Yesterday was our PINK OUT Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. On my way to school, I was in awe as I looked around to see a sky full of fluffy, bright pink clouds! It was the perfect complement to our pink event, but who could have predicted that? No matter how much planning, there is often something unexpected. In this particular case, it was a lovely addition to the day.

As you know, the Governor’s Directive for schools to close their campuses last spring was unexpected for all of us. Since that time, our MSA Academic Task Force, faculty, and administration have spent a great deal of time reflecting on what worked well and how we could better meet the needs of our students and our families if schools were required to switch to remote learning again.

When reviewing feedback from our parent survey, “child care in the event of school closure” was identified as the greatest need of our families. In response, MSA took steps this summer to ensure that infants through 6th-grade students could remain on campus under our DSS child care license even if we were directed by officials to go to a remote learning model.

Because DSS child care regulations and South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) regulations are not exactly the same, we have scheduled a few “practice” remote learning days in our calendar this fall. Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 12 & 13) will be the first two of these practice days. For infants and toddlers, these days will be business as usual. Our primary and elementary students will have the option to come to campus or work from home and our middle and high school students will all be working remotely.

Remote Learning Day plans have been made specific to each program in an effort to provide our families with options that best meet their needs during this ongoing time of COVID-19 uncertainty. But plans are not enough, because there is often something unexpected when plans are put into practice. So we will use our practice days to implement our plans and identify any unexpected challenges of operating under DSS regulations versus SCISA regulations.

We appreciate your support of our MSA Breast Cancer Awareness PINK OUT Day today. We also appreciate your support as we test our plans for Remote Learning Days on Monday and Tuesday and prepare for the unexpected.

Have a great weekend and a lovely Fall Break (Oct. 14-16)!

Dr. Dana Hill

Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

Montessori School of Anderson participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each October, countries across the world, set aside the month to help to increase awareness, early detection and treatment. A small way to do so and show our support for all of those affected with this diagnosis, going through treatment or who have been touched by this disease, MSA hosted a "Pink Out Day".

As Dr. Hill reminded us in the last issue of Montessori Matter, this ties in with one of our "Four Pillars"-a commitment to service. This month, students in primary through high school participated by performing community service projects that can be shared with those affected by breast cancer. The students wrote cards and letters of encouragement, drew pictures or even crocheted and sewed hats for cancer patients. The students will continue to work on these supportive service projects throughout the month.

We would also like to mention a special Mobile Mammography Event that will be at Trammel & Mills Law Firm at 1650 E. Greenville Street on Monday, October 12, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments must be scheduled (864-675-4875). They will take 15-20 minutes and there are a limited number of appointment time slots available. Eligibility requirements to participate in this event include:

• Females age 40 and older who are due for their annual screening mammogram.
• Females who are 35-40 needing a baseline mammogram.
• Able to walk up the coach stairs and stand unassisted.

Flu Vaccine

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.