Cell Phone Policy

In today’s world, we must learn to use our personal technology appropriately.  Research shows that high use of screens can make concentrating and learning difficult.  Rather than ban student use of this technology during the day, students will be allowed to use their personal technology during breakfast, passing, and scheduled lunch in an appropriate manner.  If an airpod/headphone is used only one should be in for safety.

During class time if it is determined the student has a personal electronic device, it must be placed in a container supplied by the teacher. This means no cell phone/smartwatch use in the classroom.  Using your personal technology to video, take pictures, or record audio of others in classrooms, restrooms, hallways, or any other area on the school campus or at school-sponsored events is strictly prohibited. Students may only use personal technology in the classroom for educational purposes at the discretion of the classroom teacher for appropriate and legitimate educational objectives. 

OUR ‘WHY’ 

We CARE about Learning! 

We care about our students’ learning. Research is clear that students who are distracted learn less. Even the presence of a student’s phone causes students to fracture their attention between learning and social hyper-responsiveness. 

We CARE about students’ Well-Being! 

We care about connection.  Being with one another without being distracted by our individual screens helps us to connect with one another

We care about our student’s mental health and emotional well-being. We have the opportunity to make classrooms free of social competition, put-downs, and online harassment. Students cannot participate fully in learning if they feel pressured, judged, or socially anxious. 

OUR EXPECTATION 

Student phones will be off and away from bell to bell. Students may access their phones before school, during passing times, at lunch, and after school. This policy uses ‘phone’ throughout. It includes any personal electronic device not issued by the school (iPod, MP3, headphones, smartwatch, game devices, etc.). 

OUR PRACTICE 

Phones, headphones, or any other device should not be visible during class. All classrooms will have a cell phone wall organizer/caddy. The organizer/caddy will be in a space easily monitored by the teacher. Teachers will let students know it is the expectation they  use their assigned numbered pockets to store their phones safely during class..If a student says they do not have one that should be accepted by staff. If the student ends up having a phone out or the phone rings etc….teachers should follow the behavior matrix.

If a student accesses his/her phone during class time, the following will occur: 

Classroom outcomes used prior to involving the student’s Associate Principal

• First offense: Address the student in private about the violation

• Second offense: Address the student in private about the violation and inform the parent/guardian of the violation, assign an appropriate classroom outcome

• Third offense:  The classroom teacher will contact the Hub office to communicate the students is coming to turn their phone in the Associate Principal

Hub outcomes for cell phone violations

• First offense:   Cell phones hallway during class time results in confiscation through the end of the school day and parent communication

• Second offense:  Cell phones in class or hallway during class time results in a Saturday school and parent communication from Hub

• Third offense:  Student will turn in the cell phone to the Hub office and consult with School Counseling

• All subsequent offenses will result in the students losing privileges including but not limited to school-sponsored social and extra-curricular events.

• If a student refuses to report to Hub or to deliver the phone per policy, the student will be suspended from school the following day. 

• If a student violates the policy but with another student’s phone, the same process and consequences apply to the student in possession of the phone.