Letter home to parents and guardians:
Dear Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians,
We know that last year was tough, but we’re excited to be back in the classroom this fall! We are committed to taking the steps necessary to help us maintain a safe return to school. As part of steps to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep our school open for in-person learning, we will offer a free COVID-19 Testing Program for students and staff at Colonial Heights Public Schools in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health. Regular testing will help protect our students, staff, family members, and others against COVID-19.
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. Additionally, we will be able to offer testing for those who have symptoms of COVID-19, even if vaccinated, or who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. This will help us keep students and staff in the classroom and able to take part in the school activities they love.
We recommend everyone complete the consent and registration process for both the symptomatic and screening testing programs. As these are two different testing types, we have separate consents located here:
- Screening Testing Program: You can pre-register through Primary.Health’s platform for the screening program: https://my.primary.health/l/colonial-heights-public. This link is specific for our students and staff. This registration will take no longer than 5 minutes and is only done one time!
- Symptomatic Testing Program: You can pre-register through our school district’s Google Form: http://bit.ly/chpscovidtest. This link is also specific for our students and staff.
We are working with our Virginia Department of Health and are joining other school districts throughout the state that offer this program. Here is a little more information about the testing program and process:
- Who will be tested? We will offer testing to everyone who gives consent—all students and staff—even if they don’t have symptoms of COVID-19. Testing is voluntary but highly recommended. It is free of cost to you so no insurance information is needed, nor will you ever be asked to pay for these tests.
- Testing is also available for students and staff who have symptoms of COVID-19, even if vaccinated, or who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19 through our Binax diagnostic testing program. For your convenience, you can also register online through our Google Form (http://bit.ly/chpscovidtest) to allow us to provide these tests to your students as well.
- How is the testing done? Testing will primarily be done through self-swabbing and monitored by trained staff on site for our screening program and utilize PCR testing. For our symptomatic and close contact testing, we will provide BINAX antigen tests for your student to complete in the school clinic:
- Screening: Gently 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.
- Symptomatic: Gently 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? Our school’s screening testing site will be held within each school building, and will take place weekly, starting the week of November 8. The Binax antigen tests for symptomatic or close contacts will be provided when a student presents to the school clinic.
- How will I get my child’s results? Screening results and communication will be shared electronically to the email and contact information used for registration. We recommend you register electronically through the link https://my.primary.health/l/colonial-heights-public which also allows you to consent to testing. We also have paper-based consent options available and the ability to receive results via a hotline. Results will be available within 24-48 hours from collection.
- What happens if my child is positive? If your child tests positive, the school will contact you directly. Your child will need to follow the quarantine guidelines from VDH and CDC, which includes a 10 day isolation period. Other members in your household will also need to quarantine. Specific guidance will be given to your child if they test positive.
- How can I be sure that my child’s information will be protected? Sharing of information about your child will only be done for public health purposes and in accordance with applicable law and policies protecting student privacy and the security of your child’s data. Everyone with access to results is required to undergo full HIPAA training on these requirements as well.
This letter asks your permission for us to:
- regularly test your child as part of a free COVID-19 testing program at school, and
- provide a diagnostic test for your child if they show symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or have been in close contact with a person with COVID-19 while in school.
To learn more or register your child for screening, please visit https://my.primary.health/l/colonial-heights-public. To consent to symptomatic or close contact testing, please visithttp://bit.ly/chpscovidtest.
We are extremely grateful to our committed families and staff who continue to show great flexibility and resilience as we work together to contain the spread of this virus. If you have questions regarding the COVID-19 Testing Program, please reach out to Mary Peters, Director of Support Services, at (804)524-3445 Ext 4701, or mary_peters@colonialhts.net.