COVID Update October 1, 2021

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. 

We look forward to a time where these numbers read 0%, likewise is our wish for our county, state, and country. We are glad that we are able to navigate through this second year of COVID like we have with the mitigation strategies in place that allow students to be in school, employees at work, and families enjoying some sense of normalcy.

Due to a decreased need in testing, Stone Clinical Laboratories will continue to provide accessible testing within Walton County, but this will now be done only at their Freeport location, Monday through Saturday, 8a to 5p. Results are provided within 24 hours of testing, and sometimes even same day results if tested before noon. Thank you to Stone Clinical Laboratories for continuing their 4wRd collaboration with the school district.

As a reminder, Walton County School District implemented a revised decision tree from the Florida Department of Education this week. This update provided the option following close contact to a positive case to either keep your child in school if they remain asymptomatic or quarantine your child for up to seven (7) days, no more than seven (7) days, since the date of exposure. Thank you for committing to share the responsibility with schools of monitoring symptoms as needed to ascertain the safety of students and staff.

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. 

South Walton High School seniors chose Carson Troy and Kaelyn Shelton as their 2021 Homecoming King and Queen.

First grade students at West DeFuniak Elementary School celebrated the United States of America during the month of September by participating in an American flag project. This project allowed students to spend quality time working with their families while recognizing Patriot Day and Citizenship/Constitution Day.  This also gave students the chance to study the American flag as an important symbol of freedom. Students were able to express their creativity in decorating their flags.  Students worked hard and did a great job on their projects. WDE teachers would like to thank the parents for all the help that they provided their children with this activity.  

7th grade science integrated the changing of seasons with STEM learning this morning.

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

When beginning a unit on using metrics to measure, students were given only pumpkins and toothpicks and were challenged to build the tallest tower.  There were no other rules.  These challenges allow students to explore, create, collaborate, and problem solve.  

Students confronted challenges that included:

"Describe the event that may occur if you add more or fewer pumpkins or toothpicks to an area."  

"What would happen to the tower if one of these variables changed?

"What occurs when more pumpkins are added only to the top?"

Students had a blast using fall-themed manipulatives to build higher order thinking skills today.