Superintendent Hughes held a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, October 10, at Freeport High School. Topics addressed were Rapid Growth; Educational Impact; Construction and Expansion; Future Goals and Expected Outcomes; and Timelines. Those attending were provided the opportunity to ask questions and offer comments.
Superintendent Hughes says Classroom Walkthroughs are sometimes tough when the Instructional Strategy involves food! Ms. Purdy was armed with her Wheaties in 4th Grade at FES, and Ms. Hudson was teaching triangles to Kindergarten Students using Pizza as a visual. EPIC3 comes with a cost!
Best teachers in the world doing best practices in the world attempting to produce the best students in the world! This is NO EASY TASK; Parents have a lot to be thankful for in WCSD!
Walton Middle School English Language Arts (ELA) teachers are honored to partner again this school year with Christina Gonzalez of Instruction Partners in their professional learning. On Monday, October 7th, Ms. Gonzalez led teachers in a day of professional learning about improving productive engagement and academic discourse. Throughout the day, teachers learned powerful strategies for productive classroom discussions, participation protocols, and increased wait time, among other topics. Ms. Gonzalez also led the team to explore ways to disrupt possible barriers. The teachers formed small groups and listed potential challenges that impede productive engagement in the classroom, as well as viable solutions for overcoming them. The team also worked together to define what an ideal productively engaged ELA classroom looks like at WMS so teachers can have a unified vision of success. Ms. Gonzalez also built time into the day for teachers to develop "commitment cards" with their grade level partners regarding their vision, listing areas they'd like to strengthen, action steps they'd like to take, key learning that will help them enact changes, and support needed from the school's instructional coach Kristen Nelson. At the end of the day, planning partners dove right into planning a Springboard lesson that involved aspects of their new learning.
Christina Gonzalez will return for two more days of professional learning throughout the school year. WMS ELA teachers always welcome not only Mrs. Gonzalez's knowledge and expertise but also her compassion and understanding about the day-to-day life of a teacher. WMS extends many thanks to Instruction Partners for their continue commitment to help strengthen teaching and learning this school year.
#instructUP
The PE department at Walton Middle School proudly supports Superintendent A. Russell Hughes' EPIC3 vision of building curriculum, culture, and character each and every day. This year, Coaches Cindy Jackson, Liz Nelson, Mike Davis, and Ryan Gilbert are striving to integrate character education into their physical education curriculum. In their department's professional learning community (PLC) this year, they are exploring dynamic ideas for addressing the National Physical Education Standard 4, which states, "The physically literate individual exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and others." Through this aspect of their curriculum, the PE coaches are also addressing the WCSD initiative of building character, making a deliberate effort to develop values that are not only good for the individual but also for society.
On Monday, October 7th, Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and Principal Jason Campbell graciously offered their time to speak to sixth grade PE students about the value of demonstrating positive character traits. In PE so far this year, students have delved into the importance of compassion and persistence. The PE coaches have also encouraged students to nominate teachers who exhibit these qualities, presenting them with certificates for their positive traits.
The Warrior Way mirrors the EPIC3 spirit, as curriculum, culture, and character are paramount this school year, growing each day in the hearts, minds, and lives of WMS students and teachers.
Cover picture--Superintendent A. Russell Hughes, standing alongside Principal Jason Campbell, graciously offered his time to speak to first period sixth grade PE students about the importance of character.
Principal Jason Campbell was honored to speak to second and third period sixth grade PE students about the value of positive character traits.
Sixth grader Cooper Poole nominated his math teacher Mrs. Alred for showing persistence, while sixth grader Eyon Rafuse nominated his art teacher Ms. Grant.
The month of October is Bully Prevention month, and Monday, October 7, was World Bully Prevention Day. Superintendent A. Russell Hughes takes a strong stand against bullying in the WCSD. As a show of support for Bully Prevention, Mr Hughes, and the district office administrators and staff participated in #BlueUp by wearing blue to help raise awareness of bullying and how to prevent it from occurring.
It’s always important to talk about the dangers of bullying and the trauma it can cause. Schools across the district will share information with students, and participate in activities during this month to speak up extra loud about the lasting negative effects bullying can have on those who deal with it. Let’s Stomp Out Bullying Now!
Our little explorers at Bay School are learning all about community helpers! Today, October 8, members of the South Walton Fire Department came to teach us all about fire safety!!!! Thank you!!! We LOVE our community helpers!!!
Congratulations to this year’s Walton High School Homecoming Court attendants & escorts!
FRESHMEN
L to R: Alexis Hensley, Jarek Lindsey, Sarya Johnson, Trey Atlow, Alionna Jones, Daktris McCall, Daisha Cunningham, David Goldsmith
SOPHOMORES
L to R: Asia McCaskill, Alex Lacey, Paige Crews, Evan McBroom, Jada Fretwell, Will Ealum
JUNIORS
L to R: Icecess Trammell, Scott Anderson, Jayda Siples, Keylin Reed, Jasmine Wilson, Tre'Joun Brinson
SENIORS
L to R: Caitlyn Johnson, Ben King, Sarah Brannon, Patton Bell, Emilice Morales, Austin Thacker, Caslyn Cole, Hunter Smith, Shelbee Castrillo, Lorenzo Moidus-Santini, Aaliyah Fields, Colton Gomez, Jessica Gray, Davian Lindsey
(Not pictured: Jenna Adams & Will Campbell)
The presentation of the Court will begin on Friday, October 18, at 6:30 p.m., and the Queen & King will be announced after the presentation of the Court and immediately before the football game.
If you thought Iron Man’s flight was just for sci-fi, you’ll want to check out the guest speaker at Paxton School last week from UK based company Gravity, where they have developed a jet suit that literally allows mankind to fly. Yes, you read that right.
Sam Rogers, a pilot for Gravity, showed a group of 8th grade science students the groundbreaking technology via teleconference from across the pond last week. The jet suit includes jets on each arm and one larger jet on the back that allows the suit to travel up to 70 miles per hour. Students were treated to a tour of the design workshop at Gravity headquarters where Rogers emphasized the role that the engineering design process has played in the different iterations of the jet suit as the team has repeatedly re-designed and retested the suit to improve performance.
After showing students how many parts of the jet suit are created through 3D printing, including arm mounts and the electronic housing, Rogers, who is an additive design lead at Gravity, encouraged students to try their hand at engineering their own ideas through 3D printing. “I encourage you to really try out 3D printing,” he said. “You can design anything you want, test it, and iterate it until you get what you want.”
A huge thank you to Rogers and Gravity for sharing this phenomenal technology and inspiring our students do EPIC things!
