Dear Walton Community,

Happy New School Year!  Walton has been a busy place this summer with many academic and athletic camps and registering new students.  Thank you to the faculty and staff who have worked over the summer keeping our school up and running.  I also want to say a huge thank you to our custodial staff.  They have deep cleaned our school, working around all of the activities to ensure we are ready to greet our students on August 1. 

A new year brings new changes.  If you have not been by the school, you will notice progress on the athletic complex which will be the new home of our baseball and tennis teams.  With the district providing student devices last year, we will expect all of our students to bring either a school issued or a personal device to school (not a phone) each day.  If you would like your student to receive a school issued device, you can opt-in through ParentVue.  Please do this as soon as possible so we can make sure we have enough devices in the building to distribute during the first week of school.  If your child does have a school issued laptop, please have your child plug in and install all of the updates the week before school starts.  We appreciate your help so we are ready to get started on the first day of school.  

As I announced in the spring, we will be adding an additional lunch period during 6^th period.  This will allow flexibility in our schedule to better meet the requests of our students as well as giving us more room for all students in the cafeteria.  

As many of you know, I was recently named the Chief Academic Officer at the Cobb County School District.  I will continue to work with our Walton Administrative team to ensure a smooth start to the school year until a new Principal has been appointed.

I hope you had a wonderful summer and looking forward to a fantastic 2022-2023 school year!

With Raider Pride,
Catherine Mallanda

As we all look forward to the 2022-2023 school year, your PTSA is already planning and preparing to bring a full slate of educational and inspirational events to you and your children.  

Before you join Walton’s PTSA for the 2022-2023 school year, we want you to understand how valuable your support truly is.  With a proposed budget of approximately $65,000, individual memberships make up 8% of our income, while membership packages account for 92%.  While every Walton PTSA member is valued and every contribution is appreciated, our Membership Packages provide the funding necessary to support our students, teachers, staff, and families.  

Services and programs for our students make up the most significant percentage of our overall budget.  Faculty and staff support includes teacher grants and continuing education opportunities that also benefit our children.  We encourage each family to commit to either the Raider Red Membership Package or the Raider Royal Membership Package to fund the same level of excellent programming.  In addition, we have some exciting add-ons including purchasing hygiene packs for the classrooms and/or sponsoring PTSA faculty memberships. 

PTSA memberships allow access to the online student directory, as well as PTSA E-Blasts, newsletters, and other communications.  Your membership also entitles you to deals and benefits through the East Cobb County Council of PTA (ECCC), Georgia PTA, and National PTA.  STUDENT MEMBERSHIPS are only $5.00.  ALUMNI (students and their parents) are encouraged to join our PTSA too.  Local businesses are invited to partner with us at our new COMMUNITY PARTNER level.

What are you waiting for?  Please join the PTSA and complete all of the checklist items. 

Thank you all for your support.  We look forward to a great school year.

Fondly, 

Melanie May and Caroline Whaley

Walton PTSA Co-Presidents

•    Visit the PTSA website today!  Join the PTSA, sign up for E-Blasts, and volunteer for programs and events.  Get connected on social media too.  PTSA welcomes our freshmen and new families, celebrates our seniors, funds self-defense programs, advocates for all children, organizes school volunteers and much more!

•    Make sure all your information is up to date.  Visit Parent Vue and check that your emails and phone numbers are accurate and up to date so Walton Administration and your child’s teachers can correspond with you.  

•    Visit the Walton Foundation website and be an early donor in the “Commit to the W” campaign.  While continuing to hire teachers to reduce class sizes, the Foundation also funds teacher grants, fills our hand sanitizing stations, beautifies our school grounds and much more.  

•    Prepay for school lunches, purchase meal kids for the whole family, and register for free and reduced lunches by visiting the Cobb County Food Services website.  You may even qualify for reduced fees for AP, SAT and ACT testing.

•    Beginning today, July 15, pay for items at My Payments Plus that are required by the school, including class dues, PSAT fees (9th and 11th), vocabulary books, Naviance subscriptions, etc.

•    Class schedules will be available on July 27 on Parent Vue.

•    Freshman Orientation is July 28 at 8:30 a.m.  Freshmen and their parents are invited to an orientation focused on a walk through for students and an informative meeting for parents.  All others can visit between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. to walk through your new schedule.  New families are invited to a special orientation on July 29 at 10:00 a.m. 

•    Don’t forget your Raider Pride!  Visit the Spirit Shop, located in the cafeteria, during Freshman Orientation, the Newcomers’ Orientation or Fridays during lunch.

The Walton Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enrich the Walton High School experience.  The Foundation serves a unique and essential role in improving the quality of student education by supporting teachers, staff and administrators and enhancing the campus.  We are the only Walton organization that has the privilege of being able to provide funds to the school administration to pay staff salaries.  This empowers the administration to reduce class size and expand class offerings.  

You demonstrated your incredible generosity by donating $205K during the 2021-22 school year.  The bulk of our budget goes to staff salaries, which must be secured before the hiring process can begin, so we primarily raise funds each year for the following year.  We plan to apply the funds raised last year to provide the following enhancements to Walton during the upcoming 2022-23 school year:

• Providing funds to hire:
  • A full-time English teacher
  • A full-time Counselor
• Providing funds for additional custodial help
• Providing landscaping for the campus and the memorial gardens
• Purchasing additional outdoor dining hall seating
• Refilling hand sanitizer stations throughout campus
• Fulfilling school needs as they arise

If you would like to contribute to the Foundation's mission, you can donate today on the Foundation's website.  While our official capital campaign will begin in February 2023, we are always accepting donations.  Be an Early Bird Donor and receive the famous Walton Foundation magnet for any donation of $250 or more.  Check out this year’s magnet design below!

The magnets will start being distributed at the beginning of the school year.  Without your generous donations, we would not be able to help Walton be the amazing high school it is.  Thank you!

Would you like your student to start the new school year organized and prepared for an excellent semester at Walton?  You and your student should join us for one of our Study Skills Seminars.  You and your student will learn how to take effective notes and to utilize class and study resources offered at Walton to be better organized and prepared for his or her classes.  Learning Specialist and former teacher, Natalie Collins, M.Ed., will be offering two 1.5-hour seminars in Walton’s Lecture Hall, which is in the Media Center.

Study Skills Seminar Times:

• Tuesday, July 26, 9:30 am – 11:00 am

• Wednesday, July 27, 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

One parent must attend with their student so that you are also aware of the resources available and the various organizational systems that can benefit your student.  The cost of the seminar is $50.00.  We have a limited number of students and parents we can accommodate to ensure an effective program so register today at the Walton Foundation website!

PTSA JACKIE AUERBACH AWARD RECIPIENTS:  

DONNA DUNHAM and TARA COHEN

Who is Jackie Auerbach, and why do we have an annual faculty award in her name?  Dr. Mallanda recalls Walton’s former Media Center Specialist as an advocate for all of Walton’s students, energizing them daily with her positivity.  Since 2006, Walton’s PTSA has recognized a faculty member who goes above and beyond to enhance the high school experience for our students.  

We are happy to share that we had TWO winners this year, Donna Dunham and Tara Cohen.  School counselor Donna Dunham understands the importance of students finding their passions, and she encourages them to take classes and to participate in activities that they enjoy, rather than simply for a resume.  She gets to know each student and is knowledgeable about various classes, colleges, and activities within Walton.  She encourages each student to become well rounded in their experience at Walton.  

Tara Cohen sponsors the Model UN Club, spending hours after school working with the students.  She guides and teaches them to take responsibility and to learn leadership skills along the way.  She takes the club members on several big trips for competitions each year.  She encourages them to research and reach beyond their limits to tackle huge global problems.  

Walton is fortunate to have many fabulous, selfless educators.  We congratulate Donna Dunham and Tara Cohen as this year’s winners!

TEACHER OF THE YEAR - KATIE BUSTLE

Katie Bustle has been a special education teacher at Walton since 2006.  For anyone who has had a child in Ms. Bustle’s class, you know how incredible diligent she is in serving all students.  She cares deeply about each child’s success ensuring they are receiving the specialized instruction and support they need to reach their goals.  Ms. Bustle also serves as a mentor to other teachers in her department.  She does her job with excellence and is a model for all.  We are very proud to have Ms. Bustle represent the Walton Faculty as Teacher of the Year.

CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR - MELISSA SCHRENK

The Walton faculty and staff selected Melissa Schrenk as our classified employee of the year.  Mrs. Schrenk runs our school records room.  From speaking with new enrolling parents to ensuring our seniors get transcripts sent to colleges plus so much more, Melissa does it all with a smile and incredible knowledge.  She goes above and beyond to serve our school community and we are thrilled to recognize her.

Students who need a Certificate of Enrollment for obtaining their Learner's Permit or Driver's License should access the link below.

https://www.waltonhigh.org/domain/57

Welcome back Walton students & parents!

Here are a few reminders of CCSD policies for the clinic that will ensure a safe and healthy school year for our students.

I have tried to make this list brief but with enough information to reduce the number of phone calls you receive from the school and the trips you make to the school!  ðŸ˜Š

* Prescription medication is NOT to be carried by students at any time. The only exceptions are diabetic, asthma, or allergic reaction medications. 

* If your student has need of these medications, please notify Nurse Sandy at sandra.evans@cobbk12.org.

* If your child needs prescription medicine during the school day (a one-time dose OR daily) please contact the nurse via email as above or at 770-578-3225 x042; *please note: a parent {or designee} must bring the medicine to the school in the original pharmacy labeled container.

** Parent volunteers and student aides may NOT accept or deliver any medication to students at school. 

Important:  **  Over-the counter medicine (OTC), for example: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, & cough drops may be carried by high school students without an authorization form.  *The clinic does not keep a supply of OTC medications.  The OTC medicine carried by a student must be in the original container.  DO NOT bring OTC medicine in a zip lock bag.  This should be a small personal supply of medicine and may not be shared with other students.  All medication must be supplied by a parent.

* Feminine products are available if needed:  pads only, no tampons.

* Please encourage your student to always carry a refillable water bottle and a snack each day to school.  **I see many students with illness symptoms that are due to either dehydration, hunger, or both.  There is enough time between classes for them to eat a quick snack and drink water before each class to maintain hydration & nutrition.

Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. 

Sandy Evans, BSN, RN

School Nurse, Walton High School

Clinic Hours 8:30-3:30

770-578-3225  x042

sandra.evans@cobbk12.org

Co-Presidents:

Melanie May and Caroline Whaley, waltonpresident@gmail.com

Vice President, Communications:

Jennifer Hickey, waltonvpcommunications@gmail.com

Vice President, Programs:

Natalie Collins, natalie.collins5@gmail.com

Vice President, Volunteers:

Vicky Rice,waltonvpofvolunteers@gmail.com

Secretary:

Paige Peck,waltonsecretary@gmail.com

Treasurer:

Mary Katherine Holloway,waltontreasurer20@gmail.com

Parliamentarian:

Stephanie Patel,waltonparliamentarian@gmail.com

Principal:

Catherine Mallanda, catherine.mallanda@cobbk12.org

https://waltonhighschoolptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/member_benefits

https://waltonhighschoolptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/open_forms

https://waltonhighschoolptsa.membershiptoolkit.com/Volunteer

https://www.waltonhigh.org/Page/10#calendar459/20220715/month

Walton High School 

1590 Bill Murdock Road

Marietta, GA  30062

770-578-3225