If you find yourself as being compassionate and caring, you might have a personality that is perfect for a career in the field of medicine or healthcare. Nursing is one of the most demanding career fields but is one of the most fulfilling and admirable jobs out there. There are many paths you can take to reach your goals of becoming a nurse, so it is important to take the necessary steps and be prepared on your way to working as a nurse. Step 1- Understanding your passion Before you even get started on any other steps on your way to becoming a nurse, you need to first know if this is the right career for you. Nurses, at their very core, are caregivers and must have a passion to help people. The job won’t always be glamorous, will oftentimes be messy, and frequently feel as though you are underappreciated. It may all be too much and cause you to second guess your career choices. This is where the passion for your work will push you to continue to do good things for those in your community. If you have that care and passion for people, then you are looking at the right path. Step 2- Research career paths Once you know that this is going to be a career for you, you will then have to begin to do your research. You need to look at all the career and job options while evaluating what works best for you. Not all paths will lead in the same direction and that is okay. If you want to become an RN, or Registered Nurse, or LPN, a Licensed Practical Nurse, you will have to commit to several years of studying and practicing. Understandably, this is not the path for everyone. For those that do not have the time or money to dedicate to a more traditional path, but still want to help and provide health care, you can pursue a career as a Home Health Aide or Certified Nursing Assistant. The online resources at HeyScrubs.com provide all the information to prepare for the career you are interested in that include a lot of helpful details regarding the best classes, programs, and schools. Not everyone has the same life path, it is never too late to work in health care and there are many programs, classes, and jobs that you can find fits your life. Step 3- Find the school or classes that are right for you Once you have decided on which path to take to pursue your passion of becoming a nurse, you need to look into different schools and classes. This will factor in many things that consider your lifestyle, what you can handle in terms of school workloads, and your end goal for your job and career. Certain schools and programs may even provide work placements and better opportunities to advance further and faster in your career field so include that in your research when considering your desired program. Additionally, it is also wise to look into bursaries, and financial help and aid as some programs will provide such support. Step 4- Knowing the requirements Before committing to any program, or class, understand what requirements are needed. Similar to job applications, certain courses require students to have the right qualifications. Make sure that you have these qualifications, and if not, you should take the time to fulfill these needs. If you are deciding on a career in nursing, this is a major commitment and such a commitment should be met with the right preparations. Step 5- Completing your courses Once you’ve gotten into the course, program, or school of your choice, it is up to you to complete that program. These courses will range in terms of how long you will be studying depending on which path you chose. But no matter, you will have a lot of work and studying ahead of you, so it is important to be persistent and focused. Your passion and care for people will only take you so far, your ability to learn and perform will determine your success and ability to move forward. All the information and practices will be vital to your future and for your career. If you have ever considered working as a nurse, you probably have the traits of working with people and caring for others. There are many other things to consider, but you are not alone. There are many resources out there to help you on your way. Keep in mind some things to know before you pursue your passion but being better equipped and prepared will help you reach your goals easier.

Modern life is so busy, isn’t it? It’s so easy to be rushing towards our destination that we forget to savour the journey. The more this is true for us, the more likely we are to let important things slip, like our health. None of us are getting any younger, so we simply cannot afford to ignore it. I will now shine a light on a few things, to provide some helpful suggestions. A Healthy Diet Plan your meals at least a week in advance. If you don’t plan, you’ll be left to raiding the fridge for whatever is there, be it good or bad for you. Avoid processed meals because whilst they are easy to cook, they are high in fat, carbs and sugar. Routine is so important in your daily life. Keep family mealtimes at the table. Don’t disappear elsewhere and eat whatever you want whenever you want. If you’re staring at TV or your phone, you won’t monitor your snacking properly. Fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you. Choose high fibrous fruits like pears, and eat green vegetables. They are vitamin-filled and boost your immune system. For a healthy amount of protein in your diet, have eggs, nuts and chicken. It’s great to have additional vitamins, particularly if you are e.g. vegetarian or coeliac. I came across this helpful website which contains articles including what to take during the cold season. Vitamin D helps you have healthy bones, magnesium helps with sleep and iron increases energy and assists red blood cell production. Water is essential to keep you hydrated. Avoid drinks with additives and sweeteners. If you opt for tea or coffee with milk, this will have implications for your weight, not to mention the effect caffeine has on your body. Did you know? Hot cocoa can boost your mood virtually immediately! Our diets are so important for optimising our health. Chew gum. You might think it’s a bad image, but it might stop you from snacking in between meals. If you DO need a snack, have a healthy alternative like a smoothie. If you’re on a diet, why not join a Facebook group so you no longer need to feel that you’re going it alone. Avenues like this don’t even have to cost you anything. As regards alcohol, the best thing you can do is abstain. If you really must drink it, have a couple of drinks a day but at least two weekdays where you don’t have it. Regular Exercise Many people have an inaccurate body image, but it is important to be the right size and shape for us. This makes it all the more important to get and stay healthy. Do you have two and a half hours’ exercise during the week? Do you make sure it’s enough to raise your heart rate? It’s important we keep our bodies moving. They are like batteries - with a ‘use it or lose’ mode. If you are stuck indoors and can’t get to the gym, do you have stairs you can go up and down? Do you take short journeys by car when you could have walked? Neuroscientists say that changing our environment (e.g. going outdoors) helps recalibrate our brains from the familiar. It’s like a re-set mode. On the other side, it’s important we maintain a daily routine. Continue to have the same 7-9 hours’ sleep your body needs. If you can’t go outdoors, open the windows. The air is actually cleaner outside than it is inside your house. A lot of the battle with exercise is that it’s a grind for people who don’t like sport. If you can make it fun the motivation will be much stronger. Make exercise part of your family time, when you all laugh and catch up on your lives. Buy a dog - then you’ll HAVE to take it for a walk, rain or shine! Wear an activity tracker on your wrist, like a Fitbit. It will help you know how far you walked today, and look at your weekly stats to check for improvement or consistency. Preventive Medical Check-ups Don’t miss your annual health check-ups, no matter how busy you are. Get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked. Find out what your Body Mass Index is. Keep up to date with any annual vaccinations. Beware of playing music with headphones. If it’s too loud it can damage your hearing - there is a rising generation that is about to discover this! Avoid smoking or get help coming off. I hope this whistle-stop tour has been of interest to you. More importantly, I hope I have raised awareness and put some keys into your hand. We are all busy people but we are powerful people: we can be in charge of our lives. We can be strategic, rather than victims of a fast food society with its obesity and health issues.

There’s a good reason why they are called holiday homes and owning one will undeniably add to your comforts. It could be that you are at that age where you just want to settle down and concentrate your efforts on raising a family in a posh environment or that you’re just tired of those regular trips to the Bahamas and you want to bring the Bahamas to you. These are just among the reasons why most people invest in holiday homes. But the thing is, buying a holiday home is not as easy as it may sound. When buying a holiday home, you’ll be making a worthwhile investment decision that can make you money on the long haul as you can rent it out during the months or weeks that you’ll not be using it such as enlisting your holiday home to Airbnb. But first, you’ll need to find the perfect home that suits your needs. You’ll need to get your head around various choices when shopping around. To narrow down your search, below is a complete buyer’s guide to holiday homes. 1. Types of Holiday Homes Before going for just any holiday home, it’s important that you first decide on the type of holiday home that you want. Over the past few decades, holiday homes have continued to grow in popularity. This is because compared to conventional and traditional homes, holiday homes provide a lot of benefits in terms of space, privacy, comfort, and facilities. After reading this property guide, you’ll be in a better position to decide on the type of property you want depending on your needs and budget. Whether you want a holiday home in a quaint and serene environment or an isolated suburb, there's always something for everyone. To cut the long story short, below are different types of holiday homes, they include: Cottages – Cottages are perfectly designed for families and have everything that you may need for a family setup. Beachside holiday homes – Now, these are what you’d call the perfect holiday homes. They’ll provide you with a magnificent view of the sea/ocean as they are characterized by large sliding glass windows and doors. Grand country mansions and castles – These also fall in the category y of holiday homes. These will be the perfect investments for rental purposes. You can turn a castle into an ideal accommodation for families on holidays and business retreats. 2. Choosing the Perfect Location for Holiday Homes If you’re considering buying a holiday home, then you must prioritize whether you want the home as a lifestyle investment or for commercial use and in both cases, location is key. For starters, proximity to amenities is a key factor that you’ll need to consider when choosing the perfect location. These can include shops, restaurants, bars, and pubs. Additionally, you may also opt for holiday homes built near tourist attraction sites such as beaches, scenic parks, or golf courses. But all this will depend on your preferences and inclinations because there are people who’ll prefer that woodland ramble environment and natural beautiful isles of the countryside. 3. The Must-Have Holiday Home Essentials When it comes to buying the perfect holiday home, it’s important to factor in your needs. It’s very easy to get caught up in unnecessary jargons that can affect you in the long run. Ideally, ensure that the holiday home has the essential facilities and features that you and your family needs such as good heating, water, electricity, and fast internet connection. You’ll need to ensure that there are enough bathrooms, a lounging area, a balcony lounge, patio, an ideal kitchen, and a modern living area. It doesn’t hurt to have other luxuries added such as a kids' playground or a swimming pool. 4. Legal Considerations There are legal requirements that you’ll need to factor in when buying a holiday home. This is arguably the less exciting part and one that is often overlooked. This includes holiday home rules and regulations for both private and rental investments. For starters, owning a holiday home is a huge investment which means higher stamp duties. In addition to this, you’ll need to comply with various obligations such as those that concern potentially hazardous facilities such as Jacuzzis, swimming pools, and fire safety. Other legal aspects that you’ll need to consider before buying a holiday home include the planning rates, insurance, and tax liabilities. Whether buying or renting, it’s important to have your solicitor draw these considerations for you. This way, you’ll have everything checked out before making a mistake that could end up costing you more. 5. Financing Your choice of a holiday home will be determined by the budget you’ve set aside for the purchase. Being a huge investment, you may need to consider a mortgage. In addition to this there will be other ongoing costs that will need to be factored in such as the annual site fees, electricity, gas, insurance, and the general maintenance of the home. You may choose to subsidize the cost of holiday home ownership by renting it out whenever it’s not in use. Now, whether it’s a slice of the seaside or a scenic mountain view that will complete your dream of owning a holiday home, the above pointers will help you to decide on what, how, and where to buy the perfect home.

When it comes to our homes we can often be rather particular with how we decorate, and who’s to blame you? We spend a long time saving up for a deposit followed by years or repayments, so ensuring we are living somewhere we love is really important. Remodelling your house is something loads of homeowners think about and often write it into their long term plan for the house but when it comes down to it are we looking at it in the right way? Have we done everything in our power to make sure nothing is going to go wrong? Here are some things you need to look at before starting any work on your much-loved home. Paperwork Firstly, we need to think about the relevant paperwork that is needed to start any building work. The last thing you want to happen when renovating or remodelling your house is for the authorities to come and start asking you questions about the permits you didn’t realise were a necessity. If that does happen you will be taking down and reversing all of the work you’ve completed so far. If you’re planning on remodelling then I would thoroughly suggest reading up on everything needed to legally complete the build. You might want to consider this helpful article to get yourself started and put you in a good position to start your build. Having all the permits in place will not only allow a quick and easy renovation but it will also provide a safe one. Don’t try and get any work done without the required paperwork, it will go against you further down the line and can end up wasting valuable time and effort. Planning Something that most likely will be linked in with the paperwork section is your plan, to be successful with remodelling your house you’ll have to be meticulous in the planning stage. You hear of horror stories where people discover old electric cables that were never decommissioned and that is something you have to put up with when renovating old houses but if you’re prepared then it will be a much easier job to complete. Get the plans for your house and decide what you want to do, this is something many people don’t think about until it’s too late and they are rushed into making large decisions that usually require some time. Make sure you’ve set everything you want out first, for example, if you want more space in your front room then make sure you’ve stated that and looked how and where you can create more space. Something else to think about is your schedule, make sure to have a tight schedule and follow it as closely as you can, this will save you time which will save you money. Contingency Plan It’s important to plan for every eventuality and whilst you may have planned every section of your housing remodel, have you accounted for anything that might go wrong? Set aside some money for that scenario and try not to touch it unless something unforeseen happens. Professionals Something you should be thinking of before starting any work is what you can do yourself and if there is anything you will need to hire a professional for. Certain jobs require qualified professionals to complete to ensure the safety and functionality of the work, for example, if you’re moving things around in your bathroom then having a plumber is essential. The last thing you want is to start moving pipes around without extensive knowledge as it could and most probably will create more work. Cut your losses and hire someone to do it the first time around, it will save money and ensure you’re sticking to your schedule. Electrics is another area where hiring a professional is essential, any work done to your electrics will need to be signed off by a qualified electrician for your renovation to pass guidelines. Don’t Decorate Until You’re Finished Impatience is something we are all unfortunately blessed with and we should all learn to try and control it. Don’t decorate anything in your house until all the work is complete, the place will be dirty for quite some time and builder's dust is a type that you’ll wish to never encounter again. Make it livable if you need to, but putting down your expensive carpet or sofa will guarantee it will be ruined, stay patient and decorate when everything is complete. Remodeling your house is an exciting project and one that can add huge amounts of value to your property, as long as it has been completed to a professional standard. Plan everything first and things will be as simple as you make them. When it comes to your budget try to forecast that you will spend more money than you would like to and things won’t be a surprise when you near that number, being prepared for every eventuality is key when renovating, but at the end of it your much-loved house will be your dream home.

Videographer Editor and Documentarian Steve Collins, of SVCC Productions, from Hazlehurst MS, has won a prestigious "Award of Recognition" from the IndieFEST Film Awards. The award was given for Steve Collins' exciting documentary feature, The Boy With The Pop Bottle On His Head, which is a great film that brings a 50 year old Mississippi mystery to life. It is an unbelievable, yet true, story of a strange 12 year old boy who appeared out of nowhere in Hazlehurst, MS from parts unknown wearing a glass coke bottle on his head and predicted the historic and deadly tornado of 1969, that not even the meteorologists saw coming. "Something Bad Is Gonna Happen In This Town" the little boy proclaimed to anyone who would listen. Despite constant threats, beatings and all sorts of torturous acts against him, the bottle remarkably would never fall from his head! But that was just the beginning! You won't BELIEVE what else he did! Talented ten year old youth model, actor, singer and business owner Terrance LaMont Smith Jr. from Jackson, MS portrays the "Boy" in which many people says Smith has similar features. The film was shot on location in many parts of Hazlehurst and several scenes in Crystal Springs, Ms. It is supported with many interviews from local people and neighboring cities who interacted with the boy. The documentary also feature some of the 1960's civil rights struggles in Hazlehurst, endless photo of the tornado damage and newspaper articles of that time period.. I thank God Almighty for IndieFest for recognizing my work and presenting me with an outstanding award Collins says. My main achievement was to not only just tell this 50 year old story that some people thought to be a myth, but also find out who this little boy was, where he came from and is he still alive today. I hope the world see this documentary and I hope it have a huge impact on the state of Mississippi. I hope it will encourage the city of Hazlehurst MS to erect a monument to commemorate the lives lost in the January 23 tornado of 1969 and perhaps even a statue of The Boy With The Pop Bottle On His Head. The IndieFEST Film Awards recognizes film, television, videography and new media professionals who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity, and those who produce standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change. Entries are judged by highly qualified professionals in the film and television industry. Information about the IndieFEST and a list of recent winners can be found at www.theindiefest.com. In winning an IndieFEST Film Award, Steve Collins and SVCC Productions joins the ranks of other high-profile winners of this internationally respected award including Liam Neeson as the narrator of Love Thy Nature, A Path Appears Documentary featuring George Clooney and Blake Lively, Radical Grace executive produced by Susan Sarandon, a searing expose Davids and Goliath by Peabody winner Leon Lee, and Touched with Fire starring Katie Holmes.  Rick Prickett, who chairs The IndieFEST Film Awards, had this to say about the latest winners, “The IndieFEST is not an easy award to win. Entries are received from around the world from powerhouse companies to remarkable new talent. The IndieFEST helps set the standard for craft and creativity. The judges were pleased with the exceptional high quality of entries. The goal of The IndieFEST Film Awards is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve.” For more information call Steve Collins (601)894-3392 or (601)613-7413, Please take a short moment to watch the official trailer about the documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS6TPG_detI Also visit the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TheBoyWithThePopBottleOnHisHead/?ref=bookmarks Other links: WAPT 16 News https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyNQuoDuwms Clarion Ledger https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2019/01/23/hazlehurst-tornado-boy-prophet-warned-deadly-event-50-years-ago/2515035002/ Mid-South Black Film Festival Best Documentary https://www.midsouthblackfilm.com/awards-prizes

Asthma and Allergy Awareness month is a fitting time to focus on conditions that affect one out of every five Americans and how to mitigate them. An estimated 50 million American suffer from allergies, which are the most frequently reported chronic condition in children and account for more than 17 million outpatient office visits. Allergies are characterized by an overreaction of the human immune system to a foreign substance that is eaten, breathed into the lungs, injected or touched. This immune overreaction can result in symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose, and scratch throat. An allergic reaction may occur anywhere in the body, but usually appears in the nose, eyes, lungs, lining of the stomach, sinuses, throat and skin. In severe cases, it can also result in rashes, hives, lower blood pressure, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks and even death. Some allergy problems may not need treatment. Others can be controlled with the occasional use of an over-the-counter medication. However, sometimes allergies can interfere with dayto-day activities or decrease quality of life of those who are affected. Although there is no cure for allergies, they can be managed with proper prevention and treatment. Allergic reactions are triggered indoors and outdoors by common substances, such as plant pollen, molds, household dust, cockroaches, pets, industrial chemicals, foods, medicines, feathers, second hand smoke and insect stings. There are skin allergies, food and drug allergies and latex allergies. If you have chronic allergies or frequent symptoms, you may benefit from visiting an allergist. You should see an allergist when: • Your allergies are causing symptoms such as chronic sinus infections, nasal congestion or difficulty breathing; • You experience allergy symptoms several months out of the year; • Over the counter medications do not control your symptoms; • Your symptoms are interfering with your ability to carry on day-to-day activities. A visit might include: • Allergy testing • Prevention education • Medication prescriptions • Immunotherapy (allergy shots) Asthma is a serious allergic reaction characterized by inflammation of the air passages, resulting in the temporary narrowing of the airways that transport air from the nose and mouth to the lungs. Asthma symptoms can be caused by allergens or irritants that are inhaled into the lung. Symptoms include coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Asthma is a chronic disorder, and there is no cure for it. But it can be managed. Asthma tends to occur within families and tends to be initiated by a variety of “triggers,” such as allergens, exercise, viral respiratory infections, respiratory irritants, second-hand smoke and aspirin. More Americans than ever are suffering from asthma -- one of the country’s most common and costly diseases. Every day: • 44,000 people have an asthma attack. • 36,000 kids miss school due to asthma. • 27,000 adults miss word due to asthma. • 4,700 people visit the emergency room due to asthma. • 1,200 people are admitted to the hospital due to asthma. • Nine die due to asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic condition among children, with almost five million sufferers under the age of 18. Asthma is more common in adult women than adult men, more common in male children than female children, and more common among children than adults. In Mississippi, 9.7 percent of the population has been diagnosed with asthma as of 2018. See an asthma or allergy physician specialist to receive the best treatment possible. Learn everything you can about asthma. Learn what triggers your (or your child’s) symptoms and avoid them as best you can. Recognize the signs of an oncoming episode. Provide preventive care, so that you or your child have the least amount of difficulty with symptoms. Learn self-management skills. EDITOR'S NOTE: Stephanie Duguid is Dean of Academic Instruction at Co-Lin. She is also an athletic trainer and nutrition specialist and has been teaching courses related to those two areas as well as practicing what she preaches for more than twenty years.

The University of Mississippi recently announced students named to the Spring 2020 Honor Roll lists, including Chancellor's Honor Roll. The following students from your area made the list: Kathryn Elizabeth Legg, of Wesson, MS. Elizabeth Nell Shirley, of Wesson, MS. "Our Chancellor's Honor Roll students set the bar for academic excellence at the University of Mississippi, and I congratulate them on their outstanding achievement," said Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce. "Their success is the result of an incredible amount of hard work and dedication and truly showcases their commitment to the pursuit of academic and personal greatness." In order to be eligible for honor roll designation, a student must have completed at least 12 graded hours for the semester and may not be on academic probation during the semester.

Jackson, Miss. — Senators will receive a full briefing on the economic outlook in Mississippi and revenue projections when the 2020 Legislative Session reconvenes next week. State Economist Dr. Darrin Webb and Department of Revenue Commissioner Herb Frierson will present to the Appropriations Committee at 10:30 a.m. in Senate Room 216 on Tuesday, May 26.  The Senate gavels in at 10 a.m.  The economic briefing will be webcast (link available at www.legislature.ms.gov) with the help of Mississippi Public Broadcasting.  Citizens are encouraged to watch online rather than attend in-person. “Mississippi’s economy severely slowed for two months, with some businesses closing altogether.  We need to understand the economic consequences of the shut down and COVID-19 as best we can before crafting a new budget,” Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann said. In March, Hosemann, Speaker of the House Philip Gunn, Senate Appropriations Chairman Briggs Hopson, and House Appropriations Chairman John Read sent a letter to all state agencies, boards, and commissions which receive an appropriation asking them to implement cost-saving measures in anticipation of the economic halt. “Our ultimate goals will be to prioritize education, healthcare, and the safety of citizens,” Hosemann said. The Legislature initially recessed its 125-day Session temporarily on March 18, following the Governor’s issuance of a State of Emergency related to COVID-19. The House and Senate briefly reconvened twice in early and mid-May to begin appropriating the $1.25 billion provided from the CARES Act for COVID-19 relief in Mississippi.   The first appropriation set aside $300 million for a direct payment and grant program to small businesses meeting certain qualifications, and $50 million to the Governor for any emergency needs.  The Governor signed Senate Bill 2772 on May 20. For more information on Lieutenant Governor Hosemann, visit www.ltgovhosemann.ms.gov.

The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning passed a resolution at its meeting today stating the Board’s intention that the campuses of all eight public universities make plans to resume traditional operations on their campuses in the Fall of 2020. “Providing a safe environment for all students and employees is paramount,” said Dr. Ford Dye, President of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. “We urge the universities to take prudent precautions in planning for resuming traditional operations and make adjustments as needed, based on recommendations from health experts.” The resolution includes direction to the universities to plan to offer as many in-person classes as possible, while taking into consideration guidance from the Federal Government and the Mississippi Department of Health and complying with any Executive Order from the Governor then in effect. The Safe Start Task Force, established last month by Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr., Commissioner of Higher Education, is developing a system-level plan for starting and completing the fall 2020 semester in the safest and most effective way. “The Safe Start Task Force is working diligently to develop guidelines to help the campuses resume traditional operations in a safe manner,” said Dr. Rankins. “While this is a fluid situation and there are many unknowns at this point, our goal is to provide the best academic experience in the safest manner possible.” The resolution recognizes that plans being made may need to be modified to align with changes in recommendations from health experts.

JACKSON— Today, Governor Tate Reeves released social distancing and sanitation guidelines for in-person worship services to safely resume across Mississippi. Consulting with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and our state health officials, Governor Reeves developed guidelines for worship leaders and their congregations to join together to practice their faiths while continuing to help protect public health and flatten the curve. "I’ll just say this as a personal point. My family is likely going to continue worshiping from home for a while. The church is not a building. We can honor our Lord and keep our neighbors safe. You don’t need to rush back. We do want to provide a playbook for how to do it safely, when pastors determine the time is right," said Governor Tate Reeves. The guidelines include steps to prepare houses of worship, plan for logistics and worship programming, and direct staff and worship leadership on social distancing protocols. You can view the full guidelines for in-person worship serviceshere. Governor Reeves made the announcement at today's press briefing, which you can view on our Facebook pagehere. Churches and places of worship were deemed anessential business or operationand were never instructed to close, though they were encouraged to offer services online and remotely to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) is seeking public input to help the state prioritize the use of funds from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act provides one-time relief funds to respond to the impact of school closures due to COVID-19 and to assist schools with their restart and recovery plans. There are many layers of considerations that go into how and when school buildings will reopen. The MDE is working to create guidance for local districts on the following topics: Summer transition Instructional materials Diagnostic assessments Support to at-risk students and other vulnerable populations Building cleaning and infrastructure School meals, wraparound supports, conditions for learning Communication and family engagement The MDE is collecting public input through the MDE CARES Act Public Survey through June 1, 2020. The survey questions will help the state prioritize the use of federal CARES Act funds. The MDE will prioritize local needs as well as potential investments and supports that could be offered to local school districts. That includes gaining insight and input from all stakeholders to draft a strong plan for restart and recovery initiatives. The MDE’s goal is to help schools and districts continue instruction and critical services that all students deserve. “I ask everyone invested in our schools to participate in the feedback process and let us know what your priorities are and what challenges you foresee,” said Dr. Carey Wright, state superintendent of education. “Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t predict what the next few months will bring, but we are committed to doing what's best for our students, teachers and school staff. Above all, student and staff health and safety will continue to be our number one priority, and our agency will rely on health experts to inform any decision that is made.” MDE CARES Act Public Survey: https://cspr.mde.k12.ms.us/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=92K0l632

Tuesday, Governor Tate Reeves released social distancing and sanitation guidelines for in-person worship services to safely resume across Mississippi. Consulting with Dr. Thomas Dobbs and our state health officials, Governor Reeves developed guidelines for worship leaders and their congregations to join together to practice their faiths while continuing to help protect public health and flatten the curve. "I’ll just say this as a personal point. My family is likely going to continue worshiping from home for a while. The church is not a building. We can honor our Lord and keep our neighbors safe. You don’t need to rush back. We do want to provide a playbook for how to do it safely, when pastors determine the time is right," said Governor Tate Reeves. The guidelines include steps to prepare houses of worship, plan for logistics and worship programming, and direct staff and worship leadership on social distancing protocols. You can view the full guidelines for in-person worship services here. Governor Reeves made the announcement at today's press briefing, which you can view on our Facebook page here. Churches and places of worship were deemed an essential business or operation and were never instructed to close, though they were encouraged to offer services online and remotely to help slow the spread of COVID-19.