Submitted by Sherrie Binkowski, Van R. Butler Elementary School
Butler R.E.A.D. students celebrated their reading success with an end of year ceremony. Since October, selected students in grades 1 and 2 have spent thirty minutes once a week reading to therapy dogs, Logan and Rosie. Through the R.E.A.D. program students have gained confidence and comfort with their reading abilities.
Submitted by Darlene Paul, West DeFuniak Elementary School
WDE participated in our very first Senior Hall Walk. Seniors from Walton High School walked the halls of WDE to be greeted with applause, high-fives, and chanting by WDE students seated along the hallways. The walk served to congratulate the seniors on their accomplishments, as well as, encourage elementary students to graduate and aim for college.
Submitted by Christy English, Walton High School
The WHS Band traveled to Orlando to participate in the Music USA Festival at Universal Studios in an adjudicated parade performance over the weekend. The band has never had a trip as extensive as this one, but they did an outstanding job and received a SUPERIOR rating for their final performance of the year. They also got a chance to explore both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure during the 2-day trip. Everyone involved, parents and students, represented the school with class while having a great time.
Submitted by Heather Stewart, Paxton High School
Thanks to a generous grant from the Society of American Military Engineers Emerald Coast Post, Paxton students are learning to code using Sphero robots.
Submitted by Heather Stewart, Paxton School
Paxton High School’s Gaetz Institute Embry-Riddle Aeronautical students recently saw the Blue Angels in action during their visit to the Naval Flight Academy and National Naval Air Museum in Pensacola. Many thanks to Target for their support of this trip through their field trip grant program.
Submitted by Heather Stewart, Paxton High School
Paxton students Wesley Alford, left, and Shawn White earned fifth place out of one hundred and one teams at the first inaugural Seaperch underwater robotics competition held at Gulf Coast College on Friday, May 6. Students competed with teams from across the panhandle to navigate an underwater obstacle course with the SeaPerch robot they built from scratch in their Intro to Aerospace course.
Submitted by Krisy Spence, Maude Saunders Elementary
Pre K students from the WISE VPK visited Maude Saunders to see what kindergarten will be like. Mrs. Willcox’s kindergarten class served as great hosts and even let them sit in their desks.
Submitted by Kristen Rhodes, Walton Middle School
Walton Middle School would like to congratulate its SeaPerch team members for their outstanding performance at the inaugural regional competition held at Gulf Coast State College on Friday, May 6th, 2016.
SeaPerch is an innovative underwater robotics program new to WMS this year, facilitated by science teacher, Mrs. Greer Harvell. It equips students with the resources and skills needed to build and operate an underwater Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV).
WMS sent nine students to the event, where they competed against 100 elementary to high school level teams. All three of WMS' SeaPerch teams were successful in completing every challenge, displaying amazing teamwork skills.
Their day started out with a WJHG NewsChannel 7 interview and ended in a third place win in the Finesse Challenge. All three teams represented WMS in a manner that makes our school proud.
(Click the link to view WJHG NewsChannel 7's coverage of the event. http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/SeaPerch-Regional-Competition-Lets-Students-Get-Innovative-378509985.html)
Submitted by Krisy Spence, Maude Saunders Elementary School
Mr. Truett's fifth grade class at Maude Saunders Elementary School has received recognition on both the school and national level for their outstanding efforts in reading. Their class won the Achieve 3000 Read to Succeed 1 & 2 school contests by completing the most Achieve 3000 lessons over a specified period of time. Also, they have repeatedly won the school’s weekly Reading Trophy by earning the most Accelerated Reader Points on their grade level and throughout the school. Maude Saunders is proud to recognize these students, who have made remarkable reading gains throughout the school year.
Submitted by Barbara Stratton, South Walton High School
Congratulations to South Walton High School Sophomore Mia Bennett for winning Miss Spanish Trail.
