WHS and MSE make an EPIC team!
September 12, 2018
Each week, Mr. Carnley’s ninth grade Braves read to MSE’s Little Warriors. This is a great example of schools teaming up to make epic things happen! Submitted by Krisy Spence
WCSD Students Participate in International Coastal Cleanup Day, September 15, 2018
September 12, 2018
As part of World’s Largest Single-Day Beach Cleanup students and volunteers from across Walton County School District will join hundreds of thousands worldwide during Ocean Convervancy’s 33rd International Coastal Cleanup. On September 15, the world’s largest annual single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local waterways, beaches, lakes and rivers will take place. Since the first ICC 33 years ago, nearly 13 million volunteers have removed nearly 250 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterway worldwide! Come out and join our students and volunteers in their efforts, and “Suit Up to Clean Up!” You can find more information at:
https://oceanconservancy.org/.../international-coastal-clean.../
NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS] Volunteers #SuitUptoCleanup [NUMBER
OF POUNDS/KG] of Trash from [CLEANUP LOCATION] as Part of
World
’
s
Largest Single-Day Beach Cleanup
[YOUR ORGANIZATION] and [CITY/LOCATION] Volunteers Joined Hund
reds of Thousands
Worldwide during Ocean Conservancy
’
s
33
rd
International Coastal Cleanup
[Location, State, Date]
–
Today
,
[NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS] people in [INSERT LOCATION]
participated in Ocean Conservancy
’
s
33
rd
International Coast
al
Cleanup (ICC)
,
the world's largest
single-day volunteer effort to remove trash from local water
ways, beaches, lakes and rivers.
Since the first ICC 33 years ago, nearly 13 million volunt
eers have removed nearly 250 million
pounds of trash from beaches and waterway worldwide. The [CI
TY/LOCATION
]
cleanup comes
just [weeks/days] after [LOCATION]-area beaches closed for the su
mmer.
?
When you #SuitUptoCleanup, you are advancing one of the most
immediate and impactful
solutions to keeping plastics out of the ocean,
?
said [NAME]
,
[ORGANIZATION]
’
s
[TITLE]
,
?
which
is why we are so grateful to all the amazing volunteers who came
out. Awareness has really
grown around the issue of ocean plastic and it
’
s great to see people taking action.
?
In addition to removing [
XX
] [pounds/kgs] of trash from [INSERT LOCATION]
—
including
[UNUSUAL FINDS, IF ANY], volunteers contributed to the world
’
s largest database on marine
debris by logging each trash item in Ocean Conservancy
’
s
Clean Swell app (available for free
download from the
App Store
an
d
Google Play
). Scientists, researchers, industry leaders and
policymakers rely on Ocean Conservancy
’
s Ocean Trash Index to inform policy and determine
solutions to the growing marine debris crisis.
Every year, millions of tons of trash
—
including an estimated 8 million metric tons of plastic
waste
—
flow into the ocean, entangling wildlife, polluting beach
es, and costing coastal
municipalities hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars. Last
year for the first time all ten of the
top-ten most-collected Items were made of plastic, including c
igarette butts (which contain
plastic filters), plastic bags, plastic beverage bottles, fo
od wrappers, plastic bottle caps and
plastic straws. Plastics
—
which never fully biodegrade but rather break up into smaller
and
EPIC AVID Inquiry Strategies in Sixth Grade Math at WMS
September 11, 2018
Mrs. Vanessa Black, sixth grade math teacher at Walton Middle School, used an AVID inquiry and collaboration strategy to allow students to better understand the process of dividing mixed numbers. In the lesson, Mrs. Black posed a problem and allowed students an opportunity to first solve it independently. After working the problem solo, students traveled to different corners of the room based on their decided upon answers. Each corner represented a like-minded group, who had to defend why and how they arrived at their answers. Students who were undecided or wished to change their initial answers were allowed to move to different corners if they felt they had sufficient evidence to change their minds. Throughout the lesson, these young mathematicians engaged in thoughtful and knowledgeable dialogue with each other about how to divide mixed numbers.
Picture L to R: Eddie Burgess, Nicole Foushee, Keneth McCorkle, Nayeli Guerra-Avalos
Remembering September 11, 2001
September 11, 2018
On the 17th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks, Walton County School District pauses to remember the events of that tragic day, as well as honor the victims and the heroism of first responders. Across the district, students took time to reflect with special Morning Show tributes, guest visits, moments of silence, and classroom activities designed to ensure that the events of this day are remembered, honored and retold.
South Walton High School held a special student assembly at which time the Seahawk band played the National Anthem, several students presented essays and speeches, and guest speakers presented thoughts and sentiments on the event. A video produced by Zach Green, TV Production student, was shared with the students as a way to help them understand the impact of 9/11.
Guest speaker, SWHS teacher John McCoy, shared the experience from the perspective of someone who was actually in downtown New York City at the time the World Trade Center was hit. He shared some of the immediate reactions of the onlookers at the horror of what was taking place, and stated that we all need to "enjoy what we have. We can't take it for granted. We have to remember that at any moment our lives can change."
Bobby Escamilla, SWHS band director shared what it was like as an 11 year old who went to school that day expecting to celebrate his birthday with cupcakes for himself and all his classmates. He said that the full impact of the tragedy didn't hit him until the following day when he saw all the news coverage beginning to come in. Mr. Escamilla challenged the students to "not forget that love unites. At that time, we were all united in love because we were Americans. Nothing else mattered".
Dr. Tibbetts, SWHS principal, shared how for several days in the aftermath of the attack, airplanes bound for America had to land in other locations around the world for security purposes, and the people of those countries took care of the Americans on those planes as they were waiting to return to the United States. "America really came together, and so did the whole world, to help us."
District Chief of the South Walton Fire District, Corey Harned, spoke about the shock of seeing the events unfold via media sources. "There were 2,997 people that lost their lives on 9/11. 412 of them were emergency responders. 412 people gave the ultimate sacrifice for people they didn't event know." Continuing, Officer Harned shared "We have to train our hearts to loved and to be loved, because if we don't, the same hate that filled the hearts of that handful of people who flew those planes into the buildings can creep into the void...if there is no love." He followed up by sharing with the students that there are so many different kinds of things they can do to share love with others as "part of the training...training your heart to love and be loved."
WMS 7th Grade AVID Students Commit to Successful Futures
September 11, 2018
Seventh grade students in Mrs. Rachel Jones' AVID class at Walton Middle School made a commitment to their futures during a recent contract signing ceremony. AVID is an elective college preparatory program that prepares students to attend a four-year college upon high school graduation. Principal Jason Campbell expressed his support for the program, its teachers, and their students. WMS students are undoubtedly determined to learn and succeed. Submitted by Kristen Nelson
Freeport Middle School Art Department Honors Those Lost in 9/11 Attack!
September 10, 2018
The Freeport Middle School Art Department honors those who lost their lives on 9-11-01, a day that changed us forever. Their mixed media patriotic art projects were created with love, respect, and creativity. -- with teacher Kendra Peloquin
Positively Making it POP at West DeFuniak Elementary! #OtherPeopleMatter
September 7, 2018
On Friday, August 31st, West DeFuniak Elementary students participated in a Positivity Project Pep Rally. Students made signs focusing on the character trait "Kindness," learned a kindness cheer, and heard from Mrs. Paul about this new initiative at WDE. The Positivity Project focuses on a different character trait each week. Students watch short videos and have daily discussions revolving around those traits. We look forward to seeing students exhibit this new learning in their actions as we learn that Other People Matter. Submitted by Jessica Dawkins
Superintendent Hughes Visits Mossy Head School Cafeteria!
September 7, 2018
Mr. Hughes stops and shows appreciation to Mrs. Lisa Crabtree and amazing lunch room staff while seeing the students at MHS. Love seeing my Kindergarteners recite their lunch numbers. Oh the Joy of Learning.....Things are “POPing” in EPIC2 Fashion in the WCSD.
Soaking Wet with Superintendent Hughes!
September 7, 2018
Pictures with Soaking Wet students are a wonderful part of “Making Things POP” in the WCSD! We have research based programs that help us provide Healthy Academic Competition for our students. Congratulations students, teachers and staff at Mossy Head School for the great response heard from a student “This the Best Day Ever!” EPIC2!
People's National Bank in Freeport Supports FHS Cheerleaders!
September 7, 2018
People’s National Bank in Freeport support FHS cheerleaders with a tailgate lunch. Thank you PNB! Submitted by Patty Woodard