Kaleidoscope
BEMS Parent Newsletter - Sept. 18, 2020
Dates to Remember
Sept. 26, 9:45 a.m. - FDSB Board Meeting
Sept. 28-Oct. 9 - MAP Testing window in Elementary School
Sept. 29-30 - MAP Testing in Middle School
Ms. Fertsch's Files
Ellen Fertsch, Assistant Principal, BEMS
The Blind Elementary Middle School (BEMS) is off to a great start! We are so happy to be interacting with our students and families and getting back to some sense of normalcy in these unprecedented times. We are happy to share our new school newsletter to keep you informed and to share highlights from our school. As we continue to learn and grow together, we recognize the incredible flexibility, patience, and ingenuity demonstrated by our students, families and staff. Here’s to a safe and happy school year!
Returning to Brick and Mortar (BAM) Model
Tracie Snow, Administrator of Instructional Services
Our school year is off to a great start! We are so excited to have students return to the FSDB campus to engage in in-person instruction through the brick and mortar (BAM) model as well as students participating from home through the innovative learning environment (ILE) model. We want to remind families that students who signed up for ILE in the summer may return to on-campus instruction when you believe it is in the best interest of your child(ren). As soon as you are ready to make that decision, reach out to your child's assistant principal. We will need at least one week's notice of the change as it impacts transportation (if applicable), boarding (if applicable) and allocation of resources. It is also expected for students to remain in the BAM model for instruction for the full grading period once they return to the campus. If you have any concerns, please reach out to your child’s school principal.
Brick and Mortar (BAM) Student Absences
Board of Trustees Meeting
The FSDB Board of Trustees will hold a meeting at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2020. Two committee meetings will be held prior to the board meeting, starting with enrollment/outreach at 8:30 a.m. and endowment/investment at 8:45 a.m. All meetings will be held in Kirk Auditorium and are open to the public. The board meeting will also be live-streamed on the FSDB Board of Trustees Meetings page. American Sign Language interpreters will be provided.
Welcome Back to Kramer Hall!
Marja DeFord, Director of Student Life
We are so excited to have your children back in the Kramer dorm! We just wanted to assure each of you that our main focus is on the safety and well- being of each child utilizing the dormitory program here at FSDB. We are working diligently to maintain a healthy and sanitized environment while giving ample opportunity for your child to grow into an independent young individual and still have fun during the learning process! We look forward to the school year and all of the great things that it will bring!
Contact Information for Dorms
Kramer Hall – Supervisor Vickie Plummer – 904-827-2736
Cary White – Supervisor Teresa Sweeny – 904-827-2851
Assistant DSL – LJ Boyd – 904-827-2900
Director of Student Life – Marja DeFord – 904-827-2703
Parent Right To Know (PRTK)
Section 1119(i) of ESSA (formerly NCLB) states that districts receiving funds under Title I shall ensure that all teachers hired and teaching in a Title I school are “highly qualified”. This changed slightly with the reauthorization of NCLB into ESSA; teachers are no longer given a highly qualified status, but the school must let parents know if a teacher does not have the required state certification.
Parents of students in a school funded through Title I part A must be notified if a teacher who is not state-certified is teaching their child within four weeks of the beginning of school (and beginning of second semester if there is a class change). Teachers may not have the state certification because they are teaching an out-of-field class, or lacking an endorsement, or not yet certified in their subject area or grade span.
Paraprofessionals in a Title I school hired after Jan. 8, 2002, must have a) obtained an Associate Arts degree (or higher) or b) completed at least 60 college credits or c) passed a paraprofessional assessment with a score of 464 or higher. At FSDB, the Parapro is administered twice a year for those interested in taking it.
As a Title I parent, you have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of any teacher or paraprofessional teaching your child. You may request to know:
Whether your child’s teacher is state-certified;
Whether your child’s teacher is teaching under emergency or other temporary/provisional status;
The bachelor’s degree (or higher) of your child’s teacher;
The certification areas of your child’s teacher;
Whether your child is receiving services from paraprofessionals;
If so, the qualifications of the paraprofessionals.
To receive this information, please contact the Assistant Principal Ellen Ferstch at Ferstche@fsdbk12.org or 904-827-2769
McKinney-Vento Act
Christi Boortz, Liaison for Homeless Students
The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program is designed to address the problems that homeless children and youth have faced in enrolling, attending and succeeding in school. Under this federal program, state educational agencies must ensure that each homeless child and youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including public preschool education, as other children and youth.
If you are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason, you may qualify for McKinney-Vento services. FSDB has a program. Please do not hesitate to reach out for help. You have already helped your child greatly by keeping them in school. Let us help you by finding resources for your family.
Please contact the Liaison for Homeless Students Christi Boortz, boortzc@fsdbk12.org, 904-827-2284.
FDLRS Offering Free Monthly Parent Workshops
The Florida Diagnostic & Learning Resources System (FDLRS) is offering free monthly parent webinars throughout the 2020-21 school year. The first one is being held Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on "Understanding ESE: An Overview." Registration is available here.
Keep Your Brailler Clean During COVID-19
Misty Porter, Parent Liaison
Join the Ancient City Brailler Repair team to learn how to properly clean and oil a brailler to keep it brailling through the years. Although this is a virtual FIMC-VI workshop, taught by our own Mr. Jacobson, we encourage you to get your hands dirty and follow along with a brailler. For maximum participation, use a document camera to receive the best support. More information about the tools needed to participate will be sent out to registered participants. This series will be held over four sessions and will be recorded. Sessions will be on Wednesday afternoons, 4-5:30 p.m. on the following dates: Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Register here.
Virtual Festival of Families Hosted by FIMC-VI Sept. 25-26
Florida Festival of Families is a free two-day event for parents, family members and caregivers of children with visual impairments. Adults will attend sessions led by mentors who are visually impaired, other parents, and professionals in the field. While parents are networking and learning, children in grades K-12 can participate in activities to facilitate social skills, independent living and concept development. This year's festival is being held Friday, Sept. 25 from 6:30-8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 26 from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Register here.
Kicking Off Our 10th Year of Positive Behavior Support
By Karen Kolkedy, Laura Pamer & Teressa Mackey
Positive Behavior (Interventions) Support (PBiS) continues to be an exciting, motivating way for FSDB to think about behavior by understanding why problem behavior occurs. PB(i)S emphasizes preventive teaching and reinforcement-based strategies to achieve meaningful and long-lasting behavior and lifestyle outcomes. Specifically, PB(i)S applies evidence-based strategies and systems to assist schools in increasing academic performance and safety, decreasing problem behavior, and establishing positive school cultures. This approach provides an effective alternative to traditional methods of discipline.
Throughout campus, you will see posters and signs advertising the FSDB "Big Three". FSDB is encouraging all staff and students to "Be Cooperative, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful.” FSDB has encouraged areas to set guidelines or rules connected to the FSDB Big Three. This year we're making an effort to work on character education/development. As part of the Florida Department of Education’s Required Instruction, we are addressing and teaching students about the meaning of character and how to develop this.
If you’d like more information, please contact Karen Kolkedy, PB(i)S/Character Education district coordinator at (904)827-2854 or kolkedyk@fsdbk12.org
Character Education Trait of the Month: Responsibility
FSDB PB(i)S 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.
The Tandem Bar
Cristina Sapp, Jennifer Enache, Carl Jacobson, O&M Instructors
The BEMS Orientation and Mobility Team has begun incorporating the use of the "tandem bar," an assistive mobility device, into their lessons with students. The tandem bar is made from lightweight fiberglass and contains clips on both sides of the bar. The clips easily attach to the student's cane and to the instructor's cane thus connecting the two canes and making them parallel to each other. The purpose of the tandem bar is to help develop muscle memory, enforce basic cane skills, reinforce proper consistent arc width and much more!
Fall Sports Conditioning Available
Donna Johnson, Assistant Principal - PE, Athletic Director
Our fall sports coaches are holding conditioning and small group skill-development drills for student-athletes (grades 6-12) after school (brick and mortar/BAM). ILE students may condition at home doing exercises while having the opportunity to communicate with coaches. Both BAM and ILE students must have sports physicals (EL2) and consent forms (EL3) completed, signed, and on file with FSDB before student-athletes may participate in these development drills. Forms may be found by clicking here. Questions may be directed to Athletic Director Donna Johnson at johnsond@fsdbk12.org.
Testing Begins
Measure of Academic Progress (MAP testing) is scheduled in the coming weeks. The testing window for elementary students is Sept. 28 -Oct. 9 (students will test over a few days within this window). Middle school students will test on Sept. 29-30. All students, brick and mortar and ILE, will participate in these tests. We will take these exams three times this year to monitor progress.
Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15-Oct. 15
The theme for this year's Hispanic Heritage Month is "Celebrating Untold Stories of Hispanic Americans in Florida." The state released information regarding the student art and essay contests and Excellence in Education Awards. Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated in the U.S. from September 15-October 15. Students and educators are invited to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year's theme.
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online with all entries received by 5 p.m. on Sept. 25, 2020. If mailing, send to Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Click here for more information.
Who Was Selena?
Laurie Wohl, Leslie Costello, Music Teachers
Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15. In middle school general music class, students kicked off this celebration by learning why the month starts in the middle of September - that's the day several Hispanic countries gained their independence! The week's lessons were developed around the Who HQ book, Who Was Selena? Students read two chapters of the book each day and then listened to Latin music selections. These included Selena's songs, comparing and contrasting Selena's Coca-Cola commercials she sang in both Spanish and English, and songs that introduced basic Spanish words. One student's birthday was during this week, so the class learned the words to Happy Birthday in Spanish! Students ended the week celebrating with their own mini pinatas and a taste of pan de muerto.
Links
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