"The child gives us a beautiful lesson- that in order to form and maintain our intelligence, we must use our hands. "

Christmastime in the Early Learning Center is truly one of my favorite times of the year. It is a season filled with warmth, joy, and valuable lessons that go beyond the holiday festivities. Over the past few weeks, our students have been diligently practicing essential skills such as how to wrap presents, emphasizing the art of thoughtful gift-giving, and learning the deeper meaning of the season.

Through these activities, the children have developed a sense of generosity and gratitude, recognizing the true joy that comes from giving to others. It has been a heartwarming experience to witness their excitement and growth as they embrace the spirit of the holidays, creating lasting memories and fostering a sense of community within the classroom.

We had some exciting visitors as well! Santa and Mrs. Claus made a special visit to our classrooms, bringing holiday cheer and joy to each and every one of our students. Their warm and festive presence created an atmosphere of excitement and wonder as the children eagerly gathered to speak with Santa. Many were thrilled to share their Christmas wishes and engage in heartfelt conversations with him. It was truly a memorable moment that will be cherished by all.

As always, please call or email me with any questions, and thank you for sharing your children with us!

-Catherine

Catherine Bailey

Director of Early Learning

(904)827-2835

VP: (904)824-4540

baileyc1@fsdbk12.org

We want to thank everyone for coming to the Book Exchange Event! On December 19th, our Red Classroom participated in an annual event, the Christmas Book exchange. Each student brought a wrapped book to exchange with their peers. Delia Lozano, in ASL, read "Sneezy the Snowman" to students and parents about a snowman. Everyone loved participating in the event! There were lots of smiles and giggles from all.

Both classrooms had the exciting opportunity to attend the highly anticipated "Holiday Road" performance, presented by the talented dance troupe from the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB). The students were captivated by the vibrant costumes, lively music, and intricate choreography, which all came together to create a memorable holiday-themed experience. One of our Red Classroom students, Cashmere, had the special privilege of going on stage during the performance. This unique experience allowed Cashmere to interact with some of the characters, offering a hands-on, immersive moment that added to the magic of the event. The performance not only provided an enriching cultural experience for the students, but also gave them the chance to engage with the performing arts in a way that was both entertaining and educational. It was a truly unforgettable experience for all involved.

Pre literacy is focused on recognizing similarities in objects, graphic symbols, and shapes. The purpose of this is to develop visual discrimination and classification skills as well. It also helps with left to right progression and prepares for writing and reading. A child can be exposed to alphabet print or numeral prints and see if they can match those shapes, they are not expected to know all alphabets but be able to identify that A and A are the same to develop pre-reading skills.

Building Vocabulary with The Three Period Lesson:

The purpose of this is to be able to introduce new vocabulary and be able to recognize and use specific terms for concepts. When introducing new vocabulary it is important to have a few items laid out and have some items that the students are familiar with as well to gain confidence.

First Period: Naming Phase

Name each item clearly and have the student copy the name of the item and ask them to touch and explore the item before moving on to the next item

Second Period: Association Phase

Say “show me or point me to the _____ (named item).”

The student will point to the item that was named to see their understanding of the vocabulary matching to the item.

Give me the ____ (item) or place the item next to me to indicate their knowledge of the item’s name.

Third Period: Recall Phase

Ask the child, what is this? Point to the item and ask them what it this?

The goal is for the child to be able to sign the vocabulary word independently.

If they seem to hesitate, you can always go back to the 2nd phase or 1st phase to review.

We hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, see you next year!

Every year at Christmastime, FSDB gathers items to allow the students to "shop" for their friends and family. Our students had such a great time being able to specially pick gifts for heir mom, dad, brother, sister, grandma, grandpa, uncle, cousins, etc! Each present was wrapped for the child to place underneath the Christmas tree at home.

Additionally, the students got an opportunity to meet a therapy dog named Whyatt! There were so many squeals of happiness and the pure joy the children had while petting Whyatt filled the room.

Each student had the opportunity to engage and refine their fine motor skills through a series of hands-on activities. They carefully scooped yogurt into cups, utilizing precision and coordination to ensure the perfect amount. The next step involved sorting through a variety of chocolate chips to select the ideal pieces to serve as "eyes" and "buttons" for their snowman creations. Finally, they demonstrated attention to detail as they thoughtfully placed a "carrot" nose, adding the finishing touch to their edible snowmen. This activity not only provided a valuable opportunity to practice these important fine motor skills, but also served as a fun and enjoyable experience, resulting in a delicious and satisfying treat for each student to enjoy!

Our class had the exciting opportunity to support and cheer on our FSDB Goalball team during their recent game. The students thoroughly enjoyed the chance to watch the athletes compete up close, gaining a deeper appreciation for the skill and teamwork involved in the sport. The experience was made even more memorable with FSDB's impressive victory, which added an extra level of excitement and pride to the event. It was a fantastic opportunity for our class to engage with the FSDB community and celebrate their success!

It was so nice to see all of you and be able to spend some time together. The children worked really hard to learn the words to their songs, as well as their dance moves! Our students were so excited to preform for their families, and we know that you all enjoyed watching your child preform!

Dear Parents,

We warmly invite you to our Baby Dragons Club, where parents can connect and learn together! Join us every Wednesday from 9:30 to 10:30 in Gore Hall Room 126, where we'll dive into exciting topics like cooking with kids, the power of fingerspelling in reading, and fun strategies to make reading time special. Plus, we have so much more in store!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Sonia Garcia-DeNight at garcias@fsdbk12.org.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Early Learning Center

PH or Text: 904-827-2835

Gore Hall Office (if you cannot reach anyone in the ELC)

904-827-2520

Cary White Office (if you cannot reach anyone in the ELC)

904-827-2739

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Health Care Center

PH: 904-827-2410

VP: 904-201-3910

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Transportation

PH: 800-992-8747

Parent Services

PH: 904-827-2212

VP: 904-201-4540

Campus Police

PH: 904-827-2315

207 San Marco Avenue,

St. Augustine, FL, USA

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The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, political opinion, affiliation, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other basis as mandated by federal and state law in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices. FSDB also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by law.

Contacts for questions, complaints, or requests for additional information are as follows:

Student Discrimination/Harassment

FSDB Boarding Program Administrator

PH: 904-827-2603

Requests in writing can be sent to:

Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind

207 San Marco Avenue

St. Augustine, FL 32084