I am excited to share with you an update about BB&N’s solution to COVID-19 testing. In consultation with our school physician, Dr. Richard Goldstein, we have developed a five-tiered approach to protect the health of our community in these uncertain times. Specifically, we have partnered with PhysicianOne and the Broad Institute to provide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for our community. The key components of our five-tiered approach are:

We are excited to offer free, on-site baseline testing for all faculty, staff, and students who will be accessing BB&N in person in the Hybrid model. Specifically, drive-through testing will be provided at our 46 Belmont Street location in Watertown during the following days: 

You must sign up for a slot using this form by Monday, August 31. Please note that families with multiple children at BB&N must fill in a separate form for each child. 

A negative PCR test result (conducted on 9/3 or later) is required for any student, faculty, or staff member entering campus after Monday, September 7. 

Testing results will be provided to the tested person or their guardian (based on the information provided in the sign-up form). All individuals who participate in BB&N’s testing program will be required to complete a waiver which will allow BB&N to receive a copy of testing results. Our testing partner, PhysicianOne, will contact individuals with positive test results and BB&N will follow up to discuss the return-to-school timeline and plan in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Public Health guidance and our COVID-19 Policies.

In addition, BB&N will provide optional testing through PhysicianOne/Broad for faculty and staff members each Friday through mid-October and will evaluate the program at that time to determine continued need. 

Any community member or member of their household who is not well or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should contact their healthcare provider directly. Individuals exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms are prioritized for visits and tests. For individuals who are having trouble gaining access to testing, the following are a number of options available to our community members:

BB&N will test the community or sub-section of the community (i.e., a cohort) as recommended by the Cambridge Department of Public Health in the case of a known case. On August 20th, the Governor announced a mobile response team effort that will be deployed to any school (public or private) if the following minimal conditions apply: 

 

If we are not able to access the state’s mobile program in a timely fashion or if we would like to test more aggressively than recommended, BB&N will engage a third party to conduct testing.  

For students and families who are interested testing on an ongoing basis, the following are a number of options available to our community members:

We will be evaluating this approach over the next few months, as testing options continue to evolve and our understanding deepens regarding how the virus is impacting our community. Please contact Kimberly Gold, Director of Student Support Services, at kgold@bbns.org if you have any questions about testing.  

Providing baseline testing for our students, faculty, and staff in a manner that provides time to both test and receive the results will impact the schedule for our first week of school. Specifically: 

Campus directors will be sharing additional information, including first-week schedules, over the next two weeks, but I wanted to make sure that you were aware of these schedule changes as soon as possible. 

Thank you so much for your patience as we have navigated this challenging testing landscape. I am proud of the work my team has done to position us as one of the first independent day schools in the area to announce such a comprehensive plan. We continue to be excited to welcome our students back to school in a Safe, Smart, and Resilient manner. 

Best, 

Dr. Jennifer Price

Head of School

P.S. A reminder that if you or your family are struggling in any way due to the implications of the pandemic, please let us know via this confidential form. We are ready to help in any way we can!