Dear Summit Families,
I’m writing to inform you of a new opportunity to offer Summit employees and students (with parent consent) voluntary COVID-19 testing at Summit on a weekly basis. This opportunity is made possible through the generous sponsorship of the Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation.
The purpose of the voluntary testing program is to offer an additional level of safety to our Summit community in our return to on-campus learning.
The Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation has contracted Mountain Park Urgent Care and Walk-In Clinic in Sylva to offer voluntary testing at Highlands School, Blue Ridge School, and Summit at no-cost to the schools, students, or staff. Trained health care providers from Mountain Park will administer the testing on site at each school one-day per week starting the week of September 12 and ending December 18.
A few details on the testing:
The proposed test is a mid-turbinate nasal swab that goes about one inch into the nose (not the more invasive high nasal swab).
Students (with parent consent) and staff who participate in the program will be assigned a scheduled weekly testing time.
Nurse Becky will coordinate scheduling and escort participating students to the test at their scheduled time.
The test is entirely voluntary and requires parent consent for students to participate.
In cases of a positive test, school administration and the local health department would be informed and appropriate notification protocols would be followed.
This program is fully funded by the Highlands-Cashiers Health Foundation, is entirely voluntary, and participants are able to opt-out of the weekly testing program at any time.
I’ve included a consent form and diagram of the offered test for your information. If you would like your child to participate in this testing program, please email Becky Baker (bbaker@summitschool.org), our Interim School Nurse, a signed copy of the consent form for each of your participating children. Forms must be received by September 2 for participation.
Please feel free to contact me or Nurse Becky with any questions.
With gratitude,
Kurt