Health and Dining at Avon

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YOur Health and Well-being is important

At every turn, Avon provides resources and outlets to pursue a healthy lifestyle.

Students are encouraged to visit our weight room, partake in clubs/classes devoted to taking care of your mind and body, and seek out time and space for their overall mental and physical betterment.

Flik Independent School Dining is proud to be the dining service provider at Avon Old Farms. Flik is the market leader in independent school dining and works off of the mantra Eat.Learn.Live. As Avon's provider, it is Flik's responsibility to create top-quality, nutritious meals every day.

Health and Wellness FAQs

What kind of care does the Health Center give?

The Avon Old Farms Health Center provides comprehensive health care to the students of Avon Old Farms School.Our goal is to keep our students mentally and physically healthy through education and preventative care.

A physician (three days a week), nurse practitioner, five registered nurses, a retained full time LSCW (licensed therapist), and a retained part time psychiatrist are available. Medication is dispensed to the students and first-aid care is available during posted hours. In case of an emergency during non-staffed hours, a nurse is available on call. The Health Center contains four beds if students need to spend an extended amount of time due to sickness or injury.

The Health Center works in partnership with the Connecticut Childrens Medical Center in Hartford Connecticut. We are a support service to our students and can make referrals to our medical doctor, clinical psychologist, or physical therapist.

What happens if I get sick in the middle of the night?

When the Health Center is closed, a faculty member and a school nurse are on-call. If a student is in need of medical assistance, he should call the faculty member who is on-call, whose number will be posted in the dormitory. If the situation is urgent, the boy should call 911. UCONN Health Center is five minutes away, and the on-call faculty member will transport the boy there if necessary.

Health Center Hours

I have a question about the Health Center, who should I contact?

Heather Callaghan
Director of Nursing
healthcenter@avonoldfarms.com
860-404-4234

Where do I keep prescription drugs?

Any prescription or controlled drug must be stored in and dispensed from our Health Center. Possession of any controlled drug or certain cold and flu medications is a violation of our drug policy and will lead to expulsion.

I have a question about prescription drugs, who should I contact?

Heather Callaghan
Director of Nursing
healthcenter@avonoldfarms.com
860-404-4234

Does the school offer any counseling services?

Avon Old Farms has partnered with Dr. Dan Martin to provide our students with a safe place for their emotional well-being.

Dr. Dan received his PhD from Ohio University and completed both a pre-doctoral fellowship and a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine focusing on psychotherapy and assessment. Upon completion, he received a faculty appointment at Yale where he conducted studies that investigated pharmacological and psychological treatments for substance use disorders at their Substance Abuse Treatment Unit. In 2000 he published a widely-cited journal article that provides a meta-analysis of the literature on the importance of client/therapist relationship. Dr. Dan operated a successful private practice in New Haven and is board certified in Clinical Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He has been working with students at boarding schools for the past seven years.

My child has a food allergy or sensitivity. How will he know what he can eat?

Our food preparation service, Flik Dining, proactively notifies the community of food allergens. Prior to entering the food line, students can read a chart of each food item on the menu with a check-box indicating if the food contains gluten, dairy, or nuts.

Gluten and dairy-free options are always available.If you have any questions about the menus, allergies or our food and nutrition philosophy, please contact the Avon Old Farms Refectory at 860-404-4230.

Are there school initiatives devoted to mindfulness?

Overview

At Avon, we go beyond academic teaching ...each boy is strategically EMPOWERED with tools to successfully navigate their present ...their future lives. Our Prep4ward program trains students with developmentally-appropriate curriculum focused on personal growth, leadership, life skills, and health and wellness.

Explore the Prep4ward Program

Students who wish to are afforded the time to be mindful, to focus on creative ambition, or simply to explore a new medium of self-expression. One outlet for a student to collect himself amidst a busy schedule — all the while producing remarkable artwork — is the Advanced Independent Project Program.

Sustainable Nutrition

Our menu boasts wholesome food carefully crafted with the best ingredients – some of which are grown by our students!