South Walton High School has earned the Floyd E. Lay Sunshine Cup All-Sports Award for 2016-2017. According to the FHSAA website, the award is determined by “points awarded to a school based on its finish in FHSAA State Series competition in each sport in the classification . . . “
Congratulations to our athletes, coaches and Athletic Director Phil Tisa.
Submitted by Barbara Stratton.
Walton County Administrators participated in an all-day TNTP Standards Institute in the Carlene H. Anderson Training Room of the Wise Center today, June 26, 2017
TNTP (The New Teacher Project) is a national nonprofit founded by teachers that encourage and train talented educators and school leaders, ensure rigorous and engaging classrooms, and create environments that prioritize great teaching and accelerate student learning.
submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
ECET2 stands for Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers. It was born out of a desire to provide a forum for exceptional teachers to learn from one another and to celebrate the teaching profession.
ECET2 seeks to realize a teacher’s potential by ensuring each convening aligns with its six key beliefs:
Submitted by Nancy Currie.
The Freeport-South Walton Kiwanis club recently made a very generous donation to support the 5th grade students of Walton County in their attendance at the annual 5th grade Symphony Concert presented by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. For 30 years, the NFSO has provided free annual concerts at the Mattie Kelly Fine Arts Auditorium for Okaloosa & Walton county students with specialized youth oriented programming & teacher's curriculum. In addition, the NWF State College Fine Arts Division sponsors a popular "Picture the Music" art contest in conjunction with the annual theme of the NFSO 5th Graders concerts. Cash prizes are awarded to winners and all artwork is displayed in the lobby of the Mattie Kelly Arts Center mainstage theater.
The Freeport- South Walton Kiwanis Club has graciously sponsored the students in this annual event for a number of years. As a result of their sponsorship, over 800 Walton County School District students were impacted by the presentation this year!
Mr. Bryan Gilbert, Freeport-South Walton Kiwanis President, was at the June 20th WCSD School Board meeting to make the presentation, joined by club members Barbara Wheeler, Bill Whitney, Bill Fletcher, and Wanda and Jim Pitts.
Also present was the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Conductor, Maestro Jeffrey Rink! Thanks to Maestro Rink and his amazing orchestra and team members for making the music and the magic happen!
The WCSD is exceedingly appreciative and grateful to Kiwanis for their support in this event, and for all the activities they sponsor in support of the students in this county!
submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
Walton County teachers and administrators sacrificed time in the summer to attend the 2017 AVID Summer Institute and gain more cutting edge strategies to ascertain more success next school term. Walton County School District Superintendent, district administrators and teachers were there en masse to show support for Walton High School's own recent graduate Emmy Crane, who was selected from applicants across the United States to be a student speaker at the 2017 AVID Summer Institute in Tampa, Florida! Emmy presented a moving speech on how the AVID program and instructors changed her life. Go Emmy! Go AVID 17! Discover, Engage, Succeed!!!
WMS students have been having a blast at Camp Warrior this summer. At the summer bridge camp, students rotate between teacher led stations, participating in dynamic STEM projects, fun literacy activities, AVID skills and strategies, and interactive local and state history lessons. Students who are attending have been having fun AND learning! Submitted by Kristen Rhodes.
Students attending the Summer Bridge Program at MSE are engineering recycled race cars. Students worked together to construct an off-road track where the final race will take place. Submitted by Brianna Leavins.
Students at Camp Warrior at Walton Middle School learned about animals during a hands-on presentation from Nonie's Ark. Submitted by Kristen Rhodes.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes was recently selected as a guest speaker for the Florida School Board Association and Florida Association of District School Superintendents 72nd Annual Summer Joint Conference. Mr. Hughes provided an inspirational and compelling thought for the day to School Board members and Superintendents of Florida school districts who were in attendance. He was quoted as saying "With love and compassion for the students in your district, you can make it happen!" We can definitely attest to that philosophy here in Walton County School District. Thanks to Mr. Hughes for his leadership and inspiration!
Submitted by Keitha Bledsoe
