District News

NOT YOUR PARENTS’ LEGOS!

February 24, 2020

STEM training (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) within all levels of education is at the forefront of most education standards. Teachers and students are learning new ways to incorporate STEM training into the classroom; one of those ways is LEGO League. Don’t get too confused, this is not your typical way of using LEGOs.

FIRST® LEGO® League is the most accessible, guided, global robotics competition, helping students and teachers to build a better future together. The program is built around theme-based challenges to engage children ages 9 to 16* in research, problem solving, coding, and engineering. The foundation of the program is the FIRST® Core Values, which emphasize teamwork, discovery, and innovation. Students emerge more confident, excited, and equipped with the skills they need in a changing workforce.

When students are engaged in hands-on STEM experiences, they build confidence, grow their knowledge and develop habits of learning. When adults coach these students, they encourage them to try, fail, and try again, while connecting STEM concepts to real-world examples.

LEGO League is growing in the Walton County School District, and students are responding. While it is still relatively new our students are hitting the ground running. During this tournament season, three of our Walton County Schools had three teams receive bids to compete in the First LEGO League Championship Tournament in Tallahassee, FL. Dune Lakes Elementary (One Step Ahead), Freeport Elementary (Freeport Engineers), and Walton Middle School (Techno Warriors) competed in the regional tournament on February 22nd. The First LEGO State Championship Tournament will be held at Northwest Florida State College on March 27th and 28th. The teams are using every qualifier and tournament to get better and looking forward to a better future through LEGOs.

Article submitted by Stephen Byrd, Walton Middle School

Dune Lakes Lego Team

DUNE LAKES ELEMENTARY

TEAM NAME:  1 STEP AHEAD

Freeport Elem Lego Team

FREEPORT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TEAM NAME:  FREEPORT ENGINEERS

Walton Middle Lego Team

WALTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

TEAM NAME:  TECHNO WARRIORS

Walton County Snowbirds Award Scholarships to SWHS Seniors!

February 24, 2020

The Walton County Snowbirds presented their annual scholarships to two South Walton High School seniors, Sydney Balfanz and Drake Roberts.

Sydney plans to attend the University of Florida to major in biology before attending medical school.

Drake is going west to Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri to play baseball and study to be an airplane mechanic.

South Walton High School is thankful for the support from our snowbird friends every year.

Freeport Middle School Raises $1,142.72 for Change for Children!

February 24, 2020

Thank you to everyone who donated to Change for Children last week! The money Freeport Middle School raised will help feed, clothe and care for children in Freeport! With your help we have raised a total of $1,142.72!

To encourage participation, the class with the most money earned received the opportunity to pie an administrator in the face. Ms. Thomas’s 6th grade class came in third place with $176.63. Second place was awarded to Mr. Hardee’s 6th grade class with $187.09 raised. The class with the most money raised was Ms. Locke's class with a total earnings of $231.68.

Both Mrs. Smith and Mr. Olson received pies to the face from Ms. Locke and her class.

Thank you, Freeport family! 

FMS Change for Children Pie in Face

FMS Change for Children Pie in Face

FMS Change for Children Pie in Face

FMS Change for Children Pie in Face

WHS Culinary Students Visit The Stanley House

February 24, 2020

Walton High School’s culinary shared Valentine's treats with Stanley House residents on Friday, February 21.  Students were greeted with cheers and had a great time serving & interacting with the seniors at the center.  They promised to return again soon.

Paxton Aerospace Students Host Frontier Airlines First Officer Aaron Norris

February 22, 2020

In celebration of Florida Aviation Business month, Frontier Airlines First Officer Aaron Norris spoke with Paxton High School's Gaetz Aerospace Career Academy students about his career as a commercial pilot. Norris shared with students details about requirements to become a commercial pilot and various available paths to reach that goal. There is a growing need for pilots in the U.S., with Boeing predicting the need for 790,000 new pilots by 2037.
 

Mossy Head School Recognizes Science Fair Winners

February 22, 2020

MHS announced Science Fair winners for this year's Science Fair at the February All House Meeting. Winners were also awarded and recognized on the Mustang News. We are so proud of these students!
MHS Science Fair Winners 2020
3rd Grade Winners: Honorable Mention - Elianna Morales; 3rd place - Adasyn Roop; 2nd place - Joyanna Waites; 1st place - Alexxa Bergstrom
MHS Science Fair Winners 2020
4th Grade Winners: Honorable Mention - Jonathan Carrion and Elijah Speigel; 3rd place - Rayleigh Miller; 2nd place - Emilio Vasques; 1st place - Cheyanne Lester
MHS Science Fair Winners 2020
5th Grade Winners: Honorable Mention - Kylee Hare; 3rd place - Austin Ray; 2nd place - Luke Bryan; 1st place - Regina Aguayo
Principal's Award - Alyssa Berstrom

WCSD Launches 1st Newcomer Program at Van R. Butler Elementary!

February 21, 2020

After extensive district-wide professional development provided by Ms. Beatrice Palls of B & B Educational Consultants, Inc., and collaboration with district and school personnel, we are excited to announce the launch of Walton County School District’s first Newcomer Program for our non-English speaking students.  Van R. Butler has become the flagship elementary school for Walton County’s bold initiative to develop and implement an academic and social program to support our recently arrived immigrants and their families. 

Recently enrolled students who are non-English or limited-English speaking in grades two through five will receive intensive English Language Development and English Fundamentals of Reading instruction in a classroom that has appropriate and culturally- sensitive curriculum aligned to Florida Standards.  In addition, the students will participate in cultural awareness activities that are designed to assist them in acclimating to their new country.  We are looking forward to the success of these students and this program.

Newcomers Program VRB

Newcomers Program VRB

Newcomers Program VRB

Newcomer Team VRB

Newcomers Program VRB

Newcomers Program VRB

Science Fair #1 Place Regional

February 19, 2020

Congratulations to Freeport Middle School students Nicole Gross and Seri Brown for their first place win in their category at the Regional Science Fair!

FMS Science Fair Winner

FMS Science Fair Winner

SWHS's Fisher Marks Scores 1500 on PSAT/NMSQT

February 19, 2020

Congratulations to Fisher Marks on his score of a 1500 on the PSAT/NMSQT. Fisher is a junior at South Walton High School. Not only did Fisher scored a 1500 on the PSAT/NMSQT, he also had a perfect score on the math portion of the test. We are so proud of Fisher!

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