District News

Mossy Head School Cafeteria Staff and Food Services celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday and Read Across America Day with a special Seuss inspired menu and Cat in the Hat hats.

Ms. McMillan's 7th grade technology students have been learning a lot about programming, recently. In their class, where they are in the ICT Essentials program, students are learning about the skills needed to edit existing algorithms and create their own. To put these ideas in a new perspective for the students, the class was assigned an activity in which they used block segments to create their own small obstacle course for a LEGO figure to go through. The students had to plan and write out an algorithm that others could follow in order to complete the obstacle course (using phrases like move forward, jump up, etc.). The students did an excellent job with this activity, using their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Yesterday, students and faculty crowded around the school drive to send off the Bobcats basketball team as they headed to the state tournament. We cannot wait to watch them bring their best on the court. Good luck, Bobcats!

Bobcats to State

Congratulations to the winners of the Cancer Freeze Art Contest:
1st Place - Blake Wood
2nd Place - Graysen Usher
3rd Place - Arielle Del Castillo

Walton County teachers are preparing for the future as part of PAEC’s computer science boot camp! This grant supported FDOE program allowed these educators to learn the skills needed to successfully certify in K-12 computer science.

The Walton County School District is staying up-to-date on COVID-19 through consistent communication with the Florida Department of Education and the Walton County Health Department. The health and safety of our students is always our number one priority. As always during the flu season, our schools are working hard to keep all school surfaces and furniture clean and sanitary, but we have extended our efforts in order to be as proactive as possible for our students and employees.

All of us can also help prevent the spread of germs. Reminders can include:

* Wash hands often with soap and water

* Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available

* Appropriately cover coughs and sneezes

* Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth

* Stay home if you are sick

The number and websites below provide additional information:

* State Hotline for Florida - 866-779-6121

* Florida Department of Health - floridahealth.gov

* Walton Department of Health - walton.floridahealth.gov

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Walton County School District attended the 2020 Gulf Power Symposium. The Symposium included topics about Futuristic Thinking, the importance of partnering from without and within our organizations, Northwest Florida’s economic forecast, planning for our military installations and Diversity.

Pictured from left to right: Brooke Adam, Financial Aid Officer of Emerald Coast Technical College (ECTC), Wyndy Crozier, Director/Principal of ECTC, Honorable John W. Henderson, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Innovation, Environment and Energy, Michelle Doggett, Facilities Planner, Jill Smith, Director of Facilities and Jeff Infinger, Coordinator of Facilities and Maintenance.

Congratulations to WHS senior Makayla Hooks on being nominated to the U.S. Military Academy (West Point) and receiving a $20,000 scholarship from Mary Baldwin University!

View Congressman Matt Gaetz's presentation of the 2020 service academy nominations at the link below. (Makayla's announcement is at approximately 13:40.)

https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanMattGaetz/videos/2580173448919028/

On Saturday, February 22nd. Walton Middle School's SeaPerch/STEAM class traveled to Milton, Florida, to compete in the second annual Water Tower Competition. Towers were tested for structural efficiency, hydraulic efficiency, cost efficiency and design ingenuity. Congratulations to Preston Alexander, Brett Cone, and Libby Morse for placing first in both design ingenuity and overall structural efficiency. They won $100 each, as well as a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

(Not pictured: Brett Cone)

Walton Middle School hosted its second successful Data and Doughnuts of the year, a Title 1 parent training event that was held during SPEAR (homeroom) classes February 26th-28th. Approximately 188 families attended over the course of three days. The school invited families to enjoy doughnuts with their students before diving into personalized data to help set attainable goals for success. SPEAR teachers explained the importance of the STAR assessment as a means for progress monitoring reading and math success. Teachers also showed parents and students K12 Lift reports, which show how current STAR achievement compares to not only past STAR performance but also FSA, helping families look for patterns to draw conclusions to better help students succeed. After looking at the K12 Lift data and current grades in FOCUS, students wrote new goals to help them close out the school year on a positive note. Parents and students were also given information about upcoming state testing dates, the Florida Prepaid Scholarship Program, and how to order a WMS yearboook. (Yearbooks can still be purchased online at www.yearbookordercenter.com.) At the end of the session, parents were able to provide their feedback about their experiences as WMS stakeholders through both the Title 1 parent survey and the annual school improvement climate survey. (Parents who were unable to attend the event can still complete the survey at rebrand.ly/jct9rpq) WMS understands that families make tremendous sacrifices to be actively involved in their children's education, so efforts to attend are greatly appreciated. Together, students, parents, and teachers are looking ahead to bright, successful futures.