A review of 2020-2021 school year COVID-19 mitigation efforts and planning for next school year. What is working for our children? What is not? Now that we have more data, what does it tell us about how to provide a safe, measured response for our children at school? Parent experts in medicine, psychiatry, health/wellness, religion and parenting provided their findings in a presentation to their children's School Board. The school is an elementary and junior high private school located in California.

1. Private School in CA
Board Meeting w/Parents
Review of COVID-19 Response 2020/21 School Year

2. Meeting Agenda
Introductions
Review of 2020-2021 COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts and Outcomes
Ask the Experts
Face Coverings for Children During School
Medical Review and Risks for Children
Mental Health Affects on Children
Parent Declaration Letter for Mask Exemptions for Students Grade 3rd-8th
Wrap-up

3. Review of COVID-19 Mitigation Efforts & Outcomes
- The Christian School’s efforts to open the school in the Fall, stay open during the full school year was
executed with exceptional dedication, commitment and faith by the leadership, teachers and staff.
Parents are forever grateful to our school that our children returned to in-person instruction for their
mental, emotional and spiritual health during this uniquely challenging and critical school year.
- There were 5 known cases of COVID for Teachers/Admin/Staff which were managed according to the
Opening Plan and all cases made a full recovery. Some staff are immune compromised so special
attention and care was/is provided.
- There were 5 confirmed cases of COVID for Students who all made a full recovery. Parents kept
children home with many more absences and teachers made more accommodations for makeup school
work. Students were offered online option full time or as needed. The school was very responsive.
- The Scholastic Test Scores maintained continuity of academic achievement year over year.
- Children’s mental health and development has been challenged this year.
- The parents, Board Members and staff all want to move towards normalcy and will work together for
the benefit and protection of our children for next school year in Fall of 2021.

4. Ask the Experts
Review of COVID-19 Response 2020/21 School Year

5. -- Kristin Leigh Moffitt, M.D., Boston Children’s Hospital, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Are Children at risk for COVID-19?
Rate ratios compared to 5-17 year olds. CDC -Updated Feb 18, 2021
Risk for COVID-19 Infection, Hospitalization, and Death By Age Group
Cases and Deaths Associated with COVID-19 by Age Group in California
California Department of Public Health- Updated May 26, 2021
”Evidence suggests that as many as half of pediatric infections may be asymptomatic.17
The signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in
children are similar to those of other infections and noninfectious processes, including influenza, streptococcal pharyngitis, and
allergic rhinitis.” Information for Pediatric Healthcare Providers - CDC – Updated Dec 30, 2020

7. “The children (wearing masks) are going to be a lot more than
immune suppressed. They’re growing children, they won’t do
their bone formation properly, because breathing carbon dioxide
back in and not getting enough oxygen. Oxygen runs every
single metabolic reaction, so you need that when you breath out
16% you use that 4% for growing, for thinking, for doing every
process in your body, digestive, respiration, that’s the whole
point. We’re not plants. We don’t do photosynthesis. We need to
be breathing air ... it’s going to destroy their ability to learn and
think, and drive psychosis. You can also activate dormant
infections in the mask.”
-- Dr. Judy A. Milkovits, biochemistry and molecular biology, Author of
“The Case Against Masks: 10 Reasons Why Mask Use Should Be Limited”
Do masks affect students’ physical and cognitive growth?

9. “Keeping healthy people isolated from one other simply isn’t necessary. Multiple medical
authorities, including the World Health Organization, the CDC, the New England Journal of
Medicine, have now all acknowledged that there is no scientific justification for normal healthy
people to be wearing masks. In fact, prolonged mask-wearing actually increases the risk of
disease to the wearer. People tend to touch their faces much more often when they’re wearing
a mask. In addition, we end up rebreathing particles that our lungs have exhaled – whether it’s
pollen, dust, virus or bacteria particles – they’re trapped in the mask, and on the very next
inhale, we breath them back in. Lastly, many people are wearing masks other than surgical or
medical masks, and many of them are not porous enough to allow carbon dioxide that we
exhale to fully dissipate, so in every inhalation we breath back in more carbon dioxide.
Furthermore, and very importantly, habitual wearing of masks decreases the body’s natural
immune response. We’re supposed to come into contact regularly with foreign things –
bacteria, viruses, all kinds of things – and that’s what helps to keep our immune systems on
alert, working at full capacity. If you limit your exposure to everything by constantly wearing
masks, or the overuse of hand sanitizers and disinfectants, your immune system in effect
says, ‘apparently I’m not needed, I’ll go on vacation, take a nap’. And it won’t be prepped and
ready when you need it to mount the appropriate immune response.”
-- Dr. Kelly Victory, M.D., Trauma and Emergency Physician, with a Specialty in Disaster
Preparedness and Response and the Management of Mass Casualty.
What is the risk of mask use for healthy people?

11. “Children have a dynamic physiology that is not only
turned up to “high” because of growth demands, but
also vulnerable to damage during differentiation and
maturation of organs and systems.”
“Their needs for energy, water and oxygen are
higher, because they go through an intense anabolic
process.”
“Children breathe more air per kilogram of body
weight than adults at rest.”
World Health Organization Quotes on
Physiology of Children
CHILDREN ARE NOT LITTLE ADULTS
Children's Health and the Environment
WHO Training Package for the Health Sector
World Health Organization

12. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends mask-wearing for all over 12s, and says masks should be considered for 6-11 year olds in some
circumstances.
WHO advises that people always consult and abide by local authorities on recommended practices in their area. An international and multidisciplinary
expert group brought together by WHO reviewed evidence on COVID-19 disease and transmission in children and the limited available evidence on the
use of masks by children.
Based on this and other factors such as childrens’ psychosocial needs and developmental milestones, WHO and UNICEF advise the following:
Children aged 5 years and under should not be required to wear masks. This is based on the safety and overall interest of the child and the capacity to
appropriately use a mask with minimal assistance.
WHO and UNICEF advise that the decision to use masks for children aged 6-11 should be based on the following factors:
● Whether there is widespread transmission in the area where the child resides (There is currently no widespread transmission in OC)
● The ability of the child to safely and appropriately use a mask
● Access to masks, as well as laundering and replacement of masks in certain settings (such as schools and childcare services)
● Adequate adult supervision and instructions to the child on how to put on, take off and safely wear masks (Teachers are not medically
trained on wearing masks and prevention of hypoxia in pediatrics and other relevant medical conditions)
● Potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial development, in consultation with teachers, parents/caregivers
and/or medical providers
● Specific settings and interactions the child has with other people who are at high risk of developing serious illness, such as the elderly and those
with other underlying health conditions
World Health Organization Guidelines for Children in Masks

13. Source: Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Danish Mask Wearers

14. Face Coverings for Children
During School
Review of COVID-19 Response 2020/21 School Year

15. Are face coverings necessary within the current
context of COVID-19 and the data we now have?
- Masks have not been proven effective to reduce spread, but recent studies have
shown irrefutable evidence of medical and psychological harm in children.
- Children are not vectors to rapidly spread the virus despite original hypothesis.
- Data now shows conclusively that children are not vulnerable to COVID-19 and
not at risk beyond the typical seasonal flu numbers.
- Multiple vaccines are now available for adults as of April 2021 (List from NIH)
- Along with a healthy lifestyle, there are proven prevention strategies have been
identified (Vitamin D, C, Zinc, Quercetin and more)
- Outpatient treatments have been studied and show great progress. Review Study
- Current community case numbers have dramatically decreased to pre-pandemic
levels.
- WHO Guidelines for Children and Masks states the decision to use masks should
consider the potential impact of wearing a mask on learning and psychosocial
development in consultation with teachers, parents/caregivers and medical
providers
- Other States across the country are removing masks off children

16. International Study of Studies: April 20, 2021
Read Full Report

17. Medical Review and Risks for Children

18. Mental Health Affects on Children

19. Mask Exemption in accordance
w/CDPH Guidelines
Current Option for Parents

20. Partial List of Medical or Mental Health Conditions for Exemption

21. Example Parent Declaration Letter for Mask Exemption
accepted by Private Schools
(Date)
RE: Mask Exemption
Dear (School Name) Administration,
I, (parent name), parent and guardian of (student’s name)
currently enrolled in (grade year, ie 5th grade), declare that
(he/she) is exempt from wearing a face covering while at school
in accordance with CDPH guidelines.
According to HIPAA laws, my child has confidential medical
records to support this declaration.
Sincerely,
(Parent Name)

22. Example of Legal Rights

24. FDA Emergency Authorization of Masks not intended
for children but for Health Care Providers
Emergency Use Authorization
issued by FDA

25. Appendix

26. Research/Resources
Effectiveness of Adding a Mask Recommendation to Other Public Health Measures to Prevent SARS-CoV-2
Infection in Danish Mask Wearers
Efficacy of surgical masks or cloth masks in the prevention of viral transmission: Systemic review,
meta-analysis, and proposal for future trial
Is a Mask That Covers the Mouth and Nose Free from Undesirable Side Effects in Everyday Use and Free of
Potential Hazards?
Much to Forgive: Adults have failed children in foisting unnecessary, harmful Covid-19 restrictions on them
Do We Need Mask Mandates?
German Neurologist Warns Against Wearing Facemasks: ‘Oxygen Deprivation Causes Permanent
Neurological Damage’
Nonpharmaceutical Measures for Pandemic Influenza in Nonhealthcare Settings--Personal Protective and
Environmental Measures
Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19
Frontline doctors speak at Calvary Chapel Church on COVID-19

27. Children shouldn't wear face masks in school, Florida's governor says
Republicans demand CDC director explain why children have to wear masks
Some parents claim religious exemption so kids don’t have to wear masks at school
Governor Abbott issues Executive Order to stop most government entities from mandating masks
‘We need to continue to get back to normal,’ Gov. Cox says
Idaho governor repeals mask mandate ban issued while he was away
Speech to Dutch Parliament from Forum for Democracy opposed to lockdowns, masks and tyranny
Gavin Newsom Goes Back on His Word, State of Emergency Will Remain in Place After June 15 Deadline
Religious school, parents argue mask mandates deny educational, spiritual opportunities
Masks for all children aren’t needed or ethical
Legal/Political responses to children in masks