April 2022
Dear Parents/Guardians,
The schools are continuing to monitor for covid-like symptoms. This can be difficult with seasonal allergies and colds circulating. Our goal is to try to keep students in school as much as possible. A student may continue to attend school if they have had a negative covid test or a doctor's note and their symptoms are improving.
If your child has any symptoms of COVID-19, you should keep them home and contact your school nurse.
They can return to school with a:
Negative covid test, OR
Physician’s note, OR
Quarantine 5 days
AND symptoms improving
We are excited to offer free COVID19 rapid testing to students and staff who become symptomatic in school. Through this program, we will be able to identify COVID-19 cases quickly and early, which can help us stop an outbreak before it happens. This will also help us keep students in the classroom and able to take part in the school activities they love.
Who will be tested - We will offer testing to everyone—all students and staff
Testing is available for students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19.
How is the testing done - The COVID-19 testing is free, quick, and easy. Members of our health office will oversee testing with BinaxNow Rapid test, which includes:
Obtaining parental consent prior to testing - BinaxNow Consent Form. (Please fill out a consent form for each student.)
Gentle self-swabbing the inner part of the lower nostril. This test is not painful. We do NOT use the longer swabs that reach higher into the nose.
Where and when is the testing done - Testing will be done at school in coordination with the parent or guardian and your health office.
Pre-Screening for COVID symptoms should be done prior to arrival to school. Please DO NOT send your child to school with fever, body aches, vomiting, persistent cough. Call your school nurse to coordinate testing.
If your student tests positive for covid please contact the school. They will need to be isolated at home for 5 days and can return on days 6-10 if they do not have symptoms and wear a well fitting mask. If a positive student or close contact returns to school on day 6 of their isolation or quarantine period, they will need to mask at all times, unless eating for days 6-10.
If a student is a close household contact they will need to quarantine at home for 5 days unless they are in pooled testing, have had covid in the last 90 days or they are fully vaccinated.
You can also request free at home rapid tests be mailed to your home from Project Access COVID-19 Tests (ACT) pilot at www.accessCOVIDTests.org. or www.COVIDtests.gov. Residents can also call 1-800-232-0233 for help placing the order.
We are extremely grateful to our committed families and staff who continue to show great flexibility and resilience over the past 2 years. If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 Testing Program, please reach out to your school nurse.
Sincerely,
MSAD17 Health Staff