A two-week stretch at home just got a lot shorter for some Kingfisher Public Schools students.

The district announced Thursday that third graders could return to Heritage Elementary beginning Monday, Aug. 24.

The school had transitioned to its distance learning plan beginning last Tuesday after it was discovered Monday that a second teacher there had tested positive for COVID-19 and two more had been contact traced to them.

At that time, the district not only closed Heritage for two weeks, but also ordered any siblings of Heritage students to go to distance learning for that time frame as well.

After receiving clarification from the Kingfisher County Health Department on Tuesday, the district announced siblings of Heritage students could return to school.

That led to more good news Thursday.

“During our contact tracing period, no other positive cases were found besides what was initially reported,” Superintendent Jason Sternberger wrote in a message to patrons.

While third graders can return Monday, fourth graders must resume with their distance learning and can’t return until Tuesday, Sept. 1.

That’s due to a majority of that grade’s teachers still being quarantined.

Also, any third graders who tested positive or identified as close contacts of positive individuals must still remain on their distance learning plans until their quarantine date is over.

“As always, please screen your child(ren) each morning and keep them at home if they exhibit any symptoms listed in the COVID screening checklist,” Sternberger said.