Illness & Injury Policies

Students are admitted to the Health Center when they are at risk of spreading infection to other students, or are sick or injured to a degree that warrants monitoring by a nurse. Parents and guardians will be notified when students are admitted to the Health Center for more than 24 hours.

If a student needs medical attention from one of our medical providers, the Health Center will contact the parent or guardian. A School driver or staff member will transport sick or injured students to necessary medical appointments. A fee per appointment will be billed to the parents/guardians through their MyKidsSpending Account. The transportation department charges a set fee for all medical transports.

If deemed necessary by Health Services, the student may be sent home to recover from their illness or injury.

When a student is returning to school after being home due to illness or injury, the student must check in with the Health Center first, before returning to dorm and resuming School activities. The student may require a letter from your healthcare provider authorizing them to return to School.

Please note that it is important that parents and guardians notify the Health Center if a student becomes sick, injured, is hospitalized, undergoes surgery, or receives vaccinations at any time after the annual submission of our health forms, or during a School break.

Flu and COVID Season

We closely monitor local, regional, and national influenza trends. When reports suggest increased severity, we implement heightened prevention strategies. As cases of influenza and other respiratory illnesses increase on campus, we may implement the following measures:

• Education and emphasis on proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette (“cover your cough”).
• Increased cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting routines across campus.
• Improved ventilation in common areas where possible.
• Protecting time for the thorough cleaning and disinfection of the dining hall.
• Making adaptations to other school activities and routines, such as meals and events.
• Offering Tamiflu prescriptions, with parent/guardian approval, if students present within the requisite 48-hour window.

Isolation Expectations

Even with robust preventative measures, some community cases of flu are anticipated, and we are hopeful that some students can recover at home. Students who reside within a six-hour drive of St. Andrew’s will be sent home to recover, and families should plan ahead for this expectation. (Given the significant number of our students who live far away, we deeply appreciate the ability of any family to host additional students.)

Should your student present with a test-confirmed or clinically diagnosed case of influenza, a nurse from the Health Center will contact you. You may receive additional communication from others to coordinate logistics.

Influenza & COVID Mitigation Policy

Students with Influenza or COVID will isolate for 5 days from onset of symptoms (Day 0). Students should not return on Day 6 if they continue to have fevers and/or their symptoms are not improving. Students will be tested for COVID upon return.

• Students returning on Day 6 with resolved symptoms and a negative antigen test are not required to mask.
• Students with mild resolving symptoms and two negative tests 24 hours apart will no longer require a mask.
• Students who continue to test positive will be required to mask through Day 10.

Masks are to be worn when indoors, except while eating, sleeping, and practicing hygiene (e.g. showering, tooth brushing).

Precautionary Measures at Home

As an additional precaution, we urge you to consult with your student’s primary care provider about the possibility of securing a course of Tamiflu to bring back from Winter Break, since Middletown pharmacies sometimes run out of Tamiflu during flu season. If you choose to procure Tamiflu in advance, we will hold it in the Health Center and contact you for consent before administration.

We strongly encourage you to consider the influenza vaccination for your student if they have not yet received it. While one of the currently circulating flu strains may still cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals, the protection conferred against severe illness and hospitalization remains vital.

If your student is exhibiting any symptoms of illness, email the Health Center immediately, and do not send your student back to campus. We will then reach out to discuss plans for a safe and healthy return to campus. If you have questions, please email Annette Rickolt (arickolt@standrews-de.org), Director of Health Services.

Surgeries & Hospitalizations

All students are required to recover from any and all hospitalizations, surgeries, or serious illnesses at home. Upon returning to campus after a surgery, hospitalization, or serious illness, the student must present a clearance letter from their provider. At the time of the student’s health leave, the Health Center will provide the parent/guardian with a form that contains detailed information of the requirements needed from the student’s provider.

Concussion Policy

Whenever a student has symptoms of a concussion, they may be required to see a healthcare provider and possibly a concussion specialist. If a student is diagnosed with a concussion during that examination, they may be required to take health leave to recover from the concussion at home. Before a student can return to sports, they must be cleared by a healthcare provider.

Health Leave

Health leaves from school are intended to address a student’s health, which is the priority, and to provide the necessary amount of time for the important recovery process. Health leaves are always open-ended, since we do not know or cannot predict when a student will be well enough to return to School. The final decision regarding when a student may return to School rests with the Dean of Student Affairs, Director of Counseling, and the Director of Health Services. Please note that specific guidelines and requirements for medical leaves are listed in our Health Leave protocol form, which will be given to the parent or guardian of a student if and when the student is sent home on health leave.

Whenever a student returns from any type of health leave, the student must check in with the Health Center upon arrival on campus. They are not permitted to return to dorm, class, or school activities until they have checked in with the Health Center. At that time, any prescription or over-the-counter medications that the student is taking must be turned in.