Dear Parents/Guardians,

​Our school has been selected as one of 188 schools across the province to participate in an Ontario government pilot project for planned COVID-19 testing in schools.

The purpose of the pilot project is to provide equitable, timely access to testing for school-aged children and staff who have been identified as a high-risk contact to a confirmed case. This approach is intended to minimize disruptions for children and families. The tests are minimally invasive (e.g. nasal mouth and saliva testing).

The pilot will provide vaccinated, asymptomatic students and staff a take-home self-collection kit, when they have been identified as a high-risk contact, as part of an identified cohort. However, students are not required to disclose their vaccination status to participate. Therefore, the school will distribute a kit to each individual in the identified class who asks to receive one. The test kit will include information on how to use the self-collection kit and instructions for its return to school the following day will be provided if and when necessary.

Individuals can access their test results on the Ontario COVID-19 online test results portal; however, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 would receive a call from Chatham-Kent Public Health. In cases where the lab identifies issues with the sample quality, or there is missing information on the accompanying form, individuals would be notified that the specimen cannot be processed.

Participation in the take-home pilot is voluntary. If you have any questions, please contact the school.

Sincerely,

Tiffany Cadotte

Principal
Tilbury District High School