Cool Students Inquire, the theme for Walton Middle School’s 4th Annual Literacy Week (April 21 – 25), was a giant success! The Literacy Leadership Team organized the week’s events, which included a bookmark contest, adult guest readers from the DeFuniak Springs community, daily cryptograms, book swap, reading by Walton High School Anchor and Key club members, favorite book election, literacy survey, and a performance of the interactive play “Mysteries in the Middle.” Volunteer Florida Foundation sponsored the interactive play, written and directed by Dr. Angela Martin. Dr. Martin and members of Walton Middle School’s faculty and staff enthusiastically performed. The evening began with Mrs. Cecile Lindegren’s WMS choir performing as students and parents enjoyed pizza, drinks, and dessert. Prizes donated by area merchants played in the night’s success. The mysterious circumstances for the performance were set earlier in the week when principal Tripp Hope announced on Monday that our Warrior mascot was changed to an aardvark because we are an “A” school. Students wrote letters, made signs, and sent around petitions showing how disgruntled they were about the new mascot. On Wednesday, the school announced that the new mascot was missing! Students were encouraged and motivated to bring their families to Thursday’s performance. Over 240 students and parents attended the event. In a middle school, where attendance for a literacy night is typically low, the Literacy Team was overwhelmed by this turnout. Parents and students commented positively about the meal and donated door prizes from the DeFuniak Springs community and, more importantly, the reading strategies they learned at the performance. Dr. Dale Yount, Literacy Coach at WMS, said her evening was perfect when a student asked, “Will we have this night again next year?”