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Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and the entire Walton County School District Administration, Faculty and Staff wish all our students, families and community a safe and enjoyable Fall Break! School will be closed from November 25 - 29, 2019. School will resume on Monday, December 2, 2019. Wishing all a harvest of blessings, good health and good times. Happy Thanksgiving!

THE ST. JOE COMPANY AND WALTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A STEAM HIGH SCHOOL IN WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA

WATERSOUND, Fla.— The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe”) and Walton County School District today introduced the Magnet Innovation Center at St. Joe Watersound, a STEAM high school facility unlike any other school in the region.

The Magnet Innovation Center was unveiled at a press conference on Thursday featuring remarks from St. Joe CEO Jorge Gonzalez, Magnet Innovation Center Director Carrie Sneed and Walton County School District Superintendent Russell Hughes. The announcement was commemorated with a presentation of keys which were uniquely designed by students and created using the Center’s 3D printer.

St. Joe will continue to own the site, located at 133 S. Watersound Parkway, but enable the school to operate under an agreement with the Walton County School District. St. Joe and the Magnet Innovation Center will share the campus until St. Joe relocates its corporate offices to the Beckrich Office Park in Panama City Beach, which it intends to do in the spring of 2020. At that time, the school will be able to utilize the entire facility.

The inaugural students of the Magnet Innovation Center have been taking classes at South Walton High School since the beginning of the 2019-20 school year while they await the completion of renovations at the new campus. This first phase of renovations is expected to be completed in December. The Walton County School District has worked for several months to build laboratories and classrooms and to enhance campus safety and accessibility.

“We could not be more pleased to see our office campus go to a use that will be such an asset for the local community and region. Our campus is laid out perfectly for a school and large enough to accommodate many years of growth,” said St. Joe CEO Jorge Gonzalez. “We are firm believers that a rising tide lifts all boats. When good things happen for the community, good things happen for our residents. This enhances the educational opportunities in our community, which is good for everyone.”

In addition, the St. Joe Community Foundation provided a $226,118 grant that the school has used to purchase robotics and technology equipment. Created in 1999, the Foundation provides grants in the areas of education, environmental stewardship, healthy communities, and programs that honor the cultural arts. The Foundation has issued grants totaling more than $23 million in Northwest Florida since its inception.

Russell Hughes, superintendent of the Walton County School District, said that having the opportunity to use this location for this purpose is a tremendous gift for the county, the fastest-growing in Florida and the sixth-fastest in the nation.

“When I saw the facility, it was just phenomenal. To have a school we wouldn’t have to build really was a godsend,” Hughes said. “We’re creating something that we want people from around the world to fly in to see.”

The Magnet Innovation Center students are taking specialized classes in STEAM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Currently, there are 60 students enrolled in the center. When the new school opens in December, they will start their day briefly at South Walton High School, then board a bus for the 12-minute ride to the Magnet Innovation Center. They will return to South Walton High School in the afternoon to complete the rest of their instruction.

Officials expect that the school will grow, doubling in size next year and rising to as many as 250 students in four years. Students from across Walton County are invited to attend the magnet program, but it is selective. Applicants must submit letters of reference and write an essay about their interest in, experience with or desire to learn more about STEAM.

The school will have top-of-the-line tools to facilitate teaching. In addition to wet and dry labs complete with equipment and software, the Center is acquiring a CNC milling machine with air power drawbar. The Visual Technology Lab will be outfitted with iMAC workstations and access to virtual reality goggles, digital drawing tablets, 3D printers, 3D scanners, laser engravers, large format printers and numerous software programs. Students will work to earn certifications in programs such as Adobe, AutoCAD, Inventor and Revit.

“Having a campus totally dedicated to educating our students in the area of STEAM is vital to not only the success of our students but the success of our local area,” said Carrie Sneed, Director of the Magnet Innovation Center. “Northwest Florida is a booming area of technology and advancements for the future. Having a campus here, in Walton County, where we can start building relationships with our students and community members, will promote bringing those students back to the area as adults to work in our local economy.”

SWHS MIC Ribbon Cutting
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Congratulations to Childers Construction for receiving the Eagle Award for Excellence in construction of Dune Lake Elementary School. The award was received from the Associated Builders and Contractors in the Institutional 20 Million Dollars and Above category. ABC is a National Construction Industry Trade Association.

"Childers Construction Company’s team has been collaborative from the groundbreaking of Dune Lakes to the final touches upon completion. From responding to communication to hands-on problem solving, the Childers team made our move into the new school smooth while providing on site support for quality assurance," said Dune Lakes Principal Meredith Spence.
"Not only do we love the many features that include energy efficiency and aesthetic qualities that feature our community, the design team incorporated ideas suggested for a child-center learning environment. From small group reading rooms, natural lighting, state of the art technology, and beautiful courtyards, Childers Construction Company has created a beautiful, one-of-kind enriching learning environment that has received awards for design and now construction."

(Photograph below L-R) Noah Ballasch, Garry Futch, Chet Smith, and Rich Gray

WISE Pre-K classes visited Holland Farms for their Fall field trip, and this is a “Thank You” board that Mrs. Bumper's class took back to the owners.

Find it Fund it Florida!

November 22, 2019

Florida’s K-12 local education foundations invest in students, teachers and classrooms to fund opportunities and support beyond what tax dollars provide. They serve 99% of our state’s 2.8 million students with a variety of initiatives to enhance education, help students, support teachers and drive innovation.

You can join with others to fund a classroom project now in Walton County! A few dollars can make a big difference for a motivated teacher with a great idea!

https://www.finditfunditflorida.com/walton/

Find It & Fund It, Walton!

Individuals, organizations and businesses are encouraged to invest in the creativity of a teacher to bring amazing learning experiences to their students. To get started, simply click on a grant below to view the details and fund online.

 

 


How it Works

 

Search for a Project to Fund

 

 

Special Thanks to Our Presenting Partners

CHELCO

Alys Foundation

St. Joe Community Foundation

SchoolSubjectProjectAmountDateDeadline
Dune Lakes Elementary School Teaching Quality Growing Buds
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary Literacy Technology and Flexible Seating Options to Support Literacy in a Diverse Classroom
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Paxton School Teaching Quality Infinite Solutions with i Pads
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary Teaching Quality Please Help Students Build Accountability
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Freeport High School Career/Technical Education Research Done Right
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19 11/30/19
Paxton School STEM Education Science in the Classroom - STEM lab for our student's future
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
West Defuniak Elementary Teaching Quality Help us become a 1-to-1 classroom!
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary STEM Education Techy Teaching $822.11 10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary STEM Education Ipads Powering Individualized Instruction $822.11 10/02/19
South Walton High School Literacy Inspire Spanish Speakers to Read
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
South Walton High School Teaching Quality Calculated Investment $1,299.00 10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary Low Performing Students Valuable Tool for Learning Disabilities
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Van R Butler Elementary Teaching Quality Technology for Engaging and Rigorous Science Inquiry
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Paxton School Literacy Epic Reading
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Freeport High School Low Performing Students Knowledge is Power $1,296.98 10/02/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School Low Performing Students Playing to Learn Language
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Paxton School STEM Education Stepping Up with STEM!
funded grant
FUNDED
10/02/19
Freeport Elementary Literacy Soundtrack to Success
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
WISE Pre-K Literacy Dynamic Dinosaurs through Dramatic Play and Teach and Talk with Stories while Learning $919.92 10/01/19
Van R Butler Elementary STEM Education Blossom in Garden Greatness $0.00 10/01/19
Bay School STEM Education Illuminating a Love for Learning $928.85 10/01/19
Mossy Head Elementary Teaching Quality Bringing Music To Life $983.36 10/01/19
Bay School STEM Education Classroom STEM Lab Set-up
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
South Walton High School Teaching Quality Color It Creative! $1,014.71 10/01/19
Van R Butler Elementary Literacy Guide Literacy instruction through technlogy
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Walton High School Teaching Quality ACCESS Literacy and technology $1,300.00 10/01/19
Walton High School STEM Education Boosting Biology with Technology
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
South Walton High School STEM Education Oysters Suck... But that's a good thing...
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Walton Intensity School of Excellence STEM Education Science in the "Outernet"
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education Robotics Funding for First Lego League
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education Hands- On Science Field Trip
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Bay School Literacy Power House of Learning $743.28 10/01/19
Freeport High School Teaching Quality PE in the Digital Age
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Emerald Coast Middle School Literacy Laptops for Readers
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education STEM Garden
funded grant
FUNDED
10/01/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education Learning Through Technology and STEM
funded grant
FUNDED
9/30/19
Van R Butler Elementary Increasing Graduation Rates Building Our Boys to be Successful Young Men $865.56 9/30/19
Freeport High School Teaching Quality You Can Count on Me! $580.20 9/30/19
Mossy Head Elementary STEM Education Little Bits for Learning
funded grant
FUNDED
9/30/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School Literacy Read and Explore the World
funded grant
FUNDED
9/30/19
South Walton High School Literacy Teach Living Poets! $1,484.29 9/30/19
Freeport Middle School Literacy Extra! Extra! Read all about It!
funded grant
FUNDED
9/29/19
Emerald Coast Middle School Literacy Who Was? What Was? Where Is?
funded grant
FUNDED
9/29/19
Van R Butler Elementary Literacy iRead, iKnow, iConquered! $1,495.00 9/29/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School Low Performing Students Independent Literacy and Math Stations
funded grant
FUNDED
9/28/19
South Walton High School Low Performing Students Sensory calming space
funded grant
FUNDED
9/27/19
Freeport Elementary Low Performing Students iPads for iKids and Individualized Instruction
funded grant
FUNDED
9/27/19
Van R Butler Elementary Low Performing Students Building Better Mathematicians
funded grant
FUNDED
9/27/19
Walton Intensity School of Excellence Low Performing Students Destination Innovation: Outdoor Learning Center for Students with Special Needs
funded grant
FUNDED
9/27/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education Collaboration Skill Building K-5
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Freeport Elementary Low Performing Students Hands on Autistic Learning Activities
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Paxton School Career/Technical Education Triumph Using Technology Tools
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Walton High School Low Performing Students Equity for ELL Students
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Walton Middle School STEM Education STEM Gardening at WMS $1,440.00 9/26/19
Walton Middle School Literacy Keeping the Magic in Middle School
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School Literacy Y.A.? Hooray!
funded grant
FUNDED
9/26/19
Freeport High School Low Performing Students The Gift of Graduation
funded grant
FUNDED
9/25/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School STEM Education Grant for Generation Genius Subscription $360.00 9/25/19
Paxton School Literacy "Out with the Old, In with the New"
funded grant
FUNDED
9/25/19
Emerald Coast Middle School Literacy Seeing is believing!
funded grant
FUNDED
9/25/19
Freeport High School STEM Education Teacher iPad needed to improve laboratory quality
funded grant
FUNDED
9/25/19
Dune Lakes Elementary School Teaching Quality Ceramics by the Sea $1,255.00 9/24/19
Van R Butler Elementary STEM Education STEM in the Gym! Integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Spelling in Physical Education!
funded grant
FUNDED
9/24/19
Van R Butler Elementary Low Performing Students Oh Boy, We'd Be One to One!
funded grant
FUNDED
9/23/19
Paxton School STEM Education Providing Quality Science Lab Experiences for Students $997.40 9/18/19
Van R Butler Elementary STEM Education Lead the Way with STEM
funded grant
FUNDED
9/17/19
West Defuniak Elementary STEM Education Growing Readers Through STEM $993.99 9/16/19
 

Walton County School District Media Specialists meet regularly to collaborate and plan for media programs.  Their discussions provide new media specialists with an opportunity to gain valuable insight from their more experienced peers.  They have recently been working on a Media Specialist Handbook that will provide consistency throughout the district.  From book fairs to book orders to student engagement, this group works hard to make the Walton County School District Media Centers the best that they can be!   WCSD Media Specialists will help you find what you are looking for!

Media Specialists

Superintendent Hughes and many other local and state agencies worked on a major Table Top exercise today. The purpose was to discuss, assess, and recreate what Walton County would look like, share ideas, concerns and improvements in case of a major storm. Extremely powerful information, planning and conversations kept us fully engaged. Great Job Mr. Jeff Goldberg and staff for this intensive practice!

Table Top Exercise

Table Top Exercise

Table Top Exercise

Table Top Exercise

On Tuesday, November 19th, fourth and fifth grade classroom winners participated in the Schoolwide Tropicana Speaking Competition. Parents, students, teachers, and judges were amazed by the well thought out speeches and the students' ability to present them to such a large group of people. Congratulations to each of these students!!!

Fourth Grade Winners

1st- Kyson Allen ••• The Tasmanian Devil

2nd- Makenna Anderson ••• Addiction

3rd- Charles Allan Brooks ••• Mad Scientists Throughout History

WDE Tropicana 5th Grade

Fifth Grade Winners

1st- Annabel Hicks ••• My Geographic Tongue

2nd- Carli Nowling ••• Sharks Anonymous

3rd- Calie Brackin ••• Crocs

First and second place winners from our school competition will represent West DeFuniak at the District Tropicana Speaking Contest on December 12th at Freeport High School.

This week, faculty, staff, and students honored Coach Laurie Gilbert with a retirement party. Coach Gilbert will be retiring in December after 32 years of teaching. The entire Paxton family is very thankful for all Coach Gilbert has done for our school and wishes her well in her retirement. Coach Gilbert has been at Paxton for 17 years and taught at Freeport for 15 years before that. She will continue to stay on as track/cross country coach. Attendees of her party included her husband (Bryan), children (Maryllyn and husband Blake, Ryan and wife Brooklynn), granddaughter (Evie), sister (Cathy), and mother-in-law (Sherry). Thank you, Coach Gilbert!