Dear Peninsula School District Community,

We hope you are having a restful Thanksgiving Break. Here are some important reminders for the week ahead.

COVID-19 Mobile Testing Kickoff Tomorrow, Sunday, Nov. 29
Mobile testing units will be at Key Peninsula Middle School and Gig Harbor High School from 10am to 3pm on Sunday, Nov. 29. All PSD students, staff, families, and the general community are welcome to stop by to take a COVID-19 PCR test using a mid turbinate nasal swab, which basically means that they are just swabbing inside the nose, not far back into the nose. People with positive tests are usually notified sooner (usually within 48 hours) than those with negative results (5-7 days).

• Key Peninsula Middle School: 5510 Key Peninsula Highway KPN, Lakebay, WA 98349-9622

• Gig Harbor High School: 5101 Rosedale St NW, Gig Harbor, WA 98335

Weekly Antigen Testing for Students and Staff Begins Monday, Nov. 30
Voluntary rapid antigen testing will take place once a week at each elementary school, Key Peninsula Middle School, Peninsula High School, and Gig Harbor High School beginning the week of Nov. 30 for students and staff only. Testing will occur once a week at each of these sites until Winter Break. The rapid antigen test to be used is a mid turbinate nasal swab. Results are available in about 15 minutes and it is 97.1% accurate on positive results and 98.5% accurate on negative results. 

Any positive rapid test would require a second test to confirm the positive, which would be a PCR test, also a mid turbinate nasal swab. The follow up PCR test would occur free of charge at the school location following any positive rapid antigen test. People with positive PCR confirmation tests are usually notified sooner (usually within 48 hours) than those with negative results (5-7 days).

Here is the weekly testing schedule:
Mondays: Harbor Heights, Minter Creek, Purdy
Tuesdays: Pioneer, Vaughn, Voyager
Thursdays: Artondale, Evergreen
Fridays: Discovery, Gig Harbor High, Peninsula High, Key Peninsula Middle 
(Please note, staff and students at Goodman, Harbor Ridge, Kopachuck, Henderson Bay, CTP and the Educational Services Center may be tested at Key Peninsula Middle School, Gig Harbor High School, and Peninsula High School starting Friday, Dec. 4 between 2pm and 4pm).

Consent Forms for Weekly Antigen Testing
Please remember that a signed consent form will be necessary for each student and staff member being tested during the weekly antigen testing. Please send the signed form to school with your child. The consent form only needs to be signed once and will be in place for the duration of the testing pilot.

Testing for Remote Students and Staff
Any student or staff member who attends/works at a location that is not a testing site, or is attending school/working remotely, can get tested at Key Peninsula Middle School, Gig Harbor High School, and Peninsula High School on Fridays, starting Friday, Dec. 4 between 2pm and 4pm. Please be sure to bring a signed consent form to be tested.

Curious About the Testing Procedures?
Our friends at White River School District have graciously shared a video they produced showing testing procedures in their schools. 

White River SD is also partnering with TPCHD in the school-based testing pilot program, and started their testing earlier this week. Testing procedures will work similarly in PSD to what you’ll see in the video.

If you would like to see the testing being performed, please watch the video.

Video of Live Discussion with Dr. Chen from TPCHD
In case you missed the live discussion with Dr. Chen, Director of Health with TPCHD on Nov. 24 regarding the pilot testing program, you can view the recording on our website.

More Information
We encourage staff/families to take advantage of this opportunity as we work to provide an additional layer of safety and confidence for both in person and remote learning.  We want your decision to be an informed one and are providing the links below should you want more information or answers to frequently asked questions.  

• Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Website

• PSD Website

 

Sincerely,

PSD Leadership