DMS Newsletter
November 19, 2021
Dates to Remember
- November 22-26-Thanksgiving Break
- December 1-6th grade Manatee field trip
- December 1-Midterms grades are due and will be sent out shortly after
- December 6-10-8th grade Washington D.C. trip
- December 20-31-Winter Break
Ms. Newton's Notes
Hello DMS Families!
We are thankful for you and hope you enjoy the week with your family.
Title I Handbook
You should have received a Title I handbook in the mail. Please be sure to review it and sign the last page and bring it back to the office.
Midterms
Midterm grades will be posted in Skyward by end of day December 1st. Please check Skyward regularly. If you have questions, please reach out to the teachers. A printed report will be sent home later that week.
Karen Newton
Assistant Principal
A Note from Principal: Angela Saunders
Dearest FSDB families-
Next week, we begin our Fall break. Just a quick note to wish you and your loved ones a restful time to give thanks together. When we come back, we will have three short weeks and then school will be closed for the holidays the weeks of December 20th- December 31st. If you aren’t already following us on Facebook, make sure you go in and do so. This week was a fun week with the basketball homecoming games and our “Out of this World” themed spirit week. You can see some of the pictures on our Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind Facebook page. You can also view the skits, the parade, and keep up with the events that are taking place on campus. We hope to see you on our pages!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving week,
Angela Saunders
Battle of the Books
The middle school boys participated in a Thanksgiving activity. Staff lead an activity where the boys wrote or drew things that they were thankful for on notes and then posted them on the Wall of Thanks. The students also had a cupcake treat afterwards.
A guest presenter from the FSDB police department spoke with the students about traffic safety, how to interact in public places, and what to do if you are off campus and an emergency happens. The boys learned about safety guidelines for walking off campus. The boys had a lot of questions, and they are excited to use their skills with staff lead off campus walks.
We have a lot happening here in Gregg Hall. Sports, tutoring, and activity clubs keep our girls busy, but staff do make sure they have their free time. Our 6th grade girls have been very active with crafts, while the 7th and 8th grade girls enjoy creating games in the evening. Recently our 7th and 8th grade girls asked their staff if they could rearrange the living room furniture to make it more “deaf friendly”. Not only has this made communication with their peers and staff easier and more fluid, it has also created a larger space for games and social activities. Kudos to our girls for coming up with that idea!
To our 6th and 7th grade parents, if you have not sent your child’s Ghostbusters movie field trip money yet, please do so after Thanksgiving break. We will need to get an accurate headcount for the theater and for transportation. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s boarding staff.
During Thanksgiving break please take time to go through your child’s clothing and make sure they are packing enough warm clothes for our chilly mornings and evenings. Staff are sending home all clothing, as well as your child’s personal bedding and linens for sorting and laundering. With winter break right around the corner, we ask that students do not bring a large amount of clothing, we will be cleaning rooms out again in December. During this break, please also replenish your child’s toiletries.
On behalf of the Gregg Hall and McLane Hall staff, we wish your family a safe, happy, and restful Thanksgiving.
Contact Us
DMS Office
PH: 904-827-2530
VP: 904-201-4600
Health Care Center
PH: 904-827-2410
VP: 904-201-3910
Transportation
PH: 800-992-8747
Gregg Hall (Girls Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2628
VP: 904-201-4506
McLane Hall (Boys Dorm)
PH: 904-827-2624
VP: 904-201-4562
Parent Services
PH: 904-827-2212
VP: 904-201-4527
Campus Police
PH: 904-827-2315
Email: newtonk@fsdbk12.org
Website: www.fsdbk12.org/deaf-middle-school
Location: 207 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL, USA