We strive to help our students connect to nature and the environment through a variety of ways. In recent years the leading method has been through gardening in our horticulture program. Several years ago a 30’ x 50’ hoop house was donated and installed on the school grounds. In it we have seven 4’ x’ 8’ raised beds and irrigation. It has been used exclusively for our gardening program at all levels. In the fall of 2016, MSA’s students designed and installed a .3-acre fruit orchard complete with apples, pears, guava, scuppernongs, muscadine, hardy kiwi, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. All of these plants are healthy and happily establishing their root systems for the day our students can reap the reward of all their hard work! In 2016 we realized that much of the gardening was being done by MSA’s middle school students while remaining community members did not have an opportunity to participate. This year we have made the jump and incorporated our gardening curriculum school wide!

Here is a list of items that would help to support our growing Horticulture program. If you would like to donate anything, or provide a monetary donation to support the program, please contact Charles Jordan at cjoran@msasc.org or Jenna Patch at jpatch@msasc.org. Remember all donations are tax deductible.

• Wood handled- child sized garden tools
• Irrigation supplies for Lower Elementary
• Six row precision seeder
• High quality,100 ft hoses
• Watering wands
• Lumber for raised beds behind Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary
• Shutters for exhaust fan in greenhouse
• New exhaust fan for greenhouse
• Installation of a gear crank for the greenhouse
• Repair plastic siding in the greenhouse
• New roof for the greenhouse

Our annual "gathering of blessings" is a great way for us to give back to our community. This week we sent a grocery bag home with each student to remind families of items needed by the Soup Kitchen and Clean Start. Don't forget Pennies for People!
Please fill and return your bag to school by November 21. On that day we will gather at the flagpole to offer blessings to one another and to send blessings into the Anderson community. Thank you for your help in helping others!

Louise Knisley

Community Service Coordinator

Our Middle School Battle of the Books team had our first experience with regional competition on Tuesday at Newberry College. In a very close competition, our students placed 5th out of 9 teams. Congratulations to William, Emma, Mina, Carter, and Sam!