Tropical Storm Zeta was responsible for a game delay during our first quarter of the MSA Tigers and Gamecocks for People Bowl. Nevertheless, both teams managed to put points on the board. The Gamecocks scored a field goal early in the quarter that was answered by a touchdown from the Tigers. The Tigers added to their lead in the final minutes of the quarter with a successful field goal attempt. Q1: Tigers 10, Gamecocks 3.

Don’t forget to support your team this coming week after the Nov. 1 time change (fall back an hour), Nov. 2 conference day, and Nov. 3 election day to make sure they finish out the first half strong! Remember, all monies go to support our local AIM food pantry. Also, collection boxes will be out starting next week for you to drop off non-perishable food items and personal hygiene items to further support their mission to serve those in need.

Due to the coronavirus, AIM recognized very early in the spring that they would need to make changes in how they delivered their services to the community. They began by shifting to a temporary drive-thru at the food pantry. It worked so well that they are now building a permanent drive-thru pantry to serve those in need. The project is expected to be completed by the end of November. You can learn more about AIM and the drive-thru project here: Aimcharity.org AND

Anderson Interfaith Ministries builds a permanent drive-thru pantry to serve those in need.

Hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween!

Dr. Dana Hill

Safety: Emergency Notifications:

MSA utilizes a Reverse Notification System for mass emergency communications. The system was activated this past Wednesday in anticipation of a school closure due to Tropical Storm Zeta impacting our area. The information that you provided on your data sheet is what was imported into the system. If you did not receive a text, email or voice notification alerting you to the school closure, please let us know as soon as possible. Should your contact information change throughout the year, please notify the Main Office so the information can be updated. The Reverse Notification system will only be utilized and activated for emergency situations or school closures.

Flu Vaccine:

The flu season always hits hard, but this year is different. There is a looming threat of a “twindemic,” which is the combination of a severe flu season and the current pandemic. Even a mild flu season can disrupt hospitals that have already been stretched by the surge of COVID-19 cases. While there is no vaccine yet for COVID-19, there IS one for influenza and doctors are urging people to get the flu shot to reduce the risk of widespread outbreaks. Contact your healthcare provider for additional information.

DHEC and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against the flu. Vaccination to prevent flu is particularly important for people who are at increased risk of complications from flu, including young children, adults aged 50 years and older, pregnant women and people with certain chronic medical conditions.

As we head into November, please continue to encourage your student(s) to follow the health and safety interventions that MSA initiated in our Return to School Plan. With the holidays fast approaching, we must remain vigilant in our efforts to continue mitigation strategies in order to maintain a healthy campus.

Illnesses:

Should your student(s) or anyone in your household have a diagnosis of Covid positive or a direct or indirect contact to a person diagnosed with Covid, please notify MSA immediately so we can take the proper course of action to reduce the rate of transmission on the MSA campus. I can be reached at schoolnurse@msasc.org

For additional updates and information on Influenza and Covid-19, please refer to the links below:

Influenza: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm

Coronavirus: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/index.html

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/flu-vaccine-good.html#.W6wffM_ictU.email

With wishes of health and peace.

Susanna Merriman, RN

#MASKUP