Updates for Creek COVID-19 Screening Testing: PCR Testing with Your Health Lab

Headwaters School
Update 3/17/22: We have an update for our families who participate in PCR testing with Your Health Lab (YHL). YHL informed us that  uninsured testing will no longer be covered under the government’s Uninsured Program. Read more about this change at this link

Updated 3/11/22:
At this time, the Creek Campus will only offer PCR Testing

Updated on 1/18/22:
  Parents, please complete this form to inform the school that you have filled out the paperwork for PCR testing and wish for us to pull your child. We also invite anyone who did not sign-up already, to do so for the next PCR testing session on February 1.
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Headwaters has partnered with Your Health Lab to provide PCR screening testing every other Tuesday on the Creek Campus from 8:30-10 a.m. This will fall on the opposite week of the already established Rapid Antigen Screening Testing. PCR testing includes the slightly more invasive pharyngeal nasal swab or “brain tickler” swab, which means students will not be able to self-administer this test. Due to scheduling, we cannot guarantee that parents will be allowed to be present when their child is tested, so please take this into account when signing up.   

PCR screening testing will start this coming Tuesday, January 18, 2022 for all interested. We highly recommend using the sign-up below and do your paperwork in advance. There will be paper copies on hand, but Your Health Lab is experiencing office shortages and it will take longer to process handwritten paperwork.

HOW TO SIGN UP
Please note, you must complete this form to let us know you need your child tested.

Then, sign-up at this link and have your insurance card on hand (if you are insured, you must add insurance info).
1) When you are signing up, you can "continue as a guest;"
2) Complete the form for the patient (your child);
3) Please be sure to add your email and text information to get results.

You can also scan this QR code to get to the sign-up form
**QR Code/link above is specific to Headwaters School; if you have students at other schools this code will not work and is only linked to this specific school.
 
Testing will be conducted on the Creek Campus. 
 
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at a.penry@headwaters.org. 
 
Stay well, 
Alex 
 
 
Alexandra Penry
Senior Director for Finance & Advancement

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More Details: Screening Testing on the Creek Campus

What to expect:

Rapid AntigenPCR
  • 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. Parents will not be present
  • 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.
  • We will be conducting testing class by class, for those who have opted in. Screening testing will occur on every alternate Tuesday for Creek. Tests will be administered by trained clinicians from Your Health Lab. Parents will not be present. 
  • Your Health Lab conducts PCR testing. 
  • Your child can expect a deeper nasal swab with the swab making five twists, in each nostril. This is about 1 inch into the nose (not the ​​nasopharyngeal swab (through the nose to back of the throat but feels like the brain ). Or, your child can opt for a throat swab similar to testing for strep, as long as they have not eaten in the past hour. 
  • When results are available, parents will receive either a text or email with a link to view their child’s results.
  • 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
 
 

What is the Testing Schedule:

  • January 18 | 8:30-10 a.m.| PCR testing with Your Health Lab, all community members welcome 
  • January 25 | 9-11a.m. | Rapid Antigen testing for students and staff only through TEA Grant 
  • February 1 | 8:30-10 a.m.| PCR Testing
  • February 8 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen Testing
  • February 15 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • February 22 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • March 1 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • March 8 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • March 22 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • March 29 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • April 5 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • April 12 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • April 19 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • April 26 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • May 3 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • May 10 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
  • May 17 | 8:30-10 a.m. | PCR Testing
  • May 24 | 9-11 a.m. | Rapid Antigen
Rapid AntigenPCR
This testing is ONLY for students.Anyone is eligible to test, including family members not attending Creek.
 

How do I sign-up?

Rapid AntigenPCR

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.


Need help filling out the form? Your Health Lab created a how-to at this link to help make signing up as easy as possible.
 
 

Does a parent have to complete this form each time their student tests?

No. Parents will only need to complete the online sign-up one time for each type of testing.
 

How will you know to pull my child?

Rapid AntigenPCR
When a parent completes the form, we are notified. Please fill out this form in order to let us know you completed your paperwork and wish for your child to have a PCR test.  

What type of tests are offered?  

Rapid AntigenPCR
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.Your Health Lab will provide PCR testing, which is considered to be the gold standard of active infection tests. This is administered through the more invasive deep nose swab. Each individual may also choose to have their sample taken with a throat swab, similar to a strep test. **Students are unable to do this test themselves* 
 

When will I get my results? 

Rapid AntigenPCR
Parents will only be notified of a positive test result. 
PCR test results are generally available 24-72 hours after testing. Results will be posted to your child’s portal and the parent’s email/text (depending on preference selected when they register using the QR Code).

All test results will be communicated directly with the person who was tested and not with the school.
 

Do I need to share my results with Headwaters? 

Rapid AntigenPCR
Jote, as a state-certified "Test Champion," also has access to the results and will be aware of positive cases. 
All test results will be communicated directly with the person who was tested and not with the school. Headwaters requests that any positive test results be shared with the school immediately. 

Families should notify Jote Khalsa at creekcampusattendance@headwaters.org. Employees should notify their supervisor and Leslie Hirsch at l.hirsch@headwaters.org

In accordance with APH guidelines, positive cases will be reported to APH to assist with contact tracing and containment measure
 

Is there a cost for the test? 

Rapid AntigenPCR
There are no costs associated with this testing with the grant we received from the state of Texas. No. If the person being tested is covered under a private insurance plan, that insurance carrier will be billed for the collection and test. If the person being tested does not have private insurance, the parent/guardian has the option to choose Public Assistance and the claim will be submitted to the state. According to the CARES Act, with a valid order from a provider, there should not be any out-of-pocket cost for COVID testing to the patient. PLEASE NOTE: If Public Assistance is chosen and the state confirms the student/faculty member has private insurance, the state claim will be rejected, and the private insurance will be billed.
 

What is screening testing?

As a reminder, screening testing (sometimes called surveillance 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. Testing programs help keep students in the classroom and allow them to take part in the other activities they love. Learn more about CDC guidance for screening testing at this link.
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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.