1. Check symptoms using the Panther Pledge checklist and stay home as directed:

2. Determine your approach for returning to school

Students experiencing COVID-19 symptoms may return to school after one of the following:

• Get a COVID-19 PCR test: (see free testing locations)

• Negative test - student may return to school provided their symptoms are improving and they provide test results to attendance school staff 
• Positive test - student may return on day 6 (day 0 is onset of symptoms) and should wear a mask on days 6-10.

NOTE: Per Public Health Madison & Dane County, we are now able to accept results of rapid tests administered at a testing site.  We are not able to accept an over-the-counter test taken at home.

Because your student has symptoms, they may also be eligible to test at no cost through our partnership with ORCHARDS by calling 608-265-3164. There are safe distribution and pickup procedures in place and your family will receive a $50 gift card for participating.

• Stay home for 5 days (no COVID-19 test): Students may return to school on day 6 (day 0 is the onset of symptoms) provided their symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free without the use of medication. They should wear a mask on days 6-10.
• Visit a physician and receive a diagnosis other than COVID-19: Students may return with a  note from their medical provider indicating a diagnosis other than COVID-19 and after they have completed treatment (e.g., strep throat - may return after being on antibiotics 24 hrs and feeling well to be in school).  

3. Report the absence and return plan by calling 608-835-4000, Option #1

To be as efficient as possible, please state the following information in your message (a school staff member will contact you with information about instruction while your student is absent):

• Your student’s first and last name
• Your name and phone number
• All symptoms your student is experiencing on the Panther Pledge checklist (e.g., my student is experiencing a cough and a sore throat)
• Your planned approach at this time for returning to school (e.g., I plan to get a test)

My student is feeling sick - Printable

1. Keep your student home from school

You may return on day 6; the date of your test or the date symptoms started (whichever occurs first) is day 0.  

IF all of the following are true:

• It has been 24 hours without a fever (without fever-reducing medicine), 
• Your symptoms are resolving;
• You feel well enough to be at school; AND
• You wear a well-fitting mask at all times indoors through day 10 (except for approved lunch or mask breaks where you are at least 6 feet from others). 

2. Report the positive test by calling 608-835-4000, Option #1

To be as efficient as possible, please state the following information in your message (a school staff member will contact you with information about instruction while your student is absent):

• Your student’s first and last name
• Your name and phone number
• The date of the positive test result
• The date symptoms started (if symptomatic)

3. Work with our OSD contact tracers to determine if other household members need to stay home from school / work 

4. Work with teachers / staff on instruction plan

A school staff member will follow up with you to discuss plans for your student’s instruction during the quarantine time period.

5. Work with staff members to identify close contacts

A school staff member will be in contact with you to determine any additional close contacts.

My student has tested positive for COVID-19 - Printable

If there is a positive COVID-19 case in your household, students may only come to school if:

1. They are fully vaccinated and have no symptoms OR
2. They had COVID-19 within the last 90 days and have no symptoms. 

If your student is not fully vaccinated or is experiencing symptoms regardless of vaccination status they may not come to school.

Should your student come to the health room due to not feeling well, we will contact you to pick your student up from school. Students may be asked to put on a mask while in the health office.  

If symptoms are consistent with COVID-19, we encourage you to take your student to be tested at our OSD COVID-19 Testing Drive Thru Site, located in the Netherwood Knoll / Praire View Elementary parking lot. The testing site is open until 1:00 PM Monday - Friday. 

We do not have resources to perform COVID-19 tests in the health office during our Summer Semester program.

Effective March 1, 2022 quarantine will be required when: 

• Student has developed COVID-19 symptoms (regardless of vaccination status).
• Student is a close contact and:
  • is not vaccinated or 
  • has not had a positive case on record in the last 90 days.

1. Work with OSD contact tracers to determine quarantine timeline and school return date: 

• If your student does not develop symptoms, they may return on day 6 if they continue to be symptom free.
• If you develop symptoms, you may return on day 6 (the date of your test or the date symptoms started - whichever occurs first - is day 0)  

  IF all of the following are true:

  • It has been 24 hours without a fever (without fever-reducing medicine), 
  • Your symptoms are resolving;
  • You feel well enough to be at school; AND
  • You wear a well-fitting mask at all times indoors through day 10 (except for approved lunch or mask breaks where you are at least 6 feet from others). 
• If you want your student to be tested, you can find information on testing locations here: Public Health Madison & Dane County or Center for COVID Control

NOTE: students who are fully vaccinated do not need to quarantine unless they have symptoms.

2. Monitor symptoms using the Panther Pledge symptom checklist:

3. Work with teachers / staff on instruction plan

A school staff member will follow up with you to discuss plans for your student’s instruction during the quarantine time period.

4. If unable to return at end of quarantine due to symptoms, call 608-835-4000, Option #1

To be as efficient as possible, please state the following information in your message (a school staff member will contact you with information about instruction while your student is absent):

• Your student’s first and last name
• Your name and phone number
• All symptoms your student is experiencing on the Panther Pledge checklist (e.g., my student is experiencing a cough and a sore throat)

My student needs to quarantine - Printable

The Oregon School District offers free drive-thru PCR testing for OSD students, families and staff. Registration is required. Visit OregonSD.org/testing for details. 

There also many locations that offer free COVID-19 testing. You may search for a location via Public Health Madison & Dane County or Center for COVID Control. Make sure to complete any required documentation and call for an appointment at your selected testing location prior to arriving for a test. 

In addition to those testing sites, your family may be eligible to participate in the UW Oregon Child Absenteeism due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS).  This study is looking at household transmission of COVID-19, Influenza and other respiratory viruses.  If eligible, research staff will drop off study materials outside of your home for completing 3 nasal swab collections over a 2 week period. Each set of swabs will be picked up after collection and transported to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for testing.  Since this is a research study, results may not be received as quickly as they would be at the sites listed above.  Your family will receive $50 for participating in this study.  Call the study line at 608-265-3164 for more details.

When a student tests positive for COVID-19, a contact tracer will be in contact with the family to determine if there are any close contacts of OSD staff or students. Effective March 1, 2022 we will no longer contact trace at school.

No. We will not be sending COVID-19 notification letters or updating the COVID-19 dashboard during Summer Semester. 

Please have a conversation with your student and clearly communicate your wishes with respect to wearing a mask at school. We understand that either wearing a mask or not will be different for each individual and may vary on any given day. We will respect each individual and will not be inquiring about why a student is or is not wearing a mask. 

There are some occasions in which students may asked to wear a mask for health and safety purposes:

• If your student displays COVID-19 symptoms they may be asked to wear a mask in the health office. 
• Students returning to school after testing positive for COVID-19 or who have been quarantined will be asked to wear a mask at school on days 6-10, in accordance with health guidance.
• If there is a classroom or school outbreak, masks may be temporarily required.

If your student is experiencing respiratory symptoms, your family may be eligible to participate in the UW Oregon Child Absenteeism due to Respiratory Disease Study (ORCHARDS). This study is looking at household transmission of COVID-19, Influenza and other respiratory viruses. If eligible, research staff will drop off study materials outside of your home for completing 3 nasal swab collections over a 2 week period. Each set of swabs will be picked up after collection and transported to the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene for testing. Since this is a research study, results may not be received as quickly as they would be at general testing sites. Your family will receive $50 for participating in this study. Call the study line at 608-265-3164 for more details.

COVID-19 vaccines are availble for everyone ages 5 and older: schedule a vaccine

Visit OregonSD.org/health.

Here is the most recent CDC guidance on masks, which includes information on how to properly fit a mask, mask types, and how to clean and store masks.

The guidance stresses that you should choose a well-fitting and comfortable mask or respirator that your child can wear properly. A poorly fitting or uncomfortable mask or respirator might be worn incorrectly or removed often, and that would reduce its intended benefits.