WHS FBLA Participates in Relay for Life!
May 14, 2018
FBLA did an awesome job at the recent Relay for Life! A lot of students came out to support this great cause, and Coach Harless even got in the dunking booth!
Submitted by Christy English
ECMS Hosts Special Olympics!
May 14, 2018
ECMS hosted the Special Olympics Florida - Walton activities on Friday, May 11, 2018. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to children and adults 8 years of age and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently Special Olympics Florida - Walton serves 67 athletes throughout Walton County.
It was a wonderful day for all the participants who also got a special visit from McGruff the Crime Dog with the Walton County Sheriff's Office! Congratulations to all the participants!!
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe; photo credit: Chaela Floyd
Recognizing Our EPIC WCSD Teachers, Administrators, and Support Staff!!!
Nowhere in the educational community will you find employees more charitable and generous than right here in the Walton County School District, Florida!!!
Cindy Holmes, Resource Development Director of United Way of Okaloosa and Walton Counties recently reported that the approximately 1,000 employees of WCSD supported the United Way campaign this school year (2017-2018) by pledging nearly $29,000 to help provide services in the local community!!!
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes indicated this was no surprise to him knowing how big-hearted, dedicated and committed our employees are to making our corner of the world a better place. “This tells the story of who we are!” stated Mr. Hughes.
Paxton School Receives Bronze Medal Designation from U.S. News and World Reports Best High Schools!!
May 11, 2018
Congratulations to Paxton High School for their designation of Bronze Medalist from U.S. News and World Reports Best High Schools! Paxton was one of 35 schools in the state of Florida to receive Bronze Medallion status! Walton County School District is proud of this EPIC accomplishment!
Paxton School is recognized in the National Rankings and earned a bronze medal. Schools are designated based on their performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for college.
FMS Horticulture Club Beautifies the FMS Campus
May 11, 2018
The FMS Horticulture Club is doing a wonderful job beautifying campus! This would not have been possible without the generosity and dedication to Agriculture education of our local Farm Bureau Board. Submitted by Chelsea Ellison.
Freeport Middle School Holds Career Day
May 10, 2018
FMS welcomed guest speakers from a wide variety of career backgrounds. Freeport Middle School’s PTO would like to thank the following Career-Day guests:
Dr. Jennifer Hawthorne/Specialist-Schools & Leadership Development
Florida House of Representative Brad Drake
Trey Nick/Nick’s Restaurant
Melanie Moore/Mattie Kelly Arts
Rick Hayes/Security Consultant
Leslie Harrison/Cyber Security
David Swanick and Mary Garner/Attorney and Paralegal
Theresa Devine/Farmer and baby goat Charlie
Sergeant Kristin Pond and her K-9 partner Kayne
Walton County Fire and Rescue Team
Bo Wilkerson/Historical Fiction Author
Mr. Hayard Dykes/Attorney
Register Family/Bee Keepers
Dylan Laird/Regional Utilities
Erika Zambello/Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance
Deputy Blake McCormick/Walton County
Jeffrey Powell/DeFuniak Herald
Thank you AVID students for serving our special guests!
Submitted by Chelsea Ellison
U.S. News and World Reports just released the 2018 Best High School rankings on Wednesday, evaluating more than 20,500 public high schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Walton County School District is proud to announce that 100% of our traditional high schools are included in the ranks!!
Freeport Senior High School ranked #124 out of 762 in Florida rankings, and #1629 in National rankings, receiving recognition as a Silver Medal school.
South Walton High School ranked #143 out of 762 in Florida rankings, and #1925 in National rankings, receiving recognition as a Silver Medal school.
Walton High School ranked #190 in Florida rankings, and was Nationally recognized as a Bronze Medal school.
Paxton School was recognized as a Bronze Medal school in National rankings and State rankings.
The U.S. News list aims to recognize schools doing the best jobs preparing students for college. To judge that, it considers graduation rates, success on required state exams and performance on Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate tests, which can earn high school students college credit.
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
Students in Walton County have been working all year to prepare for their Algebra EOCs with the help of their teachers and utilizing a program called Math Nation. With their test dates just days away, “study experts” Darnell and Chelsea from Math Nation dropped by our secondary schools to encourage students to do their best. Students have been utilizing videos made by both Chelsea and Darnell in preparation for the EOCs. A visit from them truly brought their videos to life.
Building on the extraordinary success of Algebra Nation, the University of Florida Lastinger Center teamed with Study Edge, a local educational technology company in Gainesville, to create Math Nation.
Math Nation provides an effective, easy, and FREE way for teachers and students to prepare for the End-of-Course exams year-round. MATH NATION has PreAlgebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 videos aligned with the Mathematics Florida Standards (with more courses coming soon). There is also an adaptive On-Ramp to Algebra Tool, so students can review fundamental skills necessary for success in Algebra 1, like performing arithmetic with fractions.
Funded by the Florida Legislature, Math Nation is a comprehensive online teaching and learning system designed to help students improve their conceptual and procedural understandings of mathematics. Developed with cutting-edge technology and supported by mathematics education research, Math Nation advances student learning through a series of interactive and informative web-based programs.
At any time of day, Florida students have free, unlimited access to adaptive diagnostic assessments with individualized remediation pathways, research-based content and videos that are engaging and standards-aligned, and opportunities for collaboration with students and math experts across the state.
As a starting point in Math Nation, students in middle school grades and algebra courses can navigate at their own pace through the On-Ramp to Algebra Tool. This adaptive diagnostic program provides support and remediation on concepts and skills that are foundational and critical for students’ success in Algebra 1. Additionally, students in Geometry and Algebra 2 have any-time access to tutorial videos, study experts, peer support through the Math Walls, and assessments to prepare for the state End-of-Course exams.
Submitted by Lauren Moore/Keitha Bledsoe
The class of 2031, from WISE Pre-K, visited Maude Saunders today to get a preview of Kindergarten. Current Kindergarten students assisted them as they completed their very first kindergarten assignment. Submitted by Krisy Spence.
The 2nd grade Maude Saunders Elementary A.C.E. (Acknowledging Childrens' Efforts) group recognized all veterans in their efforts to raise donations for the Jeans for Troops on May 4th. This group with the help of the MSE staff raised over $200.00 for this great cause! Submitted by Krisy Spence.