Kaleidoscope
BEMS Parent Newsletter - October 8, 2021
Dates to Remember
Oct 14 - CANCELLED Football Homecoming CANCELLED
Oct 14 - Campus-wide Evacuation Drill
Oct 15 - White Cane Day
Oct 18 - NO SCHOOL
Oct 22 - End of 1st Quarter
Fertsch's Files
Ellen Fertsch, Assistant Principal BEMS
Greetings Families,
Happy October! Wishing you all a wonderful weekend to spend time with one another and to refresh for a new week. As always we are thankful for the opportunity to work with your students.
Enjoy the newsletter and some pumpkin spice 🎃
Spotlight On Gracie Quintanilla
Hello, my name is Ms. Gracie Quintanilla.
I started working at FSDB in 2001 as an Instructional Assistant, and I just completed 20 years of employment at FSDB. Before moving to Saint Augustine, I worked in the ESOL Department at an elementary school in Immokalee. Our family moved to Saint Augustine so that our two sons could attend FSDB.
My family consists of my husband Jose, (we’ve been married for 35 years), my sons Jose and Fabian, and their two guide dogs, Tyler and Gibson. Reflecting on our move, enrolling our sons here at FSDB was the best decision that we could have made. Both graduated from FSDB. Jose has had his own vending business for 15 years, and Fabian graduated from Flagler College, and for the past 2 years has been working as an Assistive Technology Assistant at FSDB.
Throughout my employment, I have received different training and certificates, but what I really appreciate about FSDB not just as an employee, but as a parent of two sons who are blind, is that FSDB gives students who are visually impaired an opportunity to be successful in life. I really love working with the students and feel like they’re my own children. I also love working with the staff who are all very helpful and fun to be around.
When I’m not in school, I like to shop, eat out, garden, and spend time with my family. What motivates me to come to work every day is that I think about the impact I can have on the students. They have a lot of obstacles, and I feel that anything I can do will help them to be happy, to enjoy being here, and to help them learn things that will help them for the rest of their lives.
Spotlight On Shawn Long
Shawn is a sixth-grade student who started school with us here at FSDB when he was in the second grade. His favorite subjects are Math and World History, and Shawn likes being able to change classes as a middle school student. He reports that there are a lot of fun things to do on campus when the school day is done like recreation activities, going to the Canteen sometimes for dinner, and other activities at the dorm.
Some of Shawn’s favorite memories include having field days outside which included water stations, attending a dance (where he says the nachos and chicken were quite good), and having our annual Ice Cream Social.
Shawn hopes to one day become some type of engineer. He says that he feels like the teachers and staff at FSDB care about students and keep everyone safe. Shawn would like to say thank you to the community and our donors for supporting our school.
Technology Spotlight
Hilary Norman, Technology Teacher
This week blind middle school students took a quiz on shortcut commands using CTRL. Shortcut commands are beneficial to all students by increasing their production speed of the task at hand. Instead of searching for the mouse or pressing a multitude of keys to navigate the upper ribbon, a combination of two or three keys can complete the task. Caitlin, shown below, earned a perfect score on her quiz. Caitlin has a passion for all things technology and has worked diligently to get to where she is now.
Postcards From Me
The students in Ms. Bilancio’s class sent postcards to their moms as a culminating activity from their feature story, Postcards from Alex. The kids were so excited as they told us about their families reaction to the postcards! Nice job 2nd graders!
Science Trials
Ellen Fertsch, AP
Opinion Papers
Michelle Garay, 3rd-5th Grade Teacher
Third graders in Ms. Garay's class embark on the opening paragraph of a soon-to-be opinion paper. Students were engaged and excited to write about each of their individual topics.
Topics included the following:
*All students should wear uniforms
*Students should never be assigned homework
*Students should have pizza every day at lunch
*School should only take place Monday through Thursday each week
These budding writers did a fantastic job!
Colonial St. Augustine
Edith Stein, Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Night Library
Night Library will be open every week
in Cary White 121 on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from
4:00pm-5:30pm
Students who attend Night Library have access to library materials, assistive technology devices, and use of computers. Although we will still encourage social distancing, students will be able to work in small groups or independently. In addition, there will be two tutors available per night for drop-in homework help for the students.
Halloween Cookie Decorating
Greetings From Kramer Hall Dorm
Noah Eagle, Sr. Residential Instructor
It was a great month here in the Kramer dorm! Students got to play on the slip n slide for recreation, the cooler weather has made playground time even more enjoyable and everyone got to have a dance party in the dorm. Kramer boys staff have purchased all new interactive games that the boys and girls will get to enjoy for months to come!
We want to ensure all parents that we are still taking cleanliness very seriously and will continue to clean all areas daily. It's been an amazing month and with the numerous holidays right around the corner the fun isn't about to stop anytime soon!
We hope all parents and guardians have a great month.
Your Kramer Staff
Learning How to Make Brownies
Fun in the Dorm
Family Bonding Activity: Idea #4
4. Get Outside - Spending time outside is beneficial for everyone – adults and kids alike. It can lift moods, create a sense of wonder, and provides the perfect space to burn energy and be active.
PBS Themed Bulletin Boards
FSDB loves our Positive Behavorial Supports (PBS) program! PBS, also known as Positive Behavorial Interventions and Supports (PBIS), helps us to improve student outcomes and to foster an environment where all students succeed.
Goalball Blocking Instruction
Outdoor Club Outing to Surfside Beach
Contact Us
BEMS Office
PH: 904-827-2739
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Kramer Hall (Elementary Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2736
Cary White Complex (Middle School Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2851
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: fertsche@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/blind-elementary-middle-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/fsdbblindelementarymiddleschool