It has been an exciting start to the school year and so wonderful to see our staff and students return! Everyone hit the ground running and the mood at school has been happy, supportive, and determined.
We have had several new students join us, and it has been heartening to see our veteran students welcome them into our school community. We also welcomed several new staff members, including an alumni from the blind department, Mr. Derek Ferguson, who is teaching social studies in the Blind Middle School.
Several new staff members commented on how supportive and welcoming our school has been, and that it is a very special place. I am very truly grateful to be a part of such a remarkable community. Of course our families are also an important part of our community, and we are grateful to each of you for sharing your children with us.
As we look forward to the new school year, there will be joys and celebrations. There will also be moments of trial and tribulation, but with the support of our community, we will lift each other up and keep moving forward.
As we welcome new students and staff members, we will also be saying goodbye to a very dear staff member who is retiring. Ms. Karen Kolkedy, who has worked at the school for over 39 years, will be retiring next Thursday, August 29th. Ms. Kolkedy has a true heart for our school and her passion for her work has not wavered over the years. We are having a schoolwide luau on her last day as part of our Welcome Back celebrations. It will be a fitting backdrop to say goodbye to one of our dearest staff members and friends. We wish Ms. Kolkedy all the best in her retirement and many new adventures to come!
I hope each of you have a wonderful 2024–2025 school year!
Mrs. Bogue
Ellen Fertsch, Assistant Principal BEMS
Greetings Families,
Welcome to a new school year! We are thrilled to have students back with us and to have new students joining the Blind Elementary Middle School (BEMS). I hope that your summer was restful, fun, and that you were able to enjoy time with family and friends. Over the summer we were very busy campus-wide making sure that our campus remains safe and beautiful and that our staff are prepared to welcome you all back.
Please be sure to peruse the newsletter as we include a plethora of information including student and staff spotlights, upcoming events, important dates to remember, and links to our Facebook pages, website, athletics, and much more. Note that we have a main Facebook page that shares information about all of the schools on campus, and we have a dedicated BEMS Facebook page where we share photos and information relating specifically to BEMS.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a school-wide program that provides supports to students so that they have the tools to make good choices, problem-solve, have empathy for another, and demonstrate good character. We model and instruct students on the three Be’s (Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Cooperative). Building Resiliency and Character Education is also part of our PBIS program. Each month we focus on a character trait. The traits for August are resilience and character which includes overcoming challenges or setbacks, being kind and caring, recognizing that one’s actions have an impact on self and others, the importance of being of service to others, and having a positive attitude.
As always, we are committed to providing our students with rich experiences in academics, related services, music, sports, clubs, PBIS, and so much more! Thank you always for your commitment to your student(s) and for partnering with us and supporting the school program. We love our FSDB community!
Nicholas recently moved to Florida from Cherry Hill, NJ. As an only child, he enjoys spending time with his Shih Tzu named Ace. He likes to listen to music, watch sports, and hang out with friends. He also enjoys vacationing and celebrating holidays together with his family.
Nicholas is very happy to be at FSDB. "Everyone is so nice and I like my classmates a lot. The teachers here are different, in that they understand how to teach blind students and are all very nice. I like my O&M staff, Ms. Sapp. I am now getting services I really didn't get before. Math is my favorite subject and I joined Drumline which I am excited about, and I thought the Open House was a good event for me to attend."
Spotlight on Mrs. Fertsch
Mrs. Ellen Fertsch is currently the Assistant Principal of the Blind Elementary Middle School which she began in 2020 after having taught ELA in BEMS since 2016. Prior to coming to FSDB, she was a Middle School English Teacher, Middle School Team Leader, Culture Club Sponsor, and Middle School Cross Country Coach at Woodbury City Public Schools in New Jersey. Before becoming a teacher she worked for Bank of America as a bank teller and head teller. Ms. Fertsch earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Rutgers University and her Master in Educational Leadership from Rowan University. She holds certifications in English 6-12, Elementary Education K-6, ESOL K-12, Visually Impaired K-12, and Educational Leadership.
Ms. Fertsch is originally from Deptford, NJ, which is just outside of Philadelphia and now lives in Ponte Vedra Beach with her husband, Joe. They have 4 children between them ranging in age from 18-33 - three daughters and one son. They are expecting their first grandchildren in the fall -- twin boys! They also have two cats, Rocco and Rose, who keep them company at home. She enjoys gardening, reading, and travel.
Finding her way to FSDB was a leap of faith. She and her husband had visited the area in the summer of 2015 and decided that they wanted to move to the Saint Augustine area by the following summer. They went back to NJ, made a plan, and in the summer of 2016 took that leap of faith. She was longing for a new experience in education and hoped to eventually expand into administration. She was curious about FSDB and her husband encouraged her to apply for an ELA teaching position. She did so in 2016, was hired that summer, and fell in love with FSDB right away! What she likes most about FSDB is the students, of course, and all the wonderful folks she gets to work and partner with. "Our school community is a family and FSDB is a joyful and special place to work. Our staff, parents, and community partners work incredibly well together for the benefit of our students."
Some fun facts about Ms. Fertsch are that she can juggle, play saxophone, and has run 5K races and half marathons. Travel, travel, and travel are at the top of her bucket list. She would love to visit Hawaii, explore parts of the United States where she hasn't been, and visit other countries. Her favorite quote is: "The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters. The hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day." -Todd Whitaker
Elizabeth Etheridge, Coordinator of Gifts and Volunteers
The Advancement Department is thrilled to share that we received a very special in-kind donation from the Del Webb Nocatee Women’s Club!
Their donation drive, which ran throughout the summer, resulted in the delivery of hundreds of essential items to FSDB just in time for the new school year. We received a variety of personal items and snacks that will greatly benefit our students, including our athletes, McKinney-Vento students, and dorm residents. This incredible generosity will make a significant impact on the lives of many.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Del Webb Nocatee Women’s Club for their dedication and support. Their kindness and commitment to our students' well-being are truly appreciated.
Contact Us
BEMS Office
PH: 904-827-2739
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Kramer Hall (Elementary Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2736
Cary White Complex (Middle School Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2851
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: fertsche@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/blind-elementary-middle-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/fsdbblindelementarymiddleschool
