SLUH FULL CAPACITY IN A PANDEMIC
SLUH plans to permit all students to return to campus every school day starting Nov/30
The Reasons for Returning All the Students to Campus FOUR KEY FACTORS The recommendations from our medical expert consultants The concerns from our parents The effectiveness of SLUH's safety policies The very low spread of the virus in schools nationally
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
DR. DAVID SONDERMAN PEDIATRICIAN AT CHILDREN'S CLINIC STL
Our Medical Expert Consultants
DR. RACHEL ORSCHELN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS, INFECTIOUS DISEASES, CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
DR. SCOTT DUNN EMERGENCY MEDICINE, MERCY HOSPITAL
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
Can we safely move to 3ft distance? WITH MASKS, YES "The universal mask policy for all students, faculty, and staff is the single most important strategy within the school. Social distancing is of course also important to minimize transmission, but masks are the essential piece." Dr. Sonderman “Any school reentry plan needs to focus on masks, hygiene, distancing (especially when masks are compromised), filtration, and clear education and enforcement. If these pieces are demonstrably in place, three feet is as good as six.” Dr. Orscheln “The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends three feet minimum, so that should be acceptable. There is nothing magical about the 6 feet, it just encourages to maintain distance.” Dr. Dunn ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
What are the risks to students from COVID-19? DR. SONDERMAN
“Most children and adolescents with COVID-19 have minimal to no symptoms. They also appear to be at lower risk of serious illness or complications resulting from COVID-19 (although not zero risk), especially when compared to the risk of serious illness to their age group from influenza. Children and adolescents with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, immunodeficiency syndromes, etc) do not appear to be more susceptible to infection from COVID-19, although there is some data to suggest that obesity may increase risk of infection.� ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
DR. SONDERMAN
What are the costs of keeping students at home? ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
“My greatest concern is their mental health. In my office, I continue to see anxiety and depression among the adolescent population as the pandemic has curtailed their normal routines and their social engagement with peers, which are so important to their overall well-being and social/emotional development.” DR. ORSCHELN “Large incidence of depression and mental illness, as well as isolation problems, including poor decisions and destructive behaviors. Deterioration of cognitive and memory skills clear.”
DR. DUNN “I feel this is becoming a long-term social justice issue. Kids below the poverty line will continue to fall further and further behind because of a virus that is incredibly safe in kids.”
The Concerns of Many Parents
STUDENT LEARNING HAS DECREASED IN THE HYFLEX MODEL
STUDENT SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN STUNTED
STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS FROM BEING ISOLATED AT HOME
“Based on my older son’s experience - I do not believe that my junior is learning everything that a junior typically learns. Part of my belief comes from a significantly decreased amount of homework than I have previously seen.” SLUH Parent
"A major reason we selected SLUH for John was to improve his social skills. He continues to receive a top notch academic education but remote learning does not allow progress on the social skills front." SLUH Parent
"He has been VERY DEPRESSED and has done very poorly online and hates school now. We are devastated for him and his senior class to have their last year in high school mostly done on a screen in his bedroom." SLUH Parent
66.5% OF PARENTS WANT SLUH TO RETURN TO FULL CAPACITY, ON CAMPUS INSTRUCTION FIVE DAYS A WEEK
SLUH PARENT SURVEY, OCTOBER 2020
COVID-19 AT SLUH 0
11
4
COVID-19 transmission at school
Students tested Positive
Faculty tested Positive
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
49
8
Students Faculty Quarantined Quarantined
* AS OF NOVEMBER 7, 2020
383 TESTS ADMINISTERED TO SLUH ATHLETES All moderate and high contact teams have been tested every two weeks since October.
2 POSITIVE TESTS Both students were asymptomatic.
Nationally, Schools have not been places of serious spread of the virus. LUDVIGSSON, 2020
OSTER, 2020
"The conclusion of this systematic review is that children are unlikely to be the main drivers of the pandemic. Opening up schools and kindergartens is unlikely to impact COVID-19 mortality rates in older people."
"Schools do not, in fact, appear to be major spreaders of COVID-19."
COVID-19 SCHOOL RESPONSE DASHBOARD
CONCLUSION
It is safe to bring all of the students back onto campus each day IF WE MAINTAIN OUR PROTOCOLS OF DAILY SCREENING, MASKS, AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING OF AT LEAST 3FT.
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
Supporting evidence for SLUH's decision The Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization Filtration Protections The Effectiveness of Masks and Physical Distancing The students are at very low risk from COVID-19 Adults without underlying health conditions are at low risk from COVID-19 In person instruction is more effective than virtual learning Social isolation and excessive screen time can lead to mental health problems Student spiritual formation is suffering from reduced contact ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
The Effectiness of Needlepoint Bipolar Ionization. The new filtration system is among the best on the market. Unlike traditional filtration systems, this system sends positive and negative ions into the air in order to neutralize harmful particules. A recent study of its effectiveness in neutralizing COVID-19 virus particles in the air found that 99.4% of the virus was inactivated by the ions in the air after 30 minutes.
99.4% OF THE VIRUS INACTIVATED IN 30 MIN
HTTPS://WWW.LUCILLEMADISON.COM/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/IMAGES/GPS%20S ARS-COV-2(COVID19)EFFICACY-TESTING.PDF
ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
The effectiveness of Masks
Leung et al. (2020), Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nature Medicine, 26.5, 676-680.
The effectiveness of distancing 1m (3ft) is effective Chu et. al. (2020). Physical distancing, face masks, and eye protection to prevent person-to-person transmission of SARSCoV-2 and COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 395(10242), 1973–1987. https://doi.org/10.1016/S01406736(20)31142-9
STUDENTS ARE VERY LOW RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID-19
Heron, M. (2017) https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/co vid_weekly/index.htm ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
THE PREVELANCE OF UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS OF HOSPITALIZED COVID19 PATIENTS
https://gis.cdc.gov/grasp/CO VIDNet/COVID19_5.html ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
THE RISKS TO ADULTS UNDER 65 OF SERIOUS ILLNESS FROM COVID-19 WORTHAM ET AL. (2020) 74.8% of deaths were people over 65, 76.4% had underlying medical conditions, 83.1% of under 65 years old had underlying medical conditions HTTPS://WWW.MEDRXIV.ORG/CONTENT/MEDRXIV/EARLY/2020/05/05/2020.04. 05.20054361.FULL.PDF
Studies show that in person learning is more effective than online classes. PHeppen, et al. (2017). The Struggle to Pass Algebra: Online vs. Faceto-Face Credit Recovery for At-Risk Urban Students. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 10(2), 272–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2016.1168500 Hart, et al. (2019). Online Learning, Offline Outcomes: Online Course Taking and High School Student Performance. AERA Open, 5(1), 2332858419832852. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858419832852 Ahn, J., & McEachin, A. (2017). Student Enrollment Patterns and Achievement in Ohio’s Online Charter Schools. Educational Researcher, 46(1), 44–57. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X17692999
There are significant mental health problems associated with keeping students out of school ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
RESEARCH STUDIES ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL CLOSURES AND QUARANTINE Singh et al. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on mental health of children and adolescents: A narrative review with recommendations. Psychiatry Research, 293, 113429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113429 Townsend, E. (2020). Debate: The impact of school closures and lockdown on mental health in young people. Child and Adolescent Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12428
Students spiritual formation is greatly diminished within the current school structure ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
CONCLUSION FROM THE MEDICAL EXPERTS
"the AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school." American Academy of Pediatrics ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL, OCTOBER, 2020
We pray for guidance and strength to complete our mission as SLUH: Direct, we beseech you Lord Jesus, all of our actions by your holy inspirations, and continue them through by your gracious assistance, that every word and work of ours might begin in you, and through you be happily completed. Amen.
ROLENA PARK CHURCH | JAN. 2020