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September 15, 2021

Dear Brunswick Families and Staff:

To support our efforts to maintain a healthy and safe learning environment, I am happy to announce that Brunswick School Department has partnered with Concentric by Ginkgo to implement Pooled COVID-19 Testing in grades PreK-6.  This testing is optional and free.  We have focused testing on grade levels in which no students have access to the COVID-19 vaccine.  The program may expand to other grade levels and/or co-curricular groups in the future.

Pooled Testing is a system in which groups of students--usually classes--self-swab their lower nasal cavities on a certain day of the week.  All swabs from the group are combined into one specimen which is sent to a central testing facility.  The schools are notified in 48 hours whether any specimen is positive.  Individuals in the identified group are then re-tested.  Those in the group who re-test negative do not have to quarantine.

We are hoping for high participation among staff and students to keep everyone from unnecessary quarantines when they are not sick.  To do this, we need you to consent to your or your child’s test.  Giving consent is quick and easy.  Simply follow the directions below to do so electronically.  This process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone. 

DIRECTIONS TO PROVIDE CONSENT:

1.Click the appropriate link: 

Student Consent Link 

If you are filling this out for multiple students, you will need to complete a  separate consent for each student.  

Staff Consent Link 

Staff consent requires creating a free account with Concentric by Ginkgo.

2.Enter this access code for where your student attends or where you primarily work:

Kate Furbish Elementary School:  KFS2021

Harriet Beecher Stowe Elementary School:  HBS2021

Brunswick Junior High School:  BJHS2021

3.Follow the prompted steps and submit at the end.

Only students and staff with completed consent forms are able to participate in testing. If you do not want yourself or your family to participate, do not fill out a form.  We hope to begin testing the week of September 27.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Phillip J. Potenziano, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools