District News

Teacher of the Year Finalist

January 19, 2022

We are so elated that the following teachers have been selected first, by their colleagues at their school sites, and then secondly, have been designated as the top 3 from that distinguished group to compete and be observed by a non-bias committee to be selected as the Walton County School District Teacher of the Year 

Lance Climer – South Walton High School

Lora Brazile – Paxton School

Russell Phillips – Freeport High School

A committee looked over all the applications, accomplishments, and skills of those who were selected at their school sites. Now this committee is going to do a formal visit to the classrooms of Mr. Climer, Ms. Brazile, and Mr. Phillips, to see all that was written on paper, in real-time. The interaction that these teachers will have with their students, the engagement the student will be involved in, will help determine which of these three very phenomenal teachers will represent WCSD at the state level as Teacher of the Year.

We have had some great winners in past years and know this year’s winner is not going to be an exception to that greatness. We, the teachers, support staff, principals, and community, are excited to have this kind of representation on the wonderful campuses we have in Walton County.

Congratulations to the site-based winners on every campus!

Congratulations and good luck to those who have been selected in the top 3 and are now in the running for Walton County School District’s Teacher of the Year.

 

COVID Update January 14, 2022

January 18, 2022

COVID Update January 14, 2022

In the spirit of transparency, the Walton County School District (WCSD) will continue to update our stakeholders with COVID-19 data for the 2021-2022 school year. 

 

COVID-19 Statistics

Single Day Data

(1/13/22)

% of total population (students and staff ~ 13,000)

Overall Data to Date

(8/10/21 – 1/13/22)

% of total population (students and staff ~ 13,000)

Positive COVID-19 Cases

of School District Students and/or Employees

 

50

0.38%

*993

7.63%

Quarantined Due to On Campus Exposure of School District Students and/or Employees

 

105

0.81%

1782

13.70%

Quarantined Due to Off Campus Exposure (Community/Family Exposure) of School District Students and/or Employees

 

17

0.13%

746

5.74%

Schools Involved in Positive Cases and/or Exposure

 

12

 

20

 

 

Walton County School District COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for the 2021-2022 School Year

  1. If a person is sick (students, teachers, staff, and visitors), they should stay home.
  2. Face covering is optional for all, including the bus.
  3. Hand sanitizer is available at various areas inside the school.
  4. Social distancing from others is encouraged as much as possible.
  5. Signs will be displayed to remind those in schools about social distancing, as well as the use of hand sanitizer, washing of hands, and face coverings.
  6. Cleaning and disinfecting school facilities/buses which are occupied by students will be done daily.
  7. Adequate mitigation supplies are on hand at all schools/facilities (hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, etc.).
  8. COVID-19 vaccination is optional for all students and employees.
  9. COVID-19 contact tracing is occurring in all schools/facilities (2021-2022 WCSD Decision Tree for employees and students).
  10. At this time non-essential visitors and volunteers are not allowed to enter schools. This mitigation strategy will be revisited in the next few weeks.

 

*Please keep in mind that although COVID positive cases may represent a student or staff member within the WCSD, it does not necessarily indicate that the virus originated within the WCSD.  It is also important to note that a portion of the positive cases involve individuals who may have never entered the school setting while sick due to proper quarantining. 

Celebrate Literacy Week with Read to Feed

January 14, 2022

With the support of St. Joe Community Foundation, all Walton County Elementary students will be reading to raise money for Food for Thought, a local organization that provides food for children in our community.
St. Joe Community Foundation has graciously pledged $0.25 for every AR test passed. At the end of the school year, the accumulated money for each school will be donated to Food for Thought. We'll kick off our goal during Florida's statewide "Celebrate Literacy Week" January 24-28.

Kemper Hodges Names 4A Player of the Year!

January 13, 2022

Congratulations to Seahawk Senior Kemper Hodges for being named 4A Player of the Year in the State of Florida and the Northwest Florida Daily News Small School Offensive Player of the Year.  Kemper will be playing football for the Air Force Academy.

 

Pictured (L to R):  SWHS Assistant Principal Nina Borthwick, Guidance Counselor and Assistant Football Coach Steve Noble, Kemper Hodges and Principal Dr. Alexis Tibbetts.

COVID Update January 7, 2022

January 10, 2022

COVID Update January 7, 2022

In the spirit of transparency, the Walton County School District (WCSD) will continue to update our stakeholders with COVID-19 data for the 2021-2022 school year. 

COVID-19 Statistics

Single Day Data

(1/6/22)

% of total population (students and staff ~ 13,000)

Overall Data to Date

(8/10/21 – 1/6/22)

% of total population (students and staff ~ 13,000)

Positive COVID-19 Cases

of School District Students and/or Employees

 

11

0.08%

*815

6.27%

Quarantined Due to On Campus Exposure of School District Students and/or Employees

 

16

0.12%

1582

12.17%

Quarantined Due to Off Campus Exposure (Community/Family Exposure) of School District Students and/or Employees

 

13

0.10%

701

5.39%

Schools Involved in Positive Cases and/or Exposure

 

8

 

20

 

 

Walton County School District COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for the 2021-2022 School Year

  1. If a person is sick (students, teachers, staff, and visitors), they should stay home.
  2. Face covering is optional for all, including the bus.
  3. Hand sanitizer is available at various areas inside the school.
  4. Social distancing from others is encouraged as much as possible.
  5. Signs will be displayed to remind those in schools about social distancing, as well as the use of hand sanitizer, washing of hands, and face coverings.
  6. Cleaning and disinfecting school facilities/buses which are occupied by students will be done daily.
  7. Adequate mitigation supplies are on hand at all schools/facilities (hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, etc.).
  8. COVID-19 vaccination is optional for all students and employees.
  9. COVID-19 contact tracing is occurring in all schools/facilities (2021-2022 WCSD Decision Tree for employees and students).
  10. At this time non-essential visitors and volunteers are not allowed to enter schools. This mitigation strategy will be revisited in the next few weeks.

*Please keep in mind that although COVID positive cases may represent a student or staff member within the WCSD, it does not necessarily indicate that the virus originated within the WCSD.  It is also important to note that a portion of the positive cases involve individuals who may have never entered the school setting while sick due to proper quarantining. 

 

WCSD Science Fair Winners

January 6, 2022

Congratulations to the winners of the 2021-2022 WCSD Science Fair. This year's Regional Fair is set for February 2, 2022.

FMS Participates in Music in Pictures Exhibition

January 5, 2022

The Freeport Middle School Art Department participated in the Rosemary Beach Foundation's annual Music in Pictures Exhibition.  Over 200 art students studied the music of Mark O'Connor and interpreted the songs into beautiful paintings.  Each year every school in Walton County participates and twenty students from each school move on to the district juried exhibition.  Congratulations to the twenty winners from Freeport Middle School.  Way to go Bulldogs!

Congratulations to the Music in Pictures Winners

5th Grade

Sophia Barrientos

Abigail Bartley

Natasha Duffley

Allyson Harris

Gabriel Mendoza

Beaux Odom

Lillian Patrick

Grayson Price

6th Grade

Sophie Hannawalt

Chloe Kidd

Christina Summers

7th Grade

Jocelyn Godinez-Martinez

Dylan Louthain

Lauren Marek

Antonia Palacio

Keely Thomas

Elainna Adair

8th Grade

Andrea Gonzalez

Macey Kimzey

Megan Weller

 

The Writing Revolution at MSE!

January 5, 2022

MSE teachers participate in “The Writing Revolution” professional development, as they prepare for the new semester.

 

COVID-19 Update January 3, 2022

January 3, 2022

Happy New Year!  We hope all of our students had a wonderful break, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Wednesday, January 5th to start the second semester of the 21-22 school year.

 

As many employees started back to school today, we want you to know that all Walton County school principals and administrators met first thing this morning to discuss the rise in COVID cases and how each school can best prepare for the return of students.

 

Walton County Schools will continue current mitigation practices, which are listed in detail below.  Please know that we are prepared, and schools have the supplies they need.  All schools have cleaning materials, including hand sanitizer, and all schools have access to masks, if any student and/or adult wants one.  Schools will continue to use the Florida Department of Education’s Decision Tree (listed on our district website) when conducting contact tracing of positive COVID-19 cases and/or exposure.  Please note the most important mitigation strategy listed below - #1 – If a person is sick, they should stay home.

 

Please know the Walton County School District is being proactive when it comes to the pandemic, as we do with all safety measures.  If parents or students have any concerns or questions, please feel free to text us at 850.204.9667 or email at [email protected].  Until then, we look “4rwd” to seeing everyone back!  #EPIC 4wrd

 

 

Walton County School District COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies for the 2021-2022 School Year

  1. If a person is sick (students, teachers, staff, and visitors), they should stay home.
  2. Face covering is optional for all, including the bus.
  3. Hand sanitizer is available at various areas inside the school.
  4. Social distancing from others is encouraged as much as possible.
  5. Signs will be displayed to remind those in schools about social distancing, as well as the use of hand sanitizer, washing of hands, and face coverings.
  6. Cleaning and disinfecting school facilities/buses which are occupied by students will be done daily.
  7. Adequate mitigation supplies are on hand at all schools/facilities (hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, etc.).
  8. COVID-19 vaccination is optional for all students and employees.
  9. COVID-19 contact tracing is occurring in all schools/facilities (2021-2022 WCSD Decision Tree for employees and students).
  10. At this time non-essential visitors and volunteers are not allowed to enter schools. This mitigation strategy will be revisited in the next few weeks.
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