Health & Safety

At Gibbons, student safety, health, and well-being are foundational. We believe students thrive when they feel known, supported, and secure. We foster a culture of health, wellness, and self-knowledge, offering both peace of mind to families and a nurturing environment for students.

Whole-Student Health & Support

We care for both the physical and emotional well-being of every student. That’s why Gibbons provides:

A full-time nurse on campus to address medical needs and oversee health protocols
A dedicated emotional & mental health counselor, available daily to provide guidance, support, and counseling

In addition, we maintain comprehensive health policies adapted from best practices:

A clear sick policy that guides when students should stay home and when they can return
A safe and structured process for medications, including original containers, physician orders for OTCs, and allergy/EPIPEN accommodations
A protocol for injury and concussion recovery that guides “Return to Learn” and “Return to Play,” and involves close coordination among the nurse, family, and faculty
Secure student health records including immunization compliance and documentation.

By integrating these protocols into everyday life, we prioritize health without compromising learning.

Health Policies

Sick Policy

A student should remain at home if any of the following symptoms are present:

Fever within the last 24 hours or a fever that is reduced with medication
Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours
Sore throat or earache
Unidentified or contagious rash
Chicken Pox or Shingles
Head lice
Chronic cough and congestion
Red, watery eyes that emit a discharge
Thick mucus from the nose

Should a student become ill at school, he/she should see the School Nurse. That student may not return to school until cleared by a physician, have been on prescription medication for 24 hours, or there is an absence of symptoms for 24 hours.

Medications

Students may carry their own medication if it is in its original container and not shared with others. Those with allergies requiring an Epipen are responsible for safe storage and monitoring expiration dates.

For serious medical conditions, families should contact the School Nurse directly to share relevant information and discuss accommodations.

Students who may need over-the-counter (OTC) medications during the school day must have them listed on the Physician Order for Student Medication form. This form must be signed by both a licensed medical provider and a parent or guardian, then uploaded to the student’s Final Forms account.

This process helps ensure medication use at school is safe and compliant.

For questions or assistance, please contact the School Nurse.

Injury & Concussion Protocol

All student injuries—on or off campus—must be reported. The School Nurse is available daily to provide support and guidance.

If a student is diagnosed with a concussion, parents must notify the School Nurse and submit documentation from the medical provider. Students must follow both Return-to-Learn (RTL) and Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols:

RTL: A gradual reintroduction of academic activities as symptoms improve.
RTP: A step-by-step return to physical activity after symptoms resolve.

Cardinal Gibbons partners with Carolina Family Practice and Sports Medicine, which specializes in concussion care and standardized recovery protocols.

Throughout recovery, the School Nurse coordinates with the student, family, and school staff to ensure appropriate support and accommodations at every stage.

Student Health Records

Immunization Records

New students (Incoming 9th graders & transfers): Must upload immunization records to FinalForms. For vaccination exemptions, parents must request official documentation from the Diocese of Raleigh by emailing: schoolsoffice@raldioc.org.
Rising 12th graders: North Carolina law requires a second dose of the Meningococcal conjugate vaccine before 12th grade. Upload an updated immunization record or exemption letter to FinalForms. Contact your healthcare provider to schedule a vaccine-only appointment if needed.

Athletic participation

All athletic forms must be completed and signed in FinalForms before a student can participate in practices or tryouts.
New students will receive access to athletic forms during Academic Onboarding in August.
Students participating in summer workouts must upload a valid physical before joining. Forms will be available once approved by the NCHSAA.

Note: Students with incomplete forms will not be allowed to participate in summer athletics or programs and may not begin classes until all documentation is submitted and approved.

A Campus Built for Safety

From entrances to parking lots, Gibbons is designed to be secure, welcoming, and intentionally safe:

All exterior doors and windows stay locked during the school day.
A regular police presence provides an added layer of security.
Visitors check in at the front office using a government-issued ID, screened instantly through our visitor management system.
Cameras are installed across campus to monitor activity.
We continue to enhance parking lot lighting and visibility after dark.

These systems allow families to entrust their students' daily environment to us with confidence.

Prepared, Proactive, Responsive

We don’t wait for emergencies — we plan, train, and refine our approach continuously:

Frequent fire drills and lockdown drills ensure that staff and students know how to respond calmly and intentionally.
Through our Raptor Alert System, we can instantly notify staff, students, and first responders in the event of an emergency.
Safety plans are regularly reviewed and aligned with best practices
We use an anonymous reporting system to empower students and community members to report concerns before they escalate.

Learn more about drills

Say Something Anonymous Reporting System

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System teaches youth and adults how to recognize warning signs and signals, especially within social media, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others, and Say Something using our anonymous reporting system BEFORE it is too late.

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