Student Health and Support

Health and Counseling Overview

The Faulkner Health Center is located at 348 Centre Street, next to the Goodwin and Hathaway houses. Faulkner is staffed by registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Counseling Center is located at 313 Randolph Avenue and are available by appointment and more urgently through a rotating on-call service. School physicians are available to boarding students for consultation and appointments by arrangement with the health and counseling staff. A psychiatrist is available weekly to prescribe and monitor psychotropic medications and to consult with the counseling staff. An orthopedic specialist serves as a consultant to the health and counseling staff and to the athletic trainers. Services of physicians are not covered by a student’s health fee and are provided on a fee-for-service basis. Doctor’s visits and/or laboratory tests for boarding students are performed or ordered as indicated and charged to a student’s health insurance on file with the Faulkner Health Center. If the insurance is part of an HMO or another group that requires referrals, families will be required to obtain an insurance referral from the child’s primary care physician.

The Health and Counseling Centers Faulkner Health Center believes in preventive care. The faculty and staff works with a student’s primary care physician and parents to support the student’s health and well-being. The school has easy access to the services of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton for emergencies and major Boston hospitals, including Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, for inpatient care. In a medical emergency, an adult from the school will accompany the student to a medical facility. Any incurred expenses will be charged to the student’s Incidental Account. If a parent schedules any medical appointments outside of the Faulkner Health Center (i.e. dental, orthodontic, etc.), they are responsible for arranging their child’s transportation at the family’s expense.

The Counseling Center is located on campus at 313 Randolph Avenue. Students may schedule an appointment with a counselor by sending an email to counseling_center@milton.edu. If students need support more urgently, they should call 617-898-2470. Boarding and day students are encouraged to meet with school counselors if needed. However, day students may be referred to outside counselors if longer-term counseling is required. Counselors are available for appointments between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. At all other times, a counselor is on call for boarding students at 617-898-2470. The Counseling Center does not provide family therapy.

Personal counseling is offered to students on a confidential basis. All information shared between students and the school’s health care providers (including counselors and nurses) is private and is treated confidentially within the limits of safety and of the law. This includes disclosing information to parents and legal guardians. To promote candor, the school asks that parents respect the privacy of students who may not wish to share certain information with them.

Health Records

Milton Academy’s electronic health record, Magnus, is the platform for all health-related records and forms, including physical exams, consents, immunization information and health insurance information. Parents can upload and update their child’s health information through the Magnus parent portal, which must be done annually. Please note that the school’s required medical forms must be on file with the Faulkner Health Center in order for students to start classes or participate in sports. Students will not be allowed to start the school year unless the completed forms have been received.

All students are required to have up-to-date immunizations and annual physical examinations. Every student must have adequate health insurance coverage. Although Milton does require that all students receive a physical exam, the school does not conduct these exams, nor does the school require vision, hearing, or scoliosis screening. Your child’s primary care physician is responsible for conducting these examinations.

When a student is sick or injured and is absent from school for an extended time, the attending physician must provide either the health center staff or athletic trainer with written permission for the student to return to athletic play with no restrictions. Please see the Milton Academy Concussion and Head Injury Policy, available through the Athletic Department, for more information. All boarding students and in-season day students who sustain a concussion will be seen by the school physician for clearance to return to play. It is the parent’s or guardian’s responsibility to obtain a referral from the student’s primary care physician for this appointment if their health care provider requires such a referral.

Medications at School

Boarding students taking prescription medication must bring their prescriptions to the Faulkner Health Center for review by the nursing staff, who will then either approve the medication to be held in the student’s dorm room for self-administration, or sign it in to the Health Center for administration to the student by the nursing staff as prescribed. Students should only keep very small quantities of over-the-counter medications in their rooms. Students may not keep unlabeled packets of medication in their rooms. If parents do send pre-packaged medication, it must be in the original packaging, labeled in English and brought to Faulkner so that the nursing staff can easily identify the contents and manage administration. Medications that can not be identified by the nursing staff will be returned to parents or held at the Health Center until the student returns home. It is the expectation that students who are ill or injured will report to the Health Center for assessment and treatment, and the Health Center is stocked with a wide variety of over-the-counter medications to treat illness and injury.

The Faulkner Health Center will fill prescription medications prescribed by the school physician for all boarding students. The student’s Incidental Account (IA) will be charged for the co-pay. In order for the pharmacy to fill the prescriptions, the school must provide the pharmacy with the pharmacy codes from the student’s insurance card. For information on how to find these codes, contact the staff at Faulkner. If parents do not provide this information and their child requires prescription medication, Milton will charge the student’s IA account for the full pharmacy cost.

Psychotropic Medication (mind-altering, stimulants, antidepressants, anti-anxiety)
If boarding students are taking psychotropic medications, these medications are generally prescribed by the school’s consulting psychiatrist (at the parents’ expense) and are dispensed by the school nurses daily. These students must also meet regularly with a school counselor. For the safety of our students, all psychotropic medications must be stored at Faulkner. Students are never allowed to keep psychotropic medications in the dorm. Boarding students who keep psychotropic medications in the dorm room risk disciplinary action. If a student is going to be off campus and the Health Center staff has been properly notified by a parent or faculty member in the dorm, the staff will provide the student with packaged doses.
If a student is already taking a psychotropic medication upon arrival at Milton, in most situations, our consulting school psychiatrist will then become the student’s prescriber for that particular medication during the academic year. Boarding students who are on psychotropic medications must also have a psychiatrist who manages the student’s psychiatric care during school breaks, as the school’s consulting psychiatrist will not be available during those times.

Immunizations

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires a number of childhood immunization series in order to attend schools and camps in the state. These series include Hib, Dtap/Tdap, MMR, Polio, Varicella, Hep B, and Menactra. These immunizations are reported by providers to the MIIS for tracking and compliance. Milton Academy nurses review each student’s immunization history carefully upon admission to Milton and as needed throughout each student’s time at the school to ensure compliance with the requirements. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health publishes these requirements each year and this information is linked here. The nurse reviewing the records will notify the parent/guardian of any student who is missing one or more of the required immunizations, instructing them to make a vaccine appointment to receive what is missing. Each student’s immunization documentation is uploaded, reviewed, and updated in their Magnus record. Unless the vaccine is not available to the student or the student has a valid medical or religious exemption, the student will not be allowed to attend school until they receive the vaccine.

Seasonal flu vaccine is offered to boarding students annually in the fall. Students older than age 19 are not eligible to receive this state-issued flu vaccine. Parents/guardians complete the consent process through their student’s account on Magnus. The Health Center staff will communicate to boarding families regarding the flu vaccine process in early fall. The vaccine is administered on campus, by a school nurse, and the standard flu vaccine screening form is completed at the time of administration.

Communicable Illness

Students with illnesses or conditions that are considered easily transmitted to other students and/or adults should follow certain protocols in order to mitigate widespread transmission. Children can be ill and contagious without fever or with very mild symptoms. Generally, students who are absent from school due to illness should remain home or in the Health Center until symptoms are much-improved and the student has been fever-free for at least 24 hours. In special circumstances, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, additional precautions are taken in accordance with local, state and/or federal guidelines to ensure the health and safety of the community.

The following are some common health issues and general guidance:

COVID-19: Milton Academy continues to use the CDC and the local Department of Public Health as the guidelines for managing this contagious virus. Please reach out to the Health Center directly regarding the current protocols if your child has been diagnosed with COVID.
Fever: students with a temperature of 100 degrees or higher should remain at home until fever-free for at least 24 hours without any fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Vomiting/Diarrhea: students should remain home until symptom-free for at least 24 hours and are able to eat and drink fluid comfortably.
Coughs/Colds: Students with coughs/colds should attempt to attend school, but if there is discomfort from the symptoms, fever (see above), and/or continuous or nasal drainage that is not clear, they should stay home and be evaluated by their pediatrician.
Conjunctivitis: Students with bacterial conjunctivitis can return to school after using the antibiotic for a minimum of 24 hours; students with viral conjunctivitis should stay home if symptoms are uncomfortable, but are able to attend school if possible; good hand-washing is essential to prevent the spread.
Strep Throat: Students must not return to school until at least 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic is taken and should only return if they feel well enough; strep infections can cause some students to feel ill for days before feeling well enough to attend school.
Rash: Students who have rashes that are new, unidentified or suspicious should stay home and be evaluated by their pediatrician in order to be cleared to return to school.
Mononucleosis: If a student is diagnosed with mono, the school nurse should be notified to discuss return to school protocol; in many cases, the pediatrician will place physical activity restrictions for a period of time, which will need to be coordinated with Milton for a safe return to school.
Head Lice: Students with suspected head lice should be evaluated as soon as possible; if the diagnosis is made, students must be treated with a head lice treatment (the pediatrician can provide guidance on treatment options). Boarding students can be evaluated by the Health Center if there is a suspected case. The diagnosis of head lice is not a reason to be absent from school, but it does require immediate attention, treatment, and active surveillance for evidence of returning infestation.
Chickenpox: While students are required to be vaccinated against this virus, breakthrough infections do occur. Students with diagnosed chicken pox should remain home at least five days, or until all areas are crusted over, completely dry, and no new areas are forming.
Impetigo or other contagious bacterial skin infections: Students with a contagious bacterial skin infection must remain home at least 24 hours after the first dose of antibiotic.

Accommodations

The Faulkner Health Center, located at 348 Centre Street, on east campus next to Hathaway House, is equipped with eleven bedrooms, four of which are double occupancy and all with their own private bathrooms. Additionally, there is a resting room on the first floor, close to the nursing station, for students who are there for shorter periods of time or need closer observation. This allows the nursing staff to place students in the most appropriate setting for the management of their care and contagion. The Health Center is cleaned daily, stocked with beverages, snacks, and light meals such as soup and bagels. For students who are staying through meal times, the dining service will deliver full meals to the Health Center and will accommodate special dietary needs of the students who are staying there.

Medical Leave

The Dean of Students or Academic Dean, at the recommendation of the Faulkner Health Center or the Counseling Center, may grant a full medical leave or place a student on in-house medical support. Such leaves or accommodations—and decisions about returning to school—are granted after careful consideration among the school, the student’s family, and the student’s physician(s). In the event that a student goes on a leave or support plan, more information regarding the details will be provided by the health and counseling staff to the student and family. When a student is on leave, families are expected to meet their financial obligations to the school. Milton will not refund or cancel any portion of the full annual tuition or fees due to a medical leave.

Full Medical Leave
When a student is unable to attend school for a medical reason, the student may be placed on full medical leave (FML). The student will not be allowed to be in classes or on campus while on FML. A student or parent/guardian can request a FML by contacting the Health Center, Counseling Center or Dean’s office. When a FML is deemed necessary, the nurses or counselors will make a formal request to the Dean’s office, which will then send a letter/email to the parent/guardian, advisor, class dean, teachers and academic skills center, informing them of the leave. When a student is ready to return to school from a FML, in most situations the student will be transitioned to an In-House Medical Support plan.

In-House Medical Support
When a student needs additional, temporary support in order to complete school work or get caught up with missed work, an In-House Medical Support (IHMS) plan may be established. Students are typically on IHMS for two reasons:

They are transitioning from a FML to a return to school; due to extenuating circumstances such as a concussion with prolonged symptoms, family emergencies,
New medical conditions, they need temporary accommodations. Like FML, a student or parent/guardian can request an IHMS by contacting the Dean’s office or Health Center.

When it is decided an IHMS plan is appropriate, a request is made by the nurses or counselors. If the request is approved, the Dean’s office will send a letter to the parent/guardian, advisor, class dean, teachers and academic skills center, informing them of the IHMS plan.

The Health and Counseling Center maintains the list of students who have current, ongoing FML and IHMS plans due to medical reasons. These lists are reviewed and updated weekly, as students are added and/or removed from the list. This list is regularly circulated on a need to know basis among those at Milton who are actively engaged in the student’s care (Dean’s office, academic skills center, counseling, athletic training, teaching team, etc.). The Health Center and Counseling staff are responsible for maintaining communication with the student and parent/guardian regarding the need for the FML/IHMS and the plan for ending the leave or accommodations. While on FML students should focus as much on health and wellness as possible and balance that with doing some school work. On longer medical leaves it can be difficult to balance all of the work so the Academic Dean and Director of Academic Skills Center will often work closely with the student, and the Counselors & Nurses to ensure that the student understands the work needed to be completed and will help set up an academic transition plan upon return.

Administrative Leave
After consultation with the Upper School team, the Upper School principal, the dean of students or the academic dean may place a student on administrative leave. A student’s placement on and release from administrative leave are at the school’s discretion.
Situations in which the school may place a student on administrative leave include but are not limited to situations in which a student issue has arisen and remains unresolved. For example, a student may be placed on leave until a discipline committee is convened. If a student is placed on administrative leave, the Deans’ Office will provide the family and student with more information regarding the details of the leave and a student’s potential return from the leave.

After consultation with the Upper School team, the Upper School Principal, the Dean of Students or the Academic Dean may end a student’s administrative leave.

Allergies

Allergy information is reviewed annually by the Health Center staff and allergy information is uploaded and managed in Magnus. Students with life-threatening allergies who have a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector (Epi-pen) have a clinic alert designation in Magnus, which displays this vital health information more prominently as a banner on their record. Allergy action plans are uploaded to the student’s record, and allergy information is distributed to residential houses, campus food services, and the Athletics department. Students in grades 6-12 are expected and required to carry their own Epi-pens and inhalers with them at all times, including away athletics competitions. Parents of students in the grades K-5 provide the school with an Epi-pen to be kept in their classroom and to be taken on field trips. Changes in allergies should be reported to the Health Center as soon as possible to help ensure the health and safety of the student population.

Health Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency due to cardiac arrest or anaphylaxis, Milton Academy has AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and Epi-pens (epinephrine auto-injectors) installed at many locations across campus. These life-saving devices are located in areas that are easily accessible and clearly marked. A map of the locations of the AEDs on campus can be found on the milton.edu website and by clicking here. Epi-pens are located in the Forbes dining hall, Elliott Commons dining hall, the Junior Building main lobby and dining hall, Greenleaf main lobby, Ware Hall mezzanine, the Dean’s office, CSG office, and the nursing offices in the AMC and Health Center. The school nurse can be reached 24/7 at 617-898-2450 at the Health Center, and on school days at 617-898-6194 in the AMC office and 617-898-1671 at the Junior Building. If a medical emergency arises, the first person on the scene who is able, should call 9-1-1 and Campus Safety, locate the nearest AED or Epi-pen, and begin emergency procedures per the AED automated instructions or Epi-pen training provided annually.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The health and counseling staff provides medical care or counseling for the students confidentially, including counseling and treatment of medical issues resulting from the use of drugs and alcohol. The goal of the confidentiality policy at Milton is to create a setting where students feel comfortable and are able to provide full disclosure around these issues to receive optimal care.

Under the guidelines of confidentiality, and with the student’s knowledge, only those adults on campus who need to know will be notified regarding health issues. This could include, but is not limited to, the student’s pediatrician, counselor, administrators, advisor, and house head. If an emergency presents life-threatening risk to a student and nondisclosure could jeopardize the health and safety of the student, confidentiality may be waived. Parents are always notified in emergency situations.

When a student’s medical condition requires hospitalization or home care under parental supervision, a medical leave of absence may be granted. The student’s return to school will occur only after parents, and in some cases the attending physician, have communicated with the nursing staff at Milton to determine the student’s readiness to resume school life.

Sanctuary

It is the school’s position that its students should refrain from the use of drugs and/or alcohol. However, the school recognizes that students sometimes make unhealthy decisions and put their safety and well-being at risk. Understanding that there is a reluctance to ask for help if disciplinary action could follow, the Sanctuary Policy allows a student to reach out without invoking a disciplinary response.

Sanctuary is a non-disciplinary response to situations in which student safety is compromised. This policy applies in instances of alcohol or drug use or overdose, danger due to physical or psychological distress, or presence in an unsafe environment off campus. Designed to promote greater safety for our students, sanctuary is normally a confidential arrangement among the health and counseling staff, the student, and the student’s family. If sanctuary is granted, neither the student receiving sanctuary, nor the student requesting assistance on behalf of another student, will be subject to disciplinary action for violation of the School’s drug, alcohol or whereabouts policies.

Use of sanctuary
When a student is facing a medical emergency or is in a potentially unsafe situation, the student may approach an adult in the community or call the Faulkner Health Center and clearly state that they are seeking help through the school’s sanctuary program. The student must do so before the faculty member has reasonable suspicion or is in a position where the violation is likely to be discovered. The faculty member involved in such a conversation should refer the student or students to Faulkner for medical care. Sanctuary may be sought and granted regardless of prior requests.

Results of using sanctuary
The student’s parents will be notified about the incident, and the student will be required to meet with a school counselor. In cases involving drugs and alcohol, the student may also be required to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation by an outside substance abuse professional (at parents’ expense), and will be subject to random, confidential drug testing, (again, at parents’ expense). Failure to complete the requirements for evaluation and treatment after sanctuary has been granted may lead to disciplinary consequences. Before a student is permitted to resume school activities (academic or extracurricular) following the use of sanctuary, permission must be granted by the Faulkner Health Center. The results of any drug testing that ensues after Sanctuary and any subsequent positive test will not result in disciplinary action but the results will be shared with parents. However, recurrent positive test results consistent with continued abuse of drugs or alcohol will likely require a medical leave to allow the student to seek outside treatment.

Peer Support

There are several opportunities for students in Class I to educate others and support their classmates’ health and wellness. Seniors interested in participating in any of the following programs should contact Lisa Morin, Director of Counseling.

Students Educating the Community about Sexuality (SECS)
A group of seniors are selected from those who have taken both the elective course Human Sexuality & Relationships (HS&R) and its continuing seminar to be teaching aides for the HS&R course. These students, referred to as SECS (Students Educating the Community about Sexuality), participate in weekly training sessions with faculty sponsors and are also trained to provide information and resources on sexuality to other students.

Individual Student Support (ISS)
Individual Student Support (ISS) is a group of 12 Class I students trained and supervised by the counseling staff to talk with students about personal issues and to act as a bridge to professional counseling. Students who wish to be selected for ISS must have completed the HS&R course. The students then complete an application form in the spring of their Class II year. Current ISS members review applications and make recommendations to the faculty advisor, who chooses the ISS members for the following year. ISS members participate in weekly training sessions with the faculty sponsor.

Peer Discussion Leaders
Peer discussion leaders are students in Classes I and II who facilitate discussions about a variety of topics with students in Classes IV through II. Students who wish to be peer discussion leaders must have completed the HS&R course. These students submit applications in the spring of their Class III year and begin their tenure during their Class II year. Class I peer discussion leaders review applications and make recommendations to the faculty advisor, who chooses the new peer discussion leaders for the following year. Peer discussion leaders participate in weekly training sessions with the faculty sponsor.

Healthy Relationships and Sexual Intimacy

For high school students the issue of sexual intimacy is a complicated one. While the school recognizes that healthy romantic relationships may involve a range of physical intimacies, we are aware of the potential physical and/or emotional implications that can accompany early sexual relationships. The school wishes to protect students from sexual behavior that may lead to uncomfortable situations, sexually transmitted infections and/or pregnancy. In short, the school believes that most secondary school students are not ready to assume the responsibilities that accompany a sexual relationship, while recognizing that within our diverse community, families may share varying moral beliefs about sexuality and sexual behavior.
Since a school by nature is a public, shared space, and therefore not appropriate for intimate sexual activity, the school does not condone students engaging in sex on campus. In particular, students living in dormitories have a right to privacy that includes the comfort of knowing when visitors will be present in the dormitory and the right to be free from unwanted exposure to the intimate sexual behaviors of others. If students do engage in sex on campus, the dean of students will consult with the Faulkner Health Center, the Counseling Center staff and others, and may notify the students’ parents; the school may also take disciplinary action.

State Law Regarding Age of Consent
Massachusetts state law specifically prohibits sexual activity involving persons under the age of 16. When the school becomes aware that such sexual activity has occurred, the school is legally required to notify the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families. Actions by DCF may result in criminal consequences beyond the school’s disciplinary process. The school will also notify local police. Through various programs, the school seeks to help students make wise individual decisions, while providing accurate information about sexuality, protection and legal considerations. The school emphasizes the value of clear communication and mutual respect, and we urge students, as they consider sexual activity, to discuss with adults and/or peer counselors the consequences of their choices, including health risks, differences among students in maturity, the prospect of unwanted pregnancy and parenthood, situations involving exploitation or intimidation and related legal issues.