Students at Freeport High School presented their AP Research projects this week - WOW! Congratulations on your hard work, research, innovative topics, and professional presentations!
Since it began in 1986, the Commissioner’s Academic Challenge (CAC) has been a showcase of Florida’s high school academic excellence. Teams representing school districts throughout the state compete for scholarships, championship rings, trophies, medallions, and of course—bragging rights.”
“Held each spring, players answer questions from the areas of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the fine arts, world languages (French and Spanish), physical education, health, and technology. New questions are written each year by educators from high schools throughout the state. The 2025 tournament is being held April 24-26 at Universal Orlando Resort.
This year, the Walton County School District is represented by six students enrolled in 9th – 12th grade, four from the Magnet Innovation Center and two from Walton High School. We could not be prouder and wish them the best of luck!
Superintendent Hughes dropped by SWHS to check in on the Seahawks!
Today is Administrative Professionals Day! We have some truly dedicated, passionate, and talented individuals at our District Office who keeps things running like a top! Thank you for your commitment to excellence!
Happy National Bus Drivers Day! We have an army of amazing bus drivers who are so much more than just drivers—they’re the first smiling face students see every morning and the last friendly wave at the end of the day. They ensure our kids get to school safely, setting the tone for a great day of learning. Their patience, care, and dedication make a marked difference in our communities. Thank you, bus drivers!
Head over to the Magnet Innovation Center for an electrifying performance of The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical—a high-energy, family-friendly adventure based on the beloved book by Rick Riordan. Follow Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he's a demigod, as he embarks on a thrilling quest to find Zeus’s stolen lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. This action-packed musical is full of humor, heart, and heroism—perfect for audiences of all ages! Don't miss these magical performances of music, myth, and mayhem!
Students in the health sciences programs at Emerald Coast Technical College learn live-saving skills they can take into the job market, the home, and their community. Check out ECTC today at www.ectc.edu!
Enjoy your long weekend. We hope you enjoy time with family and friends! Classes will resume as normal on Monday, April 21st.
Students at the Magnet Innovation Center will talk to an astronaut aboard the International Space Station today at 10:52am! Watch via Livestream!
https://www.youtube.com/live/98VFp-vyBgs?si=TfAZeN575sysRM-z
The students at the Magnet Innovation Center attempted this contact in October, and they were very successful, but an unknown frequency interference prevented the astronaut from being able to hear the ground transmission. Sophisticated frequency monitoring equipment was brought to MIC and found that there WAS an interference somewhere that was no fault of the students, and NASA agreed to give the students another shot! WOW!
We are fortunate to have gifted student leaders in the Walton County School District. SGA students from SWHS came by the School Board meeting last night to get a glimpse into how a school district operates. Maybe we'll see one of these faces on the school board someday!
There is no seat for average in the Walton County School District, but these students stand out as being No Ordinary Joes - congratulation to St. Joe Community Foundation "No Ordinary Joe" finalists:
Emery Hagan, Paxton
Alexis Billi, Freeport High
Koi Powell, Walton High
Alexis Harp, South Walton High
Walker Rivard (not pictured), Magnet Innovation Center
Lauren Norwood, Seaside
We hope there was a lot of PURPLE today in support of our military children! The District Office showed up in purple today!
Tuesday is PURPLE UP! We have a strong military presence in this area, and we are thankful for the sacrifices that our military youth make so their parents can keep our country safe and free. We encourage you to wear purple on Tuesday, April 15th!
Students from each high school in the District swam with sharks today - in the SHARK TANK! These students build their business plan and pitch it to members of the @waltonareachamberofcommerce! Watch out - the next big idea could be coming out of Walton County!
And Boat #3 is on display at West DeFuniak Elementary! These young people slashed referrals and increased attendance! Now - these schools will enjoy the boats for the rest of the 9 weeks. Where will they go during the summer? We'll see when test scores come out...let the games begin!
Boat #2 is staying at PAXTON! The Paxton Middle School students showed that they're In The Boat during the 3rd Nine Weeks by making sure they were in class and keeping their behavior on point! There's one boat left today, and it's headed to an elementary school - let gooooo!
700 young scientists from throughout Florida competed last week at the 70th State Science and Engineering Fair of Florida in Lakeland. Five of the seven WCSD students that competed came home with awards!
• Elisabeth Wallace - Outstanding Project Award from Brevard South Regional Science & Engineering Fair
• Adam Clark - Microbiology Category Senior Division, Recognition Award
• Summer House - Physics & Astronomy Category Senior Division, Honorable Mention
• Tate Lillian - Engineering Category Senior Division, 4th Place
From Freeport Middle School:
• Natasha Duffley - Sierra Club of Florida Cantwell Award and Environmental Engineering Category Junior Division, 4th Place
Congratulations to these incredible young people!
The boats are on the move again! Our first stop was back at the WISE Center! The Pre-K students at wise were the most well-behaved students in the District during the third nine-weeks, and showed the highest attendance percentage as well! Way to go WISE! Stay tuned to see where the other three boats end up!
We believe iron sharpens iron, and that great teaching is a cause worth celebrating! ECET2 ( Elevating and Celebrating Effective Teaching and Teachers) is held each year at the E. O. Wilson Biophilia Center each year and showcases some of the brightest teachers in our District. The teachers share the tricks of the trade AND get to hear from educational powerhouses like Dr. John Hodge. We certainly have a lot of EPIC teaching to celebrate in Walton County!
Summer time is quickly approaching, and if you have a student age 2nd through 8th grade, we have some amazing opportunities at our STEAM school - the Magnet Innovation Center! Check out the different offerings in the areas of theatre, engineering, science, and robotics! You can apply here: https://forms.office.com/r/sj5TBdeTnu
