Savannah Slade, Hayley Seible and Tyler Gibbs represented South Walton High School at the East vs West All Star Basketball Game at Gulf Coast State College on Saturday.

Savannah (pictured) led all girl scorers with 18 points and was named MVP.

Submitted by Barbara Stratton.

In acknowledgement of former Walton County School District Superintendent Carlene H. Anderson's forty-one years of dedicated service to the WCSD, and her achievements and contributions during this time, the School Board of Walton County re-named the Training Center located at the Walton Initiative for Success in Education Center (WISE) in Defuniak Springs, Florida as the Carlene H. Anderson Training Center on Tuesday, April 4, 2017.  After a welcome greeting by School Board member, Kim Kirby, the Walton High School Chorus under the direction of Ashley Gay performed "Sing We Joy" by Henry Purcell.  During the ceremony,  Mr. Mark Gardner, WCSD Director of Facilities, explained the history of the building, and Mrs. Anderson's role in the transforming of the building from a school media center to a professional training facility.  Mr. Tom Blackshear, Facilities Planner, read the School Board Resolution naming the training after Mrs. Anderson, and Superintendent Russell Hughes spoke of her dedication and love for children as an educator, and her guidance and leadership as Superintendent of Walton County Schools for eleven years.

Mrs. Anderson thanked the School Board, and Superintendent Hughes for the very special honor, and spoke of her "commitment to train and continuously develop our professionals."  She shared, "...the one most impactful element in a student's education is the quality and skills of the person who stands in from of them every day...the teacher. So when you are perfecting a teacher, you're making the greatest impact on the largest number of students for decades to come."

A lovely reception  was held following the dedication, coordinated by Laura Smith, School Board secretary, and Joyce Gentry, Facilities Department secretary.  The Walton County School District is grateful to Mrs. Carlene Anderson for her contributions to the children and educators of Walton County. 

Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe.

Superintendent Hughes, School board member Marsha Winegarner, and members of the WCSD District Office staff donned their blue attire and ribbons to join students, administrators, faculty and staff in schools all throughout Walton County today in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Mr. Hughes, Mrs. Winegarner, and the staff at the Tivoli complex visited the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center in Defuniak Springs for a Child Abuse Prevention Proclamation ceremony as a demonstration of support and unity in the fight against Child Abuse. They returned to the Tivoli Complex to participate in a meaningful Pinwheel Garden Planting Ceremony with guest Julie Hurst (Chief Executive Officer) and staff members from the ECCAC.   

The color blue has served as a reminder to end child abuse since 1989, when one grandmother made a personal commitment to wear a blue ribbon after her own grandson died as a result of abuse.  The pinwheel is an uplifting symbol of childhood, and a reflection of hope, health and safety…something we wish for ALL children.  Throughout the month of April, students and teachers across the district will be participating in activities that focus on awareness, and administration and staff will be involved in professional development activities that highlight recognition, support and prevention.  The goal of the Walton County School District is to help end child abuse through education, enlightenment, awareness, and compassion!

Submitted Keitha Bledsoe.

Pictured: Bill Fletcher, President of the ECCAC Board of Directors;  Julie Hurst, ECCAC Chief Executive Officer; Bob Campbell, Defuniak Springs Mayor; A. Russell Hughes, WCSD Superintendent; Marsha Winegarner, WCSD School Board member at the Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center.