Early Learning Center
Explore.Learn.Create.
September 16, 2022
Dear ELC Families,
Thank you to all for participating in our first school wide spirit week! The children were just adorable with their tie-dye, crazy hats and more,
FSDB is going to have monthly spirit weeks! Get ready for Oct. - info below.
We all had SO MUCH FUN on our first field trip to the Pirate Museum and the Red Train. Thank you for making the trip possible for your children! All of the children loved seeing a "real" pirate, driving a pirate ship, looking for pirate treasure and seeing all the cool things in the Pirate Museum. Our ride around St. Augustine on the Red Train was amazing. The children pointed out things they saw - boats, flags, water, signs, pictures, etc....it was great!
Coming up will be our International Day of Peace celebration on Sept. 21 and the ELC Cultural Event on Sept. 23.
We have some new friends who have joined our DHH class - a BIG ELC welcome to Elaine "Ellie", Lucy and Brayden!
Please mark your calendars with the dates below!
As always, contact your child's teacher with any questions and thank you for sharing your children with us!
Gail
904-8278-2835 (V or T)
904-201-4529 (VP)
Mark Your Calendars
Sept. 21: ELC celebrates the International Day of Peace
Sept. 23: ELC Hispanic Heritage Celebration - more info to come
SPIRIT WEEK: Oct. 3-7
Oct. 3 - Hawaiian Day
Oct. 4 - Favorite Football Team
Oct. 5 - Cowhand/Rancher
Oct. 6 - Disney
Oct. 7 - Camouflage
Oct. 13: Field trip to the Amazing Grace Crop Maze - more info to come
Oct. 17: NO SCHOOL
Oct. 21: Parent University - more info below
PBIS FOCUS FOR SEPTEMBER - RESPONSIBILITY
The difference between a young child being responsible and a young child being obedient is the "why" behind their actions. Obedient children put their toys away because they've been told to. Knowing that taking the toy out means having to put it back - even if no one is watching - is being responsible.
Building responsibility in young children is something we do everyday in the ELC. Children are free to make their own decisions about their work in the classroom and can work on an activity as long as they are interested. With the opportunity to determine how they want to spend their time, they are developing a sense of independence, building the skills of personal responsibility and taking ownership of their learning. Our learning materials are at the child's level which means everything is within their reach. The furniture is all child-sized which means they can learn to use it without assistance. Giving our students an environment where they can do everything on their own communicates to them that they are able to take responsibility for their activities, their items and cleaning up their environment.
Here is a great website with LOTS of ideas about how to build responsibility at home with your young child.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR ADVENTURE TO THE PIRATE MUSEUM AND RED TRAIN RIDE
Have you ever met a pirate?
Driving a pirate ship
Finding pirate treasure and swords
SPIRIT WEEK - SEPTEMBER 2022
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) will host a job fair to recruit talent for all departments and positions on Saturday, September 17th, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The event will be on the FSDB campus in historic St. Augustine and is open to the public. Join us to learn about employment opportunities in:
Academics – Teachers, Instructional Assistants, Para Professionals
Boarding Services – Residential Instructors
Facilities – Housekeepers, Carpenters, Groundskeepers
Transportation – Bus Drivers, Chaperones, Mechanics
FSDB is a state of Florida agency and a major employer in St. Johns County that offers many challenging and rewarding career opportunities.
For more information about current openings and benefits, visit www.fsdbk12.org/careers.
FROM THE HEALTH CARE CENTER (HCC)
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our school year is well underway: academics, sports, dorm life, and, unfortunately, germs. We are already experiencing an increase in our numbers of both Covid as well as Flu A.
Please remain vigilant for calls, emails, or texts from the HCC should your student need to be given medication, tested for Covid/Flu/Strep, have an urgent or emergent need, or require picking up. Our goal is to return students to class as soon as possible. Being able to contact you for input helps us achieve this. Students with positive test results, fevers, or worsening symptoms cannot remain on campus.
Symptoms we have been seeing in both our Flu A and Covid students include:
Sore throat
Cough
Headache
Fatigue
Dizziness
Low grade fever
Feeling “off”
Keep your student at home if they exhibit any signs of illness.
CLEARANCE FORMS
A Clearance form is required to return to campus after any Emergency Room visit, surgery, or hospitalization has occurred. It may be dropped off at the HCC, faxed to 904-827-2421, or emailed to HCCRecords@fsdbk12.org but must be received prior to your student’s use of transportation or return to school. If a student is on campus without Clearance, they must remain in the Health Care Center until it is received. Parents may have to pick up their student from school if Clearance cannot be obtained.
MEDICATIONS
Prescription medications must be sent in the original labeled bottles to our pharmacist to ensure they are dispensed to your student without delay. To reduce the amount of over storing and dispensing of multiple supplements and over-the-counter medications sent in from home, we will begin requesting a physician order for anything you wish your student to receive on a regular or daily basis. Signed orders may be faxed directly to our pharmacist at 904-827-2428. A daily multivitamin, probiotic, melatonin, or fiber supplements are the only current exceptions to this request. NO medications are permitted in the dorms or in bookbags.
COVID Updates
As we continue to monitor trends and CDC guidelines regarding Covid, FSDB’s current policy requires students who have tested POSITIVE to remain at home for 5 days until they are without fever and symptoms have improved. A student may return sooner than 5 days as long as they are without fever, have improved symptoms, and can also provide a NEGATIVE test result. A student that has been exposed to Covid may remain on campus as long as they are without symptoms. Initial Covid testing is available for day and residential students in the HCC. Follow up testing must be done outside of school.
NURSE CARE COORDINATORS
Please contact your student’s assigned Care Coordinator prior to any scheduled procedure or with any change to your student’s medical condition or medications. We are here to help keep your student safe and healthy while on our campus.
Nurse Care Coordinators:
Erin Cunningham, cunninghame@fsdbk12.org
Emily McMillan, mcmillane@fsdbk12.org
Tracey Lopez, lopezt@fsdbk12.org
Daniel Jones, jonesd@fsdbk12.org
Molly Russell, russellm@@fsdbk12.org
Kathy Halkin, halkink@fsdbk12.org
Belinda Hinson, hinsonb@fsdbk12.org
Katelyn Tanner, tannerk@fsdbk12.org
Carmela Verrichio, verrichioc@fsdbk12.org
Nancy Senador, senadorn@fsdbk12.org
Darcy Autrey, autreyd@fsdbk12.org
Melanie Delaney, delaneym@fsdbk12.org
Dawna Burns, burnsd@fsdbk12.org
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
For more information contact www.acco.org
Health Care Get-Ready-for-Fall List
Sign and return medical consent forms
Allergy medicines sent in with doctor’s orders if needed for daily use
Flu shots from PCP (optional)
Contact Information
Administrator: Stan Gustetic, AuD
Medical Director: Michael Soberano, MD
Phone: 904-827-2410
Fax: 904-827-2421
CPR & First Aid Basics
Join us on October 21, 2022 for CPR and First Aid Basics. This class will be held in Moore Hall from 9 am. – 1:30 p.m.
This learning event is open to FSDB families. Parents must check in at the front gate before parking and entering campus.
Sign up now! Space is limited and RSVP is mandatory.
Parent travel reimbursement is available.
Early Learning Center at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
Email: strasselg@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Phone: 904-827-2835
Facebook: facebook.com/FSDBEarlyLearningCenter