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 they are symptom free and they provide test results to attendance school staff 
• Positive test - student may return on day 11 (day 1 is onset of symptoms)

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 10 days (no COVID-19 test): Students may return to school on day 11 (day 1 is the onset of symptoms) provided their symptoms are improving and they have been fever-free without the use of medication.
• 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. Determine whether you will test to return to school 

Students who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination series two or more weeks before the exposure OR were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine if they are close contacts unless they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms. If symptomatic, they need to quarantine. 

If your student is required to quarantine, you may either:

• Get a COVID-19 PCR test on day 6 or 7 (day 1 is last day of exposure to the COVID-19 person): 
• Negative PCR - student may return to school on day 8 provided they are symptom free (see free testing locations)
• Positive test - student may return 10 days from symptom onset (day 11) or positive test (whichever is earlier)
• Send test results to health.services@OregonSD.net

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.

• Quarantine for 10 days (no COVID-19 test): Students may return to school on day 11 (day 1 is the last exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual) provided they are symptom free.

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

1. Keep your student home from school

Any student who tests positive for COVID-19 - regardless of vaccination status - is required to isolate at home for 10 days from symptom onset or from the date of the positive test if asymptomatic. Students may return on day 11 if symptoms have resolved and they are fever free without the use of medications within the last 24 hours. 

2. Determine if other household members need to stay home from school / work 

Siblings and household members who have completed the COVID-19 vaccination series two or more weeks before the exposure OR were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 90 days do not need to quarantine unless they are displaying COVID-19 symptoms. 

Siblings and household members who are not fully vaccinated must follow quarantine guidance (contact your school nurse with questions):

• Quarantine for 10 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 positive individual, or
• Quarantine and have a negative result on a COVID-19 PCR test 6 or 7 days after the last exposure to the COVID-19 individual.

3. 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)

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

There many locations that offer free COVID-19 testing. 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.

For your convenience, we are offering free COVID-19/Influenza testing at school in our health office by our trained nurses and health paraprofessionals for students who develop COVID-19 symptoms while at school. Should your student come to the health room when not feeling well, we will contact you to pick your student up from school, and then perform the test if you have provided this consent during the Annual Online Registration process in August. Students who develop symptoms outside of school should get a test outside of school.    

The COVID-19 test involves using a small swab (similar to a cotton swab) and swirling it in both nostrils.  Two swabs will be collected (one for rapid testing at school and one that will be sent to the WI State Lab of Hygiene for confirmatory testing (PCR test). 

You can find more information about the e  SARS-CoV-2 /  Influenza A & B rapid test here: EUA-quidel-S2flucovidrapid-patient.pdf and the SARS-CoV-2 / Influenza PCR test here: EUA-CDC-Multiplex-patient flucovid pcr.pdf

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 are well enough to otherwise attend school (such as fever-free for 24 hours without medication).

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

Below is our communication process for positive COVID-19 case notifications. Our goal is to be as transparent as possible while providing information that is relevant to families.  

1. Quarantine Notification - If your child is required to quarantine, parents/guardians will be notified by the school nurse or contact tracer. If you are not notified, your student is not required to quarantine or otherwise stay home unless they are experiencing symptoms. 
2. Classroom / Bus Notification - a classroom and/or bus notification will be sent via email if there is a positive case in your student’s classroom / bus and the individual was present within the period as defined by the CDC and PHMDC (48 hours before illness onset - or if no symptoms, 48 hours before the date of the test). If the individual testing positive was not present during this time, a notification will not be sent.   
3. District Dashboard - active and cumulative positive COVID-19 cases will be listed on our data dashboard, which can be found at OregonSD.org/dashboard.

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 12 and older: schedule a vaccine

We will be following updated health guidance for playing band instruments at all schools across the district:

When playing indoors

• Instruments will have bell covers
• Students will be distanced to the extent possible
• Students will wear music masks when actively playing and an additional regular mask when not actively playing

When playing outdoors

• Instruments will have bell covers
• Students will be distanced 3-6 feet
• Masks are optional for anyone who wishes to use them

Visit OregonSD.org/health.

Quarantines are not required in a situation where both a person testing positive and a close contact were wearing masks. 

See the CDC Guide to Masks, which includes information on how to properly fit a mask, mask types, and how to clean and store masks.

• CDC Guidance for K-12 Schools
• American Academy of Pediatrics Guidance for Schools
• UW Department of Pediatrics COVID-19 & Children
• WI Department of Health Services: Healthy Kids
• Pediatric Infectious Disease Society
• Public Health Madison & Dane County Fall 2021 School Guidance
• Healthy Kids Collaborative