Counselors, chaplains, and nurses work together to provide support services in the Upper School. Grade deans, the Dean of Residential Life, and the Head of Upper School team with Support Services, teachers and advisors to share observations, raise concerns, and plan together to meet students’ needs. Student information is handled with care and shared as needed to provide appropriate support for each student. Families are encouraged to partner with the school to promote healthy development and academic success during the Upper School years.

CHAPLAINCY
The chaplains are available to help students deepen their spiritual lives. Accepting that students come to the campus with a wide range of religious traditions and experiences, the chaplaincy seeks to support each student on his/her spiritual journey. In chapel, in confidential individual discussions, at celebrations and times of difficulty the chaplain is available to members of the Upper School community to recognize the sacred in our midst. The chaplains can also assist community members in identifying community resources that are appropriate to their traditions and interests.

GRADE DEANS
There is a grade dean for each class. Grades deans are responsible for:

• Coordinating discipline for students
  
• Advocating for the well-being of students
  
• Supporting advisors in their work with families
  
• Providing for academic coordination for students across departments
  
• Working with counselors to ensure that students with special needs are given appropriate attention

In addition, each class (9–12) has a Head Class Advisor and an Assistant Class Advisor. These faculty members are responsible for helping develop student leadership, working with the class officers to plan class activities and fundraising events, and in general shepherding the class through its four years at OES.

COUNSELING
Three Upper School counselors are available to help students and families with an array of concerns such as issues around social relationships, family difficulties, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, academic pressure, cultural adjustment, questions about alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, or peer pressure. When appropriate, counselors coordinate referrals with outside professional services as they work to meet the needs of the student. If students indicate that they may be at risk for self-harm or violence toward others, a careful process is followed to protect the student and the OES community from harm. Concerns that may warrant this process are indications of suicidality, eating disorders, drug and/or alcohol impairment, self-mutilation, threats directed at others and other serious issues.

The process is as follows:

• Information gathering
  
  
• Initial school screening/assessment
  
  
• Support Team consults and decision is made about proceeding
• Parent contact, student placed on leave, referral for outside risk assessment arranged
  
  
• Assessment results shared with Upper School counselor
  
  
• Meeting including Upper School Head, counselor and appropriate support team members to determine feasibility and timing of student’s return to school and/or residential life in the dorm
  
  
• Follow-up and support plan developed based on recommendations and consultation with the community provider; a plan consistent with OES culture and available resources
  
  
• Student, parent, counselor meeting to review and sign plan
  
  
• Plan reviewed at regular intervals. Most plans include, but are not limited to, ongoing outside counseling, weekly meetings with an Upper School counselor, and permission for ongoing release and exchange of information with the community provider.

CORE TEAM
The School has identified a group of staff and faculty who meet regularly with the concerns of individuals. Called the CORE Team, this group meets weekly to discuss students who may be experiencing personal or academic difficulties and to develop an approach for helping these individuals. The CORE Team also identifies mental and physical health issues about which the School needs more information and plans ways to bring that information to the entire community. The CORE Team consists of the Head of Upper School, Grade Deans, the Director of Residential Life, the Chaplains, Upper School Counselors and the School Nurses.

HEALTH SERVICES
The Nursing Staff is available to discuss any health concerns you may have regarding your child. Ill or injured students will be assisted and assessed by Upper School staff. The student will be referred to the school nurse when appropriate. If a student is too ill or injured to continue with the school day, parents will be contacted and asked to take their child home. It is important that parents are available to consult by phone and to respond to the health needs of their child in a timely manner.

Please see information on medical examinations and the Oregon Immunization Law in the Health and Safety section of this handbook.

MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
The school has written physician orders that direct faculty and staff in safe, appropriate use of specific over the counter medications for mild conditions such as headaches, pain from minor illness or injury, or minor allergic reactions. All students at OES have a parentsigned form on file that specifies which medications may be given.

We encourage students to seek adult assistance from staff or the nurse if they need an over-the-counter medicine while at school. If your student does need to bring medication to school for self administration, please follow these conditions:

• Students may carry enough medication for one day’s dosage.
  
  
• Medications must be in the original container with the prescription or manufacturer’s label attached. Please do not send medication in plastic bags or other improvised containers.
  
  
• Sharing of medication is prohibited.
  
  
• Students may not self administer prescription medicines for pain, psychiatric medicines, or medications used in the treatment of learning disorders while at school. If doses are needed at school or while on an OES trip, these medications must be checked in with the OES nurse or trip leader. The OES nurse will help develop a plan for convenient administration of medicine while at school.

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