We, the Concerned Citizens and Parents of the East Helena School District urge the East Helena School Board to maintain masking as optional only in East Helena Schools for the 2021-2022 School Year and oppose any vote supporting mandates to that end.
Whereas; according to the CDC no children between the ages of 0-17 have died from Covid-19 in Montana.
Whereas; according to PENN State Health News, "Social isolation during the pandemic can push youngsters with underlying mental health issues "over the edge".
Whereas; according to Penn State Health News, "suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 in the United States."
Whereas; Governor Greg Gianforte and Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen have urged our Montana superintendents and trustee's to keep masking, "optional, voluntary and a family choice."
Whereas; many of our own children have suffered greatly do to Covid-19 related mandates in the past year.
Whereas; Our East Helena Board Members must remember their oath of service to the citizens of this community and not to the CDC, Lewis & Clark Public Health or any other outside organization serving outside interests separate of the individuals in this district.
Updates
August 10, 2021
The emails I receive from parents across the district are heavy and they remind me why this fight is necessary despite the exhaustion. Behind the scenes I am preparing information to present at the next board meeting because we cannot let our concerns be ignored any longer.
August 10, 2021
Seeing the growth of this movement has been exhausting but it keeps me moving forward. I am drained by how long this fight has dragged on yet seeing this level of support reminds me why we cannot back down now.
40 Comments
Please, please, please for the sake of our children, make it optional. If they feel the need to wear a mask, they can, but do not make it mandatory for all to wear.
There is a very small risk of children spreading COVID. Most of the children who had it ,got it from outside the school from an adult. My children will suffer health issues if they have to wear masks. They love their school but will leave if needed. Please leave it optional.
Signer A1 Towing & Recovery should say Crystal Thompson. I apologize for the error. Please keep masks optional!
Our kids need to be able to go to school in a normal setting. Right now our kids are not excited for school because they do not know what they will be walking into. This has caused unneeded stress for our children!
Please keep mask optional, each child has different circumstances and if the parents feel more comfortable with one that it is their right but forcing children to wear one all day shouldn't be required.
I don't think they ever considered requiring masks again but I wish they would, I think she would rather wear a mask than do distance learning and/or pick up the delta variant at school. Good luck! Mental health issues are related to the pandemic itself not the mask, the pandemic is still happening, we are all struggling with it.
Mandatory not optional! Kids did just fine last year and will do just fine this year, it's not the mask, it's the pandemic affecting people's mental health. Believe it or not the global pandemic is still happening, it sucks yes.
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We, the Concerned Citizens and Parents of the East Helena School District urge the East Helena School Board to maintain masking as optional only in East Helena Schools for the 2021-2022 School Year and oppose any vote supporting mandates to that end.
Whereas; according to the CDC no children between the ages of 0-17 have died from Covid-19 in Montana.
Whereas; according to PENN State Health News, "Social isolation during the pandemic can push youngsters with underlying mental health issues "over the edge".
Whereas; according to Penn State Health News, "suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34 in the United States."
Whereas; Governor Greg Gianforte and Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen have urged our Montana superintendents and trustee's to keep masking, "optional, voluntary and a family choice."
Whereas; many of our own children have suffered greatly do to Covid-19 related mandates in the past year.
Whereas; Our East Helena Board Members must remember their oath of service to the citizens of this community and not to the CDC, Lewis & Clark Public Health or any other outside organization serving outside interests separate of the individuals in this district.
Updates
August 10, 2021
The emails I receive from parents across the district are heavy and they remind me why this fight is necessary despite the exhaustion. Behind the scenes I am preparing information to present at the next board meeting because we cannot let our concerns be ignored any longer.
August 10, 2021
Seeing the growth of this movement has been exhausting but it keeps me moving forward. I am drained by how long this fight has dragged on yet seeing this level of support reminds me why we cannot back down now.
40 Comments
Please let this be a personal choice! My child dreaded going to school because of having to wear a mask and she LOVES school. She burst into tears when I told her the school is considering this again. For the sake of our children's mental health and happiness the mask needs to remain a personal choice!
Please, please, please for the sake of our children, make it optional. If they feel the need to wear a mask, they can, but do not make it mandatory for all to wear.
There is a very small risk of children spreading COVID. Most of the children who had it ,got it from outside the school from an adult. My children will suffer health issues if they have to wear masks. They love their school but will leave if needed. Please leave it optional.
Signer A1 Towing & Recovery should say Crystal Thompson. I apologize for the error. Please keep masks optional!
Our kids need to be able to go to school in a normal setting. Right now our kids are not excited for school because they do not know what they will be walking into. This has caused unneeded stress for our children!
Please keep mask optional, each child has different circumstances and if the parents feel more comfortable with one that it is their right but forcing children to wear one all day shouldn't be required.
I don't think they ever considered requiring masks again but I wish they would, I think she would rather wear a mask than do distance learning and/or pick up the delta variant at school. Good luck! Mental health issues are related to the pandemic itself not the mask, the pandemic is still happening, we are all struggling with it.
Mandatory not optional! Kids did just fine last year and will do just fine this year, it's not the mask, it's the pandemic affecting people's mental health. Believe it or not the global pandemic is still happening, it sucks yes.
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Please let this be a personal choice! My child dreaded going to school because of having to wear a mask and she LOVES school. She burst into tears when I told her the school is considering this again. For the sake of our children's mental health and happiness the mask needs to remain a personal choice!