Greetings!

As we approach the end of 2020, I am taking time to reflect on the many reasons to be grateful. I am so thankful for our families and the trust they put in us in educating their children. Thank you! We take that trust very seriously. I am also grateful for health, and the fidelity with which our students follow our health and safety measures. We ask the children to wear masks, even when playing outside in the hot Florida weather, and they do so without complaint! We have been very fortunate to have a low number of cases of COVID in Deaf Elementary School, in large part because of the health and safety measures our students and staff implement every day. It is clear that families are discussing the importance of these measures, and we thank you for that as it makes our job much easier! Finally, as I was writing this, I had a teacher enter my office and share a story with me. He shared about a student, the successes he has been seeing with that student, and how happy he was to be able to share those stories with the student's family. As this teacher stood in my doorway, sharing his joy with me, I was reminded of how thankful I am to have such a kind, empathetic, and student-centered staff. Our staff members go above and beyond each and every day, and are genuinely committed to student success. I couldn't ask for a better team.

I hope you are able to take some time during the vacation from school to reflect on what you are are grateful for. Research shows that people who practice gratitude are happier and healthier than those who do not, and I have found that when I practice gratitude, I find more reasons to be grateful! Please enjoy your holidays, stay safe and healthy, and find reasons to give thanks.

Every month we ask grade level teams to tell us something special they spotted in Gore Hall. Here are their responses!

Kindergarten: All of the beautifully decorated Christmas classroom doors!!

First Grade: First grade has seen students working hard to improve their reading levels and getting to paint flowers on our reading growth wall.

Second Grade: Students have been busy learning about the states of matter, adding and subtracting 2-digit numbers and comparing and contrasting!

Third Grade: An unlikely pairing playing together at recess. They were running around doing different exercises and investigating how the clovers smell...they didn't like it! But they did agree the bees like it though!

Fourth Grade: Students becoming confident using various strategies to solve division problems.

Fifth Grade: One student helped another student clean out her desk - cooperation and kindness!!!

Learning Lab: Students willingly give up bikes during recess so that other students can have a turn.

Title I, Part A is a component of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that provides supplemental funds to approved schools to meet educational goals, support professional development of staff and support parent engagement programs.

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