learn how to do more, be more, and achieve more, fulfilling our vision of preparing them for a lifetime of success. FSDB gratefully accepts private donations to support vital programs that directly benefit students and are not paid by state general revenue funds. For a campus tour or to inquire about eligibility for enrollment, contact FSDB Parent Services at 904-827-2212 voice or 904-201-4527 videophone. For more information, visit www.fsdbk12.org