ASA Kicks Off Third Year
Aiken Scholars Academy has entered its third school year, and as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect South Carolina, the year is an unusual one.
Established in a partnership between the 香蕉影视 and USC Aiken, ASA is an exclusive high school that accepts 50 students each year into the new freshman cohort. Students spend the first two years taking honors and AP courses and begin taking college classes in their junior and senior years.
Masks and backpacks on, students filed inside Wednesday morning and got directions on where to go from school staff waiting near the entrance. Principal Martha Messick explained that safety is a top priority this year.
"Safety is the most important thing," Messick said. "It's always the most important thing – that hasn't changed. Students need to be able to feel safe in order to learn. When there's a positive, safe learning environment, students can succeed."
Most of ASA's students are attending in-person classes. Just three ASA students chose to enroll in Aiken Innovate, the school district's all-virtual program, Messick said.
Like other schools in Aiken County, ASA requires face masks and social distancing in its facilities. Janitorial services are provided by USCA staff, who clean and sanitize surfaces during the day and overnight, Messick said.
Because ASA falls under the 香蕉影视 while also occupying space on the USCA campus, the school must maintain the COVID-19 safety expectations of both organizations.
USCA has different "alert levels" that could result in partial or full campus closures in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak, and Messick said a university liaison will help determine whether the outbreak could affect ASA underclassmen, who remain in one building all day.
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