Masking policy Arlington Diocesan Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stupid; there’s no real risk to children; no evidence showing that asymptotic people spread the virus; there’s documented studies showing increase physical risks of masking (bacterial infections, etc.); and there are potential emotional and social risks to children.

Why—exactly, do elementary school children need to wear masks?

WheRe iS tHe scIencE?

Plenty of evidence that shows the Delta variants:
1. Are spread by asymptomatic vaccinated people;
2. Children are hospitalized (ICU) at same rates as adults once they contract the virus.

On the contrary, masks are perfectly safe if you wash them regularly or buy disposable Medical grade ones.

This is incredibly shady and what consuming media without understanding any context does to a brain. Kids who are UNVACCINATED carry the same risk of hospitalization as VACCINATED adults. It's incredibly rare to die from COVID after vaccination. Kids literally have a 99% smaller rate of mortality without a vaccine -- fewer than 350 deaths out of 600,000. Thank goodness, right? Or perhaps we're immune to good news at this point. Vaccines are amazing and doing their job to protect adults -- similarly to the protection a child already has regardless of vaccinate status. Have whatever opinion you want, but don't insist others orient their behavior based on misunderstanding of the data. Less pearl-clutching, more educated analysis.

Pediatric deaths have topped 400 actually. (Just add numbers in the links you provided). In any case, Francis Collins, who is a good guy heading up NIH summed this issue up best on the morning show with Jake Tapper today, addressing the Desantis rule prohibiting masks in school:


And we do know that kids are capable of getting pretty sick. We have lost about 400 children who have died from COVID-19 since this all started. And kids can also get long COVID, where they don't maybe that sick with the acute illness, but then end up, months later, with difficulties with brain fog and fatigue that interferes with their school performance.

So, this is not to be just dismissed as a zero risk. And, of course, kids also live in homes. And there may be people in those homes who are perhaps immunosuppressed, and they could bring home the virus and cause a bad outcome.

So it just makes common sense in a community where the virus is spreading -- and that's pretty much all of Florida right now -- to do everything you can to prevent that, which includes mask-wearing for kids in schools, even though it's inconvenient. I think maybe, when you look on the scale of things that we're asked to do, being asked to wear a mask is perhaps not quite the huge challenge, burden that sometimes is being portrayed. Kids are pretty adaptable.

https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2021-08-01/segment/01

There isn’t zero risk to much, but .00065 is pretty darn close. Vulnerable populations have access to three different vaccines that offer amazing protection. People with compromised immunity have to navigate the risk from this virus like every other one in existence. On the flip side, what data shows a near zero risk to a child’s social and emotional development? I’m not going to make blanket statements about kids adapting because I know many have. I also know many who haven’t thrived, who are struggling to navigate early learning with their and their teacher’s face largely covered, including those with special learning needs. My kids shouldn’t have to adapt to soothe the anxiety of adults who choose not to get vaccinated or who send their kids to school under the delusion than they are safe from sickness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stupid; there’s no real risk to children; no evidence showing that asymptotic people spread the virus; there’s documented studies showing increase physical risks of masking (bacterial infections, etc.); and there are potential emotional and social risks to children.

Why—exactly, do elementary school children need to wear masks?

WheRe iS tHe scIencE?

Plenty of evidence that shows the Delta variants:
1. Are spread by asymptomatic vaccinated people;
2. Children are hospitalized (ICU) at same rates as adults once they contract the virus.

On the contrary, masks are perfectly safe if you wash them regularly or buy disposable Medical grade ones.

This is incredibly shady and what consuming media without understanding any context does to a brain. Kids who are UNVACCINATED carry the same risk of hospitalization as VACCINATED adults. It's incredibly rare to die from COVID after vaccination. Kids literally have a 99% smaller rate of mortality without a vaccine -- fewer than 350 deaths out of 600,000. Thank goodness, right? Or perhaps we're immune to good news at this point. Vaccines are amazing and doing their job to protect adults -- similarly to the protection a child already has regardless of vaccinate status. Have whatever opinion you want, but don't insist others orient their behavior based on misunderstanding of the data. Less pearl-clutching, more educated analysis.

Pediatric deaths have topped 400 actually. (Just add numbers in the links you provided). In any case, Francis Collins, who is a good guy heading up NIH summed this issue up best on the morning show with Jake Tapper today, addressing the Desantis rule prohibiting masks in school:


And we do know that kids are capable of getting pretty sick. We have lost about 400 children who have died from COVID-19 since this all started. And kids can also get long COVID, where they don't maybe that sick with the acute illness, but then end up, months later, with difficulties with brain fog and fatigue that interferes with their school performance.

So, this is not to be just dismissed as a zero risk. And, of course, kids also live in homes. And there may be people in those homes who are perhaps immunosuppressed, and they could bring home the virus and cause a bad outcome.

So it just makes common sense in a community where the virus is spreading -- and that's pretty much all of Florida right now -- to do everything you can to prevent that, which includes mask-wearing for kids in schools, even though it's inconvenient. I think maybe, when you look on the scale of things that we're asked to do, being asked to wear a mask is perhaps not quite the huge challenge, burden that sometimes is being portrayed. Kids are pretty adaptable.

https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2021-08-01/segment/01

There isn’t zero risk to much, but .00065 is pretty darn close. Vulnerable populations have access to three different vaccines that offer amazing protection. People with compromised immunity have to navigate the risk from this virus like every other one in existence. On the flip side, what data shows a near zero risk to a child’s social and emotional development? I’m not going to make blanket statements about kids adapting because I know many have. I also know many who haven’t thrived, who are struggling to navigate early learning with their and their teacher’s face largely covered, including those with special learning needs. My kids shouldn’t have to adapt to soothe the anxiety of adults who choose not to get vaccinated or who send their kids to school under the delusion than they are safe from sickness.

Honestly not sure if you are pro- or anti- mask based on this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s stupid; there’s no real risk to children; no evidence showing that asymptotic people spread the virus; there’s documented studies showing increase physical risks of masking (bacterial infections, etc.); and there are potential emotional and social risks to children.

Why—exactly, do elementary school children need to wear masks?

WheRe iS tHe scIencE?

Plenty of evidence that shows the Delta variants:
1. Are spread by asymptomatic vaccinated people;
2. Children are hospitalized (ICU) at same rates as adults once they contract the virus.

On the contrary, masks are perfectly safe if you wash them regularly or buy disposable Medical grade ones.

This is incredibly shady and what consuming media without understanding any context does to a brain. Kids who are UNVACCINATED carry the same risk of hospitalization as VACCINATED adults. It's incredibly rare to die from COVID after vaccination. Kids literally have a 99% smaller rate of mortality without a vaccine -- fewer than 350 deaths out of 600,000. Thank goodness, right? Or perhaps we're immune to good news at this point. Vaccines are amazing and doing their job to protect adults -- similarly to the protection a child already has regardless of vaccinate status. Have whatever opinion you want, but don't insist others orient their behavior based on misunderstanding of the data. Less pearl-clutching, more educated analysis.

Pediatric deaths have topped 400 actually. (Just add numbers in the links you provided). In any case, Francis Collins, who is a good guy heading up NIH summed this issue up best on the morning show with Jake Tapper today, addressing the Desantis rule prohibiting masks in school:


And we do know that kids are capable of getting pretty sick. We have lost about 400 children who have died from COVID-19 since this all started. And kids can also get long COVID, where they don't maybe that sick with the acute illness, but then end up, months later, with difficulties with brain fog and fatigue that interferes with their school performance.

So, this is not to be just dismissed as a zero risk. And, of course, kids also live in homes. And there may be people in those homes who are perhaps immunosuppressed, and they could bring home the virus and cause a bad outcome.

So it just makes common sense in a community where the virus is spreading -- and that's pretty much all of Florida right now -- to do everything you can to prevent that, which includes mask-wearing for kids in schools, even though it's inconvenient. I think maybe, when you look on the scale of things that we're asked to do, being asked to wear a mask is perhaps not quite the huge challenge, burden that sometimes is being portrayed. Kids are pretty adaptable.

https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/sotu/date/2021-08-01/segment/01

There isn’t zero risk to much, but .00065 is pretty darn close. Vulnerable populations have access to three different vaccines that offer amazing protection. People with compromised immunity have to navigate the risk from this virus like every other one in existence. On the flip side, what data shows a near zero risk to a child’s social and emotional development? I’m not going to make blanket statements about kids adapting because I know many have. I also know many who haven’t thrived, who are struggling to navigate early learning with their and their teacher’s face largely covered, including those with special learning needs. My kids shouldn’t have to adapt to soothe the anxiety of adults who choose not to get vaccinated or who send their kids to school under the delusion than they are safe from sickness.

Francis Collins said in areas of high transmission, kids should wear masks in school to avoid acute and chronic illness, including "long covid" (and the admittedly rare chance of death). He said nothing about mask-wearing as a tool to soothe adult anxieties. This is about protecting children who aren't eligible for vaccines. Unfortunately, adults, who have chosen not to get vaccinated, have contributed to spread, making the community less safe for unvaccinated children.

I get the point about masks affecting language development. Last fall we contributed to our parish school special masks for the foreign language teachers so that children could see the mouth of the teacher. I forgot which brand we purchased but they are similar to this https://www.theclearmask.com

[Anonymous]

We were in school last year when the publics weren't. My kids are used to the mask. I don't understand what the big deal is...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Now, the big question, will CYO sports happen? I am all for them playing in masks, if needed.

So want CYO sports

[Anonymous]

My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

That’s wonderful! Do you mind naming the school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

Because letting people individually decide to do the right thing during the pandemic has worked out so well for all of us.

Honestly, that approach sounds like a weak administration that is afraid to draw a line and take a stance for fear of pissing someone off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

Because letting people individually decide to do the right thing during the pandemic has worked out so well for all of us.

Honestly, that approach sounds like a weak administration that is afraid to draw a line and take a stance for fear of pissing someone off.

Well, it worked well in the long run in Florida. The Diocese made the right decision last year to open their schools so what ever they decide I will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

I think my child goes to the same school and I voted masks for everyone. But I would be ok if it ended up being optional for vaccinated students and required for unvaccinated. No one in my child’s class is old enough for the vaccine and I think no masks is just asking for disruptions and quarantines left and right. It’s not like the health dept has relaxed their rules for quarantining for the unmasked and unvaccinated. Delta seems to be making kids sicker than the original version — not necessarily hospitalized but more likely to be symptomatic. So parents who think they can just skate by sending a kid to school who was exposed to/might have Covid are probably going to get found out as their child will come down with symptoms. Masks helped keep the kids in school last year. It would be nice for that to continue this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

I hope you’re right. It would be great if the Diocese left it up to individual schools. And if schools left it up to parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

Because letting people individually decide to do the right thing during the pandemic has worked out so well for all of us.

Honestly, that approach sounds like a weak administration that is afraid to draw a line and take a stance for fear of pissing someone off.

Well, it worked well in the long run in Florida. The Diocese made the right decision last year to open their schools so what ever they decide I will be fine.

Absolutely agree that the diocese made the right call last year - open with strong precautions.

Absolutely disagree that anything Florida has done re: the pandemic has worked well in the long run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

I hope you’re right. It would be great if the Diocese left it up to individual schools. And if schools left it up to parents.

It would be very dumb. There are so many anti-science parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS Catholic School, just sent a survey out on mask wearing, it appears mask wearing will be up to the individual school. I voted let it be optional for the way the parents decide.

I think my child goes to the same school and I voted masks for everyone. But I would be ok if it ended up being optional for vaccinated students and required for unvaccinated. No one in my child’s class is old enough for the vaccine and I think no masks is just asking for disruptions and quarantines left and right. It’s not like the health dept has relaxed their rules for quarantining for the unmasked and unvaccinated. Delta seems to be making kids sicker than the original version — not necessarily hospitalized but more likely to be symptomatic. So parents who think they can just skate by sending a kid to school who was exposed to/might have Covid are probably going to get found out as their child will come down with symptoms. Masks helped keep the kids in school last year. It would be nice for that to continue this year.

This would be the best course of action — prudent, cautious, and keeping everyone in school.

[Anonymous]

Without masks, some kids will get covid and spread to classmates (vaccinated or unvaxxed). Will they be asked to quarantine? Without distance learning/concurrent teaching, many kids will fall behind.
What will the schools’ policies be regarding out of town travel? Our school made students stay at home for at least seven days, or show negative covid test.