Health & Wellbeing

A concussion is a brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head or body that may result in improper brain functioning. Students who display signs and symptoms will be removed from participation and assessed by a licensed medical professional.

Following evaluation by the licensed medical professional, decisions will be made whether the athlete is transported to the local hospital for emergency care or assessment by a family health practitioner. Parents will be notified by the Health Center staff about the diagnosis and treatment.

The Sturtevant Student Health Center is located on the first floor of Sturtevant Home. It is available for student use from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday through Friday. 

The Sturtevant Student Health Center nursing team will 

• provide medication management services
• treatment for injuries
• scheduling of routine appointments
• patient health education
• treatment of illness involving non-COVID symptoms

Medical care is provided by the school physician through the group practice, Family Health Care Associates. Health Services utilizes the school physician, as well as specialists, for routine care, consultations, and emergencies. Sports-related injuries are followed by Hebron’s certified athletic trainer in consultation with the treating physician. Medical emergencies are handled in the most expeditious manner to insure student safety.

Parents/guardians are responsible for any medical expenses incurred on behalf of their child.

The Atwood COVID Health Center, is located on the first floor of the former Atwood dormitory. It is available for around the clock student care. The Atwood COVID Health Center nursing team will provide assessment, testing, and care for students who are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. They will also provide nursing support, monitoring, and care of students while they await their testing results in the adjacent isolation dorm rooms in the Atwood dormitory.

During the school day, the best number to use is the school’s main number 207-966-2100.

After regular hours, emergency calls should be directed to the Administrator On Duty (AOD) at 207-966-5333.

Depending on the nature of the emergency there are several ways to proceed:

• A life-threatening situation: Dial 911 immediately
• Any other situation, contact the Administrator On Duty (AOD) at 207-966-5333.

All Hebron students must carry current health insurance which will cover doctor’s visits and emergency care. All international students MUST subscribe to the United Health Care Plan, offered through the School; private International Healthcare Plans, such as AIG Travel Guard or Chartis, are not accepted by our physicians and hospitals. 

The State of Maine and Hebron Academy have the following immunization requirements. All immunizations must be completed prior to student’s arrival on campus. If no vaccine records are available, please verify immunity by titers.

1. Provide all health information including severe allergies and ongoing medical and/or psychological conditions.
2. Submit all requested health forms including any special circumstances. Students whose forms are not received by the end of August risk experiencing a lengthy registration process and/or non-participation in athletic and school activities.

1. Providing full information about an illness or concern.
2. Following recommendations made by the school nurse or physician.
3. Communicating with the school nurse if their condition worsens or does not follow expected course. If the Health Center is closed please notify the dorm staff on duty of your illness.
4. Notifying the Health Center if they are unable to keep an appointment.
5. Arriving at the Health Center before 8:00 a.m. if ill. Students are not permitted to stay in their dorm during class time when ill.
6. Coming to the Health Center to receive prescribed morning medications prior to 8:30 a.m. or during free time. Students will not receive a tardy excuse for class by coming late for medications.

1. Providing a caring confidential environment for students to receive health advice, treatment, and accurate information regarding illnesses and well-being.
2. Informing parents of physician visits and any significant health issue. This will be done by phone call in emergencies and by email in non-emergencies. Please note that calls are not routinely made regarding common illness or minor injuries.
3. Forwarding insurance information to health care providers and pharmacies when needed.
4. Hebron Academy reserves the right to require any student to submit to a substance test directed through the Administrator on Duty and Health Center staff. The student’s family will be notified and charged for this test.

Students with questions or concerns about any health issue, including adolescent growth and development and human sexuality, may seek consultation and advice from the Health Services team, at the Sturtevant Health Center, at any time. All discussions with nursing staff and school counselors are confidential, except where there is a concern about a student’s immediate safety. 

Before the School can accept responsibility for any student, all required health forms and permissions must have been received by Health Services. Such heath forms and permissions must be updated yearly prior to a student’s arrival on campus. 

The major components of the Student Health Record include: 

• the Vital Health Record Form,
• An updated and complete immunization record, 
• a current physical exam, signed and dates by the student’s health care provider 
• a copy of the student’s insurance and prescription cards 
• In addition, if a student is taking any medications, a Medication Order Form for each medication, including prescription medication, vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medication, must be completed by the prescribing physician.

The Health Record Form must be completed and signed by the student’s parent or guardian, and returned to Hebron Academy Health Services as soon as possible. The immunization record must meet the requirements of the State of Maine. A complete record includes month and year of immunization. The physical exam is considered current when completed within one year of the start of any School activity, i.e., early arrivals, early sports participants, registration. Valid insurance and prescription cards include copies of both sides of the cards, delivered to Health Services. Insurance must be through a U.S.-based company. Application and payment for any school insurance may be made to the Business Office.

A parent or guardian must report an absence to Health Services before 8:00 a.m. If a student is absent for multiple days, a call must be made daily. 

• The student must check in to the Sturtevant Student Health Center upon return to School. 
• Prior to return to school following COVID related absence, a student must be cleared for return to campus by the Director of Health Services. 
• Following an extended absence of five or more days, the student must provide Health Services with a statement from the treating physician stating a diagnosis and a plan for return to full activity at School. 
• After 12 days or partial days missed because of illness in the year, the School also may require written documentation from a physician for each subsequent absence. 

The following policy protects the students and the general community from the possible impact of an infectious disease epidemic. The School follows recommendations of the Maine CDC and the US Centers for Disease Control and may require that students exhibiting symptoms of infectious disease be asked to leave campus and isolate per CDC guidelines until cleared by the Maine CDC and the School’s consulting physician, or that students or visitors coming from areas seriously affected by an epidemic spend a minimum number of days outside those areas before coming to campus. Areas affected by an infectious disease epidemic are detailed by either a notice or an alert from the Centers for Disease Control. Such notices can be found at www.cdc.org.

Any health-related appointment scheduled by a parent must be cleared through Health Services at least 24 hours prior to the appointment. Health Services must approve any appointment made during the academic day. Health Services must be notified at least 48 hours in advance if transportation is needed. The cost of this transportation will be charged to the student’s business office account. Students must check out from Health Services when leaving campus and check in to Health Services upon return to campus on appointment days.

In order to maintain a safe environment for those with nut allergies, all foods that are made by the dining hall staff are without nuts, nut oils, or other nut products, with the exception of coconut, which is used by our dining services team. Signage will be provided by our food service for daily menu items indicating the presence of the major allergens other than nuts—fish, eggs, dairy, gluten and soy. We also ask for parents’ help when bringing food for special events that they do not contain peanuts or other nut products and that they list all ingredients or that they provide the packaging labels with ingredients listed. All food allergy information must be indicated on our required health forms submitted by parents.

Food allergy information will be shared with advisors, house heads, and with our food service. Students are also expected to be their own advocates for food safety. They are responsible for seeking out resources in the dining hall, asking appropriate questions and, when in doubt, avoiding questionable food items.

Health Services, the School Counselors, and the Athletic Trainer maintain student personal health information. Consistent with the operations of a residential community, this information is shared on a need-to-know basis with Hebron’s faculty and outside medical service providers. While Hebron Academy is not a covered entity under HIPAA, every effort is made to maintain the privacy of student health information. Questions or concerns about this issue can be addressed to the Director of Mental Health and Wellness or to the Director of Health Services.

Maine State Law establishes a confidential relationship between a person and their health care provider, certain counselors and ordained clergy in the area of communications concerning pregnancy, birth control and sexually transmitted diseases. Even if the individual is a minor, the health care provider is prohibited by law from obtaining parental consent for treatment or disclosure of information without permission of the patient.

The health care providers, board-certified counselors and social workers and ordained clergy who are members of the Hebron Academy staff and employees of Hebron Academy will honor the law that minors receive safe and effective care within the limits of confidentiality imposed by the statute. Hebron Academy recognizes that these issues have potentially life-long effects and feel that mature assistance, preferably from the family, should be provided for young persons faced with making decisions in these areas.

If a student requests assistance from the Health Center or counseling department, they will be given a copy of this policy and it will be reviewed with them. They will be strongly encouraged to make contact with their family. If the student elects to exercise their right to confidentiality, the qualified professionals are required to honor the student’s wishes without notifications of any other person, other than as may be required by law in the case of a report of communicable disease.

No Hebron Academy employees other than a physician, nurse, psychiatrist/psychologist, certified guidance counselor or certified social worker are bound by the confidentiality requirements in the law. Any other employees of Hebron Academy are not acting as agents of the Academy if they become involved in these issues and accept full liability for their actions.

Hebron Academy recognizes that student pregnancy is a medical and counseling issue. In the event of a student pregnancy, the Academy will treat each case individually, the student’s welfare being the paramount concern.

In accordance with Maine State Law, the above-stated qualified professionals at Hebron Academy who are employees of Hebron Academy may not notify the parents or legal guardians in the event of
a student pregnancy without the student’s consent. If a student suspects that they may be pregnant, they will be encouraged to come to the Health Center and inform one of the nurses or speak with the counselors.

This policy, including confidentiality, will be reviewed with them. An appointment will be made for them with a local office of the Family Planning Association of Maine. It is with this agency that the student will receive testing and appropriate professional counseling. Throughout this entire process, Hebron Academy will continue to encourage the student to inform their parents regarding this matter.

At no time will the Academy become involved financially nor will the Academy attempt to unduly influence the decision-making process of the student. The qualified professionals who serve on Hebron Academy’s staff will, however, support the Family Planning Association in their endeavors to provide a safe, caring, and educational network for the student. If the student decides to terminate the pregnancy and there are medical complications, the Academy will follow the usual procedures for medical emergencies regarding informing parents.

If the student decides to carry the baby to term and their condition becomes known to Hebron Academy employees not covered by the confidentiality requirement, notification will be given to the parent or guardian of that student. The school will be supportive of the student in their educational program but will not provide child care. If the father is a Hebron student, they may likewise utilize the full range of counseling alternatives available to them from the qualified professional members of the school staff.

The qualified professional members of Hebron’s staff will preserve all confidences of those students seeking their advice within the requirements of the law. Pregnancy counseling will be made available to the student during all phases of their decision to maintain or terminate a pregnancy. Maine Law preserves their right to confidentiality and provides for certification of abortion counseling in lieu of parental consent to obtain an abortion.

It shall be the policy of this school that no qualified professional on its staff will supply a certification of abortion counseling to any student for the purpose of facilitating the compliance with the Maine statute permitting abortion without parental consent, as it is the stated policy preference of Hebron Academy that the student is encouraged to involve a parent or adult family member in the decision-making process. If the student wishes to preserve confidentiality, they shall be referred to an outside agency for the purpose of obtaining the required counseling and certification.

The cornerstone of the relationship between Hebron Academy and its students are making qualified professionals available to the students to assist them with the health, emotional and spiritual issues that may face them during their enrollment. The students’ right to confidentiality in their communications with these professionals is one of the keys to encouraging them to utilize these services.

A summary of the Parental Consent Law of Maine is available in the Student Health Center.

Hebron’s position is that the use of alcohol, tobacco/nicotine products, including e-cigarettes or vapes, or other illicit drugs (hereafter referred to as “substance use”) is detrimental to the health and well-being of the individual and incompatible with the purposes and objectives of the school.

We believe this for many reasons. The first is that substances are detrimental to the developing adolescent mind and place a buffer between adolescents and the very feelings of uncertainty, boredom and self-doubt which they need to learn to deal with in healthy ways. Secondly, the process of addiction takes place more rapidly among younger people. Finally, in the state of Maine, it is illegal for people under 21 to use alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs, such as marijuana.

The specific rules are set out elsewhere in this bulletin. These rules pertain to student behavior when on campus, while traveling to or from school, and in association with any school-sponsored activity.

The school hopes that parents and students will read and discuss these and all the other rules before signing the Statement of Expectations. Hebron hopes that parents will support our stand on substance use and will think carefully about their own attitudes toward alcohol and drug use by their children.