Charles Co. CCPS expanding voluntary COVID-19 testing to in-person summer programs

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) will continue its voluntary COVID-19 screening program this summer. Staff and students attending in-person camps and programs can participate in a free weekly COVID-19 test. The program is a partnership between CCPS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide increased testing resources to schools.

CCPS launched a pilot program at five schools in May and will continue to offer free preventative testing over the summer months. Staff and student participation in the program will help CCPS transition and plan for a full and safe reopening on Aug. 30 for the 2021-2022 school year.

Staff and parents interested in having their child participate must register in advance online. Registration is available online at https://schoolcovid19test.com/.

CCPS will send email reminders to parents and eligible staff with a QR code for easy registration access. Registration should be completed a few days prior to testing. Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms is not eligible for testing.

Testing available at CCPS summer enrichment camps


The program will be offered to staff and students involved in CCPS summer enrichment camps set to take place from June 28 through July 30 at William A. Diggs Elementary School and Theodore G. Davis Middle School. Only students attending an in-person camp can participate, as testing will occur on school grounds.

The testing schedule may mirror below and is subject to change. No summer enrichment camps are scheduled the week of July 5-9.

  • Morning session students/staff: Mondays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. (Diggs and Davis)
  • Afternoon session students/staff: Mondays, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. (Davis only)

Testing available at CCPS summer boost programs

Students and staff participating in the elementary Summer Boost programs are eligible to participate. This includes programs set to run July 7 through Aug. 6 at Berry, Billingsley, Gale-Bailey, Dr. Thomas L. Higdon, Mary H. Matula, Mary B. Neal, J.P. Ryon and William B. Wade elementary schools, the F.B. Gwynn Educational Center, and La Plata and Westlake high schools.

Only students attending in-person programs can participate, as testing will occur on school grounds.

The testing schedule may mirror below and is subject to change. Testing for the week of July 5-9 may occur during different hours on Wednesday or Thursday of that week to accommodate the July 5 holiday closure and staff start date of July 6.

Monday testing

  • 8 to 9 a.m., Gale-Bailey
  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Matula
  • 10 to 11:30 a.m., Billingsley and Westlake
  • 11 a.m. to noon, La Plata

Tuesday testing

  • 8 to 9 a.m., Berry and Higdon
  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Wade and Gwynn
  • 11 a.m. to noon, Ryon and Neal

Staff from the program’s laboratory partner, eTrueNorth, will oversee testing and process all results. The test used is the nasal swab PCR test, which a student or staff member will administer themselves. eTrueNorth staff will also help any test taker, as needed. Program volunteers will not test more than once a week and the test schedule does not interfere with instructional time.

Test results are shared directly with parents and staff who register for testing. Parents or staff members with questions about the program can contact Jason Stoddard, CCPS director of school safety and security, at jstoddard@ccboe.com or 301-392-5550.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,000 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event. CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).
 
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