This academic year has progressed remarkably quickly. It is hard to believe that in just a few months, our rising kindergarteners will be graduating. We have already begun implementing a variety of strategies and transitions to support our students as they move from preschool to kindergarten. As we continue this transition, we understand many children may be on a modified schedule due to outside private therapies. We will always work around your schedule with this. However, evidence shows that young learners thrive in set schedules and routines. We strongly encourage you to bring your child to school everyday that they are healthy.

Drop off is from 7:30-7:45. Then you can either pick up at 1 before nap time for our younger students, or wait until 3:30 so they can experience a full day at school. With our older students who are getting ready for kindergarten, they would benefit from five days at school from 7:30-3:30. Please consider this for your soon-to-be preschool graduate!

As always, 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

March 7th: Donuts with dad

April 17th: Spring Fling

May 23rd: ELC Graduation

May 29th: Splash Park

Students in the ELC loved celebrating Valentines this month. The entire month, students have been discussing and role playing the difference between being kind and unkind, sharing, using their manners, and spreading joy and love to those around them. Students showed their creativity by painting, drawing, and decorating Valentines cards the first two weeks of the month. On Valentine’s Day, the ELC class walked around campus and handed out Valentines to all the staff who support them on a daily basis. This month, we also had our “Muffins with Mom” event. The students loved seeing their moms come to school and enjoyed showing off their abilities in the classroom. Thank you to all the parents who joined for the event… our students wouldn’t be who they are without you!

Fixed counting is the first step in mathematics to lead students to eventually understand abstract numeral concepts. With fixed counting, quantities are presented in a way that they can never change or be manipulated. This helps students understand that 5 will always be 5 and provides a strong control of error to prevent students from making mistakes. There are many materials in the Montessori classroom that are used in this way, including the Number Rods and Bead Stair.

The Number Rods are a series of ten wooden rods with alternating blue and red segments. The alternating color segments help students see that the quantity of each rod is made up of separate units. Students count each segment in the rod and associate it with the correct numeral. This is the first step in counting for students as errors can not be made. The two rod will always contain two segments. This allows children to develop a strong understanding of quantity.

Similarly, the Bead Stair contain 9 beads of various colors. Each color represents a quantity and students are then able to identify the quantity with confidence, knowing that color will always represent the same quantity. Beginning counting instruction with fixed counting gives students the confidence to later use more abstract mathematical concepts and strength to later develop their nonfixed counting abilities.

Donuts with dad: TBD

May 21st: ELC Graduation

May 29th: Splash Park

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at our event—parents, presenters, and support staff. Your involvement and support made all the difference!

The event kicked off with an insightful presentation from our Orientation and Mobility team, who shared practical strategies and resources for parents of children who are blind or visually impaired. Be sure to check out the link below for more information!

We also had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Dawn, our kindergarten teacher, to dive into the curriculum, explore the preschool-to-kindergarten transition, and get a glimpse of what a typical kindergarten day will look like for our graduating students.

Our behavior specialist, Alesia Milczarski, also shared valuable advice on supporting the transition, managing emotions, and the ways she will continue to assist our students as they grow.

The event wrapped up on a sweet note, with families enjoying muffins together. We read Mother's Day Surprise and created heartfelt crafts, giving the students a special opportunity to surprise their families with a meaningful keepsake.

Thank you again for helping make this event such a memorable experience!

This year's Braille Challenge theme was "Pirates!" The Blind/Visually Impaired Parent Infant Program transformed Ms. Brittany's classroom into a vibrant pirate-themed environment, complete with sensory bins, treasure chests, and pirate stories. Staff members embraced the theme, dressing accordingly in celebration.

At the conclusion of the Braille Challenge, students gathered in the Music Building for the annual drum circle, a favorite event for many. There’s nothing quite like drumming to your heart’s content alongside friends in such an exciting and energetic atmosphere!

The students participated in a comprehensive fire safety lesson, learning essential skills for responding to emergencies. They practiced calling 911 using a "telephone" to simulate an emergency situation. Additionally, they explored the important role of firefighters in the community, including how they protect people, the uniforms they wear, and the equipment they use. To further engage the students, they had the opportunity to step into the shoes of a firefighter by donning a uniform and using a "hose" made from a paper tube and blue construction paper to extinguish a "fire" created from red solo cups and fire cutouts. The students also practiced fire evacuation procedures, learning to stay low to the floor and head toward the exit, away from smoke. This hands-on experience was both educational and enjoyable for all involved!

Reuben has shown remarkable dedication in learning how to braille his name. His commitment to improvement is truly commendable. In fact, he chose to forgo snack time in order to focus on refining their braille skills. This level of determination is impressive—well done!

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

ELC Webpage

ELC Facebook Group

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