District News

Paxton School honored and celebrated our United States Veterans today with a moving and inspiring program in the Paxton Gymnasium. Special performances by the Sound of the Pride elementary chorus, and the Paxton High School Band enhanced the program with our National Anthem and Patriotic music selections. Senior Representative, Camryn Brazil, welcomed all the guests and students and led the audience in reciting the National Anthem. She served as host for the entire program.
Selected 4th graders shared poems and essays honoring the Veterans, and reflecting on what it feels like for the families who are left at home when loved ones serve in the military.
The Key Club presented a special flag folding ceremony and explained the symbolism of the 13 folds.
Special guest speaker of the day was Reverend Tyrone L. Broadus, a Veteran of the United States Army, and a former member of the John F Kennedy Honor Guard.
Broadus was one of the 13 honor guards chosen to escort the Kennedy family and President Lyndon B. Johnson to the consecration of the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame grave site on March 15, 1967.

In his speech at Paxton Veteran’s Day program he challenged the students to always give their very best and remember that the future is wide open to them. “If you work hard, and apply yourself, you can be what ever you choose to be!” With a nod to Supt. Russell Hughes, also present for today’s event, he shared “You could one day be the Superintendent of Schools of Walton County...or maybe even the President of the United States!”

The program closed with the recognition of guests from the different branches of military service.

Paxton school wishes to thank Superintendent Hughes, the Walton County School Board members, Rev. Broadus, and all the school and community partners that helped make today’s special event possible.

Congratulations to Walton Middle School student Sherlyn Michelle Felix-Torres for having her art work selected as the Walton County School District "Art in the Capitol" winner for 2018-2019!
Superintendent A. Russell Hughes visited Sherlyn at WMS and presented her with a special award certificate, as well as a commemorative coin that he often presents students who accomplish a task in EPIC proportion!
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.
Sherlyn's work was selected from art work on display at this year's Walton County Fair in October.
The piece will be on display in the Capitol building in Tallahassee during the regular legislative session, and will be entered into the State level competition.
Sherlyn is pictured with Superintendent Hughes; Art teacher, Brittany Grant; and Principal Jason Campbell.
Also joining her for this special occasion are her mother, and little brother!

It's T-shirt Tuesday for FMS art students! Every Tuesday they wear their art t-shirts because that's a fun thing to do! Thank you art students for looking sharp!
Submitted by Kendra Peloquin

Freeport Middle School Art and Spanish classes worked together to create an offrenda to celebrate their cultural studies of Dia de los Muertos. Mrs. Peloquin's art classes created calaveras from newspaper and plaster. Senor Jackson's 7th grade Spanish class created travel brochures from many different Spanish speaking countries.

Submitted by Kendra Peloquin

Freeport Middle School art and band students are visited by pianist Jihye Chang as part of the 8th Annual Music in Pictures educational art initiative and juried art exhibition. The Rosemary Beach Foundation and Malayne DeMars working together with Kendra Peloquin and Michael Miller brought this educational and exciting performance to the art and band students at FMS. Thank you Jihye and Malayne for a wonderful experience!

Mrs. Williams created a "Place Value Hospital" with her second grade students at Freeport Elementary School.

Submitted by Laurie Langford

West DeFuniak Elementary K-Kids ready Hurricane Michael Relief supplies for delivery to Cottondale High School for the communities of Cottondale and Alford. K-Kids sponsored a schoolwide effort through “Pennies for the Panhandle”, Hat Day and Jeans Week for staff and raised over $1,100. The funds generated for this service project were used to provide cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, water and ice to help our neighboring communities during this time of recovery. Special thanks to Tractor Supply Company for donating many of the buckets and Kyle McDonald for donating the ice.

Pictured are Chelsey Robertson, Kiley Brooks, Ansley Nowling, Grayton Dover, and Dylan Anderson

Walton High School will host the 7th annual Veterans Day program in the auditorium onThursday, November 8, at 1:00 p.m. All veterans and their families are cordially invited to attend this special program.

As an introductory experiment to the topic of matter, WDE 5th grade students mixed a solid (baking powder) and a liquid (vinegar) to make a gas. Students enjoyed seeing the reaction of the combined products which made their ghostly hand raise on its own. Students decorated the gloves beforehand, and this gave each of the ghostly hands a unique personality. This experiment was the opening introduction to their study on properties and states of matter, physical and chemical changes, and mixtures and solutions. Submitted by Jessica Dawkins