HELPFUL INFORMATION

Medical Information

Health Forms

The State of Louisiana requires that student health forms, including immunization, must be on file at ESA. Students are expected to remain up-to-date with immunizations, as required, over the course of the year. Health updates are required for all students and a physician’s report (physical) is required annually on all students. These are to be returned prior to the beginning of school every year for all students. Students with incomplete health records may be denied the opportunity to attend class. All medical excuses for student absences, as well as all statements from doctors about restrictions on activities or diets, must be referred to the Division Office. A return-to-school permit is required after illnesses caused by a communicable disease or lasting five (5) consecutive sick days. A written doctor’s release is required before an athlete may resume play after having been treated by a physician. Our medical form is now on MyESA. It is required that parents update their children’s health information annually and as changes occur. Accurate, up-to-date health information and guardians’ and emergency contact information enables the nurse to accurately assess and treat your child while at school and communicate with you promptly.

Health and Wellness Office

A full-time nurse is on campus from 7:30 – 4:00 daily to address the immediate health and wellness needs of students and staff. During the school day, the nurse is available for medication dispensing, treating minor injuries, and administering general first aid. It is our school policy to contact parents in the event the student needs to be checked out of school for the remainder of the day. Should your child have special health needs, please contact the school nurse before the start of the school year.

Prescription and Over the Counter Medications on Campus

ESA’s Health and Wellness Office stocks OTC medications and general first aid supplies. In order for the nurse to administer these OTC medications and certain prescription medications, sufficient medical information must be provided via MyESA, and must include the student’s physician’s signature. Parents must include any medications their child may take in MyESA.

*Even if prescription medications will not be administered while on campus, it is important to list what medications your child takes, as it could alter the treatment given while at school.

Students ARE NOT ALLOWED to bring ANY medications to school on their person, including any OTC medications. This is a very important safety precaution as our campus includes students from PK3 – 5th grades. Parents whose children will need medication administered during school hours must have an adult deliver the medication to the health office during regular hours.

There are two forms for you to complete: the form on MyESA allows you to enter their prescription medication and the OTC medication form is to be filled out and turned in to the health office. It is a Louisiana State Law that any medications given to students while on campus require a physician signature. Parents who do not wish for the school nurse to administer any medications can select “not applicable;” the nurse will contact parents in the event your child needs or requests medication. Parents whose children will need an OTC medication that the health office does not stock can add that medication to the bottom of the OTC medication form and bring the medication to the health office, where it will be labeled with the student’s name.

Common Infirmary Illnesses

The following conditions are commonly managed in our health and wellness office. While a comprehensive list of illnesses is not provided, ESA requests the partnership of our parents and guardians in doing their part to keep our community free of contagious illness by recognizing when their child is ill and keeping the student away from campus to receive sound medical treatment and to fully recover before returning.

- If a student records an elevated temperature, the parents will be contacted by the school nurse to check the student out of school for the remainder of the day. In this case the student should not come back to school until he/she is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.

-If a student vomits on campus, they will be sent to the health office to be assessed by the nurse. In most cases, parents will be contacted by the school nurse to check the student out of school for the remainder of the day.

- If a student vomits on campus and also has an elevated temperature, it is mandatory that the student check out for the day. In this case the student should not come back to school until he/she is fever-free and has not vomited for 24 hours.

- A student who is diagnosed with a contagious illness or condition must be cleared by an official doctor’s note to return to school.

-Headaches without other symptoms such as fever and cold will be treated with OTC medication pre-authorized by parent/guardian.

-Students diagnosed with migraines and having prescription medication at school will be treated according to their prewritten physician’s instructions.

- If a student is suspected to have lice he/she will be checked thoroughly by the nurse. If lice is confirmed, it is MANDATORY that the student be checked out from school to be treated.

• Upon a positive confirmation, siblings attending ESA will also be checked. At her discretion, the nurse may check other students in the classroom as well. It is mandatory that the nurse examine the student with a parent present before returning to class.

• An informative letter will be sent out by the nurse to all parents in that specific grade informing them of a case of lice.

Business and Financial

As outlined in the Enrollment Agreement, the following three options are offered for payment of tuition:

A. One annual payment by July 5, 2023

B. Two payments: the first payment by July 5, 2023 and the second payment by November 5, 2023.

C. Ten monthly payments beginning July 5, 2023, and ending April 5, 2024

*The two payment plan requires an automatic bank debit on November 5, 2023. This plan option carries a 1.0% monthly interest charge based on the outstanding tuition balance owed from July 5, 2024 until paid in full.

*The monthly payment plan requires an automatic monthly bank debit from a designated bank account for the ten months listed and carries a 15% interest payment.

Tuition finance fees for installment payments are due and payable each month beginning July 5th and ending April 5th.

Miscellaneous charges and incidental fees are billed every month beginning September 1st and are due the 5th of the month.

If a parent's account is not paid in full or is not otherwise current at either the end of the first semester or the end of the school year, the student’s grades will not be processed and grade reports and transcripts will not be mailed until payment is received.

Student Accident Insurance Policy

A student accident insurance policy is provided for all students at no cost to the parents. Application packets for extended 24-hour coverage and dental riders are available in the Business Office and mailed to all parents at the beginning of each year.

Asbestos Management

ESA has complied with requirements of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in maintaining an asbestos management plan for all of the school buildings. The plan, which was reviewed and approved by the EPA, is available for review by parents and employees between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Lost and Found

Any items found on campus grounds are placed in the Lost and Found in the Swap Shop, located at the side of the chapel in Enrichment Center. Please label all clothing and other personal possessions. Unclaimed items at the end of each school year are either placed in the Swap Shop or forwarded to Goodwill.

Birthday & Holiday Celebrations

Arrangements for birthday treats or celebration must be made in advance with the classroom teacher. Each grade level’s teachers will inform parents of their preferred birthday traditions for that class. Simple celebrations are more meaningful and memorable. Parents may, if they choose, participate in Birthday Book Club by assisting their child in selecting and donating a book to the school library in honor of their birthday. Students whose birthdays fall in the summer time may wish to celebrate their “half birthday” during the school year.

Party invitation are not allowed be sent to school, or hand-delivered by a child. The school directory contains student and parent address lists to assist students and their families in contacting one another.

Office Hours

The main office of the school is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except for the following holidays when it is closed:

Labor Day (Monday, September 4, 2023)

Fall Break (Friday, October 6 – Monday, October 9, 2023)

Thanksgiving Break (Monday, November 20, 2023 – Friday, November 24, 2023)

Christmas Break (Thursday, December 21, 2023 – Monday, January 8, 2024)

Martin Luther King Day (Monday, January 15, 2024)

Mardi Gras Break (Monday, February 12, 2024 – Friday, February 16, 2024)

Easter Break (Friday, March 29, 2024 – Friday, April 5, 2024)

School Closing/Emergency Notifications

When ESA needs to get critical information out to families, broadcasts are sent out via email and text alerts through the website. It is very important that all families, parents and students, sign up to receive these messages.

To receive emergency communications, log into your myESA account at www.ESAcadiana.com. On the Resources page, click on the green Using myESA tile to access a video with instructions on verifying your mobile phone number and signing up for text and email alerts.

Occasionally inclement weather requires ESA to close early or not to operate for a day. In addition to text and email alerts, ESA will announce all unanticipated school closures on local television and radio stations.

Statement of Non-Discrimination Policy

Episcopal School of Acadiana admits students of any race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Use of School Name, Handbook, and Directory

No one is authorized to use the names “ESA” or “Episcopal School of Acadiana” for promotion or solicitation purposes without the expressed, written consent of the Headmaster. The ESA “directory and handbooks for students and parents” and the information contained therein, including the names and addresses of ESA families, faculty and staff, and the names “ESA” or “Episcopal School of Acadiana,” are intended for official use by the school and the private use of the students of ESA and their parents. We ask that our families and friends not use, lend or distribute these for any commercial, political or solicitation purposes. Please contact the Headmaster if you have any questions.

The school reserves the right to make changes to policies, procedures, and standards outlined in the student handbook as deemed necessary and will make reasonable efforts to provide notification to the community when a change has been made. All directives sent out including Beyond the Oaks supersede the directives in this handbook.