District News

WMS Agriculture Class Grows a Bountiful Harvest

May 2, 2018

Walton Middle School Agriculture students expect a bountiful vegetable harvest.  This semester, under the direction of Mr. Joe Proffitt, students are growing peppers, tomatoes, squash, okra, kale, and many other flowers and vegetables.  The students' prize potatoes promise to yield a loaded crop, thanks to the dedication of all 27 Ag students who've taken turns pouring the dirt on them as they've grown.  Mr. Proffitt and his students proudly thank the following donors:  Adams Farms (and student Eli Adams) for donating potatoes, ACE Hardware store manager Jonathon King for donating squash plants, and Jim and Deb Eveleth of Crescere Farms, LLC, for donating compost.  The Ag class extends warm thanks to these gracious sponsors! Submitted by Kristen Nelson.

Children in Crisis Recognizes Top Fundraising Schools in "Change for Children" Project

May 2, 2018

Change for Children is an exciting fundraiser for Walton and Okaloosa County Schools in collaboration with Children in Crisis, Inc., Florida. Elementary, Middle, K-12 and High School students bring in their change to help support The Children’s Neighborhood. Schools organized penny wars, talent shows, dress up days, pie in the face contests, and other fun activities to help get the students and staff excited about the campaign. This year, Walton County schools raised over $8,000! We are incredibly grateful to the students, teachers and staff of all the participating schools!  The Walton County Campaign is run by the Walton County Education Foundation.

The mission of Children in Crisis is, “Providing Homes and Establishing Hope” for the abused, neglected and abandoned children of Northwest Florida.  Children in Crisis is a local, non-profit charity that has provided a home to over 700 children since opening in 2008.  The Children’s Neighborhood provides an emergency shelter for young children and the family foster homes help with the severe shortage of foster homes in our community.

Members of the Board of Directors and Associates from Children in Crisis presented the top three fundraising schools with a special recognition plaque at the Walton County School Board meeting on Tuesday night, May 1, 2018. 

  • Walton High School was recognized for raising $1223.70
  • Van R. Butler Elementary was recognized for raising $1485.58
  • Emerald Coast Middle School was recognized for raising $2615.22

Congratulations to these schools, and all schools in Walton County for their assistance and generosity in this project!

Pictured are: Kim Kirby, Walton County School Board Chairperson; Allie Noah, Development Director of Children in Crisis; Kittie Johnson, Chairperson of the Board of Children in Crisis; Ken Hair, President and CEO of Children in Crisis; Capri Zodrow, Walton High School; Janet Currid, Principal, Walton High School; WCSD Superintendent Russell Hughes

Pictured are: Kim Kirby, Walton County School Board Chairperson; Allie Noah, Development Director of Children in Crisis; Kittie Johnson, Chairperson of the Board of Children in Crisis; Ken Hair, President and CEO of Children in Crisis;Todd Drake, Principal, Emerald Coast Middle School; WCSD Superintendent Russell Hughes

WDE 2nd Graders Participate in Sensory Bio Blitz

May 1, 2018

On Friday, April 27th Second graders at West DeFuniak Elementary school participated in a Sensory Bio Blitz conducted by the Emerald Coast Science Center. Students were asked to become scientists working in the field and began exploring the natural world around them. They were asked to use their senses such as hearing, seeing, smelling, and touching. The students went on a scavenger hunt to find certain plants and animals with specified characteristics. The students had a blast exploring the nature walk trails at the school, as well as finding some wild creatures in their natural habitats. Submitted by Jessica Dawkins.

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Freeport Elementary Super Heroes!

April 30, 2018

After completing Unit 6 in ReadyGen Community Helpers, we flipped our classroom to celebrate National Superhero Day! Today was all about superheroes...superhero sentences, superhero word families, superhero books, and superhero stories of our own! Check out our SUPER fun day!

Submitted by Nancy Currie

Congratulations to the Walton County Academic Team for Success in Commissioner's Academic Challenge!

April 30, 2018

Coach Terri Shelley, Josh Permenter (WHS), Coach Carla Griffith

Jasmine Sumpter (Seacoast), Jordan Nichols (SWHS), Nadia Bock (SWHS), Malcolm Griffith (FHS)

The Walton Academic Team attended the Commissioner's Academic Challenge from April 19th - 21st in Orlando, Florida.  After coming in second out of 5 teams in their room (4th out of 15 teams) in the first round, they advanced immediately to the semi-finals.  The team worked very well together and all of the participants answered questions during the competition.  They stayed in the top three teams in the semi-finals until the last round, where they were bumped out of the finals by a 3 question margin.  They enjoyed the experience and the underclassman, with some experience under their belt, are very excited and hopeful to get the chance to return again next year.

Submitted by Carla Griffith

MSE students help restore Choctawhatchee Bay

April 30, 2018

In a partnership with AmeriCorp and  the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance, MSE students tended salt marsh nurseries throughout the school year. Periodically, they split the grasses to increase the nursery stock and received monthly education on shoreline restoration. The  “Grasses in Classes” program culminated with students planting their shoreline grasses at a salt marsh restoration site along Choctawhatchee Bay as part of the living shoreline initiative. The program instills a love of local habitat, restores shoreline and inspires the next generation of watershed stewards.
Submitted by Krisy Spence

Ellis Island Comes to Life at WDE!

April 30, 2018

Ellis Island comes to life at WDE! From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered the United States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. Second grade students at WDE had the unique opportunity to experience life as an immigrant. This included choosing a foreign country, new name, and reason for immigrating to America. Students experienced waiting in a long line to enter Ellis Island, going through a medical exam, and a questioning session with an Ellis Island official who determined whether or not they could enter the United States for a better life.

Submitted by Jessica Dawkins

      

Emerald Coast Middle School Student Sets EPIC Example of Kindness!

April 30, 2018

30A Bike Shop Owner Josh Foreman and Coworker Tommy Lindsey donated a brand new bike to a very deserving student in Ms. Donnita Carroll’s classroom on Friday, April 27, 2018. Kyle Cooper bought $40 worth of tickets for a chance to win a bicycle and unselfishly gave many of them to friends in his class. Kyle didn’t have the winning ticket, but one of the tickets he purchased and gave to one of his friends was the winner! Kyle was so excited that is friend won and didn’t have one moment of sadness that he wasn’t the one going home with a new bike. When Mr. Foreman and Mr. Lindsey heard about Kyle’s selfless actions and genuine support of his friends, they wanted to make sure that Kyle had his own brand new bike. Ms. Carroll, Kyle’s Teacher, and Mrs. Karley Leach, Teacher Aide, are very thankful for the act of kindness shown to Kyle by Mr. Foreman and Mr. Lindsey. We are very fortunate to have people and businesses like these in our community! Walton County School District extends special thanks to 30A Bike Shop for their investment in the lives of our students!

 Submitted by Angela Vance

PHS Ladycats are District Champs!

April 27, 2018

Congratulations to the Ladycat Varsity Softball team for winning their district championship. The Ladycats came out with a victory of 11-0 over Bethlehem. Way to go, Ladycats!
Pictured (L to R): Assistant Coach - Samantha Martin, Assistant Coach - Andy Norris, Hannah Cain, Cadence Perez, Megan Davis, Ashlyn Hall, Camryn Brazile, Genesis Long, Mya Young, Assistant Coach - Kevin Bryan, Sadie Varnum, Kyrstyn Head, Jordyn Bradley, Head Coach - Jeff Bradley, and Michaela Cain. On Ground (L to R): Paiyton Perry and Hailee Bryan.
Submitted by Kalli McMillan
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