What’s APAning

April 14, 2021

Dear APA Parents,

Wow, what a year (and then some) it has been. I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and we have our first APA live performance, indoors with an audience this weekend!

In order to have live indoor performances, we are required to test every student and staff who will be participating in a show. Creative Forces folks are first out of the gate, and there have been some glitches — I am so sorry for any confusion and undue stress that this may have caused. I truly apologize as this is our first time testing and we are learning from the process. Athletics has been testing for some time now, but this is all new to APA, and we just did not know what questions we would run into this first time.

• We are currently in the Orange Tier, and we are following CDPH Guidelines, along with the Orange County Public Health Guidelines.
• If a student or staff has previously tested positive for COVID, we can accept an exempt letter from a physician within 90 days or 3 months of the original positive test, in lieu of testing.

In regard to questions about insurance:

• According to HBUHSD Risk Manager, William Kerwin, and in accordance to our contract with the test servicing company, the lab has several pathways to getting paid. If a student is able to provide insurance information, the insurance company is the fiscal agent for payment for testing. If insurance is not available, then the federal government becomes the fiscal agent.
• There is absolutely no cost to the person being tested, and there is no co-payment due or out of pocket expenses.

Most likely, the school-sponsored COVID testing will take place in the HBHS Student Center on the Monday prior to the show, at approximately 4:30 pm. We realize this is vague, and more details will follow to each specific department depending on the show and the size of cast and crew.

In order to be prepared as to what to expect, here is the information that each student/staff member will need when testing:

1. COVID testing form (provided on What’s APAning)
2. Copy of insurance card
3. Copy of parent or guardian’s driver’s license
4. Copy (or actual) student ID

We are looking forward to Creative Forces and all of the amazing APA shows to follow, and are confident that these safety precautions will allow APA students to continue to do what they love most — perform in front of an audience!

If a student or staff does not test negative for COVID within 72 hours of the performance, they will not be allowed to participate.

I understand that this situation does not fit for every family, so students’ grades will not be affected if they choose not to participate in COVID testing.

Thank you for your patience and support in this process, and of APA. We can’t wait to see you again at the shows!

Sincerely,

Stacy Robison
Special Program Administrator, APA