District News

Walton County Fair was humming with the sweet sounds of WCSD voices as the West Defuniak Elementary "BeeBops"; Mossy Head "Headliners"; Freeport Elementary "Sophisticats"; Paxton "Sound of the Pride"; and Maude Saunders "Kids of Distinction" sang their hearts out on the Main Stage area of the fair Wednesday evening!

Thursday night, audiences in the Main Stage area were treated to the beautiful voices of the Walton Middle School and Walton High School Chorus students!

Congratulations to all these fine musicians, their parents, and their teachers for an EPIC job sharing their talents at the Walton County Fair!

submitted by Keitha Bledsoe

Kindergarten students at Butler Elementary were honored to have the South Walton Fire Department visit the school and share information about fire safety with them. Ms. Stephens class created a thank you banner to show their appreciation to these community helpers! Submitted by Tammy Smith.

Walton County School District is bursting with Excellence, Professionalism, Innovation and Collaboration as teachers participate in multiple professional development activities throughout the district.

Friday, October 13, is a perfect example as district wide Digital Lead Teachers gathered together as a collaborative effort to brainstorm about how to better assist schools and teachers with digital instructional strategies and tools! District Coordinator, Crystal Appel, and District Digital Learning Specialist, Christine Petersen, instructed and guided the collaboration as they work to find ways to empower WCSD teachers through the assistance of their individual school based Digital Lead Teachers. Superintendent Russell Hughes visited the workshop briefly to encourage participants in the Walton County Way = EPIC!

When a student is falling behind in reading, time makes a huge difference in their success level. WCSD reading teachers attended a workshop on the Sonday System developed by educator and researcher Arlene Sonday. The program is designed to help students who have been struggling get caught up with their peers. The Sonday System is a research based program that provides educators tools to identify, intervene, and help struggling students improve their reading skills using effective multisensory instruction.

In the Carlene H. Anderson Training Room at the Wise Educational Center, Secondary English Language Arts instructors participated in a type of knowledge and strategies based "Boot Camp" to equip teachers with additional tools to help students achieve and succeed. SWHS Dean of Students, Carrie Chavers, facilitated the workshop as teachers networked, shared ideas and strategies, and acquired new learning designed to boost student academic accomplishment.

submitted by Keitha Bledsoe

ECTC Web Application Development and Programming student, Dawn Martin, earned the CIW Social Media Strategist certification last week. ECTC received confirmation from CIW today that she is the FIRST student in the state to earn this certification. Congratulation Dawn Martin on this EPIC accomplishment! Submitted by Carol Rothgeb/FB.

“MSE takes home the Blue Ribbon at Walton County Fair!” The theme at Maude Saunders Elementary School this year is “Teamwork Sparks Success” and the students and staff created a blue ribbon booth to prove it. Be sure to check out our booth at the fair this week! Submitted by Krisy Spence.

Wise Center teachers' Mrs. Casey and Ms. Bumpers children dancing and moving during morning circle time.

Both boys and girls are 6 time Conference Champions.

They are on their way to the state championships in Lake Mary on October 28th.

Maude Saunders third graders are busy practicing on their recorders to participate in the Link Up Sinfonia concert later this year. Thanks to the St. Joe Foundation for providing grant money to purchase these recorders. Little Warriors make great musicians!

submitted by Cathy Drake and Krisy Spence

Some of the incredible Art teachers of Walton County School District are featured in the October/November issue of 30A Kids Club Magazine !!! The creative influence these teachers have on their students impacts their lives for a lifetime...inspiring them to see themselves and the world around them with new and expanded vision, and providing the tools for self-expression that help them to stay grounded and connected. The German painter Gerhard Richter said that "picturing things, taking a vew,is what makes us human; art is making sense and giving shape to that sense."

Walton County School District is proud that these teachers, and the other Arts teachers in the district, have chosen the lifetime calling of teaching....changing the world one child at a time!

submitted by Keitha Bledsoe

You can access the October/November issue online at:

https://issuu.com/30akidsclubmagazine/docs/30akc_october_november_2017/32

What an EPIC day it was at MSE's "Bring Your Dad to School" Day! 345 dads, grandpas, uncles, and community members joined our Little Warriors to build hurricane-proof houses, carve pumpkins, design boats, study live earthworms, plant flowers, create electricity, build airplanes, and so much more! A special thank you to the Walton County Sheriff's Department and CHELCO for sending out some of their guys to help out!

submitted by Krisy Spence

WCSD Voices Fill the Air with Sweet Sounds at the Fair!

October 13, 2017

VRB Kindergarteners Receive Visit from South Walton Fire Department

October 13, 2017

Walton County Teachers Attend EPIC Professional Development!

October 13, 2017

ECTC Student First in the State of Florida to Pass the CIW Social Media Strategist Certification

October 12, 2017

MSE Takes Home the Blue Ribbon at Walton County Fair

October 12, 2017

Morning Circle Time at the Wise Center

October 11, 2017

Emerald Coast Middle School celebrates the accomplishment of the Cross Country Team

October 11, 2017

MSE Practices for Sinfonia Carnegie LinkUp Concert!

October 10, 2017

WCSD Art Teachers are Featured in Local Magazine

October 10, 2017

MSE's "Bring Your Dad to School" Day!

October 10, 2017