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Student Services
Student Services
Lunchtime is an opportunity for students to eat and socialize. While lunch is a break from the academic day, students are expected to act responsibly to maintain an orderly, safe, and clean cafeteria for the sake of everyone else. Per Policy 808, the district recognizes that students require adequate, nourishing food and beverages in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. Students shall be provided with adequate space and time to eat meals during the school day.
In addition to following basic etiquette and respect, students are requested to follow a few guidelines in the cafeteria:
- Please have your barcode or number ready to scan at the register. This keeps the line moving.
- Food may be packed from home or purchased in our cafeteria.
- Food may not be delivered to school during the day for lunch. Delivery services such as “DoorDash,” “Grub Hub,” “Delivery Dudes,” etc. are disruptive to the work in the office and are prohibited during school hours.
- Please limit your movement around the cafeteria. Too much movement by too many students is disruptive.
- Food and drink should be consumed in the cafeteria. Please do not take food or drink to class.
- The cafeteria is the assigned location for lunch. Going elsewhere during lunch requires a pass or permission from the teacher on lunch duty.
- Seniors are permitted to eat outside at the designated tables.
- Students should use the bathrooms individually and quickly so others may have access. Students should not congregate in the bathrooms.
- Students may be assigned seats.
The elevator is available to students who are unable to climb the stairs due to a medical injury or illness. Keys will be distributed and collected through the main office. Students must have permission to use the elevator.
Our Counseling Office is staffed by five counselors, a registrar and a secretary. Services offered by the department include:
- Career counseling
- Academic advisement
- College/vocational placement
- Standardized testing
- Personal counseling/support
- Student transfer/withdrawal
Students should realize that communications with their counselors are confidential in nature. However, each counselor has a responsibility for the health and well-being of the students within his/her charge. In crisis situations, the counselors will consult with others who are in a position to assist the student. In past situations, consults have included parents, administrators, community mental health agencies, drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, intermediate units, student assistance team members and local police. The Counseling Department takes a proactive role in the lives of the student body.
Our Pupil Services Department’s focus is to help students and their families strive to succeed while they are students in our district. We work to help students eliminate any barriers to their social, educational and emotional wellbeing. Our department consists of the K-12 Students Supports Coordinator, Alycia Lenart, and District School Social Worker, Ashley Rinehart.
The K-12 student support coordinator is responsible for assisting students in the district with academic plans to eliminate barriers and connecting students across the district with mental health and substance use services.
The school social worker is responsible for identifying and working with any student who may fall under homeless status, foster care status or is experiencing education instability as defined by Act 1 (2022). The school social worker also works to provide students and their families with resources and services in the community.
The goal of Health Services is to help students maintain optimal health status for academic success throughout their formal education. Visit the Exeter Township School District Health Services page on our website for further information regarding care at school, medications, immunization requirements, exams and screenings, as well as forms and documents.
Emergency Illness & Accident Care
First aid and rest facilities are provided. A registered nurse is a regular member of the staff. The teacher in charge of the class will give a student a pass admitting him/her to the first-aid room or office. If it is necessary to send the student to his/her home, a pass will be issued by the nurse or the Main Office informing his/her teachers of the action taken. Parents are responsible for providing transportation for the ill student to his/her home or to the doctor. Per ETSD physician standing order, crutches or other assistive ambulation devices must be ordered by a primary care physician (the doctor that treated the child). After the order is received by the building nurse, the student will be able to use the school elevator or chair lift to avoid stairs.
Food Allergy Management
Per Policy 209.1, the Board is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for students with severe or life-threatening food allergies and shall establish policy to address food allergy management in district schools in order to:
- Reduce and/or eliminate the likelihood of severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.
- Ensure a rapid and effective response in the case of a severe or potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.
- Protect the rights of students by providing them, through necessary accommodations when required, the opportunity to participate fully in all school programs and activities, including classroom parties and field trips.
The focus of food allergy management shall be on prevention, education, awareness, communication and emergency response.
School Nurse
The school nurse is on duty at the high school from 7:20AM to 2:50PM. During this time, the nurse renders first aid for minor injuries, advises pupils in regard to other health problems and excludes pupils from school who have symptoms of communicable diseases.
Early Dismissal for Illness
When a student becomes ill during the school day, he or she must report to the school nurse to be checked. If the nurse determines the student should go home, the student will be allowed to leave. However, before the child leaves the school must contact the child’s parent(s) to inform him/her/them of the school’s intent to dismiss the student from school. If a parent is unavailable, the student will have to remain in school until contact can be made. If the school nurse is unavailable, the student must report to the Main Office for permission to leave. A student may not dismiss him/herself from school without permission.
Medications Guidelines
The district recognizes that parents have the primary responsibility for the health of their child/children. Although it is strongly recommended that medication be given at home, the district realizes that the health of some students requires that it be taken during school hours. Whenever possible, parents should confer with the family physician to arrange medication time intervals to avoid school hours. When it needs to be administered in school, the following procedures must be followed:
- No more than a 30-day supply of medication may be sent to school at any one time.
- Any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medication should be sent in the original container in which it was purchased with the child’s name, dosage to be given, and time to be given on it. An Authorization for Administration of Medication at School form should be completed and signed by the parent.
- Parents/guardians may be asked to obtain written permission from a physician for the nurse to administer an OTC medication in school.
- Medication should be given to the school nurse or school secretary as soon as the student arrives at school.
No medication is to be kept in the child’s possession (per Policy 210.1), with the exception of Epi-pens (Grade 7-12 only), inhalers (Grade 5-12 only), and any substance that a physician deems necessary for emergency treatment of a health condition. In order to keep the inhaler or Epi-pen in his/her possession, a student must provide to the school nurse a completed Asthma Action Plan (required for an inhaler) or Allergy Action Plan (required for an Epi-pen) signed by the parent/guardian and a physician for the student to self-administer, or a note from the physician that states that the student is competent to properly self-medicate. Any student (with the above mentioned signed parent and physician permission) shall notify the nurse as soon as possible after each self-administration of the medication. (Please stop by the nurse’s office for forms.)
Naloxone
Per Policy 823, as a means of enhancing the health and safety of its students, staff and visitors, the district may obtain, maintain and administer doses of an opioid antagonist and other facilities, specifically Naloxone, for emergency use to assist a student, staff member or other individual believed or suspected to be experiencing an opioid overdose consistent with Pennsylvania law.
Insurance
The school board requires that all students participating in interscholastic sports be covered by school or personal insurance. The school purchases insurance coverage for students participating in all sports, band, band front, and cheerleading. Any accident requiring a doctor visit must be reported to the school nurse as soon as possible. Students are encouraged to acquire student accident insurance. Please see information in this form.
Student Wellness
The Exeter Township School District recognizes that student wellness and proper nutrition are related to students' physical well-being, growth, development and readiness to learn. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness, proper nutrition, nutrition education and promotion and regular physical activity as part of the total learning experience as outlined in Policy 246. In a healthy school environment, students will learn about and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices that can improve student achievement.
The Exeter Township School Board and personnel value each member of the school community and believe that all individuals have the right to develop to their fullest potential. The Board and school personnel recognize that students may need help to develop to their fullest potential. This policy authorizes the establishment of the Exeter Township Student Assistance Program (SAP).
The team will include teachers, a school nurse, a school counselor and administrators. The team will also include a liaison from a licensed drug and alcohol facility and/or a mental health facility. The Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program (SAP) is a systematic team process used to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. The SAP team utilizes a systematic process, along with specially trained school personnel, to intervene and refer these students to appropriate in-school and/or community services. The primary goal of the Student Assistance Program (SAP) is to help students overcome these barriers so that they may achieve, advance and remain in school. The student assistance process is based upon state guidelines, professional standards and policies and procedures adopted by the local school board of directors. Refer to Policy 236.
How does SAP work?
The core of the program is a professionally trained school staff and a Student Assistance Specialist from Caron Treatment Centers. Student participation in the program is usually voluntary and is meant to be a support service for all students. All information regarding a student’s involvement in the program is confidential and maintained for the best interest of the student.
Students can be referred for different reasons:
- Exhibiting signs of mental health concerns including the risk of suicide
- Serious behavioral concerns
- Drop in school performance
- Violation of the district’s drug and alcohol policy
- Concerns of alcohol or substance abuse
Student referrals are confidential and can be made by:
- School personnel
- Parents or guardian
- Friends
- Themselves
- Outside agencies
What is the parent’s role?
The SAP team recognizes the importance of the parent’s role in the child’s well-being and success. With the exception of emergencies, parental notification and permission is required before any services are initiated.
During the process, the parent will be asked to:
- Return a signed permission form
- Complete a parental questionnaire
- Follow through promptly with recommendations from the school and/or agency staff
How do I make a referral?
Please contact your child’s school counselor.
Services offered by the SAP team:
- Support Groups
- Comprehensive Behavioral Health Assessments
- Parent meetings with a SAP Specialist from Caron
- Re-entry meetings when a student is returning from an out of district placement
- Check-in, check-out
- Mental health and substance use and abuse prevention and education
- Referrals to outside agencies or in school resources when warranted
When to make a referral:
It may be time to make a referral if you notice these signs:
- Severe drop in grades
- Cutting school
- Change in personal appearance
- Erratic behavior
- Social, emotional or behavioral concerns
- Suspicion of alcohol or substance abuse
- Change in eating or sleeping habits
- Threatens harm to oneself or others
- If you recognize any of these signals or have other concerns for your child’s well-being, please make a referral to the school’s SAP team.
Safe 2 Say Something is a youth violence prevention program run by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. The program teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, from individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to “say something” before it is too late. In 2018, the General Assembly passed Act 44 mandating the establishment and use of the “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS) anonymous reporting system by every Pennsylvania school entity.
S2SS works through five steps:
- A tip is submitted via mobile app, website or by calling the PA-based 24/7 crisis center.
- The tip is then triaged by the crisis center to gather enough information to act on it.
- The tip is delivered to the impacted school and, as needed, local law enforcement via 911 county dispatch.
- The school and, as needed, local law enforcement assess and intervene with the at-risk individual.
- The school then closes out the tip and reports actions taken as a record for their school.
If there are concerns during school hours, please speak with a trusted teacher, counselor or administrator. After school hours, please use one of the following methods to report a concern:
- Phone 1-844-723-2729
- WEB: Safe2Saypa.org
- APP: Safe2Say Something