Superintendent Hughes stepped into visit the Mossy Head Mustangs, helped with pick up and was able to talk to a few of the SPICE students, as well as dance with teachers in the hallways to music that brings joy to students, teachers, and staff during transition times before, during, and after school. Wow!!!!! You want to know where EPIC is....#hiddenjewel!
#noexceptions
USDA EXTENDS FREE MEALS FOR CHILDREN THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended flexibility in school food service programs through the end of December, which means all school-age students at the eligible schools below will receive free meals (both breakfast and lunch) regardless if they qualify for benefits.
The USDA is federally funding this program, which is an extension of the Summer Feeding Program. During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, from March to May, Walton County distributed 236,982 meals to approximately 4,500 children a week during an eight-week period. Now with the extension of this program, over 80,000 school sites have applied and been accepted, including Walton County. The USDA hopes this unprecedented move will help ensure no matter what situation, children will have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic as parents may be affected with work interruptions and increased financial hardships.
Participating Schools:
Bay
Dune Lakes Elementary
Emerald Coast Middle
Freeport Elementary
Freeport High
Freeport Middle
Maude Saunders Elementary
Mossy Head
Paxton
South Walton High
Van R. Butler Elementary
Walton Academy
Walton High
WISE/In”10”sity
Walton Middle
West DeFuniak Elementary
Free meals begin for students Monday, September 21, 2020 for both brick and mortar schools and Innovative Learning Digital Academy (ILDA) students. For brick and mortar, students are required to scan lunch cards, or Point of Sale operators must enter student numbers at point of service. Even though the meals are free, tracking meal service counts will allow us to file for claim reimbursements. In addition to free breakfast and lunch, schools may still have a la carte items, such as ice cream, for a small fee. ILDA students must reserve their food online by Friday to secure items for five breakfasts and five lunches per student for the following week. Reservation forms are found on our district’s ILDA webpage. ILDA students may have their packaged weekly meals picked up by parents at a school sites.
It is still EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, and families MUST continue to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits even though meals are free through December. Because these forms impact educational funding and because the program will end in December, having an application on file for the current school year will help our district and eliminate families’ benefit disruptions in January. If your child has a current positive balance, please know we will hold your balance until January as well.
The Walton County School District (WCSD) is very excited about this opportunity in providing such a great benefit to our children, and we encourage all students to participate! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your school or the district’s Food Service department at 850.892.1100 ext. 1361.
Weather Update 9/20/20
We are excited to return to school tomorrow, Monday September 21. If you have a storm related issue that causes your absence tomorrow, such as a flooded or washed out road, please send in a written note upon your return and/or contact your school. Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.
Weather Update 9/17/20
Due to localized flooding and current road conditions, all Walton County schools will remain closed through tomorrow, Friday, September 18th. Closures include both students and employees. Games and other extracurricular activities may be adjusted, rescheduled, or orchestrated by school administrators and coaches based on facilities and families’ abilities to attend. Based on information from Emergency Management, 87 roads in Walton County are currently closed due to flooding. Please stay safe!
Freeport High School continues to stay open as a shelter. Please visit Walton County Emergency Management for more information. We will continue to monitor conditions with our local experts. Continue to check our district and schools’ websites and social media platforms for more information.
Weather Update 9/16/20
Due to localized flooding and current road conditions, all Walton County schools will remain closed through tomorrow, Thursday, September 17th. Closures include both students and employees. Based on information from Emergency Management, rain is expected through tomorrow which may cause continued flooding, tropical storm force winds continue through today, and possible tornado threats may continue as well. Please stay safe!
Freeport High School continues to stay open as a shelter. Please visit Walton County Emergency Management for more information. We will continue to monitor the weather with our local experts. Continue to check our district and schools’ websites and social media platforms for more information.
Weather Update 9/15/20
Hurricane Sally’s track has continued to slow and move to the east. Due to that, all Walton County schools, including extracurricular activities, will remain closed through tomorrow, Wednesday September 16th. Closures include both students and employees. Based on information from Emergency Management, tropical storm winds and heavy rain will continue to impact Walton County today and Wednesday with potential of historic levels of flooding.
Freeport High School is opening as a shelter today at 5:00 p.m. Please visit Walton County Emergency Management for more information. We will continue to monitor the weather with our local experts. Stay safe, and continue to check our district and schools’ websites and social media platforms for more information.
Weather Update 9/14/20
Due to the track change and slowing of Hurricane Sally, the closure of all Walton County schools, including extracurricular activities, will be extended through tomorrow, Tuesday, September 15th. Closures include both students and employees. Based on information from Emergency Management, tropical storm wind speed is a 70% probability for the Walton County area this afternoon into Tuesday as well as a possible threat of tornados through tonight and tomorrow. The WCSD will continue to monitor the weather with our local experts. Stay safe and continue to check our district and schools’ websites and social media platforms for more information.
Weather Update 9/14/20
The WCSD is currently monitoring weather forecasts. More information regarding tomorrow’s plans will be made after a 1:30 pm update by local and state experts. Please know safety is our number one priority, and we will continue to make the best decisions for our students and employees.
According to the National Weather Service in Tallahassee and information received from Emergency Management, Walton County is expected to receive wind gusts in excess of 40 mph and heavy rain from Tropical Storm Sally. Due to that, and in an abundance of caution, we are cancelling all Walton County Schools for tomorrow, Monday, September 14th, as we anticipate unsafe travel conditions, especially for our school buses. Closures include both students and employees. As always, safety is our number one priority. We will continue to monitor the weather, and we encourage you to continue to check back on our district and schools’ websites and social media platforms.
