Health & Wellness

At Waterford, we view health as a holistic triad encompassing physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being. Health, in this sense, is the foundation for lives of meaning and purpose, and a central goal of a world-class liberal arts education. In partnership with parents, Waterford seeks to provide students with experiences, curriculum, and counsel that will build confidence and resilience, preparing students to flourish in a world of challenge and opportunity.

Waterford offers health services, counseling and robust community support that prioritizes students’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being.


Health Services

Effective health policies and practices are essential to the community. Waterford’s health services collaborates with students, parents, and faculty to provide support for healthcare needs in order to keep students healthy and help them reach their greatest potential.

The Waterford School has a school nurse and counselors on campus throughout the school day, and all coaches, office staff, and playground monitors are required to have first aid training. A certified athletic trainer is also available in the Middle and Upper School.  

Student health and safety is paramount at Waterford. The school will obtain emergency contact information for all students prior to the start of the school year which is critical to the School’s swift and effective action at the time of illness or injury. All students are required to have a physical examination and be up-to-date on vaccinations (unless exempt) before entering Waterford School.

Waterford’s School Counselors

The role of the Lower, Middle and Upper School Counselors is to support students’ overall well-being, particularly when emotional issues or learning differences affect school success, and also with skill building for self-regulation and positive relationships. Waterford’s doctoral-level psychologists assess students’ needs in consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and deans. If needed, referrals to outside healthcare providers are made so that students can succeed emotionally, socially, and academically.

Work with individual students, families, and the faculty will begin when potential barriers to learning and wellness occur. Waterford’s psychologists provide short-term, solution-focused interventions to promote and foster strong and respectful relationships, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills. Counseling services may include:

  • Cognitive behavioral approaches
  • Psycho-education
  • Crisis intervention
  • Mindfulness training
  • Problem solving strategies
  • Interpersonal resolutions
  • Development of academic student support plans
  • Consultation

Waterford School counselors are dedicated to the development and support of the whole child. Additionally, the Waterford community offers a small student:faculty ratio of 8:1, academic support programs, digital citizenship curriculum, and a wide range of extra and co-curricular activities such as danceoutdoor, physical education, and athletics, which also support well-being and happiness for the student body.

Additional Resources