As our students enjoy an extra day off this weekend, may we take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made by our armed forces personnel to make and keep our country free. Thank you to those who serve and those who have served! Classes will resume tomorrow, November 12th.
Thank you to Paxton School for honoring our veterans today!
Walton Middle School hosted their annual Veterans Day celebration today. Thank you to all veterans, and to the students and faculty who put on such a heartwarming program.
Congratulations to Kathryn Youngblood on being named the Curriculum and Instruction Department's 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year! Kathryn is the Digital Learning Specialist for the District's elementary schools. She is well respected by her colleagues and displays daily an unwavering dedication to our students, teachers, and administrators. Congratulations to Kathryn, and thank you for being EPIC!
The Walton County School District is committed to developing the whole child - and we start at the youngest levels ensuring our students have a strong foundation in art and music as well as the building blocks of strong athleticism in their physical education classes. West DeFuniak Elementary's commitment to the whole child was on full display today!
Emerald Coast Technical College hosted a career fair last week for high school students from around the district. The entire campus was FULL of exhibitors ready to show our students options available to them on their next step in life. Between exhibits students could head to the parking lot for refreshments from local food trucks - and in the process learn a little bit about entrepreneurship!
Thank you to the WHS JROTC for presenting the colors at the Chamber of Commerce's annual Military and Veteran's Appreciation Breakfast and CHELCO headquarters! These young men and women exemplify EPIC!
We hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween! Music students from Dune Lakes Elementary, Van R. Butler, and Emerald Coast Middle School were treated to a Spooktacular concert by the South Walton High School band! The concert opened with the jazz ensemble playing "Do what you wanna...", a popular New Orleans brass band hit, and continued with Disney hits, snippets of the SWHS half-time show, and concluded with questions from students. Thank you to SWHS for such a great show for our younger students!
Congratulations to the ECMS Girls Cross Country team who finished 2nd place at the Middle School State Meet this past weekend in Bradenton, Florida! Way to go ladies! You are an EPIC example of the whole child!
Do you have concerns about your child's speech, communication, learning, behavior, vision, or hearing? FDLRS provides FREE screenings by appointment at Freeport Learning Center. You can text "Send CF Registration" to 850-332-3115 or visit www.paec.fdlrs.org/child-find
Help the District Office say congratulations to our ESP of the Year Mrs. Kayla Lubos. Kayla was chosen by the employees at the District Office as the ESPoY because she shows up every day with a smile on her face ready to work! Congratulations Kayla!
Join us virtually via live stream on Thursday, October 24th at 10:23 am as Magnet Innovation Center (MIC) students communicate via radio in real-time with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students!
https://youtube.com/live/L1ykXRXIUvs?feature=share
It's the last day of the Walton County Fair! Come by and see the WCSD booth and check out artwork from our EPIC student artists!
The District office is dressed in blue and orange today in support of Freeport High School Homecoming! The parade begins today at 1:30pm and kickoff is at 7pm!
Did your younger self ever say "Ugh...when will I ever use this?" Students at the Magnet Innovation Center use VR headsets to make math come to life in ways that we never thought possible!
REMINDER: Monday, October 14th is a teacher workday! Classes will resume on Tuesday!
South Walton High School unveiled a new statue and courtyard today calls Tibbetts Terrace which is paired with Barb's Bench to memorialize two women who left a profound legacy of servitude, kindness, and devotion. Alexis Tibbetts and Barb Stratton left an indelible mark on the South Walton community. The seahawk statue is a reminder of the SWHS motto - Challenge. Achieve. Excel.
Friday October 11th is an early release day! Please check your schools social media pages and website for specific times.
WCSD is fortunate to have the best community partners to with which to collaborate, and it's especially rewarding to know those partners are helping keep children safe! Thank you to Walton County Fire Rescue for talking to kindergarteners at Freeport Elementary School about fire safety!
As the sun rose over the wreckage of Hurricane Helene, Suwanee County School District faced damage that could have prevented students from being fully back on campus for weeks. Destructive winds and unforgiving rain left much of Florida’s Big Bend area with downed trees, power outages, and roof damage. Superintendent A. Russell Hughes understands the phrase “to whom much is given, much is required” well and felt compelled to offer aid to anyone in need to the degree that the Walton County School District was able.
Six workers from the Facilities Department embarked on a journey of solidarity and service as they traveled to Suwannee County to offer their skills and time to help rebuild and restore hope so that children could return to the classroom and continue learning. The work of these gentlemen is a reminder that in a time of crisis, we never stand alone. The threads of our shared humanity bind us, woven tightly in moments of need. Much of their time was spent removing trees, repairing roofing, and helping ensure the school buildings were fit to welcome students back through their doors. A week of ten-hour days would crumble most, but these six men came back home Thursday full of purpose and accomplishment, knowing that they made a difference.
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes has always believed in the power of collaboration and the responsibility to extend a hand when able and remarked, “We are blessed in Walton County, and when there are those in need, we reaffirm our commitment to unity and community. Our strength is not measured by the storm we weather but by how we help others rebuild in their wake. I’m elated that we were able to offer assistance to the children, staff, and community of Suwannee County so that they might find some normalcy again, and let me say this – I could not be more proud of the men who traveled there to help. These gentlemen embody exactly what it means to be EPIC. They offered their time and talent with no expectation of accolade or applause, and they are truly part of what makes this county so special.”
