Torch - Spring 2018

School Profile

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I t’s a Tuesday morning after a long weekend and the Havergal Wellness Centre is relatively quiet. Before long, however, students begin to trickle in. There are upset stomachs, itchy eyes and the emotional strain of starting back after a long weekend. No matter what ailment a student is dealing with (mental, physical or emotional), they can expect to be greeted with warmth and understanding from the nurse on duty. “Our goal is to create a safe space for students,” says Sharon Miller, one of the nurses whose responsibility it is to offer support and health care to both Day and Boarding students. Between 8 am and 4:30 pm every day, there is always a nurse in the Wellness Centre, armed with basic remedies from bandages to eye drops, equipped to handle a medical emergency and available to sit and listen when a girl needs to talk. An integral part of the Student Support Team—which includes Guidance, Learning Support, Social Work and other members of the administrative team—the Wellness Centre and its nursing team play an important role in the lives of Havergal students. From allergy awareness, to first aid and CPR, to infection control and education, to headaches and cramps, Miller and her team have experience dealing with it all. “After-hours one of us is always on-call for the Boarding students,” explains Miller. This, coupled with the services of a physician who holds a clinic once a week, rounds out the Wellness Centre. “Our doctor happens to be an Old Girl, so she gets the girls,” Miller says. “She’s lived the experience.” Just beyond the Wellness Centre are three bedrooms, where Boarding students can stay if they’re not well enough to be in class. While Day students typically go home when they’re feeling unwell, Boarders know they have a comfortable and supervised place to recuperate. “If I’m worried about anyone or want to keep an eye on them, I have them stay here with me,” Miller says. Miller and her colleagues (part-time nurse Bonnie Best, as well as casual relief nurses Rachel Blanchette and Carm Frasca) feel personally responsible for the health of the Havergal community. It’s apparent in the way they talk about their roles and how they greet patients when they come to the Wellness Centre. Miller and her team also provide a connection between the school and the Boarding students’ families in order to insure they’re always aware of their daughters’ wellness and any treatment being administered. After 13 years with the school, Miller knows what to look for when it comes to physical and emotional well-being and she’s always on top of new research as it becomes available. “Something we deal with frequently are concussions,” she explains. “There is much more awareness today about the signs, symptoms and treatment than when I started in this role.” Havergal has partnerships with two concussion clinics in Toronto: the David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic at U of T and the

Their knowledge and experience mean that we never have to do any guesswork, knowing we have them on call to answer any questions we, or the students, may have.”

—Natalia Stewart, Head of Boarding

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Women’s College Hospital clinic. “A concussion impacts a student’s ability to be at school and requires a return-to-learn plan that’s a partnership between the parents, school and clinic,” Miller says. “We’re lucky to be working with these clinics, as both groups are involved in research around women and concussions—and provide many great resources for our girls and their families.” Mental health, stress and anxiety are also on the nurses’ radar. Creating a quiet space for students to retreat to when needed and knowing they have someone who will listen and talk with them is extremely important. “Whether we’re coaching them on breathing, helping them download and use a mindfulness app or working with tools they’ve been given through guidance and social work, we provide a safety net for students experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety.” There’s also a focus on diet and nutrition, especially for the school’s Boarding students. “With students living here from around the world, there are often dietary changes that the girls are facing,” Miller explains. Whether it is choosing healthy foods or staying hydrated, the Wellness Centre team is there to help. “Our nurses provide wonderful support to the students, as well as to the entire faculty and staff,” says Natalia Stewart, Head of Boarding at Havergal. “They’re an integral part of our school. Their knowledge and experience mean that we never have to do any guesswork, knowing we have them on call to answer any questions we, or the students, may have.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS | SPRING 2018 • TORCH 11