Mississippi Center for Justice and Mississippi Access to Justice Commission partnered with Cambria Solutions of Sacramento, CA, to develop a virtual court navigator (VCN) or chatbot that answers questions, provides hard-to-find information, and helps Mississippi residents better understand the often-complex Justice Court system. Mississippi Access to Justice Commission and the Mississippi Center for Justice are nonprofits committed to advancing racial and economic justice statewide. The chatbot is featured on MSJusticeCourtHelp.com, a site developed by the nonprofits to help Mississippians successfully navigate the Justice Court system. The chatbot, named “Lex,” offers access to free legal information for the state’s Justice Court system, which handles civil cases of $3,500 or less, misdemeanor criminal cases, and some traffic offenses. “The chatbot is designed to respond to everyday questions in conversational language,” said Beth Orlansky, Advocacy Director for the Mississippi Center for Justice in Jackson, Miss. “The chatbot helps level the playing field.” Many residents, especially those in the rural and smaller counties of Mississippi, represent themselves in Justice Court rather than hire a lawyer. The chatbot allows the Mississippi Center for Justice to expand its reach and help several hundred residents per year. “Individuals facing garnishment and eviction rarely have lawyers to defend them, and they don’t know what to expect,” Orlansky said. “The goal of the project is to give confidence to people being sued for debt collection or foreclosure before they go to court.” The website www.msjusticecourthelp.com is a collaborative product of the State Justice Institute, the Mississippi Center for Justice, and the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission. The goals of this project are to provide: Free legal resources to increase access to justice. Information to increase the potential for success of self-represented litigants in Justice Court. Best practices for litigants who cannot appear in court due to safety concerns. The Mississippi Center for Justice is dedicated to dismantling the state’s culture of inequity and injustice. Support and staffed by attorneys and other professionals, the Center pursues strategies to combat discrimination and poverty statewide.

Wesson Chamber of Commerce has already set May 7 for the 2022 Founders' Day and is urging prospective vendors to mark the date. The Chamber emphasizes that this is not the same event as the annual Wesson Flea Market, which is held in October. It will use vendor lists from past Founder’s Day and Flea Markets to reach out and promote the 2022 event. The Flea Market in October is sponsored by the Wesson Fire Department. The official vendor reservation form for Founder’s Day will be emailed in mid-March, so no action is required to reserve space now. Vendors thinking about participating in the 2022 Founders' Day should send a “Friend Request” to Wesson Chamber Happenings on Facebook to receive information throughout the year. Request the Chamber by email to be removed from the vendor email list. For information, contact Chamber Board Secretary Deemie Letchworth at Deemie.Letchworth@colin.edu, 601-757-5339 or via Facebook Messenger.

Children enrolled in the WAC kindergarten and grades one through six must bring a variety of supplies, including tools for their school work such as pencils, crayons, scissors, and notebook; and personal hygiene items such as hand soap, wipes, sanitizers, and paper towels: Kindergarten: · Box of Kleenex · Fiskar blunt-tip scissors · 3 rolls of paper towels · 2 boxes of eight Crayola crayons (no jumbo) · 4 boxes of twenty-four Crayola crayons (no jumbo) · 1 box of Crayola Washable Markers · 2 two-pocket plastic folders with brads · 2 Elmer's school glue bottles · 2 Germ-X hand sanitizers · Foaming hand soap · 24 non-decorative wood pencils (Ticonderoga recommended), · 4 glue stick four-packs · 2 containers of Clorox wipes · 1 party favors pack for prize box · 1 four-pack of Play-Doh · 1 heavy duty leather or canvas zipper bag (no boxes) · 1 backpack (large enough for folder and extra clothing) · 1 box of gallon freezer bags · 1 quart-size box of Ziploc freezer bags · Change of clothes in a gallon Ziploc with name on it (shirt, pants, underwear, socks) to be kept in backpack · 1 book bag (large enough for folder & extra clothing) First Grade: · Zippered bank bag (not plastic) · 4 twenty-four packs of Children's Fiskar scissors · 16 glue sticks, Elmer's Glue bottle, · 2 wide-ruled singe subject spiral notebooks · 2 plastic folders with brads & pockets · 2 pink pearl erasers · 2 packs #2 Ticonderoga pencils · 4 rolls of paper towels · 3 boxes of Kleenex · 1 refillable water bottle · 1 container Clorox wipes · 2 bottles of Germ-X · Bottle of foaming hand soap · 12 x 18 manila paper Second Grade: · 12 glue sticks · 4 packages of Ticonderoga wooden pencils · 1 package of wide-rule loose leaf paper · 3 boxes of Kleenex tissue · 1 packages of four dry erase markers · 2 packages of pencil-top erasers · 1 package manila paper · 1 zipper pouch · 1 bottle Germ-X · 1 package construction paper · 1 water bottle · 3 one-subject wide-rule notebooks · 3 packages of 24 crayons · 4 rolls paper towels · 1 pair of scissors · 5 plastic pocket folders · 2 containers of Clorox wipes · 1 box of quart Ziploc bags for girls · 1 box of gallon Ziploc bags for boys Third Grade: · 3 boxes of crayons · Hand sanitizer · 4 packs of cap erasers · 3 glue sticks · 3 boxes Kleenex tissues · 6 packages of 24 wooden pencils · 3 packages of wide-ruled wireless composition b & w notebooks · Scissors · 2 or 1 large package(s) of disinfecting wipes · 3 rolls of paper towels · Black dry erase markers · Highlighters · Pouch of crayons · 3 plastic pocket folders without prongs · Hand-held pencil sharpener · Gallon Ziploc bags for girls · Quart Ziploc bags for boys Fourth Grade: · 1 pack of 24 non-decorative U.S.A. Gold or Ticonderoga wooden pencils (no Dixon) · 2 containers of Clorox wipes · 1 pack of construction paper · 3 boxes of 24 Crayola crayons · 1 USB jump drive · 4 packs of cap erasers · 1 pack of pen style highlighters · 2 glue sticks · 3 packs of wide-ruled loose leaf notebook paper · 1 wide-rule spiral notebook for Science & Social Studies · 2 non-spiral composition notebook for reading & language arts · 4 boxes of 100 or more Kleenex tissues · 2 eight-packs of Crayola markers · 2 rolls of paper towels · 1 large bottle of Germ-X · 1 box of quart Ziploc bags for girls · 1 box of gallon Ziploc bags for boys Fifth Grade: · 2 packs of mechanical pencils · Sturdy pencil pouch with zipper (i.e., bank bag) · 2 packs of wooden pencils · 1 pack of cap erasers · 1 pack of colored pencils · 1 pack of washable markers · 1 hand-held pencil sharpener · 1 pack of highlighters · 2 packs of black expo markers · 2 packs of Elmer's brand glue sticks · 2 heavy duty one-inch 3-ring binders · 1 composition notebook · 1 package of four plastic tab dividers with pockets · 5 packages of wide-ruled notebook paper (with reinforced edge if possible) · 3 boxes of Kleenex · 2 rolls of paper towels · 1 bottle of hand sanitizer · 1 container of disinfectant wipes\ Sixth grade: · 4 packs of #2 mechanical pencils · Replacement lead for mechanical pencils · 1 pack of pink block erasers (at least two per pack) · 2 one-inch heavy duty binders · Three-hole binder pouch · 1 sturdy plastic pocket folder without prongs (any color) · 1 red plastic pocket folder with prongs (any color) for math · 2 packages of reinforced loose leaf paper or loose leaf paper & reinforcers · 1 set of eight plastic dividers · 4 highlighters (different colors) · 1 pack of at least two black dry erase markers · 1 package of colored markers or colored pencils with sharpener · 2 rolls of paper towels · 2 containers of disinfectant wipes · 1 large bottle of hand sanitizer · 2 small non-scientific hand-held calculators · 1 portable memory drive (jump drive) for saving computer work

With the exponential growth of the Delta Variant of Covid-19 monopolizing the news, Keith Kinkade wanted to do something to help keep Mississippi moving forward and keep businesses open. He approached Jeff Good and suggested a partnership promotion where central Mississippians getting their first vaccine shot could get a treat from Jeff’s restaurants, and a great suit from Kinkade’s. “We’ve all been through a lot this past year. And we have come so far as a state... but we need to do better,” states Keith Kinkade, the owner of Kinkade’s Fine Clothing. “We are pro-business, and we are pro-Mississippi. And Mississippi is made up of the best people in the world. So, we wanted to come up with a way to do our part to help increase the vaccination rate in our community.” With Mississippi vaccination rates well below the national average, Keith and Jeff came up with the idea to incentivize those choosing to get their first vaccine shot with a $10 gift card to BRAVO!, Broad Street and Sal & Mookie’s as well as a chance to win a tailored suit from Kinkade’s! “If you got your first vaccination shot on July 23rd or thereafter, just bring your card to one of our businesses: Kinkade’s, Sal & Mookie’s in the District, BRAVO!, Broad Street or Sal & Mookie’s in Madison and we will give you a free $10 gift card!,” Jeff Good explains. “That’s not all! One lucky person out of every 100 will receive a free tailored suit from Kinkade’s! So, the more people who get vaccinated, the more suits will be given away! More gift cards, more suits, and better vaccination rates… it’s a win/win!” The promotion starts Friday, July 23rd and will run indefinitely. “We hope our efforts entices some folks who have not gotten around to getting their vaccine to doing so,” adds Keith Kinkade. “We just want to do our part to keep Mississippi open!” Participants will need to bring their official vaccination card, dated no earlier than July 23, 2021, for the first shot, to one of the host businesses: Kinkade’s, Sal & Mookie’s in the District, BRAVO!, Broad Street or Sal & Mookie’s in Madison to receive their free $10 gift card. At that time, they will be able to register for the free suit drawings. A new drawing will take place with every 100 entries. Participants can only enter once and may only receive one free gift card.

“It all begins with a song.” I’ve heard Co-Lin Hall of Fame member Tricia Walker say these words many times. The Grammy Award winning songwriter says without a song there is no performer, no audience. And so the Overbrook Songwriters Festival, which showcases song makers, is returning to Brookhaven this summer. As with nearly everything, last year’s festival was cancelled. This is the second year of the songwriters gathering. This year, twenty-five songwriters from all over the country will perform in five venues -- all in downtown Brookhaven within walking distance. Songwriter festivals are popping up all over the country now. In 2019, Overbrook was one of four festivals in Mississippi. Now I know of at least three more. The biggest one is in Ocean Springs, where fourteen venues host hundreds of songwriters from Friday through Sunday. You've never heard of most the songwriters. But I’ve learned over the years that you do not have to live in New York City, LA or Nashville to write good songs. There are good songwriters in Wesson and Loyd Star, and festivals like Overbrook give them the opportunity to demonstrate their talents. Many songwriters do not gig or play at bars and parties, but rather choose a quieter venue where the song is heard. And that’s what Overbrook is all about. While you probably haven't heard of most of the artists performing at this year's Overbrook, there are two headliners who have garnered national attention: · Ed Tree grew up in Brookhaven and was a guitar hero at a very early age. After college, he moved to California where he started work as a guitar player for the likes of Rita Coolidge and Spencer Davis. His touring days are behind him now, but he stays busy producing records for other artists -- writing songs, as well as playing local shows with his band The Tall Man Group, “a group of five guys who all write songs and get together and play for one another,” says Tree. Every month, they all put a song idea in a hat from which they draw. All five then write a song for the next month using that idea. “It’s not a competition, but I want my song to be the best,” Tree says. You can hear him at 7 p.m. Saturday, August 7, at Recess 101. · Friday night (August 6) at Recess, Pascagoula native Libby Rae Watson brings her saltwater blues to the stage. Watson is the winner of numerous blues awards and is a regular at The Juke Joint Festival in Clarksdale and The North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic in Waterford. Watson’s show is full of energy, stories and Americana music. Overbrook's Saturday venues begin music at noon that continues until 6 p.m. It's free to all. Magnolia Blues and Betty’s Eat Shop on Whitworth Avenue, Georgia Blues on Railroad Avenue and Brookhaven Sound Studios on Cherokee Street are the afternoon venues, while Recess hosts the night shows. The late night show at Betty’s on Saturday begins at 9 p.m., and it was the most attended show in 2019. Cynthia Brando, from California and Bob Bogaert from Illinois are among out-of-towners, and there will be local musicians like Tony Norton, Cody Dunaway, the Old Troubadour Charline Hewitt and crowd-favorite Mike J. Case, who grew up in Brookhaven and now resides in Philadelphia, Mississippi. They will take the stage Saturday afternoon. . One of the fun aspects of this festival will the writer’s circle held at Tyler Bridge’s Brookhaven Sound Studios. All songwriters who are not on the bill can come in and sit around and play their songs for one another. Some even ask for a critique. Last time, partnerships were formed and co-writers wrote songs together. Check out the Overbrook Songwriters Festival on Facebook for updates. A complete list of venue owners and the financial sponsors is up on Facebook, too. A festival like this would never happen without their generosity. This festival is like none other in our little corner of the world. Do you like original music sung by the person who wrote it? Do you like to hear the stories behind the song? Then make plans to attend. You’ll enjoy it, and you’ll be supporting the arts. EDITOR'S NOTE: Shaw Furlow is a local composer, musician and arts promoter. He produces an internet-based video show -- From the Shadyside -- that spotlights area musical talent and is a consultant to school bands in the region.

The Wesson Garden Club will be partnering with Copiah-Lincoln Community College on several projects during the coming months. The first of these projects took place on a very hot Saturday morning, July 24, 2021. Club members together with several staff members from the College planted 154 shrubs and perennials transforming the front of the Fortenberry Building into a beautiful landscaped area. The Club members then proceeded to the Wesson Library Garden for a time of weeding and sprucing up the garden. Thank you all who came out on this very hot and humid morning. The Wesson Garden Club is “Making Things Happen”.

Wesson Garden Club (WGC) helped the town participate in the celebration of National Garden Week last month. National Garden week raises awareness of gardening and horticulture and encourages people to take pride in their community through gardening. National Garden Clubs, Inc., with local garden clubs throughout the U.S. sponsor events associated with the week-long celebration. Wesson Garden Club's activities last month included: Donation of two books to Wesson Public Library -- Time to Plant by James T. Farmer, III, and A Perfect Garden by Lucy London. Floral arrangements for businesses. WGC members used flowers, unique wood pieces and greenery from their yards to create colorful floral arrangement for local business. They delivered 33 arrangements, which were displayed in recycled water bottles, carry-out boxes and bowls, to-go containers and glass jars to demonstrate the importance of recycling and protecting the environment. Library gardening books display. The WGC education committee set up a gardening book display at Wesson Public Library. New planters donation to library. WGC donated two container gardens to the Wesson Public Library to recognize its remodeling and grand reopening. The WGC container garden committee created them to sit by the front door to welcome library guests and visitors.

A popular former town Alderman, who resigned six years ago when his employment put him in a conflict-of-interest situation, will return to Wesson's governing board In municipal elections last month, Van Graham won a three-way race for Alderman-at-Large, garnering 92 votes against incumbent Stephen Ashley's 61 and challenger Mark Douglas' 45. Wesson voters also re-elected incumbent Mayor Alton Shaw and Aldermen Larry Hall (Ward 1), Jarrad Ashley (Ward 2), Billy Ellison (Ward 3) and Mike King (Ward 4), who all were unopposed in a low-turnout election with only 198 persons casting ballots. Shaw captured 181 votes throughout the four wards. In the Aldermen races, Ellison's 57 votes topped all the other candidates, with King's 22 the lowest vote total. Hall and Ashley received 51 and 48 votes respectively. The Mayor and Aldermen were sworn in at a 6 p.m. City Hall ceremony on Tuesday, June 29, before the July Aldermen's meeting the following Tuesday, July 6 The low turnout mirrored voting throughout Mississippi, which analysts said stemmed from the lack of excitement in an off-year and possibly lingering questions about the election system raised in the 2020 Presidential race. Graham originally served ten years as a Wesson Alderman, starting in July, 2005, and continuing until his resignation in August, 2015, after a State Ethics Commission opinion that a town cannot do business with a company which employs an alderman. At the time, Graham worked at Wesson Ace Hardware from which he has since retired. A Wesson native and graduate of Wesson High School, Graham attended Co-Lin on a band scholarship, then started his career in the hardware business in the Jackson area where he worked until 1991 with the exception of six months in Savannah, Georgia. He and his wife Wendi returned to Wesson to take over the home in which his grandparents had resided on Ninth Street. He joined Wesson Ace Hardware in 2000. He has a daughter, Jessica Renee, and a son, John Marshall (wife Sarah) and two grandsons, Gabriel and Ian. When Graham left town government ten years ago, he lifted up a vision encompassing wide involvement of citizens -- not just their aldermen -- in government, a citizenry which understands the issues affecting Wesson and how its government works, attends board meetings, takes pride in the town, seeks to contribute to it and has a sense of ownership in community development. Graham cited Dollar General's decision to locate in Wesson as a high point during his previous service as an Alderman. "The Board had laid the groundwork for the new business and Mayor Shaw made a personal telephone call to the company's officials to make it happen," he relates. Graham also considered the Old School community center, new sidewalks, work which was then scheduled to begin on the municipal park and the renovation of City Hall as high points that reflected "emphasis the town has placed on developing sources of revenue outside sales and property taxes through grants from federal and state government and private organizations." Graham also added "I have learned that things take time. It can be years after the photo opp with the giant cardboard check that you get the real check to begin a project." He credited the town's relationship with the Mississippi Municipal League (MML) for helping improve governance by the Board of Aldermen and guiding it in serving Wesson. An MML speaker, who talked about "Changing the Character of Citizens," shaped Graham's vision of involved citizenry.

In a variety of settings during August, Wesson Attendance Center (WAC) will offer advice, information and support to help teachers, students and parents alike successfully navigate the events and challenges they will face in the ten months of the 2021-22 school year. Teachers return to WAC before students for a staff development program on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, August 2, 3 and 4 that will orient them to their working environment, review the their job landscape and expectations and give them direction to perform well. Faculty and staff will get their ID badges starting at 8 a.m. on August 3. From 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 3, parents and students can learn more about WAC: At an open house and students, parents and teachers will socialize informally and a Parent Teachers Organization (PTO) meeting will show parents how they can sustain their relationship with WAC throughout the school year. Kindergarten and elementary school children and their parents will have an opportunity to meet teachers, make sure they have acquired the proper school supplies required for the classroom experience and talk the nature of studies over the coming year. Incoming seventh graders and their parents can also learn about moving to junior high and high school. "In order to help our seventh grade students transition from the elementary side of the building to the junior high side of the building, we will host and orientation for parents and students," explains WAC Principal Tommy Clopton. "Students and parents will have the opportunity to meet teachers, see their classrooms, and ask questions that will help make the transition a smoother process. Moving to the seventh grade is a big step for our students, and our administration and staff aim to do everything we can to make the process a smooth one." Meet the Cobras on Thursday, August 13, will introduce students to WAC's athletic program at the Old Gym. Players and coaches will make presentations in a rally-like atmosphere. WAC also publishes an annual 82-section handbook for students that informs and guides parents and teachers on elementary school and high school procedures and policies. Topics range from response to emergencies to counseling services and dress code to the grading system and truancy. The entire handbook is accessible on the WAC web site (http://wac.ccsd.schoolfusion.us).

Mississippi’s young students are building a strong foundation for future educational success with the help of America Reads—Mississippi (ARM) AmeriCorps members, who in turn receive scholarships to help them pursue their own degrees. AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteering and national service, recently announced continued funding for the America-Reads Mississippi program, which will soon enter its 23rd year of helping Mississippi children get their education off to a strong start and helping AmeriCorps members complete their educational goals of completing a bachelor’s degree. “This grant represents an investment in the success of our state’s students along the P-20 continuum and builds community connections among the universities, local K-12 schools, tutors and students,” said Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., Commissioner of Higher Education. “Additionally, many of the AmeriCorps members go on to become certified K-12 teachers in Mississippi classrooms, which aids in addressing current teacher shortage.” Managed by the Institutions of Higher Learning staff, America Reads—Mississippi has demonstrated educational service collaboration between universities, local elementary schools and districts, and community organizations. Their work is coordinated through four regional university offices, including Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, The University of Southern Mississippi, and Delta State University, which is returning as a regional office this year. Since 1998, more than 4,900 AmeriCorps members have given at least one year of service and served more than 63,000 K-3rd grade students, tutoring them during the school day and in after-school programs. AmeriCorps members have received approximately $17.4 million in education award scholarships, which have allowed them to achieve their dreams of earning a degree, during that time. Many of the scholarship recipients have utilized these funds to gain the credentials necessary to become certified teachers. “The ability to read by third grade is critical to a child’s success in school, life-long learning potential, and their ability to contribute to the state’s economy,” said Dr. Casey Prestwood, Associate Commissioner for Academic and Student Affairs. “America Reads—Mississippi provides K-3rd grade students with a key to their future by focusing on improving their literacy skills. ARM also provides a great opportunity for Mississippians to pursue higher education while serving as literacy tutors. This is a great service to Mississippi and the future of our state.” On the horizon of reaching its 25th year of service in 2023, America Reads—Mississippi will expand its efforts over the next two years to reconnect with more than 4,900 AmeriCorps alumni, determine the number of members who have become certified teachers or work in education-related fields; and conduct an impact evaluation to measure program effectiveness on improving the literacy skills of students and on increasing the educational and professional skills of AmeriCorps members for future pursuits. “In the end, we only regret the chances we don’t take,” said Antoinette Nicholas, An AmeriCorps member, 2019-2021. “AmeriCorps took a chance on me and gave me the greatest gift I could have ever imagined: A chance to give freely and unconditionally for two years as an AmeriCorps member and now as a certified teacher. I am thankful.”

Since 2016, folks around town have known Vanda Brister as an elementary school teacher at Wesson Attendance Center, and they're confident, as she takes over as assistant principal, WAC's kindergarten through sixth grade remain in good hands as an educator with her heart in the classroom. Brister is taking the reins at WAC elementary with the departure Marilyn Phillips, who served as elementary principal for the past two years after retiring from her long-held position as the principal overseeing the overall WAC facility. "My job is now supporting elementary students, their teachers and other support staff and their parents," Brister says. "As a teacher with my heart in the classroom, you can be sure you'll find me teaching -- to help as I can and see what is needed at the same time. As an administrator, I plan to engage an amazing team of teachers and be their leader." Brister grew up in the Wesson area on a small farm on Watson Road not far from the Sylvarena Road truck stop in an extended family with her parents and grandparents. She enjoyed playing and working with farm animals, gardening and fishing. She says the seeds of her career in education were planted at the Nena Smith Dance Studio, where she was an instructor in the hours after attending Wesson Attendance Center. She also played soccer at Wesson High School. After graduating from WHS in 2001, she enrolled at Co-Lin as a nursing student, but decided after a semester that she wanted to make a difference with kids in the classroom like her teachers did when she was at WAC. She never liked or understood math, but Philip Knight changed that in the classroom for her. "I wanted to introduce kids to new things and present things in novel ways to make a difference their lives," she recalls. "My reward over more than two decades as a teacher has been seeing children succeed. Helping students recognize their own success and being able to see when they recognize their successes is the biggest reward of all." Brister earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science with an elementary education specialty at Co-Lin, completed a BS Degree in K-8 Elementary Education with endorsements in reading and science at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2005 and worked at Pearl Elementary from 2006-2012 and Simpson Central at Pinola, Mississippi, from 2013-2016 before returning to teach at WAC. Along the way, she has received National Board Certification and has just about wrapped up work on a Masters Degree in educational leadership at Mississippi College. Brister and her husband Tyler, an offshore maintenance coordinator for Chevron, live in Crystal Springs with two children -- Tate, 13, and Mason, 9. What are your hobbies? I am busy at school and being a mom for kids, but find time for reading and photography. My husband and I are active members of New Zion Baptist Church, serving on the mission team on which we travelled to Haiti once, and look forward to returning. Our local mission focus is work with the homeless. As a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Copiah County, a women's organization, I have another outlet for working with children and meeting their needs What do you read? Mostly professionally-related educational material on best practices, culture, leadership and teamwork. I also like Christian literature written by Priscila Shirer and David Platt. What kind of music do you like? Christian music. I listen to K-Love Radio and sing in the church choir in which I make a joyful noise and not take on solo parts. Do you enjoy movies or theater? As a genre, I am into family drama. I enjoy Gray's Anatomy. I visit New York City now and then to see Broadway productions, and to Brookhaven to see some Little Theater -- most recently Peter Pan and The Diary of Ann Frank. What would you do with lottery winnings if you were so lucky? I would spend on my family and give to church missions. How would you change the world? People need to look at the positives in life and love people for who they are like Jesus did. I would help make that happen, and also give teachers a pay raise. Did the pandemic change you as a teacher? We teachers found we could rise to the occasion and do more in difficult situations to assure student achievement and well being. We came out of it with more confidence that we could respond to student needs.

Today MSDH is releasing updated Public Health Guidance for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 in Mississippi K-12 settings for the 2021-2022 school year – consistent with CDC guidelines. Mississippi State Department of Health Public Health Guidance: All eligible students, teachers, and staff 12 years of age and older should receive COVID-19 vaccination. Masks should be worn indoors in school settings by all individuals (age 2 and older) who are not fully vaccinated. Schools should maintain at least three feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk. Routine screening testing of asymptomatic unvaccinated students, teachers and staff is recommended as an additional measure to prevent further transmission. Schools should continue to isolate COVID-19 infected students, teachers, and staff and continue contact tracing to identify exposed individuals for quarantine and exclusion from the school setting. All students, teachers and staff who have symptoms of any infectious illness, regardless of vaccination status, should stay home from school and be evaluated by their healthcare provider. As a reminder, fully vaccinated students, teachers and staff: Do not have to wear a mask when indoors; Do not have to quarantine or be excluded from the school setting if they have COVID-19 exposure; and Do not have to be tested unless symptomatic. MSDH has developed a School Based Testing Initiative to facilitate onsite screening testing for all unvaccinated asymptomatic students, teachers and staff (information available at School-Based COVID-19 Testing Initiative - Mississippi State Department of Health (ms.gov) MSDH has also developed an Adopt-a-school Vaccination Program, working in partnership with schools and providers, to facilitate onsite COVID-19 vaccinations for all eligible students, teachers and staff. Visit https://msdh.ms.gov/AdoptASchool for additional details. Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.