August 12, 2021

Dear Acero parents and caregivers,

Acero Schools will deploy an updated COVID-19 surveillance testing program with the start of the 2021-22 school year. This program, brought to our network by Shield Illinois and Visit Healthcare, is applicable at all campuses and is effective beginning August 23.

Unless you choose to opt your scholar out of COVID-19 surveillance testing, all scholars will be automatically enrolled in the program. 

If you prefer that your scholar NOT be periodically tested for COVID-19, the following Notice includes directions on how to complete the form by no later than Tuesday, August 17. 

If you do not complete an opt out form for each of your Acero Schools’ scholars, they will be enrolled in Acero’s surveillance testing program. While parents and caregivers may choose to have scholar(s) participate in surveillance testing now, you may also opt your child(ren) out of the program at any time.

Once completing the opt-out form for your scholar(s) please allow seven days before your child is listed on our opt-out list. Once on the list, they will no longer receive surveillance testing.

CLICK HERE TO REVIEW TESTING PROGRAM INFORMATION AS WELL AS THE OPTION TO OPT OUT

Additionally, please find information intended to help you explain the testing process to your child. Acero uses a saliva-based instead of a nose-swab test. This is intended to make testing easier for all scholars. We anticipate testing children one hour after breakfast or lunch on a regular but not daily basis.

Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Acero Schools at (312) 637-3900 or at [email protected].

Sincerely,
Acero Schools

On the Day of My Test 

In the hour before your test:

• Do not eat or drink
• Do not chew gum or smoke
• Do not drink beverages with dyes, including coffee
• Avoid drinking large amounts of water

You may also want to rinse or gargle your mouth with water to remove any discoloration (such as from coffee) or small pieces of food. Be sure to do this at least one hour before your test.

At your test:

• Follow these tips for producing enough saliva.
  • Hydrate earlier in the day by drinking plenty of water up until one hour before your test.
  • Pool your drool underneath your tongue as you walk or drive to your test site.
  • Think about foods you really like to eat. Think about sour foods like lemons.
  • Slide the tip of your tongue along your gums behind your teeth to stimulate your salivary glands.
• Pool your drool under your tongue.
• Keep your face covering on before you begin to drool into your funnel and tube; replace it between deposits.
• Slide the tip of your tongue along your gums behind your teeth to stimulate your salivary glands and deposit this saliva in the funnel.
• Avoid swishing saliva in your mouth or pulling saliva from the back of your mouth.