Friday, January 17, 2020 was a great day at WISE Center Programs for In"10"sity and ALC students! Organized by our Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Varnum the winter Title I event, "Bring Your Parents to School Day" was a huge success. Mrs. Varnum had events planned throughout the day, which began with parents and students enjoying a pancake breakfast served by faculty and staff. There were breakout sessions for parents as seen in the attached picture, led by teachers Andrea Schiller and Jamie Ramsey. Parents and teachers were able to collaborate and discuss ideas related to Title I and school improvement, each gaining valuable insight. The day included a selfie station for parents and their children, 1st semester awards and recognition and concluded with a STEAM Club Pie the Teacher/Administrator Fundraiser. Thank you to our parents and students for their participation, and to District level Title I staff for their help in the planning and implementation of this amazing event.
Congratulations to Paxton FFA!
January 22, 2020
Congratulations to the middle school FFA chapter of Paxton, who took 1st place at the district competition and will be competing at the state competition in June. Pictured (L to R): Colten Phillips, Makalynn Cassady, Clara Martin, Madison Falk, Kiley Edwards, Addie Cook, and Hydie Varnum. Congratulations to the Parlimentary Procedure team, who received 2nd place. Pictured (L to R): Hailey Sexton, Cassie Varnum, Haylee Hayes, Macie Dell, Ashlyn Hall, and Jordyn Bradley.
Further congratulations to the individual FFA members who recieved the following awards:
Extemporaneous Speaking - 1st place
Colten Phillips
Prepared Public - 2nd Place
Clara Martin
WCSD Jazz Ensembles Participate in "Best of the West" Jazz Festival at HarborWalk Village!
January 20, 2020
WCSD Jazz Bands from South Walton High School and Walton High School participated this weekend in the 1st Annual Best of the West Jazz Festival at HarborWalk on Saturday, January 25!
It was a great event, and our bands had the opportunity to perform, and to hear some really solid jazz ensembles! Congratulations to all!
School Will be Closed on Monday, Jan. 20, in Observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
January 19, 2020
Classes will resume as usual on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. Please be advised that the weather will be in the high 20's and low 30's on Tuesday morning. Keep this in mind when helping your student prepare for the bus stop and school.
Maude Saunders Kids of Distinction Music Club Pay Tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 19, 2020
The Kids of Distinction Music Club from Maude Saunders Elementary School, under the direction of music specialist Cathy Drake, presented a meaningful tribute to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King today. The program highlighted some of the struggles and characters of the Civil Rights movement, with a strong emphasis on the quest for peace by Dr. King. Students sang, played Orff instruments and shared important information that helped to remind us all of the important lessons that Dr. King taught.
Dune Lakes Elementary School Fifth Grade First LEGO League Team performed wonderfully at the Robotic Competition today, Saturday, January 18th in Crestview. In their first-ever official qualifier event they exhibited their team’s “City Shaper” plan and earned a personal best high score of 215!
Congratulations to our Fifth Grade Team, “One Step Ahead!”
One Step Ahead Team Members: Evangeline Brown, Griffin Perk, Hieu Roberts, Steele Rodgers, Joey Strickland, Jon Villa
Coaches: Julie Sedlock Perk and @meredithflowers
For more information about First LEGO League visit: http://www.firstlegoleague.org/challenge
WCSD Elementary Students are Selected for Florida Regional Honor Choir and Orff Ensembles!
January 19, 2020
Walton County School District is proud to announce that 9 students from our Elementary Music programs were selected by audition to represent the district in the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association’s Regional Honor Choir and Orff Ensembles! ?
They are traveling to Tallahassee for rehearsals and performances on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Opperman Hall, Florida State University School of Music.
We are so proud of them, and excited for them to have this experience?! More pictures to come!?
Selected for participation:?
West DeFuniak Elementary
Nathan Hight, Music specialist
Calie Brackin
Colin Dunnigan
Dakota Day
Annabel Hicks
Freeort Elementary
Angela Saltsman, Music specialist
Jaliyah Sand
Dune Lakes Elementary
Corrie Sober, Music Specialist
Sadie Scruggs
Brooklyn White
Caden Barnhart
Van R. Butler
Daniel Browne, Music specialist
Naya Pretorius
Mossy Head 5th Graders Enjoy a Trip to Sea World!
January 18, 2020
5th Grade students earned a VIP educational experience at Sea World in Orlando January 16 and 17. They were able to enjoy an overnight outing while exploring nature up close. They were also able to enjoy a full day of Sea World shows, rides, animal attractions and educational programs.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes Completes Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development Program!
January 18, 2020
Congratulations to Superintendent A. Russell Hughes upon being formally recognized for completion of the Chief Executive Officer Leadership Development Program (CEOLDP) during the joint meeting of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) and the Florida School Boards Association in Tampa!
CEOLDP is a leadership development and performance compensation program that is comparable to chief executive officer development programs for corporate executive officers. The intensive program includes two phases. Phase I is a content-knowledge-skills phase which is a formalized training program that focuses on information and skill development. Phase II is a competency acquisition phase which provides a structured opportunity for participants to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in Phase I for the continuous improvement of the school district. Additionally, each participant engaged in Phase II designs and implements Learning Projects to address the improvement needs of their school district.
“The CEOLDP training is a stringent program that requires an immense time commitment and I applaud these education leaders and lifelong learners upon achieving this accomplishment,” states FADSS CEO and Florida Senator Bill Montford.
School Board Member Jason Catalano presented Superintendent Hughes with a special award certificate at the December 17, 2019 school board meeting at South Walton High School.
Walton County School District is extremely proud of our Superintendent, and of the integrity, vision and values he demonstrates as he leads our district into the future!
FMS Art Students Send "Hand Art" to State Capitol!
January 18, 2020
Freeport Middle School art students created Heart Hands art for Hands at the Florida Capitol. FMS students were excited to be able to participate in such a large cooperative project with the rest of the students in the state of Florida.
https://childrensweek.org/event/celebration-of-the-hands/
 |
Tens of thousands of pieces of “hand art” will be hung throughout the Capitol Rotunda Sunday, January 26 – Friday, January 31, 2020 creating an amazing display of children’s art. “Hand art” is decorated by children and their teachers, and collected at child care centers and schools across the state.
childrensweek.org
|
"Thousands of people passionate about children’s rights gather in Tallahassee once a year for Children’s Week to celebrate children and family. During this event, tens of thousands of “hand art” are hung throughout the Capitol Rotunda, creating an amazing display of children’s art. The “hand art” is decorated by children and their teachers, and collected at child care centers and schools across the state. The hands hang in the Capitol Rotunda as a reminder to legislators and advocates that we must take care of our most precious commodity – our children." (ISFNet.org)