Routine weekly COVID safety checks minimize disruption to learning by helping us catch potential spread of the virus before it starts. Students self-administer the test at school on a weekly basis. A pool of 2-10 samples are then shipped to the Broad Institute Lab for an FDA authorized PCR test. In almost all cases, it will take less than 24 hours to receive results. If a pool is positive, the students identified in the positive pool will take individual tests at school to determine which student(s) in the pool produced the positive test.
Test and Stay allows students identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 positive student, to stay in school as long as they remain asymptomatic. This is a notable alternative to quarantining at home and missing school. School based close contacts will take a daily rapid test before the start of school. The duration of the Test and Stay option is 7 days.
To register your student(s) please click on the provided link. Repeat Steps 1-4 for each of your students:
1. Select your students school from drop down menu.
2. Click on “Sign Consent Form for a Minor” (or Yourself for those 18 or older)
3. Read and select response
4. Enter demographic information and sign a consent form.
Registrations received prior to Sunday 5pm before each school week will be included in testing that week. All registrations submitted after Sunday 5pm will be included in testing the following week.
The DESE consent process was not designed to allow the selection of testing methods. WPS encourages full participation in consideration of community well being. We understand that a close contact designation is different for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and it is expected that many will not be required to quarantine or test. Resources on close contact definitions and guidance on quarentine are available on the Main COVID-19 Page.
Participation in Test to Stay requires consent. If you elect as a familiy to withdraw from either testing method, we will honor that request, though will not bifurcate the consent or testing process. Please email WPS COVID-19 Testing Coordinator at wpscovidtesting@westwood.k12.ma.us.
