Dear Friendship Parents,
We are writing to share exciting and important information regarding Friendship’s COVID-19 Testing Program and Washington D.C.’s COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.
COVID TESTING AND CONSENT OPT OUT
Friendship Public Charter School will continue to test students and adults weekly. Recently, Friendship collaborated with BD to utilize the BD Veritor™ Plus System. The BD Veritor™ Plus System offers Friendship the tools needed to conduct rapid antigen testing for respiratory infections. The BD Veritor™ Plus System also provides real time notifications to parents/guardians on the results of their child’s test results. Please look for an email from no-reply@imagemovermd.com for your student’s results.
To further support this program, Friendship is moving to an opt-out consent program for Covid testing. All Friendship Scholars are now eligible to be tested for Covid-19 unless a parent/guardian completes and signs an opt-out form. To opt-out of our testing program, please submit the attached form and return it to your child’s school.
WASHINGTON D.C.’S VACCINATION MANDATE
In accordance with Mayor Bowser’s announcements, the following vaccine mandates will go into effect for all Friendship students:
All student-athletes 12 and over must be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Monday, November 1, 2021 to be eligible to practice or compete in school-based, extra-curricular athletics.
With this guidance in mind, Friendship PCS will begin collecting information from families regarding scholars’ vaccination status or plan. Student’s vaccination status affects their quarantining in the event of a close contact exposure.
Thank you for being a part of this community and helping to maintain a safe environment for students and staff members.