Test to Stay is a COVID prevention strategy that will allow students who are identified as a close contact to a case of COVID to continue to attend school in “modified quarantine” for 7 days after their last day of exposure. 

With parent/guardian consent, students receive their initial rapid antigen test within 24 hours of notification that they have been exposed to COVID-19 at school or on the bus. They will then receive additional testing every other day during the required 7-day quarantine period to ensure that they are still negative and can remain in school. We are hopeful that this will reduce the number of quarantined students as a result of being a close contact.  

Test to Stay applies to both vaccinated and unvaccinated students.

Additionally, and also with parent/guardian consent, we are planning to offer testing for students presenting with minor symptoms during the school day in order to rule out COVID-19 on the spot. This would allow students to remain in school if they test negative or be isolated and sent home if they test positive. Again parental/guardian consent is necessary prior to participation.   

The District is offering testing at school for students as part of Project ACE-IT, a program organized by the Montgomery County Office of Public Health and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Testing data gathered in our school buildings will be shared with these two agencies as part of our agreement with them.

There are two steps to participate:

1.  First, complete a consent form. Click here to log in to PowerSchool to complete this form electronically. Click on the forms button in the left hand menu and select Test to Stay. If you prefer a hard copy, please click here to download and print a consent form instead and return it to your child’s building. If you have multiple children, you must give consent for each one individually.

2. Then, pre-register your child for testing using this link: https://register.pennrapidtest.org/. Once you complete this online form, you'll receive a QR code by email. Please forward this email to your child's building at the email address listed below and include your child’s name in the subject line.
   
   Conshohocken Elementary: ceaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Ridge Park Elementary: rpaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Plymouth Elementary: peaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Whitemarsh Elementary: weaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Colonial Elementary: cesaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Colonial Middle School: cmsaceit@staff.colonialsd.org
   Plymouth Whitemarsh High School: pwhsaceit@staff.colonialsd.org

We have hired individuals to assist with the testing and provided them with training to administer the Abbott Laboratories BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests provided through the Montgomery County Office of Public Health/Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). On occasion, a school nurse or other trained Colonial School District employee may also administer tests.

It may vary by building depending on space, but, in most cases, we will try to conduct the testing in a private area of the nurse’s office.

Yes, if you are able to make it to school in a short period of time. We prefer not to have students waiting to receive a test.

Yes. Results must be shared with your child’s school. However, please note we do not accept results from home tests.

No, but you should monitor for symptoms. The Montgomery County Office of Public Health does recommend fully vaccinated individuals be tested 3-5 days after exposure and wear a mask in public until a negative test result is obtained.

Currently, students who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated AND who are identified as a close contact to a positive COVID case must quarantine. Due to the number of close contacts identified in classrooms and on our school buses, many students who may, in fact, not be infected with COVID are having to quarantine. Both of these testing initiatives will provide parents/guardians with the option to consent to COVID testing for their student(s), enabling uninfected students to remain in school. Our goal is to keep students who are COVID-free in our schools and classrooms.

Make sure your contact information is updated on each child’s emergency form in PowerSchool. Be sure to include a telephone number and a number on which you wish to receive texts. Follow Colonial School District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Yes! Breakfasts and lunches are now free through the end of the school year. Extras and a la carte items are not included in the free meals and can be purchased.