September 20, 2021

Subject: Pooled Testing at DHS

To Parents/ Guardians, 

 At  DIrigo HIgh School, we seek to maintain a safe environment for employees, students, families, and the community. To support those goals, we have partnered with Concentric by Ginkgo to provide an optional and free pooled testing program.

 

But first, we need your help! We are requesting each family to participate in this program to help safeguard the wellbeing of our entire school community. Please complete the consent request process below and read the overview from Concentric to answer some questions you may have. Please note, if you would prefer a hard copy of the sign up form, please let us know at (207) 562-4251. 

 

To get started, please fill out the consent form with your permission to perform a COVID-19 pooled test for your student at Dirigo HIgh School. This process should take no more than 5 minutes to complete using a computer or a smartphone.

 

  1. First, click here (https://testcenter.concentricbyginkgo.com/minor-consent).

  2. Then, enter this access code: XDWZE7

  3. Finally, enter your child’s information, and you’re done!

 

Note: If you need to provide consent for more than one child, please complete the process once for each child.

 

 You may sign your child(ren) up at any time; however, forms must be completed by Friday, September 24, 2021 to participate in the first pooled testing on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. If your form comes in after Friday, September 24, 2021, your child(ren) will be added to future pooled testing, which will be happening weekly at Dirigo High School. 

 

What is pooled testing?

Pooling can test 25 people using one test. All students in a class, pod, or cohort swab their own noses and place their swabs in a single tube (that’s the pooling step). The samples in that tube are then run as a single sample, using one test. See it in action here.

 

Why pooled testing? Why should my student participate?

You know the old saying: “knowledge is power.” Tools like pooled testing empower us to make great decisions. Without knowing the specific prevalence of COVID-19 in our school, it’s tough for us to make informed decisions about safeguarding our school community, returning to school, or continuing in-person learning.

 

Only students with completed consent forms are able to participate in testing. If you do not want your family to participate, your student will not be included in the testing program. Though, we hope you do!

 

Testing empowers us to make these informed decisions about in-person learning and allows students, teachers, and staff to come to school with peace of mind.

 

To learn more about pooled testing, read the attached overview of Concentric’s pooled testing program and watch this video from another school using this service.

 

For more information, visit Concentric by Ginkgo’s website or reach out to Dirigo High School. 

Thank you,

Pam Doyen, Principal of DHS