Health and Safety
I have never encountered a school environment for teenagers that understands so completely and holistically the task at hand. SAS 'gets it'. They care about each individual student and work to help that student thrive. The academics are top-notch, but the care of the whole person is what matters to me more as a parent. I can't think of a better school anywhere for my child and would wholeheartedly recommend it to any other family
Current Parent, 2019 SAIS Survey
Health Center
The school's Health Center is staffed by a registered nurse. Our nurse is focused on preventative care, including annual flu vaccine administration but is available to distribute prescription medications when needed and to care for students who are not feeling well. When necessary, students will be referred to a local doctor, and transportation can be arranged. The closest hospital is less than a five-minute drive from campus and maintains a 24-hour emergency room and emergency air lift to Chattanooga and Nashville hospitals.
Mental Well-Being
Teenagers seem to be under more stress than ever. At SAS, our care for students begins with relieving many of the things that create stress. Research shows that teenagers do better when they can sleep later, so we start class at 8:45 a.m. We know that time outdoors and exercise are great stress relievers, so we make sure that students have plenty of both. We provide learning support to help students manage their coursework before it becomes overwhelming. We know that supportive relationships with multiple adults are important to mental well-being, so we make sure your child has a team of adults that they can count on. We also know that sometimes all of this is not enough. When needed, our School Mental Health Counselor, nurse, and Chaplain will work with families to find a professional counselor who meets your child's needs.
I was almost confused as to why people here were being so nice, I thought I would never be the same because I thought it was “weak” and too “people-pleasing”. However, as the people around me kept their supportive and positive attitude it started feeling real and helpful to me. And so, I have been able to call the supporting people my friends, because as they support me, I also enjoy supporting them back, and practicing acts of kindness and generosity that ended up being a source of joy.
PYUNN NTWARI '22
Safety & Security
St. Andrew's-Sewanee School is fortunate to be located in a rural and rather bucolic setting. Sewanee maintains its own police, fire, and emergency medical services, including a wilderness rescue team, but the Sewanee police blotter rarely includes much beyond a loose dog or a stolen bicycle. Visitors to campus are required to sign in. We regularly conduct fire and lockdown drills. The campus siren is tested every Saturday at noon. Students are required to check out when leaving campus either with the receptionist during the week or the teacher in charge on the weekends. On weekends, boarding students check in at lunch, dinner, and for floor reports at night.
Pastoral Care
As an Episcopal school, SAS offers pastoral care to students, faculty, and staff to help support their emotional, social, and spiritual wellbeing. While the chaplain provides pastoral care grounded in the particularity of the Episcopal tradition, Chaplain Molly Short offers spiritual and emotional support to students of all faith backgrounds or no faith tradition. Pastoral care includes grief support, conflict mediation, encouragement and support to students, and faith exploration.
Health & Safety Staff
Melissa Gilliam
Paige Lowe
B.A., Psychology, The University of the South
Molly Short
M.Div., Duke Divinity School
D.A.S., The School of Theology, The University of the South
Paige Lowe
B.A., Psychology, The University of the South
Paige Lowe joined SAS in January 2022 as School Mental Health Counselor and Wellness Programming Coordinator. She holds an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Middle Tennessee State University and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of the South where she also completed a double minor in Women's and Gender Studies and Neurobiology. In recent years, she has worked for the Franklin County Rural Re-entry Program, the 12th Judicial Drug Court (Winchester, Tenn.), and Centerstone where she implemented group counseling for minors struggling with addiction. Her training and certification include Moral Recognition Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Play Therapy, Suicide Prevention, and Grief Counseling.