By Amy Harvey, Principal
Walsingham Academy offers a diverse range of extracurricular and academic opportunities that enrich the student experience. From performing arts groups to academic clubs and service organizations, students are encouraged to explore their interests, develop new skills, and build lasting friendships. These activities play a vital role in cultivating leadership, teamwork, and a sense of community, all while allowing students to pursue their passions and make meaningful contributions.
Choir
The arts are an intrinsic part of the educational program at Walsingham Academy. Each year students from participating elementary schools in Bay County gather to perform in the Elementary Choir Festival. Choir students rehearse together on a wide range of musical literature, often including music in a foreign language, and culminating with a concert performance held at a local venue. “The Choir Festival gives our students the opportunity to showcase their talent and hard work, as well as providing a sense of community among all the schools. They really are an amazing group of students,” said Mr. Johnson.
K-Kids
Walsingham Academy is excited to announce the addition of a Kiwanis Kids (K-Kids) club. K-Kids is an organization that encourages leadership and community service. Students who participate in K-Kids can continue their membership in middle school through Builder’s Club and high school in Key Club. Third- through fifth-grade Wahoos are nominated by their teachers to become members of this club based on their capabilities for leadership and interest in helping others.
K-Kids organized a canned food drive before Thanksgiving, where they received almost 1000 cans to benefit local families who needed assistance. Future plans include planting a vegetable and rock garden, collecting soda tabs for Ronald McDonald House, and providing incentives to promote kindness in their school, recognizing teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week and first responders during Random Acts of Kindness Week.
WIN
This year, Walsingham Academy implemented “What I Need” (WIN) time. The goal of WIN is to provide targeted support, helping students achieve success and meet their goals. Recognizing that students learn at different rates and in different ways, teachers adjust their teaching methods and materials to accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities, making learning more accessible for all students. At Walsingham, our student population includes English Language Learners (ELL), Exceptional Student Education (ESE), and Gifted students. WIN involves grouping students by their needs (e.g., for enrichment, remediation, or skill-building), providing additional time or resources to those who require it, and creating opportunities for students to demonstrate mastery at their own pace.
Learning Walks
The students at Walsingham Academy are not the only ones learning. At Walsingham Academy, teachers engage in Learning Walks. Learning Walks are a professional development strategy where educators observe each other’s teaching practices to share insights, enhance skills, and foster a collaborative learning community. Teachers observe one another with a clear purpose, often linked to school or district-wide goals, or specific areas of practice that need improvement. Through shared observations and feedback, teachers can refine their practices to enhance student outcomes.
