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Parent Survey
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We have some exciting news! During Celebrate Literacy Week, several students submitted entries to a contest sponsored by the Florida Department of Education. Congratulations to Brixlee Allen for winning 1st place in the K-2 division for the state of Florida!!! Brixlee, a second grade student, read a book about Benjamin Franklin and then did a fabulous job illustrating it and writing about what she learned. West DeFuniak Elementary will receive $500 worth of books for the library for Brixlee's winning entry. We couldn't leave Brixlee out. She received a bag of her favorite goodies and a $50 Amazon gift card. Join us in congratulating her for this wonderful achievement. You can listen to Brixlee read her paper on this link. https://youtu.be/1WHz-xHh0cM
West DeFuniak Elementary is pleased to announce Mrs. Jamie Ellis as Teacher of the Year and Mrs. Sandi Ingle as Educational Support Person of the Year.
Mrs. Ellis has been teaching for 5 years. Her positive attitude spills over to everyone around her. She currently teaches second grade students. Mrs. Ellis says, “I love being a teacher! I became a teacher to inspire, love, encourage, and motivate students.” Jamie is married to David and they have three kids. Jamie stays busy outside of school with family and church ministry. It is easy to see why she was selected for this honor. Teachers and students at WDE love her.
Mrs. Ingle has only been at West Defuniak for one year. She serves as an aide in kindergarten through fifth grade classes. She can always be found helping somewhere. Whether taking temperatures or assisting in the office, she stays busy and does it with a smile. Sandi is married to Alan and they have 3 children. Mrs. Ingle says that her favorite part of being an aide is when the “light” comes on for a student who has been struggling.
Congratulations to Mrs. Ellis and Mrs. Ingle! WDE is proud to have you both as part of our team!
In honor of the 2020 Presidential Election, first graders at WDE held their own election to help them understand the voting process. Students were able to apply for voter registration, receive voter cards, and cast votes for “Duck” or “Farmer Brown”. These young citizens enjoyed reading Duck for President and collecting valuable information about the two candidates before voting. First grade students loved learning about how important the voting process is and how it is a responsibility that all citizens should hold dear!
Students from Mr. Owens's Class are Nevaeh, Mykelle, Rene, and Sophia
In honor of the 2020 Presidential Election, first graders at WDE held their own election to help them understand the voting process. Students were able to apply for voter registration, receive voter cards, and cast votes for “Duck” or “Farmer Brown”. These young citizens enjoyed reading Duck for President and collecting valuable information about the two candidates before voting. First grade students loved learning about how important the voting process is and how it is a responsibility that all citizens should hold dear!
Students from Mr. Owens's Class are Nevaeh, Mykelle, Rene, and Sophia
Congratulations to these Students of the Month!
August
Kindergarten - Bryleight Stofila
1st Grade - Brynlin Monsen
2nd Grade - Reese Jones
3rd Grade - Dariel Clara Dominguez
4th Grade - Judd Ealum
5th Grade - Patricia Martin Alonzo
September
Kindergarten - Emily Burgess
1st Grade - Cameron Douglass
2nd Grade - Censlee Dickey
3rd Grade - Michaela Andres Juan
4th Grade - Roselyn Orozco
5th Grade Emily Castellanos
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
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.
