2^nd graders at West DeFuniak Elementary participated in planting potatoes in a grade level garden on Wednesday, March 1^st. The students were able to individually plant their own potatoes. Students learned that potatoes are usually planted first in a spring garden and what the criteria is for planting potatoes. The students had a blast working in the garden and getting a little dirty! Students are excited to see how well their plants will grow in their garden this year. Submitted by Amber Carnley/Jessica Dawkins.

Mrs. Hope Allen's 5th grade class made five hundred thirty 100s on AR tests in less than one month! Literacy Week inspired the students, but the motivation to read more and take more tests continued. Submitted by Debbie Bush/Jessica Dawkins.

“Literacy Changes our world” is the theme that WDE participated in February for Literacy week. In first grade, the students learned literacy is reading and writing. All students learned how important reading and writing is and how they can affect our daily lives. To help promote reading Mrs. Kim Moreno visited Mrs. Shelley Kyzer’s room to read. Mrs. Jordan Dady and Mrs. Melinda Bailey also attended this special reading. Mrs. Moreno read, “Me First,” which is a book about a pig that always has to be first. Pinkerton the pig learns a lesson and he stops worrying about being first. The students then wrote about how they could relate to Pinkerton’s character in the story. Submitted by Jessica Dawkins.

Last week, Mrs. Pryor's fifth grade science class at Freeport Middle School was visited by Dr. Dara Johns from Parkway Veterinary Hospital in Niceville, Fl. Dr. Johns spoke to the students about the importance of making good grades, working hard, careers, colleges, and gave the students some great studying tips. She also brought in many models and handouts to interact with the students. She covered many veterinarian topics including heartworms, roundworms, hookworms, animal teeth, radiology,  medicine, types of animals, infections, and answered many of the students' questions.  Submitted by Chelsea Ellison.