Prism
BHS Parent Newsletter - March 24, 2023
Dates to Remember
3/28 - Senior Mobility Trip
3/28-29 - Junior ACT testing
3/29 - Informational Meeting for Debate Club
3/30 - RIF
3/31 - LAST DAY TO BUY PROM TICKET
4/4 - Orlando Magic Trip (for those who registered)
4/5 - Prom Dress event
4/7 - Last day to buy specialty drink tickets for Prom
4/10 - NO SCHOOL
4/11-14 - PERT testing (tentative)
4/12 - Tuxedo Fitting for Prom
4/14 - FBI Internet Safety Presentation (1:00)
4/18 - Senior Trip to Bravos
4/19 - FCLE testing
4/20 - Spring Concert and Art Show
4/21 - PEW Workshop (Safety)
4/26 - Spanish Class Trip (McManus)
4/27 - Jr/Sr Prom
5/1-2 - Algebra 1 EOC
5/3-4 - Geometry EOC
5/4 - US History EOC
5/6-12 - Close Up Trip to DC
5/8 - MAP testing
5/9 - FAST ELA Reading (9th-10th)
5/12 - Parent University at Daytona Rehab Center
5/16 - Biology EOC
5/17 - Senior Awards
5/18 - BHS Graduation
5/26 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Justin Cosgrove, Assistant Principal
We just wrapped up the third quarter. Teachers will be finalizing the grades and we hope to get the report cards sent out not too long after.
We started the new quarter with a great senior carnival. Our seniors and our sponsors did a terrific job in organizing the event, and I was told by several students and visitors that this was one of the best carnivals we have put on.
With the fourth quarter comes state tests. The dates for the various state exams are listed in the newsletter. Please make note of these dates to ensure your child is in school for them. As always, thank you for your support and let's finish the year with a great fourth quarter.
Reminders for Student Success
1. Students who are going on trips are still expected to make up their work. Part of the deal is to make sure you are keeping up with the classes you would miss.
2. Students should come to class/school prepared. That includes: Braille books, laptops, regular books, etc.
3. Remember, if you are going to be out, you need to make sure you are up on your work. You also do not have unlimited time to get the work done.
Character Trait of the Month-Trustworthy
"Trust is built with consistency."
~Lincoln Chafee
BHS Students Earn Honors and Invitation to International Festival
Laurie Wohl, ITS Director
This school year, FSDB Blind High School added a new club - International Thespian Society. ITS is an honor society for students who are participating in the theater program. In the beginning of the year, BHS chartered our first ever troupe, Troupe 11048, and had two members who were interested and prepared to compete in the District Level competition. At this competition, students perform a theatrical piece - acting, singing, dancing, stage tech, marketing - and are scored based on a rubric worth 90 points.
On December 4, 2022, Madison Wardell and Maxx Ray attended District 2 Festival, both competing in the Solo Musical division. Both students scored high enough at Districts to earn an invitation to the State Festival.
This past week, while everyone else was home on Spring Break, Madison and Maxx, along with Troupe Directors Mrs. Laurie Wohl and Mr. Scott Botelho, spent the latter part of the week in Tampa at the Florida State Thespian Festival. During this week, Madison and Maxx again performed their Solo Musical pieces for judges, both earning almost perfect scores, Superior Ratings, and an invitation to the Final Round - International Thespian Festival in Bloomington, Indiana!
The week was more than just competition, though. During our 5 days in Tampa, both students were able to take part in several workshops of their choice geared toward different categories of theater. Maxx took several dance workshops, with Broadway, Film and Television greats such as Laura Bell Bundy, Kerry Butler, and Andrew Cao. Madison leaned into her life plans of being a writer and took several writing workshops, one with Devon Glover - The Sonnet Man - based on turning Shakespeare into Rap and Hip-Hop! Both students also took a movement workshop with actor Matt Burke (Jurassic World, 9-1-1, The Resident).
Several Main Stage Performances took place during the week by top high schools in the state either at the Tampa Theater or the Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Madison and Maxx were able to attend Rabbit Hole, a play about overcoming grief, and 1776, a musical comedy about the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
To end the week, both students participated in an impromptu Broadway Karaoke Night at the Tampa Convention Center. It was a fun week of learning, performing, sightseeing, good food, and good company!
We look forward to our upcoming International Thespian Society Honors Induction Ceremony, an end of the school year performance, and gearing up for next year's competitions!
24 Game Challenge Competition
Justyn Keller, BMS Math Teacher
For the past several years, students have competed annually in a math competition known as the 24 Game Challenge. In this competition, students are given a set of 4 numbers, and their job is to use any combination of the four basic math operations to produce 24 within the allotted two minutes. The first person to do so correctly receives the points. Each set of 4 numbers is worth 1, 2, or 3 points. The student with the most points at the end of the class period is the winner for that class/grouping.
The event began with competitions in each class. Then, on Friday, March 10, these students competed against one another and Mr. Keller's middle school students, to determine the overall 2022-2023 24 Game Challenge winner.
These finals were intense! Twelve sets of numbers were given: 5, 1-point cards, 4, 2-point cards, and 3, 3-point cards. For almost every round, solutions were found within a few seconds.
The results are as follows:
High School
1st Place: Taylore Sherman
2nd Place: Addison Allen
3rd Place: Michael Diaz-Ramos
Overall
Taylore Sherman (high school)
Way to go, everyone! I can’t wait to see what’s in store for out next math competition during Quarter 4.
Upgraded Laptops Explained
Alden Porter, Sophomore
As you may have heard, FSDB upgraded their laptops in preparation for the Windows 11 upgrade in the 2023/2024 school year. Coming from the HP ProBook 650 G3, a laptop released in 2017 to Lenovo ThinkPad 21 released in 2022, there is quite a difference in both looks and performance.
The new laptop is thinner than the predecessor as it drops the optical drive as computer parts get smaller. This makes the laptop noticeably lighter than the ProBook as well. Somehow Lenovo has managed to make a keyboard that feels nice and easy to type on and also included a TrackPoint, a nub-shaped pointing device in the middle of the keyboard.
Because of a different construction of better plastics and a different design of the hinges, there is less possibility of the hinge covers falling off, which was a common issue on the older laptops. Due to more advanced power management and a better fan design, the Lenovo computers are much quieter and have longer lasting batteries compared to the HP computers. The lid is now made of metal instead of plastic.
The most commonly used ports remain the same, with two USB ports, an ethernet port, a headphone jack, and a type C USB port which is also Thunderbolt 3 compatible for transfer speeds up to 40gbps. As for video ports, the ThinkPad drops the DisplayPort connector and VGA connectors for video over USB C and HDMI.
Overall, the new computers are thinner, lighter, quieter, longer lasting, comfortable to use, and faster.
Alden is a member of the Leadership Class. He shares his extensive knowledge of technology often. He is planning a career working in the field, perhaps as a computer repair technician in his favorite state of Colorado.
Tactile Science for the Visually Impaired: It's Fun AND Educational
Savannah Lindberg, Junior
For many people, both blind and sighted alike, science is a way to explore the world, understand it, and experience it for oneself. But of course, the best part is always the hands-on experiments themselves: the experiments that teach about chemical reactions that cause an exploding geyser, or the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano. All of these can be valuable tools for understanding science and the complicated world around us—-not just for the sighted child, but for the blind child as well. Additionally, parents can help cultivate an attitude of curiosity by encouraging exploration and discovery.
Experiments for the blind are not just fun and engaging (though that is a bonus), but they can also be valuable as a tool for allowing the student to see the world from a different perspective and view phenomena that they may not otherwise understand. After all, learning something through experience can often be more meaningful than simply reading about a concept in a textbook. As Ms. Ashley Dennis, FSDB's Blind High School science teacher puts it, "Material needs to be learned and visuals need to be seen and understood, and for blind and visually impaired students, they must have a hands-on experience to truly visualize the concept."
As a parent, you may be wondering, "Completing hands-on science activities with my student sounds like a fun, engaging way to encourage exploration, but how do I get started?"
Fortunately, it doesn't take much to begin your journey to scientific discovery. Your first step may be as simple as gauging what your student is interested in. Once you have determined what area your family is interested in learning more about, you can begin to collect materials. As Ms. A. suggested, even the simplest things from around your house can contribute to vast discoveries and great revelations. Alternatively, if you find a specific experiment that requires an item that you don't have, oftentimes at-home science projects contain materials that are inexpensive and easy to obtain.
All in all, tactile science can be a new, exciting way to teach blind students about scientific processes and the scientific method, and there are simple ways that you can implement it into everyday life.
Savannah is a member of the Leadership class. She plans to become a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and has already begun working toward that goal by becoming a paid after-school tutor, helping to teach her classmates braille music code, and asking questions of her teachers to gain insight such as this to start forming her educational philosophy.
Visiting College Students Share Their Views of FSDB
Earlier this month, students from Florida State University who are in the Visual Disabilities Education major program visited FSDB to complete one of their required "Intensives Week" as part of their training. During this time, the education majors spend the week observing classroom teachers. Below are submissions from two of those teachers-to-be about their time at FSDB.
Elaine Mara
As an aspiring Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility Specialist who happens to be legally blind, spending the week at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has been an informative and affirming experience, connecting my coursework to the real world, and affirming my passion for the role(s) I am preparing to undertake. Spending time among professionals who share the same high expectations for kids who are blind or visually impaired that I have always had for the students with whom I have worked as a disability services professional on several college campuses, has proven to me that I am preparing to enter a field that fits with my teaching philosophy and belief system, and will give me the opportunity to make the difference I desire to make in people’s lives.
From listening to kindergarteners describe their own visual impairment to watching students confidently cross streets, use technology to access music notation to learn to play the recorder just like their sighted counterparts, and participate in the evaluation and development of IEP goals, I take away from this experience a plan to involve my future students in all stages of the IEP process, regardless of age, so they can develop the skills necessary to advocate for themselves and define independence for themselves.
Dreama Compton
So far at FSDB, I've had an amazing time interacting with students and faculty in the Blind Department to learn more about teaching strategies in a center-based school program and get faculty input on teaching Orientation & Mobility to their diverse population of students. Students attending FSDB have such a beautiful support group through not only their faculty, but through their peers, who never hesitate to offer assistance to one another. From working with Kindergarteners on Self-Determination to listening to a group of high schoolers sing in Spanish, visiting FSDB has been such a positive experience, and I'm thrilled to begin my career as a Teacher of the Visually Impaired and O&M!
BHS Junior/Senior Prom
Mark Your Calendars for the Spring Music & Art Show
The Spring Music & Art Show will take place on Thursday, April 20 at 6:30pm in the Music Building Auditorium.
Safety Fair Recap and Review
Marcus "Dwayne" Lewis, Junior
On Feb 22nd, 2023, the FSDB Safety Fair took place. The Safety Fair is an annual event where everyone from the paramedics to the SWAT team come out to the Kramer bus loop in the Blind Department to educate us students about their role in protecting and assisting the county and country.
All the different departments were set up in a circle around the bus loop, and students went around with their classes to each one, picking up useful facts and pointers along the way. The only downside to it was that there were so many stations, a lot of people weren’t able to make it all the way around. Therefore, all the information presented below is based on what I saw.
I started at the Honeywell station. In short, Honeywell is the system that controls our fire alarms, lockdowns, tornado sirens, and any other emergency situation. The directors of the station had a few of the button apparatuses set up for us students to press for the experience of pulling a fire alarm or pushing the lockdown button.
Next was the FBI station. There were a few FBI agents out there, telling us about what they do and answering questions. They had one of their bullet-proof suits out for us to try on and have the experience of wearing 30 pounds of armor. There was also a fingerprint machine, where you could actually scan your fingerprint and receive a paper copy to keep. We were also shown different ways the FBI handles criminals without seriously injuring them, such as using foam-tipped bullets rather than a taser or actual firearm.
The next station belonged to the state trooper patrol. They brought what I believe to be one of their undercover vehicles because I was told that it had hidden lights in the roof. It was a supercharged Dodge Hemi, a common vehicle used in the police force. We were allowed to sit in the car one at a time, and make some noise!
Finally, I’m not sure why, but there was a horse that was part of the showcase. The handlers had it farther away from everyone so it wouldn’t get nervous or anything. We were allowed to go up to it and pet it. It’s still the friendliest horse I’ve seen to this day.
All in all, I thought the Safety Fair was a mixture of an educational experience and fun.
Dwayne is a junior in the Leadership class. He particularly enjoys hands-on learning experiences such as the Safety Fair exhibit. He is currently researching various music careers to decide what to major in for college.
Spring Carnival
Brianna Raisor, Senior
The spring carnival this year was held March 23 from 6:00 to 9:00. This year all of the booths were in the courtyard between Bryant Hall and Gibbs. The booths included games such as ring toss and Pie a Teacher. There were also bounce houses for small children to enjoy.
This year instead of using tickets to access the games there were passports that the children used to collect stickers from all the booths. The spring carnival was fun for all. Watch for photos from the carnival in future issues!
Brianna Raisor is a senior in the Leadership class. As a senior, she played an important role in the planning and manning of the many carnival activities.
Debate Club is Back!
The Debate Club will utilize the formal debate format with a goal to eventually compete in tournaments with other students in the area.
Come to an informational meeting next Wednesday, March 29, from 3:45pm to 5:15pm, in Cary White 214. For more information, please email or see Mr. Keller.
Outdoor Club
The Outdoor Club finished their walk around campus with a trip to Vincent's Ice Cream.
APH Insights Art Contest
Benefits of Audio Description in Education Contest
Submit your essay for a chance to win a prize such as an iPad, iTunes gift card, or trip to present your essay at a conference.
Deadline is March 31, 2023.
Described and Captioned Media Program
You can make a free account by going to https://dcmp.org/and clicking the Sign Up button.
How To Survive The Final Quarter Of School
Kayla Caple, Senior
How do you survive the final quarter of school? Well, there’s so much to go through.
First things first, prioritizing and organizing can ensure a student’s success. Prioritizing can ensure that assignments get done and students study for tests such as the ACT, FSA, FAST, and other tests.
In addition to prioritizing and organizing, having self-care time set aside before and after these hard tests ensures that students feel relaxed, calm, and collected. Self-care can also make it so that students are happy even though they went through an arduous test that day.
Finally, patience is important because when schedules change due to trips, tests, drills, and other unexpected events students will know that this is part of the end of the year experience. It’s good to be patient and share information because it can ensure students are understanding when things change.
Now, go conquer fourth quarter and as Mr. Cosgrove says, “Children. You can’t go home, but you CAN’T STAY HERE!”
Kayla is a senior who does her best to practice what she preaches. As the stresses build up in her final year of high school, she utilizes the arts to help self-regulate and as a coping mechanism.
ACCESSING STUDENT PHOTOS
How to access student school photos:
- Go to fsdb.zenfolio.com
- Click “Find Your Photos”
- Enter your child’s Gallery ID number in the box. (Note: Child’s ID number is his/her 5-digit lunch pin number.
If your child does not know the number, please contact administrative assistant Ms. Linda Comeaux.
Contact Us
BHS Office
PH: 904-827-2715
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Koger Hall (Girls Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2733
MacWilliams Hall (Boys Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2725
Apartments – Boys (Seniors)
PH: 904-827-8247
Apartments – Girls (Seniors)
PH: 904-827-2510
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: cosgrovej@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/blind-high-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/fsdbblindhighschool
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB) does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, sex, religion, national origin, political opinion, affiliation, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran status or any other basis as mandated by federal and state law in its educational programs, services or activities, or in its hiring or employment practices. FSDB also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by law.
Contacts for questions, complaints, or requests for additional information are as follows:
Student Discrimination/Harassment
FSDB Boarding Program Administrator
PH: 904-827-2603
Requests in writing can be sent to:
Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
207 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084