Fourth graders at West DeFuniak Elementary have been learning about physical and chemical changes. Through inquiry and observation, students learned that a physical change is when an object changes but does not turn into a new substance. They did this by placing a gummy bear in water overnight and seeing the result on the following day. Students observed that the gummy bear absorbed the water in the cup and almost doubled in size.  

October 12th will be our first full day of the school year. Maude Saunders, Butler, and Freeport Elementary SPICE centers will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. FMS students may attend FES site, West DeFuniak, Mossy Head, and Paxton students may attend the Maude Saunders site, and Dune Lakes students may attend the Butler site.

Parents, we ask that you complete the student screening at home as you would on a regular school day.

Procedures for drop off and pickup at each site….will be to ring the bell and a staff member will assist you.

These procedures will apply to all full days for the 20/21 school year.

Please contact your child’s SPICE center coordinator if you have any further questions.

Thank you,

Walton County School District SPICE

Wyndy Crozier

Principal/Director

(850) 892 1241

[email protected]

FORWARDED ANNOUNCEMENT FROM FDOE

The United States Census occurs every ten years and has a powerful impact on the future of Florida communities and their voice in Congress. The United States Census Bureau has announced that they will complete counting throughout the United States on September 30th. It is critical that the Florida education community take this brief survey as it directly benefits Florida students and families and informs the amount of federal funding distributed to states for programs that impact schools, students, and families.

Data from the 2020 Census will impact federal funding for programs that supports students in low-income areas of the state, services for students with disabilities, career and technical education programs, adult education, and many other programs important to the education of students in Florida. Census data informs federal funding for sanitization and personal protection equipment (PPE), cleaning supplies and other materials needed to help combat COVID-19 in schools.

We hope you encourage your education families, neighbors, and communities to participate in the census by sharing this message.

To complete the census online, visit http://www.2020census.gov.

To complete the census via phone:

English: 1-844-330-2020

Spanish (7 - days a week, 7am - 2am): 844-468-2020

Haitian-Creole (Monday – Friday, 8am -10pm): 844-477-2020

Thank you!

Commissioner Richard Corcoran

WE MUST ACT NOW!  Our county, businesses and especially our children are counting on YOU to ensure we have the federal funds to meet their needs.  Let’s all be E.P.I.C. and self-report for the good of Walton County!  Getting a complete and accurate count in 2020 requires everyone’s help. Please, if you have not done so, complete your 2020 census; it only takes 5-10 minutes and means much needed dollars in federal funding for infrastructure, hospitals, headstart, public schools and more.  If you have family members that have not reported encourage them to do so; if they need assistance, help them!  This is important and means improvements to our community and each of our lives.

In addition, it is paramount that our students’ parents are informed and challenged to complete their census.  We will be getting information cards to help promote this challenge to each of your schools by tomorrow. The cards may be handed out at pick-up, front desk or other areas your parents frequent.  If possible, have someone available that will help them complete the form; or refer them to me, the community outreach coordinator.   Please assure parents the Census Bureau does not disclose any personal information or use the information for any type of reporting.  I am including the website address for the online application and telephone numbers for phone questionnaires. Bilingual questionnaires are available for Spanish speakers.

BE COUNTED TODAY!   The deadline for completing your census is September 30, 2020.

www.my2020census.gov