Community is friendship between different people or groups and a sense of having something in common. (Collins Dictionary)

I looked through several definitions in several dictionaries and the one above is the one I liked the best to describe what happens around the MSA campus. I noted this behavior this week in particular week as I watched rehearsals for the upcoming play “Annie JR.”

Picture this: a bashful middle schooler nonetheless dancing with a 4th grader, a middle schooler giving a hug to an upperclassman while waiting for the scene to change, several seniors helping in lots of different ways. All of them, 4th – 12th grade, participating and monitoring themselves to support “community.”

Who does that? This is not to put down other educational programs. Some of it is the nature of the circumstances. Large schools: elementary, middle, and high school when students have grown up with singular grade placement, simply do not have the opportunity to understand and share this rare sense of community that exists when children all come together with “a sense of having something in common.” In this case, not only do they share another aspect of serving (the 5-year-old helping the 3-year-old to tie his shoes, the 3rd grader listening and encouraging the 1st grader in recognizing “sight words,” the 9th grader creating a lesson for the lower elementary students, etc.), but with this production of “Annie,” they share the commonality of a common goal – supporting each other and MSA as it pulls together for this musical production.

Break a leg – MSA’ers!!!

- Karen Holt, MSA founder

My favorite thing about working with the MSA students on Annie Jr. is seeing the cross-level collaboration of Upper Elementary through High School students. It is also wonderful to see some of the creative ideas they come up with to help improve the musical from line deliveries, dance moves, and costume input. Last of all, I'm so grateful to be getting to know the High School students better, since I don't regularly have interaction with them. They are a "great bunch of folks!"

- Melonie Martin, Music and Drama teacher

Healthy Hygiene Habits:

• Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Cover coughs and sneezes. Use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes, then dispose of the tissue. When a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze into your elbow.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces or objects. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill.
• Wash hands for 20 seconds. Washing hands often under clean, running water can help prevent the spread of germs. For more guidance see the CDC: When and How to Wash Your Hands. If you cannot wash your hands, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60-95% alcohol.
• Follow Montessori's School of Anderson's Illness Policy as stated in the handbook, page 18, Section 6.5: MSA Students are prohibited from attending classes while ill. If your child is absent, please notify the front office. MSA is proactive in monitoring all illnesses and makes every effort to prevent illnesses from spreading. When you have verification that your child has a communicable disease, please notify the office immediately. It is preferable to bring your child late or keep him/her out for another day in order to fully recuperate rather than risk exposing the student body to a potentially communicable illness. All students must be fever, vomiting and diarrhea free for 24 hours without the aid of medications before returning to school. If your child has missed school due to illness, he/she may not participate in any other school related activity on that day or evening.
• It's not too late to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine; contact your physician for more information.
• All cases of influenza need to be reported to MSA.
• Please notify the office if you or your family members are traveling outside of the country at any time during the school year.

For additional information, please refer to the links below:

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

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

Susanna Merriman, RN

Health and Safety Coordinator

About me:

• Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
• Lived in Anderson since December 2014
• Married to Marcus and will celebrate our 7th anniversary in July
• Mom to three boys (Kilian - 5, Judah - 3, Elias -1)
• Active member at our church (Renewal Church of Anderson) where I participate in small group, work with the kiddos, and sign with the worship team

My education/experience:

• Graduated from Grace College and Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, IN with a BS in Secondary Math Education, also earning my teaching license
• Taught 6th grade for a year before joining the MSA family
• This is my 4th year at MSA

My favorite things:

• Book/Movie - "You Who" by Rachel Jankovic and "The Sound of Music"
• Color - pink or gray
• Food/Snack - Cheese (and savory snacks dipped in cheese)
• Sport/Team - Green Bay Packers
• Activity/Hobby - Does raising toddlers count?
• Vacation spot - Hilton Head
• Your favorite thing about teaching at MSA - I went into teaching to impact students as individuals. The MSA high school is a great place to work because of the relationships that are built. I know the students and they know me, so I can support them (and challenge them to grow) on their individual educational journeys.