Walton High School band recently hosted a visit from the Baptist College of Florida Guitar Ensemble! November 15, 2019, BCF Assistant Professor Jonathan Erp and the BCF Guitar Ensemble came to provide a clinic and perform for the guitar students at WHS. The interchange provided an opportunity for WHS guitar students to connect with a post-secondary guitar program, and learn more about college level options and expectations.
Paxton Art Students Visit University of West Florida
December 3, 2019
The Paxton High School art students recently visited the University of West Florida Art Department and Art Gallery. They had an opportunity to meet and interact with the Art professors, and received a tour of the Fine Arts Department. Paxton Art teacher is Corinne Wilson.
Freeport Middle School Announces 5th and 6th Grade Tropicana Winners
December 3, 2019
Congratulations to the Freeport Middle School 2019 Tropicana Speech Contest Winners!
5th Grade: (L-R)
3rd Place- Audrey Stallings
1st Place- Madeline Ptak
2nd Place- Ruby Stacy
6th Grade: (L-R)
3rd Place- Kayleigh Byrd
1st Place- Niamh Barthel
2nd Place- Megan Weller
Maude Saunders is proud to announce the winners of our 2019 4-H/Tropicana Speech Contest. Fourth grade winners are Ceaton Ealum (1st), Brinley Laird (2nd), and Conner Crews (3rd). Fifth grade winners are Natalee Register (1st), Fallon Piper (2nd), and Bailey Cole (3rd). The first and second place winners will compete in the District Speech Contest on December 12th.
MHS Celebrates Education Week!
November 23, 2019
Mossy Head School celebrated Education Week November 18-22. Students, families, and staff enjoyed activities throughout the week. Dads came out for Doughnuts with Dad. Then, moms had their turn with Muffins with Mom. For both events, moms and dads participated in activities in their child's classroom while sharing a muffin or doughnut. Before the break, Mustangs and their families came together for a special Thanksgiving Dinner during lunch. Local first responders also joined the Mustang family for the Thanksgiving Feast.
Paxton Announces Tropicana Speech Winners
November 23, 2019
Congratulations to all the the Tropicana Speech winners for Paxton School. In order of picture: 4th Grade - Cade Stewart (1st), Braylen Bradley (2nd), and Payson Cook (3rd).
5th Grade - Marley McClelland (1st), Kaylee Yeakos (2nd), and Destini Chapman (3rd). 6th Grade - Channing Coone (3rd), Rylee Braswell (2nd), and Ana McQuaig (1st).
WDE 5th Grade and College Turkeys
November 23, 2019
In the continued effort to promote college readiness through AVID, Advancement via Individual Determination, WDE 5th graders created “college turkeys” to represent their teacher’s college choice. Mr. Stafford’s class represented the University of Florida, Mrs. Garrett’s represented Troy University, Mrs. Currid’s choice was Northwest Florida State College, Ms. Dickey chose Southwestern Oklahoma University, and Mrs. Bush’s class choice was Louisiana State University. The students researched information such as the tuition, special programs, clubs, and the different sports that the college offers, the mascot, colors, and what academia interested each student individually about the teacher chosen college.
Fall Break: November 25-29, 2019
November 23, 2019
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and the entire Walton County School District Administration, Faculty and Staff wish all our students, families and community a safe and enjoyable Fall Break! School will be closed from November 25 - 29, 2019. School will resume on Monday, December 2, 2019. Wishing all a harvest of blessings, good health and good times. Happy Thanksgiving!
WDE Kindergartners Help Save Mr. Turkey With Clever Disguises!
November 23, 2019
Students in Mrs. Willoughby’s Kindergarten class received a letter from their friend, Turkey, asking them to please help create a disguise in order to avoid being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. Students were very creative in coming up with clever disguises to help their turkey. Some of the disguises include Spiderman, a princess, a bush, a little girl, a scuba diver, and sheep.
THE ST. JOE COMPANY AND WCSD ANNOUNCE STEAM HIGH SCHOOL IN WALTON COUNTY
November 22, 2019
THE ST. JOE COMPANY AND WALTON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCE THE CREATION OF A STEAM HIGH SCHOOL IN WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA
WATERSOUND, Fla.— The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) (“St. Joe”) and Walton County School District today introduced the Magnet Innovation Center at St. Joe Watersound, a STEAM high school facility unlike any other school in the region.
The Magnet Innovation Center was unveiled at a press conference on Thursday featuring remarks from St. Joe CEO Jorge Gonzalez, Magnet Innovation Center Director Carrie Sneed and Walton County School District Superintendent Russell Hughes. The announcement was commemorated with a presentation of keys which were uniquely designed by students and created using the Center’s 3D printer.
St. Joe will continue to own the site, located at 133 S. Watersound Parkway, but enable the school to operate under an agreement with the Walton County School District. St. Joe and the Magnet Innovation Center will share the campus until St. Joe relocates its corporate offices to the Beckrich Office Park in Panama City Beach, which it intends to do in the spring of 2020. At that time, the school will be able to utilize the entire facility.
The inaugural students of the Magnet Innovation Center have been taking classes at South Walton High School since the beginning of the 2019-20 school year while they await the completion of renovations at the new campus. This first phase of renovations is expected to be completed in December. The Walton County School District has worked for several months to build laboratories and classrooms and to enhance campus safety and accessibility.
“We could not be more pleased to see our office campus go to a use that will be such an asset for the local community and region. Our campus is laid out perfectly for a school and large enough to accommodate many years of growth,” said St. Joe CEO Jorge Gonzalez. “We are firm believers that a rising tide lifts all boats. When good things happen for the community, good things happen for our residents. This enhances the educational opportunities in our community, which is good for everyone.”
In addition, the St. Joe Community Foundation provided a $226,118 grant that the school has used to purchase robotics and technology equipment. Created in 1999, the Foundation provides grants in the areas of education, environmental stewardship, healthy communities, and programs that honor the cultural arts. The Foundation has issued grants totaling more than $23 million in Northwest Florida since its inception.
Russell Hughes, superintendent of the Walton County School District, said that having the opportunity to use this location for this purpose is a tremendous gift for the county, the fastest-growing in Florida and the sixth-fastest in the nation.
“When I saw the facility, it was just phenomenal. To have a school we wouldn’t have to build really was a godsend,” Hughes said. “We’re creating something that we want people from around the world to fly in to see.”
The Magnet Innovation Center students are taking specialized classes in STEAM subjects: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. Currently, there are 60 students enrolled in the center. When the new school opens in December, they will start their day briefly at South Walton High School, then board a bus for the 12-minute ride to the Magnet Innovation Center. They will return to South Walton High School in the afternoon to complete the rest of their instruction.
Officials expect that the school will grow, doubling in size next year and rising to as many as 250 students in four years. Students from across Walton County are invited to attend the magnet program, but it is selective. Applicants must submit letters of reference and write an essay about their interest in, experience with or desire to learn more about STEAM.
The school will have top-of-the-line tools to facilitate teaching. In addition to wet and dry labs complete with equipment and software, the Center is acquiring a CNC milling machine with air power drawbar. The Visual Technology Lab will be outfitted with iMAC workstations and access to virtual reality goggles, digital drawing tablets, 3D printers, 3D scanners, laser engravers, large format printers and numerous software programs. Students will work to earn certifications in programs such as Adobe, AutoCAD, Inventor and Revit.
“Having a campus totally dedicated to educating our students in the area of STEAM is vital to not only the success of our students but the success of our local area,” said Carrie Sneed, Director of the Magnet Innovation Center. “Northwest Florida is a booming area of technology and advancements for the future. Having a campus here, in Walton County, where we can start building relationships with our students and community members, will promote bringing those students back to the area as adults to work in our local economy.”