Marine life artist Wyland will be in Destin September 28-October 1st at the mid-bay marina repainting his famous mural. Families can visit the marina to watch the restoration of the Whaling Wall or paint on large canvases set up from 8am-6pm. A presentation was recently made to 2nd and 3rd graders at FES about the importance of protecting large marine animals who live on the coast.
The Freeport Elementary School SophistiCats is a performing show choir of twenty-eight fourth grade students directed by Miss Angela Saltsman. The students rehearse once a week after school and perform music from a variety of styles and eras. In the past, the SophistiCats have performed throughout Walton County at community and company events, including the Freeport City Hall Veterans Day program, the Freeport Christmas Tree Lighting, and the annual Chelco business meeting in DeFuniak Springs, as well as school concerts and events. The SophistiCats' first performance of this school year will be at the Walton County Fair on October 7th at 6:00 p.m. We value the community’s support of the arts and music in our schools!
Students pictured left to right: Eli Albury, Courtney Roberts, Sadie Kilgore, Madison Maples, Adalyn McCormick, Annabela Hope, Alysen Baynard, Isabella Birch, Kaden Saunders, Layla Melcher, Kayla Digges, Marissa Andrews, Milo Rasz, Landon McLean, Robert Byrd, Madison May, Kassadi Watson, Keira Smith, Miranda Lee, Amelia Dykes, Licia Alamo, Trinity Gilbert, and Alexander Dean. Not pictured: Abigail Osborn, Caitlynn Fannin, Tricia Withrow, Olivia Godwin, and Sydney Meisner.
West DeFuniak Elementary welcomed parents and students to Open House on Tuesday, September 23rd for kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. Parents set goals and expectations for their own children. Here’s to an entire year of “Sweet Success.”
South Walton High School youth leadership student, Mackenzie Brundage, won first place at the Florida Farm Bureau District 1 speech contest held on Wednesday, September 16th at the Washington County Farm Bureau Office. She qualified to participate in the District 1 contest after winning first place at the Walton County speech competition held earlier in the month. Mackenzie, a 10th grade student, will go on to compete at the state level representing Florida Farm Bureau’s District 1 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on October 29th. In addition to participating in the state competition, Mackenzie has been asked to speak at surrounding county Farm Bureau monthly meetings as well as at the annual state meeting. She has also been invited to perform her speech for the Department of Agriculture next August. Walton County Superintendent Anderson had the following to say about Mackenzie and the youth leadership program, “Mackenzie is a perfect example of what the leadership class at South Walton High School is all about. Building students’ self-esteem prepares them for this type of activity with life-long benefits. We congratulate Mackenzie and wish her well in future competitions.” When asked how being part of the WCSD Youth Leadership Program at SWHS has helped her thus far this school year, Mackenzie commented, “The youth leadership program at SWHS has helped me develop my strengths in public speaking and it has helped me become a leader."
West DeFuniak Elementary students in Mrs. Dawkins's 2nd grade class have been studying solids, liquids, and gases. These students enjoyed showing off what they learned.
The Walton County Sheriff's Office will offer the Teen Driver Challenge on September 25-26th at Freeport High School. Teens 15-19 are eligible and MUST have a valid Learner's Permit/Florida Operators License for at least 6 months and participants must provide their own car. A current copy of a driver license, vehicle registration and insurance are required. The class is limited to 12 students and all others will be placed on a waiting list for future classes. Please contact School Resource Deputy David Talley at [email protected] for more information or visit http://waltonso.org/citizen-services/teen-driver-challenge
To see a short video clip about the Teen Driver Challenge, please click on the link below.
How does Florida’s Right to Farm Act help farmers and ranchers when their rights are challenged? Ask a WSCD Youth Leadership Student
You can probably ask any Walton County Youth Leadership student the question, “How does Florida’s Right to Farm Act help farmers when their rights are challenged,” and receive an educated answer. That’s because this is the topic for the annual state-wide speech contest sponsored by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Women’s Leadership Program. This is the second year the Walton County School District Youth Leadership students have taken part in the competition which requires participants to write and orally present a five minute speech on a proposed topic.
Each of the participating schools, Freeport, South Walton, and Walton High School, conducted individual competitions to select three students to represent their school in the county competition that was held on Wednesday, September 1st. MacKenzie Brundage, a 10th grader at SWHS, was awarded first place and a $100 check. She will represent Walton County at the district competition on Wednesday, September 16th at the Washington County Farm Bureau office. Spencer Knox, a 12th grade student at FHS, won 2nd place along with $75. Tori Manning, a 10th grade student at WHS, was awarded 3rd place and a $50 check. A big congratulations is warranted for all of the participating students at the classroom and county level for their participation. Allen Scheffer, the District Field Supervisor for the Florida Farm Bureau’s Norther Region, was quoted as saying, “The nine students researched and spoke on a topic out of their comfort zone and did an outstanding job! On behalf of the Walton County Farm Bureau and Florida Farm Bureau, I would like to thank the teachers and administration for making this a great program and look forward to continued partnership.”
School Representatives pictured left to right: Maia Billman, SWHS; Matt Garrett, SWHS; Kerrigan Herret, FHS; Kaylyn Rhodes, FHS; Spencer Knox, FHS; Tori Manning, WHS; MacKenzie Brundage, SWHS; Tanner Abbott, WHS; Kelcie Miller, WHS.
