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Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance’s Grasses in Classes is a hands-on, environmental education program that gives students a direct role in the restoration of Choctawhatchee Bay. In partnership with AmeriCorps and with partial funding from the USFWS Coastal Program, Boeing Corporation, and National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, CBA provides teachers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties the equipment and materials required to grow shoreline grasses at their school.

Grasses in Classes students tend salt marsh nurseries throughout the school year, and receive monthly education on local estuarine topics that meet Florida’s state science standards from CBA and CBA partners (e.g. AmeriCorps members). http://basinalliance.org/…/in-the-class…/grasses-in-classes/

Third grade teachers at West DeFuniak Elementary School recently had their second visit with Grasses in Classes. Students enjoyed comparing and contrasting the Choctawhatchee Bay with and without shoreline grasses. Smooth cordgrass acts as a pollution filter and helps buffer the shoreline against flooding and erosion

WDE Grasses in Classes

WDE Grasses in Classes

WDE Grasses in Classes

WDE Grasses in Classes

Congratulations to Grace Minton (AP CSP) for being selected as a winner in the 2019 district-wide Congressional APP Challenge representing South Walton High School and the Walton County School District! Grace is a student at the Magnet Innovation Center, and received 2nd place honors in the competition hosted by Congressman Matt Gaetz.
The Congressional APP Challenge was established in 2014 by the United States House of Representatives to encourage students to create and submit their own app for the opportunity to receive national recognition. Congressional APP Challenge winners may be eligible to have their app featured on a display in the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Gaetz stated "It is always exciting to see what our students are capable of, and this year exceeded my expectations...I am incredibly proud of our students for what they've accomplished. The future looks very bright!"

Congressional APP Competition

Pictured: 2nd Place Winner, Grace Minton, from South Walton High School; 3rd Place Winner, Collin Padgett, from Northwest Florida Collegiate High Schoo; Congressman Matt Gaetz; 1st Place Winner, Blake Gaither, Sims Middle School.

SWHS students sign letters of commitment!


Congratulations to John Spring who signed a letter of commitment to play tennis at Carson Webb University in North Carolina!

Pictured with his Seahawk team members:  Zack Greene, Carson Moore, Larsen Spence, Nick Reid, Natalie Reid, Micah Rudzki

SWHS Students sign with colleges

Congratulations also to Alex Kilpatrick who signed with Duke University Track and Field.

Pictured with his parents, Andy and Nelson Kilpatrick.

Behind:  Seahawk Track and Field Coach Willie Parker, Athletic Director Phil Tisa and brother Lawson Kilpatrick.

Freeport Middle School art students had a blast making crazy paper hats last week!

Using media to inspire personal art making decisions, art teacher Kendra Estes showed the students a collection of media images of paper hats she had collected, and all the many ways to build them. Students worked with strips of paper and glue to problem solve steps to make the 3-dimensional hat designs they conceived. It took a bit of problem solving and collaboration by the students to get their hats to look they way they planned in their sketches.


Way to go, FMS artists!

FMS Crazy Hats

FMS Crazy Hats

FMS Crazy Hats

Congratulations to Walton Middle School art student Maeghan Hopper for having her art work selected as the Walton County representative in the Art in the Capitol Competition. Maeghan's art work will be displayed in the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee during the 2020 Legislative Session.
In July of 2016, the Florida Legislature passed and Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 701 establishing the Art in the Capitol Competition, a statewide visual arts competition for Florida students in grades 6 through 8. Each school district is required to hold an annual art competition with artwork judged by a selection committee consisting of art teachers. The winning art from each district is then displayed in the Capitol.

On Friday, November 15, 2019, Representative Brad Drake honored Maeghan with a special visit to collect the picture to be delivered to the Department of Management Services at the state Capitol. Superintendent A. Russell Hughes and Principal Jason Campbell congratulated Maeghan and her art teacher, Brittany Grant, for this achievement. Maeghan's family came to the event to show their support and encouragement. Her grandmother made a 6 hour drive to celebrate this recognition with Maeghan!

In conversation with Rep. Drake, Maeghan shared her love for art, and indicated that she would like to pursue Animation as a career!
This is the second consecutive year that the Art in the Capitol Competition winner from Walton County School District has been a student at Walton Middle School, with art teacher Brittany Grant.  
WMS Art in the Capitol winner
WMS Art in the Capitol winner
WMS Art in the Capitol winner
WMS Art in the Capitol winner

Bay School is VERY excited to announce the establishment of Bay School's PTA.

Please look for the PTA information table at the Thanksgiving luncheon on Tuesday (11/19). We would like to welcome you to become a member of our PTA and help us make a difference! Membership dues are $10.

Paxton High School Art students visited the University of West Florida. They toured the art gallery and professors from various disciplines of art spoke with them. Students also toured the art department.

As part of the 2019 Healthy Walton Summit, hosted by the Walton County Health Improvement Partnership, Superintendent Russell Hughes participated with other local officials and community partners on a panel to discuss what makes Walton County an EPIC place to live. The event was held so that local priority health related issues could be discussed, and activities planned for 2020-2022. The partnership is focusing on Healthy Behaviors, Healthy Places, Healthy People, and Healthy Homes.

Healthy Walton Summit

Freeport High School National Honor Society partnered with OneBlood to sponsor a blood drive on campus. Students and staff gave over 50 units combined! That’s nearly 25 milk jugs. Freeport staff and students are EPIC3 by showing their character in support of the community and those in need. Thank you to students and staff for participating as well as to OneBlood and NHS sponsor Russell Phillips for organizing the event. 

FHS Blood Drive