Twenty-four students in Ms. Greer Harvell’s seventh grade class at Walton Middle School entered the American Museum of Natural History’s Young Naturalist Essay contest. This contest is a national event, and seventh graders from across the nation submitted essays for review by the museum’s board. Congratulations to Bryce Crowder, Paige Brannon and Luke Love for selection as semi finalists in the competition.
Charlie Walker was recently recognized for his outstanding accomplishments in the area of secondary transition. The PAEC Regional Transition Council’s Outstanding Student in Transition award recognizes deserving students that demonstrate leadership and focus in planning and preparing for their transition from school to post school life. Charlie, a senior at Freeport High School, participates in a career prep program that partners Walton County Schools with state agencies and local businesses. The program’s goals are to provide students the opportunity to gain real world work experience while working toward the completion of their high school diploma. Charlie has been very busy building his independence and business skills with Copy Systems Business Center in Santa Rosa Beach as their production manager. Charlie also works in his spare time as a problem solver with Walker’s Kritter Getter Services. The skills that these work experiences provide are linked to greater success among students exiting their high school careers and entering the work force. Big thanks go out to Paul Woolman, owner of Copy Systems Business Center for his support and his willingness to work with students interested in developing business and independence skills.
Pictured from Lt to Rt: Charlie Walker, Student Freeport High School, Dennis Oros, Employment Specialist Walton County Schools, Paul Woolman, Owner of Copy Systems Business Center.
On March 25, 2014, Cindy Le Brun (Deaf & Hard of Hearing teacher) and Cheryl Lawrence (American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter) accompanied three Walton County students: Zachary Reese (SWHS), Carson Fleet (FMS), and Fatima Pindea (WDE) to the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Day, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate support for the Florida Legislature to pass licensure for ASL interpreters.
Walton Middle School is pleased to announce Mrs. Amy Bennett’s sixth period class as the winner of WCSD’s “Read To Succeed” Spring Contest. Mrs. Bennett’s class earned an astonishing 63 points on average, per student, which was 38 points higher than the classroom scoring second place in the competition. This class also won the fall competition with 111 points on average, per student.
To qualify for the event, students were required to complete six possible activities. Each time a student successfully completed an activity, his or her class earned one point. To encourage students to do their very best, extra bonus points were awarded for earning high scores on the activity. Therefore, activity scores of 75 percent of higher earned two points, and scores of 88 percent or higher earned three points.
WMS is extremely proud of Mrs. Bennett and her winning class – they really did “Read To Succeed.”
Pictured Back row L to R Willow Motley, Shanayh Tyson, Deanna Chisholm, Brisa Martinez, WMS Principal Tripp Hope, Mrs. Amy Bennett, Gabby Watson, Erin Howell, Emily Adams, Kacie Crane, Bottom row L to R Mason Norris, Yisaac Zavala, Levi Nelson, Juany’eh Thomas, Lance Duke. Not pictured Ajiah Gee, Dyre’k Howard, and Abi McKee
Emerald Coast Middle School 5th Grade Science students participated in the annual Edible Car Race. All car parts consisted of edible materials and were raced down a ramp in several elimination heats. This year’s big winner was “Bread Loaf”. Winning team members pictured from left are Rayna Hardy, Camaron McDonald, and Sydney Wisen.
On March 7, 2014, Emerald Coast Middle School travelled to Tallahassee to compete in the Big Bend Track Classic Middle School Showdown. ECMS’s girls and boys teams achieved first place honors. Three students set new meet records at the event - Ally Woodard in the 1600 meter race, Frederik Grosskopf in the 200 meter hurdle, and Owen Welbourn in the 1600 meter race. ECMS athletes qualifying for the State meet on May 10th at the IMG Academy in Bradenton are as follows: Ally Woodard in the 1600 meter race, Payton Thede in the triple jump, Frederik Grosskopf in the 100 and 200 meter hurdles, Jace Eply in the 100 meter hurdles, Joel Wildes in the triple jump and Jon Porter in the high jump.
Emerald Coast Middle School 5th grade art students were selected to participate in the Picture the Music art contest sponsored by the Northwest Florida Symphony Guild. Their paintings were inspired by the story Peter the Wolf and will be displayed at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center.
Picture 00468:
Astrid Vallat
Ben Sirmans
Nylah Mateen-Timberlake
Picture 00473:
Payton Williams
Bix Burgis
Matilyn Chambers
Picture 00465:
Rayna Hardy
Hayden Brackin
Freeport High School students placed 2nd in Division X at the 27th Annual NWFSC Math Bowl held at Northwest Florida State College on March 7th. The students participated in both individual and ciphering competitions. Riley Davis, a senior at FHS placed first in the competition and received a trophy, a check for $50.00 and a $10.00 gift card. Linda Trotman, team sponsor congratulates these students for their excellent representation of Freeport High School!
Pictured from left to right: Back row: Trey McCracken, Tony Cosio, Gabe Moore
Front row: Eric Coughlin, Riley Davis, Tyler Head
Students and staff at Van R. Butler Elementary School in South Walton enjoy a beautiful courtyard and garden area now that Sterrett McInnis's Eagle Scout project is completed. In February of 2014, Sterrett along with members of the Boy Scout Troop 157 of Niceville, and representatives of the Butler Student Council finished several improvements on the school’s grounds. Two large olive trees, multiple butterfly bushes and butterfly plants, and confederate jasmine were all donated by Eastern Supply Company of Santa Rosa Beach. All the materials for a 10 ft. trellis were donated by South Bay Ace Hardware also of Santa Rosa Beach. Lowe's of Destin provided discounts for the four park benches, picnic tables, edible plants, mulch, tree stakes, and 13 edible fruit trees ranging from lime, fig, to a special cocktail tree that is grafted with three combined fruits! The American Legion #221 of Niceville, the Van R. Butler PTO, and family members also provided donations for the project . Students at Butler created hand painted bird baths and painted various bird feeders and bird houses. The end result is a beautiful outdoor classroom which will also be used as an outdoor cafeteria.
