Screening Testing Update for the Creek Campus

Alexandra Penry, Headwaters School
10/29/21 UPDATE: Testing will start Tuesday 11/16, not Tuesday 11/9. Also, students are able to swab themselves if that is preferred.

Dear Creek Families, 
 
Headwaters School has received our allocation from the TEA and we are in the process of getting rapid antigen testing for Creek Students set up with Quest Diagnostics. Because this is a new system with a new company, we are required to re-collect consent from families to test your children. 
 
According to CDC guidance, “Screening testing identifies infected people, including those with or without symptoms (or before development of symptoms) who may be contagious, so that measures can be taken to prevent further transmission. In K-12 schools, screening testing can help promptly identify and isolate cases, quarantine those who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and are not fully vaccinated, and identify clusters to reduce the risk to in-person education. CDC guidance provides that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to participate in screening testing and do not need to quarantine if they do not have any symptoms.” As a reminder, Headwaters School has not mandated the COVID-19 vaccine for any community members at this time.
 
Headwaters School will continue screening testing for Creek Students every other Tuesday. Please note, after longer holidays, like Thanksgiving and Winter Break, we plan to do testing for the two consecutive weeks after the holiday.
 
Please use this link to sign-up and give consent for your child. Use the Access Code 6EGIAO. The form should take about 3-5 minutes to complete. Once parents complete this form, we will start testing your child on our Tuesday schedule. We intend to start testing on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. 
 
If you have any questions, please check out the resources below. If your question is not answered, don’t hesitate to reach out.
 
Thank you, 
Alex
 
 
Alexandra Penry
Senior Director for Finance & Advancement
 
 
 
 

 

What to Expect

Here’s what to expect regarding the on-campus COVID-19 screening testing for students. 
  • We will be conducting testing class by class, for those who have opted in. Screening testing will occur on every other Tuesday for Creek. Tests will be administered by trained clinicians from Quest Diagnostics, Headwaters staff, or trained volunteers. Parents will not be present. After holidays like Thanksgiving and Winter Break, we will test for the two consecutive weeks after.
  • Quest Diagnostics uses rapid antigen tests. 
  • Your child can expect a shallow nasal swab, with the swab making five big circles, in each nostril. It's not the deep nasal swab (brain tickler), but inserted 1/2" to 3/4" in the nostril. If your child would like to see an example of what it looks like, that process runs from the 2:50-3:25 mark in this video. You can also practice at home with a q-tip, or with a similar test from Walgreens or CVS, if it helps alleviate your child’s worries. 
  • Parents will only be notified of a positive test result. 
  • If your child doesn’t wish to be tested, we will not force them. But we do try to explain and make students comfortable with the process. 
    Students may swab themselves with supervision.

Sign Up & Give Consent

Visit this link to sign up and give consent for your child. Enter the access code 6EGIAO. Once you complete this form, your child will be testing on our Tuesday schedule. The consent process can take anywhere from 3-5 minutes. If you do not complete the process in one sitting, you can finish it later.

Please Note

These tests are only to be used for screening and will not be used on campus for symptomatic individuals who may become ill during the day. If your child or a staff member develops symptoms during the day, the goal is to get them home and under the care of a medical professional.
 
Unfortunately, at this time, these rapid tests are not available to parents and other community members on these campuses. Because these student populations are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, Headwaters is not currently requiring screening testing for students on the Springs and Creek campuses as it would require testing of the entire student population, which is logistically not possible at this time.

$0 Testing Costs

There are no costs associated with this testing with the grant we received from the state of Texas. 
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As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters School does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local law in its admissions, financial aid, hiring, or board membership processes.