Dear TPS Families:

Last week we sent you information (via email) from DESE, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding an update to the COVID-19 Testing Program for districts and schools. Today, we are writing to let you know, in accordance with the DESE and the DPH, our district is updating our COVID-19 Testing Program, effective for families potentially the week of January 31, 2022.

We are opting into an at-home testing program that will increase testing of our participating students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. For more information about this update to the statewide testing program, please click here. The at-home testing option will begin for students potentially during the week of January 31, 2022. In addition to this new at-home antigen test kit option, we will continue with routine COVID safety checks (Pooled Testing) and/or symptomatic testing during the week. As part of this shift in the program, we are discontinuing Test and Stay and contact tracing for in-school close contacts. This means that if you are a potential close contact in school, you may continue to come to school and do not have to quarantine. This new at-home testing opportunity is voluntary and only those who opt-in will receive test kits. We strongly encourage you to fill out the form by Friday, January 28th, 4:00 P.M. (students/families may sign up after this time but will not be eligible for the first shipment of test kits) to opt-in. Test kits for those students who are opted in will be given to the student to take home. If there is a specific family concern regarding this please contact your building principal.

COVID-19 Testing Programs in our Schools:

• At-Home Rapid Antigen Testing (NEW opt-in form)

* if you have not already signed up for our currently available testing options see below*

• *Routine COVID Safety Checks (Pooled Testing) every week and Symptomatic Testing (If you have not yet signed up, click here)

Overview: At-Home Rapid Testing Program *Please retain the below information for when you actually begin testing.

• About the Test: iHealth is a 15-minute at-home FDA-approved rapid antigen test

• Opt-In: To participate, you must opt in by completing the online form. By opting in, you will agree to review the training materials for test administration, report positive test results, and administer the tests according to Tewksbury Public School’s guidelines.

• Reporting Positive Test Results: If you test positive on an at-home antigen test, you will report the positive result to your school nurse via email or phone call. The district will keep the results confidential and will not make individual results public. In addition, it is strongly recommended that you inform your healthcare professional of the positive result.

• Weekly: Every two weeks you will receive an iHealth at-home rapid test kit. Each kit contains two individual tests. You will administer one test each week.

• Easy, Free, and Flexible: This test is administered at home (not at school), reducing the burden on school staff and time to administer tests and increasing your flexibility to do testing in the home for free.

How do I administer the test?

• Click here for a full “how to” written guide in various languages

• Click here for a video of an individual self-testing

• Confidentiality: Positive test results are shared with the district for informational purposes only. Individual results will remain confidential, and they will never be made public.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Chris Malone