MSE teachers had an EPIC day on August 2nd with our Twitter Selfie Challenge. Twitter was introduced to teachers as an innovative source for professional learning opportunities. Our staff collaborated in teams to complete their Twitter scavenger hunt. One task was to have a selfie with Superintendent Hughes.
Submitted by Pam Jones
Day 1 in the Walton County School District was EPIC! More Pictures to Come!
Walton County's first Magnet School Program will open its doors to students on August 10, 2017 at 555 Walton Road, DeFuniak Springs, Fl. The program is dedicated to a new, responsive and deliberate educational environment for its students.
The focus is on the "whole student", with emphasis on 10 top attributes for success:
| Compassion | Desire |
| Attitude | Respect |
| Determination | Initiative |
| Effort | Victory |
| Time | Esteem |
The curriculum focuses on the foundations of cognitive growth: Reading, Math, Science and Language. The student services include small class sizes, mixed-intelligence learning classrooms, relevant student effort, grades based on mastery and building a growth mindset community of learners.
The program will serve students in grades 6-9 initially, and expand as the need arises.
At Orientation on August 8th, a drawing was held and the student who was selected from the drawing had the opportunity to shave Principal Jonathan D'Avignon's head as a symbol that they were "letting go of the past, and starting new...with new growth...moving forward."
Congratulations to Walton In10sity School of Excellence, Principal D'Avignon, and the teachers and students of this new project as they embark on this new journey of success!
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes gave a presentation to the Freeport/South Walton Kiwanis Club to share his vision for collaboration between the WCSD and Kiwanis at the August 2, 2017 meeting at the Coastal Branch Library.
Submitted by Chelsea Martin
The Paxton School band showed off their excitement for the new school year by performing at the EPIC training day/kick off event at FHS. Submitted by Kalli McMillan.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes welcomes new and returning students to an EPIC year of learning and growing as we begin our 2017-2018 journey toward educating the whole child! This is The Walton County Way! Excellence, Professionalism, Innovation and Collaboration = E.P.I.C.
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
The Freeport High School Band, under the baton of band director Michael Miller, opened the EPIC Leadership Training Day with a moving and inspiring performance of the National Anthem.
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
The Walton County School District held an EPIC event on August 3rd at Freeport High School as teachers came back to the first day of school year 2017-2018! Paxton High School band set the mood outside as the crowd was entering the building with pep tunes, and the new district Van was on display showing all the amazing features that will be invaluable tools for reaching out in the community. Inside, the excitement in the air was electric as Superintendent A. Russell Hughes welcomed new and returning teachers, administrators and district support staff to the event that exemplifies his vision for the Future of the Walton County School District!
Superintendent Hughes first thanked our many community partners for their assistance and participation in the event, and during a highly motivational speech he explained to the enthusiastic crowd of educators and administrators how he came to the new motto for the district. "Teaching is the most highly complex profession in the world, but you chose to do it....you've been chosen to be a part of this EPIC Team, and we are wanting to make sure that everyone who comes to Walton County understands that The Walton County Way is EPIC: Excellence, Professionalism, Innovation and Collaboration!"
Mr. Hughes shared the Mission Statement of the Walton County School District: "Preparing the Whole Child for a Lifetime of Success" and encouraged the audience to remember that "we are teaching our students to be lifelong learners" and challenged them to see themselves "as a conduit through which students can realize their full potential and pursue their dreams, goals and ambitions."
As part of the kick-off event, Superintendent Hughes invited guest speaker Michael Bonner, recently featured on the Ellen Degeneres Show, to share his story in hopes that he might inspire teachers to be creative, innovative, and engaging as they go above and beyond to help students succeed. Mr. Bonner teaches 2nd grade at North Carolina's South Greenville Elementary, where the majority of students have difficult family dynamics and many are homeless. The school is 100% FRL (free and reduced lunch), and is located in an impoverished neighborhood in Eastern North Carolina.
"With only four years in K-12 education, Mr. Bonner is consistently seen as a visionary leader who strives to create a positive mindset among all of his students. He understands that his students come to class each day with diverse backgrounds, strengths, needs, and challenges, and seeks to identify strategies to ensure the growth of their social, emotional, academic, and psychological needs. Because of his approach to education, students leave feeling a little more hopeful, challenged, inspired, and forever a part of Bonnerville!" (from his website: michaelbonner.com)
Over 70 presenters in content and choice sessions provided informative and inspiring professional development sessions, a delicious lunch was provided by a host of our community partners, and the day ended with a rousing closing pep rally that included inspiring comments from the Walton County Teacher of the Year, Kathleen Redfern.
Superintendent Hughes sends special thanks to the many people who came together as an EPIC team to turn his concept for the event into reality.
submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
