From Todd Harrison, Bigelow principal

Our student testing participation level in COVID Pooled Testing is hovering around 50% at Bigelow and about 40% in all schools. We really need to increase participation to 70-80% for testing to be effective.

We NEED YOUR participation to make this work. The more students who participate, the better data we have on infection rates in our community. This means we can:

• Quickly identify infection

• Reduce the risk of in school transmission

• Limit quarantines

• Keep our schools, athletics and other important activities open for the rest of the year

Please note: Testing is now MANDATORY for all high school students participating in athletics or extracurricular activities.

Here’s how to enroll and a few details on the testing:

• Complete the opt-in in Aspen (here’s the link!)

• High school students then create an account at JCM (do it here!) for access to a QR code they use to check in their sample. (Pre-K – 8th grade students will receive their QR code from school staff.)

• This is NOT the “touch your brain” swab! This is a sample taken from the front of your nose with a Q-tip like swab. It’s super-fast and painless.

• Testing is FREE to all families!

Please REMIND your students to turn in their sample when they arrive at school!