![Adding a tray of canned corn to the pile, junior Michael Collop assists in transporting donations for the Holiday Food Drive. The event, hosted schoolwide from Dec. 10-17, raised over 5,000 food items to deliver to the Parkway Food Pantry, helping several families in need. [The drive] is a great thing for us to do because you're giving to those who are less fortunate, and it helps provide for people who can't provide for themselves. [The] competition is always fun, too. It was fun to be in [social studies teacher Jess] Chazen’s class, because he always gets worked up over [the competition]. He made it exciting, and was always convincing us to turn in cans for the drive,” Collop said.](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/feature-photo-unsung-2.png)
![NEW CHALLENGE, NEW TEAM MEMBERS: Every season, VEX creates a new game that robotics team members are faced with and have to build a robot to compete in. This year’s game forces students to create a robot that is able to stack rings onto mobile goals in order to score points. The change in games each season is something that robotics teacher Audrea Moyers appreciates.
“One of the things that I like about VEX is that they have a new problem to solve every year,” she said. ¨Even though the equipment’s the same, they have to analyze the game, and they have to come up with solutions that are unique that year. They are using their knowledge from prior years, but they have to kind of redesign a problem.”
As returning teams were faced a new game, some new teams and members had to adapt to a uncommon playing field and game.
“Three of our four teams were competing for the first time this year, and they had very different experiences match to match, so I think they learned a lot,¨ she said. ¨It’s hard just watching a video online to know how it’s actually going to be in person, so they all learned a lot about what gameplay is like, how to work with an alliance partner [and] how to adapt during the day to changes.”](https://bestofsno.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/IMG_9283-1-1200x800.jpg)
DMS address flu
Logan Sanders
DMS school nurse Terry Burdine saw a lot of cases of the flu in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Break.
November 30, 2022
The rate of absences before Thanksgiving Break was growing in the weeks leading up to the break.
Although not all of the absences were marked as being related to the flu or even sickness, many of them were. The flu has continued to be a problem since students returned to their classrooms this week.
According to the CDC website, “Flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.”
School nurse Terry Burdine said the virus appeared to be on the upswing going into the break.
“There have been many students not feeling well, low grade temps with runny noses and coughing,” Burdine said. ” So far I have had only a couple of kids with the flu. Strep is also another one that is going around.
“Between four to six students a day this week is what I have been sending home, but many students just call their parents to come get them because they do not feel well. I attribute that to the abrupt temperature changes we have had occurring.”
Although class has continued as normal, there have been a number of students missing class in the weeks leading up to the break.
According to the Oklahoma Health Department website, 69 hospitalizations for the flu took place between Nov. 13 through 19. Since Sept. 1, 265 people have been hospitalized or have died as a result of the flu in Oklahoma, according to the website. Between Sept. 1 and Nov. 12, a reported 196 people were hospitalized for influenza-related illnesses.
There are two different types of influenzas: Flu A and flu B.
Flu B is more common and severe in children than flu A. The symptoms of flu A are coughing, sneezing, and fever. The symptoms of flu B are fever, chills, sore throat, coughing, runny nose/sneezing, fatigue, and muscle/body aches. Vomiting can also happen, but it mainly happens with small children. They both last up to five through seven days.
Burdine suggested that students and teachers wash their hands and clean their spaces, while maintaining good general hygiene.
“Staying healthy means eating leafy green vegetables, increase vitamin C and D for the winter months,” Burdine said. “Echinacea is another one that helps.
“Preventative measures for the flu would be to eat healthy, keep your hands washed and try not to touch your face while in school unless you have washed your hands. The majority of viruses can stay alive on a surface for up to 72 hours so hand washing is the first step to keeping viruses at bay.
“If someone has a cough or is sneezing, use the corner of your elbow to cough or sneeze in, this keeps germs from being left on surfaces. Ideally a handkerchief or Kleenex should be used and if coughing or sneezing persists to see your doctor.”
For teachers and staff, Duncan Public Schools hosted days where Walgreens stopped by the Duncan schools to administer flu shots. Duncan Middle School’s flu vaccination date took place earlier this month.
One notable change for some students and teachers is the reappearance of masks. To keep themselves healthy, a number of people at DMS have gone back to wearing masks, which were prominent at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bam Miller, as student at DMS, said illness is a real worry for many students across the middle school.
“I have not gotten sick, but I believe I might get it,” Miller said. “I know one person who has gotten sick. To help prevent the flu, wear a mask. Truly, it helps just as much as it helps with Covid.”
This story was originally published on Demon Direct on November 29, 2022.
