DHS DRAGON PRIDE
September 12, 2021
Dates to Remember
September 14-15 Algebra 1 EOC retakes
Principal's Corner
At FSDB, we are always looking for ways that we can improve our services to students. We have school improvement plans in each area to guide our growth. The School Improvement Planning (SIP) process involves looking at our surveys and academic data to find areas that we can continually improve upon. The plan is drafted and feedback from stakeholders is gathered before it is submitted to the state. Throughout the year, the school-based teams meet to review updates on the plan. The district-based team also meets in order to review progress regularly.
Last Friday, we had our first district School Advisory Counsel (SAC) meeting. We were thankful to have parent, student, and staff participation to provide any feedback as we went through each of the school improvement plans. I personally enjoyed seeing the presentations by each of the Assistant Principals as they discussed their programs and areas of growth. A few things really stood out that I would love to share about the schools.
Each of the schools emphasized goal setting and student ownership of their data, whether through conferencing or student data notebooks. Having students understand their strengths and needs and set goals increases their motivation and achievement. Each of the schools discussed character education and how Positive Behavior Supports and character education play an important part in student achievement. How that looks in each school is individualized to their population and needs. Attendance was another area that was brought up, since we know that learning opportunities have been impacted by Covid-19 over the last two years, we want to make sure our students have access to their work when they are unable to be present. Finally, parent collaboration and engagement was mentioned as an important goal. We want two-way communication with our families so that we know how to best support you and your children. Your feedback is important to us and an important part of the planning process. If you would like to know more about the school improvement plans or want to be a part of the school- based SAC teams, please make sure to reach out to your Assistant Principal for more information.
Keep yourselves safe and healthy!
Angela Saunders
Assistant Principal's Corner
Hello families,
ASL version: https://youtu.be/PX_W8Yz-T5s
Welcome to the second vlog in the vlog series about language and Deafness. I trust that you all are doing well and enjoying the month of September with August behind us.
What is Language Deprivation? For children who are DHH, language deprivation is often the biggest factor of their early years. Besides language deprivation, lack of auditory availability and language models are the other factors for linguistic delay. Language acquisition is important in the first five years of a child's life. The first two years of any child’s life is one of rapid growth and development, a process that depends on the child’s interaction with physical, linguistic, and social experiences. Language is the tool giving access to these experiences. In children who are DHH, the lack of appropriate language exposure limits their ability to participate in almost every part of development. When children are unable to fully access the available language (in this case spoken English) with their families and greater community, they fall behind in language development. Whether these children are sign language users or using listening and spoken language as their primary mode for communication, their parents and caregivers often do not have the strategies, the sign language, and/or the awareness necessary to compensate for lack of access. This effect continues even after the child enters school.
A strong language foundation regardless of language or modality is crucial for reading success. Language deprivation influences academic, social, and emotional components of a child’s life. A child who is language deprived may show significant reading and writing deficiencies, difficulties following directions, and possibly even an inability to make and keep friends, which leads to social isolation and more barriers to communication. For these reasons, it is crucial students receive the supports necessary to overcome language deprivation as early as possible to close the gap and allow the student full access to education, socialization, and community.
More in the next vlog,
Dina Rae
Yearbooks for Sale!
FSDB DHS Attendance Policy
I wanted to share with you the attendance policy that you are all familiar with via the parent handbook. Students may not receive credit toward graduation for any High School block 1.0 credit class in which the student has more than 8 unexcused absences, or for any 0.5 credit class in which the student has more than four unexcused absences.
Boarding Program - James Hall
James Hall
Deaf High School Girls
Elizabeth Freilich
September 2021
Curriculum:
It is always important for growing young ladies to know how to organize and understand their personal finances. We began by looking at examples of different pieces of financial information: a receipt from Walmart, a traditional pay stub from a job, a personal check from someone else that has already been cashed, tax paperwork from the previous year, and a goodwill donation receipt. The student worked together to decide which pieces of financial information they should keep, and which ones to throw away. Once they have decided what information to keep, they were taught how to make and label file folders and put the papers away so they can be found again later. For the ones that they decided to throw away, they were taught how to recognize which pieces of paper they needed to shred, and which ones are safe to throw into the trash the way it is. As a bonus, the students were also taught what papers are recyclable – receipts have a special coating on them that makes them not recyclable and can only be thrown out! The students were guided to the correct answers as needed.
Keep pile: Pay stub, tax paperwork, goodwill donation receipt.
Shred pile: Cashed check.
Throw away pile: Walmart receipt.
Community Service:
We believe in giving back at James Hall. Currently, we are collecting canned and nonperishable food for the local food bank in St. John’s County. The canned and nonperishable food will help families in need.
Events:
The girls got an opportunity to walk off campus with staff and learn about the local businesses they will be allowed to visit. They are very excited to work on earning the privilege of traveling off campus after school on specific days of the week! We reviewed safely using crosswalks, using walking routes that ensures a sidewalk, and situational awareness. The girls did very well with the safety rules.
PBiS Incorporates Character Education
FSDB PBiS students are developing great character! Each month, FSDB focuses on a different positive character trait. This month we are emphasizing responsibility. Some of the phrases associated with responsibility that we are introducing to the students include: Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions and attitudes • Set a good example for others. Teachers and boarding staff are asked to include lessons that may fit into the curriculum naturally. We are excited with this character education emphasis at FSDB. We are hoping that our students continue to be their very best now and in the future.
Tech Corner - Google Classroom
How does a student accept a Google Classroom invite?
A class code—Your teacher sends or tells you the class code. An email invite—Your teacher sends you the invite.
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Accept the invite in Classroom
Go to classroom.google.com and click Sign In.
Make sure to sign in with the correct account.
On the class card, click Join.
Can parents/guardians have access to Google classroom?
Parents/guardians may access their child’s teachers’ Google Classroom in one of the following ways:
- From the school issued Chromebook, ask your child to login and launch the Google Classroom App. Please note that any activity in Google Classroom is documented under the student’s login and it would be inappropriate for a parent to communicate with the teacher or other students in Google Classroom. Parents should use their personal email to digitally communicate with the teacher.
- From any computer with internet access, click here and have your child login with his/her FSD1 Google Apps for education username and password. Please note that any activity in Google Classroom is documented under the student’s login and it would be inappropriate for a parent to communicate with the teacher or other students in Google Classroom. Parents should use their personal email to digitally communicate with the teacher.
- As a parent/guardian, you can receive email summaries showing your child's progress in the classroom.
Homelessness
Opt-in for Skyward Text Alerts
DHS Amended Locker Policy Agreement
PLEASE SIGN & RETURN TO DHS FRONT OFFICE
Please read this amended locker policy agreement and sign it so that your child may be assigned a locker to store their belongings. You may send a printed copy with your signature with your child(ren) or you may sign it electronically and email it to Jillian Rivera, DHS administrative assistant, at Riveraj@fsdbk12.org.
Links
Contact Us
DHS Office
PH/VP: 904-201-4571
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
James Hall (Girls Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2635
VP: 904-201-4485
Rhyne Hall (Boys Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2771
VP: 904-201-4485
Apartments – Boys (Seniors)
PH: 904-827-8247
VP: 904-201-4532
Apartments – Girls (Seniors)
PH: 904-827-2510
VP: 904-827-4550
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: paddend@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/deaf-high-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/fsdbdeafhighschool