The holidays are here, and students and staff alike are ready to recoup and refresh over the next two weeks. We have four more weeks left of the first semester. When we come back in January, our character theme will be Fairness, which aligns nicely with the MLK holiday that occurs mid-January. As you celebrate the holidays over the next two weeks, please keep yourselves and your family safe. From our FSDB home to yours- May your holidays be safe and full of joy, and may your new year get off to a great start. We are all happy to get 2020 behind us and are looking forward to a brighter 2021.

Sincerely,

Angela Saunders

Principal - Deaf Department

Hello families,

Every morning, I read Bloomberg Green Daily to see what are the latest news. Some of the headlines were, "U.K. Power Grid Moving Offshore to Support $27 Billion Wind Boom," "Nikola Plans to Buy Cheap Power in Arizona to Make Hydrogen," and "Utilities May Be the Green Boom’s Hottest Trade in 2021." As always, our students are on my mind. How do our students play a role in the shift into green boom careers? Whether it is as engineers or solar panel installers or working in lithium ion battery plant, or as inventors inventing the next 0 to 1 products that blow our minds out.

At school, we teach our students to think, whether about simple situations or complex world problems. To think, one has to process information linguistically, whether via sign language or oral modality or Cued Speech modality. To support your child's linguistic development, schools and families work together. It is especially important for a Deaf/HoH child considering the lack of accessibility (on various levels) to auditory means of hearing the English language.

The winter break is fast approaching. It means family time with the loved ones. It means spending time together. How do you as a family continue to support your child's linguistic development by exposing him/her to the printed English medium during your time together? I am curious to hear back from you about the various creative ways you are doing it with your child.

Stay safe,

Dina Rae Padden , MBA/M.Ed

Assistant Principal - DHS

This month the James hall staff, worked on teaching the girls how to demonstrate goal setting in relation to pursuing an interest. We also talked about how goals are attained. The girls, also, learned how to identify spoiled foods, along with procedures to follow when being involved in an accident, and routine cleaning and maintenance. For our community service for this month, the girls participated in baking, and designing frostings on cupcakes to present to the Elementary dorm students. They also collected canned goods to donate to a local food pantry for the needy. The girls had the opportunity to decorate Christmas stockings, some of the girls hung theirs on our dorm Christmas tree. We also enjoyed S’mores and hot chocolate and watched Christmas movies.

The Rhyne hall staff, Brittany taught the boys about car maintenance. She explained and showed all the students what the different emergency lights on the dashboard meant. Brittany also showed them the engine on her car and explained to them how to change oil and where to look to see what kind of oil is needed. She also walked the boys through what to do if they have a flat tire and how to change it. They learned a lot and enjoyed this.

The boys have been decorating the dorm for the holidays. The put up and decorated a Christmas tree. We also had a pizza party in the dorm for our holiday celebration. The boys enjoyed pizza, drinks, a desert, and students were selected at random with their PBiS tickets to receive a gift card. The funds for the holiday party were donated by a private donor. The boys in Rhyne hall made a big card and all signed it as a way to show their appreciation.

We also used the donation money that was given to us by a private donor to purchase some shoes and jackets for some of our boys. The boys were very excited to get some new things and to have a jacket to keep them warm.

If you have any questions or you need to reach out to the boarding supervisors, here are their contact numbers: James Hall Supervisor Mechelle Johnson, 904-827-2635 or 904-201-4485 (VP) and Rhyne Hall Supervisor Jashua Martinez, 904-201-4565 (VP).

Mel Botterbusch-Goodall

Director of Student Life for the Deaf Department

Botterm@fsdbk12.org

Office: 904-201-4560

Text: 904-827-2208

The third Parent Engagement Workshop (PEW) for the 2020-21 school year will be held on Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. via Zoom.

• "President Pop In" with Tracie C. Snow, FSDB President
• "Standards and Assessments" by Scott Trejbal, Administrator of Instructional Services
• "Love and Logic: Choices" by Rhonda McCahill, FSDB School Counselor

To join the meeting, visit: https://bit.ly/3ic2mb1

Future workshops will be held on Feb. 12 and April 23. Be sure to add these dates to your calendar!

FSDB Parent University is hosting two virtual sign language classes for FSDB families starting in January and continuing weekly through March. Beginner (ASL I) and intermediate (ASL II) classes are available via Zoom. Please contact the teacher if you are interested in attending.

Beginner Class (ASL I)

Day: Thursday, 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Dates: Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28 | Feb. 4, 11, 18, 25 | Mar. 4, 11

Link: https://bit.ly/3igMrJr

For more information, contact Janelle Berry via email at berryj@fsdbk12.org

Intermediate Class (ASL II)

Day: Monday, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Dates: Jan. 4, 11, 25 | Feb. 1, 8, 22 | Mar. 1, 8

Link: https://bit.ly/3ltsno7

For more information, contact Sonia Garcia-DeKnight via email at garcias@fsdbk12.org