October is an active month for Walton County School District as we end the first 9 weeks of acquiring knowledge and skills for our students.  The official end of the first grading period is October 12, followed by a teacher workday/student holiday on October 15. Reports cards go home on October 18 across the district.  We encourage our parents to be watchful for these progress indicators so they can stay up to date with their students’ academic achievement.

Walton County Fair will open on October 8 and run through October 13, 2018 at the fairgrounds in DeFuniak Springs.  Students from across the district will represent their schools and communities through musical performances on Wednesday and Thursday evenings starting at 6:00 pm, and a weeklong art display showcasing student work from every program in the school district.  Paxton’s agriculture department will participate in the Livestock show with entries in the swine division. Come on out to the Fair to support the students, and visit our Walton County School District display booth!

Walton County School District, in collaboration with AttendanceWorks.org, is engaged in a campaign to advance student success by reducing chronic absenteeism.  Chronic absence — missing 10 percent or more of school days due to absence for any reason—excused, unexcused absences and suspensions, can translate into third-graders unable to master reading, sixth-graders failing subjects and ninth-graders dropping out of high school.  Superintendent Hughes has declared the month of October as “Eliminate Chronic Absenteeism Month” in Walton County School District. Administrators, faculty and staff are working to cultivate a district-wide culture of attendance through communication, attendance incentives, and family outreach.

The success of any school system hinges on factors beyond the work that takes place in classrooms. One key to that success is the dedication and engagement of parents and community members who volunteer their time, talent and energy to support and inspire staff and students. Walton County School District invites and encourages members of our community to become partners in education through our Volunteer and Mentor programs.  Exciting opportunities for students are happening every day, thanks to the efforts of families and community members. Volunteers and community partners are making a difference helping students develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes that are the hallmark of a quality education. The contributions of our volunteers and partners clearly demonstrate to students that their success is important enough for the community to take an active role in their education.

The work of volunteers and mentoring partners is a strong part of the effort to meet our goal of becoming the number one school district in the state. Volunteers work with individual students or in a small group setting who are in need of assistance in academic subjects to reinforce basic skills. Mentors work with students, one-on-one, motivating them by being role models and encouraging friends, as well as helping them overcome behavioral, social, or emotional problems that are affecting their learning.

Superintendent Hughes and the entire Walton County School District are grateful to all the parents and citizens who not only help us do the best job we can to educate children but who, by their participation, provide that positive sense of community that makes Walton County a great place to live and to raise children.

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