District News

Bay SPICE in SPACE this summer

August 2, 2017

This summer has been a blast at Bay!! We have been exploring and creating all things space. Through a variety of  interactive media, reading, team building projects, special guest speakers, field trips and even space themed Yoga,  we were able to continue the excitement of learning. It is my goal every summer for the kids to return to school with more knowledge than they left with.

Our big accomplishment this summer was the construction of the 20x25 planetarium complete with lights and planets. This idea came from my own 2nd grade teacher 28 years ago. My goal is to leave that kind of lasting memory for these kids here at Bay.  Submitted by Misty Williams/Charlie Morse.

Bay Spice

Bay Spice

Bay Spice

Bay Spice

Bay Spice

WCSD Fine Arts Coordinator Inducted into Hall of Fame!

August 2, 2017

Walton County Fine Arts Coordinator, Keitha Bledsoe, was recently inducted into the Florida Vocal Association Hall of Fame. The FVA Hall of Fame award recognizes current and former classroom teachers who have exemplified excellence in the teaching of music and are renowned in the area of vocal and choral music education. They must also have made noteworthy contributions through dedication and service to vocal music education, with special emphasis on outstanding service to FVA.

A special awards ceremony was held in Altamonte Springs Florida during the FVA Summer Conference, at which time recognition was made to the 2017 Middle and High School Choirs of Distinction, and the Hall of Fame Inductees. Special musical selections chosen by the recipients of the Hall of Fame awards were performed by the Florida Vocal Association Awards Chorale. Joining Mrs. Bledsoe in the Hall of Fame this year were Dale Choate, Choral Music Specialist for Duval County, Florida; Daniel Compher, retired choral director from Tampa, Florida; Beth Cummings, Director of Fine Arts for Polk County; and Deborah Mar, choral director at Southwood Middle School, Palmetto Bay, Florida

In addition to her responsibilities with the Walton County School District, Mrs. Bledsoe is also the accompanist for the Florida Chautauqua Theatre, and staff accompanist for the First Presbyterian Church of DeFuniak Springs, Fl.

Walton County School District applauds Mrs. Keitha Bledsoe for her dedication and accomplishments!

https://www.facebook.com/floridavocal/posts/1482098955145692:0

Submitted by Donna Honish

      

WCSD School Leaders Participate in PAEC Educational Leadership Conference

July 26, 2017

Nearly 500 Principals, assistant principals, and administrators participated in a three-day Panhandle Area Educational Consortium (PAEC) Summer Leadership Conference at Linkside Conference Center at Sandestin, hosted by the Florida Department of Education. Speakers highlighted the peaks and valleys of the state's education system from student performance to economic disadvantages and where improvements can be made across the board.

School leaders met together to learn from each other, share their challenges and successes, consolidate ideas, and brainstorm solutions. 

Among the presenters was Dr. Randy Stafford, along with Christine McCall, from the Walton County School District who presented a session on the results of a pilot study of Sound Training, a reading intervention program designed to improve literacy skills and maximize learning potential.

     

 

District Staff and Parents Build School Improvement Plans on District Manufacturing Day!

July 18, 2017

WCSD brought together their foremen, skilled workers, plans and tools to create and build the 2017-2018 school improvement plans on Manufacturing Day - 2017 at the Carlene H. Anderson Training Center.  Administrators, teachers, and parents from each school in the district met to develop an overall plan to move Walton County School District to the number 1 position in the state by aligning each of the individual school improvement plans to our District Strategic Plan.  Superintendent Russell Hughes gave an inspiring opening presentation where he revealed his vision of "The Walton County Way - Excellence, Professionalism, Innovation and Collaboration = E.P.I.C!" 

Schools met to review their plans for 2016-2017, discuss barriers, and turn them into opportunities to increase student success in 2017-2018. Administrators from the district office in the areas of Data, Technology and Curriculum and Instruction, as well as a representative from The New Teacher Project (TNTP) were on hand to lend support and provide resources.  Ideas were shared across the room as they collaborated to develop innovative ideas and implementation.  The air of excitement in the room was contagious, and the results for the students of Walton County in this coming year are going to be EPIC!!!  

submitted by Keitha Bledsoe

AP Teachers Collaborate to Create Innovative Teaching Strategies

July 13, 2017

Advanced Placement teachers from WCSD gave up vacation time and gathered at Freeport High School on July 13 for a Boot Camp planning session!  They spent the morning reviewing data from the last five years, and creating AP plans for their individual school sites.  These dedicated instructors explored strengths and weaknesses by comparing progress across the district, and developed strategies for improving student success in AP courses.

Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe 

Superintendent Hughes Addresses Community Members at the Chamber's First Friday Breakfast

July 10, 2017

Superintendent A. Russell Hughes gave Chamber of Commerce members and attendees of the First Friday Breakfast on July 7, 2017, his State of Education Address for Walton County.  This included his vision of the Walton County Way which is being EPIC by providing Excellence in education, being Professional, Innovative and Collaborative within our schools and the community as a whole.  Submitted by Kelley Stephenson/Donna Honish.
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