Dear Paint Branch High School Community,

This letter is to inform you that we were notified of several positive cases of coronavirus (COVID-19).  We would like to thank you for taking COVID-19 seriously, following protocols, and reporting back to us when there is a positive test so that we can protect our school community.

• Student who was last present at Paint Branch High School on December 17, 2021 tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 21, 2021. We were notified on December 22, 2021 of the positive test.

• Two students who were last present at Paint Branch High School on December 21, 2021 tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 21, 2021. We were notified on December 22, 2021 of the positive test.

• Student who was last present at Paint Branch High School on December 22, 2021 tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 22, 2021. We were notified on December 22, 2021 of the positive test.

• Student who was last present at Paint Branch High School on December 14, 2021 tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 15, 2021. We were notified on December 22, 2021 of the positive test.

• Student who was last present at Paint Branch High School on December 17, 2021 tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on December 17, 2021. We were notified on December 22, 2021 of the positive test.

We encourage our students to take advantage of the “Say Yes to the Test” program available in MCPS.  COVID-19 Testing Will Help Reduce Quarantine and Keep Students and Staff Safe:  Video and More information

Screening Testing: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends random asymptomatic COVID-19 testing because it detects and can limit the spread of the virus, even in the absence of visible symptoms. 

Rapid Testing: Staff from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will determine whether a COVID-19 rapid test should be administered when a student presents to a health room with potential COVID-19 symptoms.

Parents/guardians only need to fill out one form to provide consent for both types of tests.

Link to consent form

We encourage you to closely monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, headache, and shortness of breath. If your child develops any of these symptoms, do not send them to school. You should contact your healthcare provider and have your child tested for COVID-19. Please contact the school if your child develops COVID-19-like symptoms. Students who develop symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, will not be able to return to the building until they are medically cleared. 

As a reminder, here are the steps that we can all take to keep ourselves, families, and school community safe:

• Get vaccinated when eligible 

• Wear a mask, or appropriate face covering, at all times when in school and other public spaces.

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before and after eating. 

• Cover your cough and/or sneeze and immediately wash your hands for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.

• Stay home if you are sick or have any COVID-19 symptoms. 

Please visit  the Montgomery County Public Schools and Montgomery County Government websites for additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccination sites.  

Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, we notified individuals who were known to have close contact with this individual and have informed them to quarantine and monitor for symptoms, per CDC guidelines.  

Per current DHHS guidance and our contact tracing process, we are making notifications to students and staff in our community that might need to quarantine.  Students in close contact with an individual that tested positive will be notified via email and will be asked to complete a Google Form.  If you do not receive an email from the school with a link to the Contact Tracing Google Form you do not need to quarantine.  

Please visit for additional information on how the CDC, MCPS and DHHS, defines and identifies close contacts. 

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and healthy school environment.