We will be partnering with Concentric K-12 Pooled Program with permission from the Diocese of Oakland to help us test our students weekly. This opportunity is an exciting one for the school in an effort to support families, provide critical information about infection or (hopefully) lack of infection in our school, and to keep our students safe.
Prior to testing, we need you to do your part:
- Each parent will need to give permission by completing the Patient Consent form and the Disclosure form (good for one year) authorizing access to the results for minors and for the child to self-swab. This test is not mandatory, but we hope you will consider authorizing your student to participate. Please read the two-page Parent Explanation flier that explains why, what, and how the program works.
- The company administering the test, Concentric, does not require your insurance information. This is paid for by a Federal grant program.
- The testing of students will take about 30 seconds and is overseen by staff and medical volunteers. The first few times will be the longest at about a minute per test because our staff and medical volunteers need to take the time to make the students comfortable prior to and while the students are self-administering their test.
- Please complete the Consent Form that gives your consent for your child to self-administer a test for COVID-19 weekly in order for your child to participate. You only need to complete the waiver once for this year. Click here to access the Consent Form from Concentric. Use the CODE: TROJ22
- Participants must have the Assumption School 2021-2022 COVID 19 Waiver form signed and on file with the office. If you haven't completed this form, click this link to complete a Docusign of the form.
- At home, try practicing with your student self swabbing his/her own nose with a Q-Tip. It doesn't have to be deep, but just gentle circles right on the inside of both of his/her nostrils four - five times.
- Unfortunately, if a registered participant has been positive with Covid 19 within the last 90 days, they cannot participate in the pool PCR testing.
Weekly PCR pool testing is collected on Tuesdays with results scheduled to be provided by end of day on Thursday.
- Positive pool participants will be notified to return to school at a scheduled time to take the follow-up Rapid Antigen Test in the Small Hall with our Testing Supervisor. Any close contacts will also be notified of the positive pool but only the positive pool will be allowed to follow up test.
- Parents and students can wait in their cars or in the lunch area for results (15 minutes)
- Participants who test positive from the Rapid Antigen Test will be counseled about protocols and go home to isolate.
- Negative antigen participants will be able to return to class.
- If we receive the pool results during the school day, we will Rapid Antigen Test the positive pool as soon as possible and notify parents as needed.
I am grateful to provide this service to our community. We are hopeful this information can help us keep our community safe. Please be patient as this is the first time we have ever provided this kind of service at Assumption School. We know we might make mistakes or learn from the process. Thank you!