Dear SST Parents,
At SST, we are committed to doing all we can to keep staff and students healthy and safe. With this goal in mind, we are pleased to share that we will be taking part in a statewide program offering rapid tests for use in schools. This program will allow SST to test symptomatic and suspected close contact individuals—including staff and students-- and reduce the risk to our school community. This email offers further information on the tests and the testing program. If you have additional questions, you can contact your campus Health Aid at [email protected]
What COVID-19 tests are used in this program?
This program uses BinaxNOW tests, which provide results in 15 minutes and are administered using a nasal swab in the front area of the nostril (about 1 inch deep). Nasal swab will not be inserted into the nasal cavity. Once the nasal swab is in the nostril 5 rotations will be made in each nostril to gather specimens from the nasal walls. These tests have been shown to be highly accurate, with accuracy rates of 97-98% for symptomatic individuals.
All patients will have the ability to collect their own specimen with step-by-step instructions from the test administrator. Unless a student is too young to perform this task or unable to for any other reason, the test administrator will collect the specimen for them, talking them through each procedure.
Who will be tested and when?
At SST, we will be offering these tests to all staff working on campus and on-site students ONLY. These tests are optional, but we encourage all staff who work on campus or onsite students to test if needed (with the needed permission slip if under 18 years of age). Please note that testing is not offered for students learning virtually.
SST will test any staff member or student who is experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or has been a confirmed close contact.
Our Covid-19 campus testing schedule is as follows.
Monday – Friday 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Please contact your campus Health Aid for testing spots availability at 281-277-7923 and press 4
How will the information from the tests be used?
If a parent has given permission for SST to administer the BinaxNOW test for their child, your child’s school will call you to let you know that your student is experiencing symptoms and that they will be administering a BinaxNOW test. The test administrator will also call to share the results after the test has been administered. Additionally, the student’s parent or guardian will receive test results via text within 30 minutes and will also receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
Please note that if a permission slip has been signed and permission has been given to conduct testing, but the designated guardian did not pick up the phone call prior to conducting the test, The campus Health Aid can move forward and conduct testing.
The parent can always request not to test and revoke the signed permission slip.
The results will also be shared with the school/district and with the local health department to allow for public health reporting and contact tracing and to determine the stay-at-home period for individuals who test positive. Additionally, the total number of positive tests per school will also be shared with the Texas Department of State Health Services as is required by law.
What happens next?
Tests are available to all students who are showing symptoms of COVID-19 or are believed to have close contact. To participate, parents must complete this form.
The first date testing will be available is 2/15/2021
If your on-site child is experiencing symptoms and you would like for him/ her to be tested, please do NOT send him/her to campus. Instead, contact your campus Health Aid and check availability BEFORE coming on campus to test.
Best,
SST Sugar Land
281-277-7923