Early Learning Center
L. Daniel Hutto Early Learning Center at FSDB
October 18th, 2024
“Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create.”
― Dr. Maria Montessori
Explore. Learn. Create.
Hello ELC Families,
It’s Fall, Y’all! Fall is a delightful time to celebrate seasonal activities. Many of us look forward to visiting pumpkin patches, where we can pick the perfect pumpkin for carving or decorating our homes. This season also brings with it a sense of anticipation for upcoming holidays. Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, or simply gathering with loved ones, fall offers countless opportunities to create lasting memories. From hayrides to corn mazes, there’s no shortage of fun experiences to share with family and friends.
Speaking of memorable experiences, the children had a fantastic time during our recent field trip to Amazing Grace Family Farms in Green Cove Springs. It was a day filled with laughter and exploration! The students eagerly engaged in various activities, from bouncing on the bounce pad to observing adorable farm animals and navigating the fun and challenging crop maze. Their excitement was palpable, even during the bus ride to the farm, where lively conversations and cheerful chatter filled the air. Having family members join us added an extra layer of enjoyment and connection to the experience, making it even more special. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event truly memorable!
As we transition into cooler weather, please remember to ensure that your child has a jacket available in the classroom or in their backpack for those chilly mornings. Being prepared will help keep them comfortable and ready to enjoy all the wonderful activities fall has to offer. Let’s embrace this season together, filled with warmth, adventure, and joy!
As always, please call or email with questions. Thank you for sharing your children with us,
-Catherine
Catherine Bailey
Director of Early Learning
(904)827-2835
VP: (904)824-4540
Red Classroom
What we've been up to...
Our students have been engaged in a variety of enriching literary experiences, including reading titles such as "Where Is My Mummy?", "Are You My Monster?", and "Spookley the Square Pumpkin." In addition to developing their reading skills, the students have been diligently enhancing their fine motor skills through activities like finger transfer using a pegboard.
We have also focused on foundational math skills, specifically number-to-number matching with numerals ranging from 1 to 10. To celebrate the pumpkin season, each student has participated in a creative project to design and construct images of jack-o-lantern faces. This hands-on activity has provided an enjoyable way for them to express their creativity.
The children have shown great enthusiasm in learning about the life cycle of a pumpkin, gaining valuable insights into the process from seed to harvest. They particularly enjoyed the opportunity to learn about safely carving pumpkins, reinforcing both safety practices and practical skills.
Blue Classroom
What we've been up to...
Our students have been absolutely crazy about pumpkins this season! They've been diving deep into an exciting exploration of all the different parts of a pumpkin, using their senses to fully engage with this colorful and seasonal favorite. Under the guidance of our dedicated teachers, each student had the wonderful opportunity to carve their very own pumpkin. This hands-on activity not only sparked creativity but also allowed the children to develop their fine motor skills as they carefully scooped out the guts and seeds.
As an added bonus, we transformed the seeds into a fun learning opportunity by practicing number recognition—counting and sorting the seeds helped reinforce their math skills in a playful way! Throughout this pumpkin-themed adventure, our students also enjoyed reading delightful stories, including the beloved "Spookley the Square Pumpkin." These stories not only entertained but also enriched their vocabulary, introducing them to a variety of pumpkin-related terms.
Overall, the combination of sensory exploration, artistic expression, and literacy activities made for an unforgettable experience that our students truly enjoyed. We can’t wait to see where their pumpkin passion takes us next!
Outreach
Join our Baby Dragons Club!
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!
Parent Services
Check out this ASL Story Time!
Check out these Fall Literacy Activity ideas from Paths to Literacy!
CONTACT US
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
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
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
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
