FMS Teacher of the Year Steve Wassman pictured with Principal Joshua Harrison on left and FMS ESP of the Year Benton Andrews pictured with Mrs. Smith on the right. Submitted by Sharie Smith.
The district office celebrated the holidays with a luncheon on December 14. As part of the event, district staff donated Christmas gifts for girls and boys. Danny Garner took the donations to the Matrix Center for distribution at their Christmas celebration. Also pictured is Morgan Elkins a volunteer for the Matrix. Submitted by Kristy Grey.
On Wednesday, December 11th, fourth and fifth grade classroom winners participated in the Schoolwide Tropicana Speaking Competition. Parents, students, teachers, and judges were amazed by the well thought out speeches and the students' ability to present them to such a large group of people. Congratulations to each of these students!!!
Fourth Grade
1st place - Carli Nowling - My Annoying Niece and Nephew
2nd place - Isabella Adkinson - Being an Only Child, Kids' Tables Are Awful
3rd place - Kari Hanscome - The Man Walt Disney
Fifth Grade
1st place - Rhiannon Fountain - Remodel Gone Wrong
2nd place - Chandler Shoaf - How to Write a Tropicana Speech
3rd place - Gracelyn Daniel - Our Money Habits
First and second place winners from our school competition will represent West DeFuniak at the District Tropicana Speaking Contest on December 18th at Freeport High School.
Submitted by Pam Beck
The Butler Elementary choir gave their final performances of the holiday season on Friday, December 14th. These third and fourth graders, under the direction of Mr. Dan Browne brought holiday cheer to the student body and guests! Submitted by Tammy Smith.
Walton Middle School proudly recognizes this year's Teacher and ESP of the Year. Mrs. Nina Thornton and Ms. Connie King work tirelessly to serve their school and its students and staff, and their hard work does not go unnoticed by their peers. Congratulations, Mrs. Thornton for Teacher of the Year (pictured left) and Ms. King (pictured right) for ESP of the Year! You make WMS proud. Submitted by Kristen Nelson.
Congratulations to all of our Walton County School District Science and Engineering Fair participants and winners! Over 175 students from all 7 of our Middle and High Schools participated in the Science Fair this year! All projects were judged the evening of December 3rd at the DeFuniak Springs Community Center. Students entered projects in the categories of Biology, Engineering, Environmental and Physical Science.
A special thank you to the Hermocallis Society, all of our Judges, teachers, students, families, and our Teacher of the Year, Joan Kennett for your involvement. The Science Fair Awards Ceremony was held the evening of December 6th. Thank you all for your participation and hard work!
Submitted by Crystal Appel
Walton County Schools, through its Youth Leadership Program, participate in a county competition in December/January each year, organized by local contacts, and held at the Walton County Courthouse, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. A county winner is named each year and a traveling trophy is presented to the winning school. Special thanks to Dan Marcinkowski, former lawyer and Chamber of Commerce Representative, our teachers & students and Judge Kelvin C. Wells for assisting with this activity for the students of Walton County.
Congratulations to Freeport High School!
Submitted by Crystal Appel
Superintendent Hughes dropped by Bay Elementary School recently and had an opportunity to visit in several classrooms. He also had the opportunity to observe students unpack the standards in a first grade class. Submitted by Jennifer Nick.
South Walton High School’s faculty has chosen Ms. Bobbi Pinkston as our Teacher of the Year. Bobbi teaches English Honors II, Advanced Placement Capstone Research, and sponsors the literary magazine, the “Osprey”. Pictured are Bobbi Pinkston, Dr. Alexis Tibbetts and Walton County Teacher of the Year Mrs. Joan Kennett.
Submitted by Barbara Stratton.
Congratulations to Mrs. Carla Sconiers for being selected Teacher of the Year at West DeFuniak Elementary. This is her 7th year of teaching. She did her student teaching in first grade at WDE and has been in first grade ever since! Mrs. Sconiers helps students want to learn by getting to know them and their interests. Her goal is to also make learning as fun as it can be! She strives to build students up and support them on a daily basis!
When Mrs. Sconiers was asked about her classroom she said, "The children bless me more than I could ever bless them! I hope that my students leave me each year knowing 'Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.'" It is our privilege to recognize Mrs. Sconiers as Teacher of the Year!
Pictured with Mrs. Carla Sconiers is Mrs. Darlene Paul, Principal of West DeFuniak Elementary
Submitted by Darlene Paul.
