Hale Families,
Beginning Friday, March 24, 2023 students will no longer be permitted to use their cell phones at any time on campus between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:02 pm (8:00am – 1:32 pm on Tuesdays).
Please speak to your students about the rollout of this new policy.
Key Points:
Upon arrival at school, students must turn off/silence their cell phones. They should be kept out of sight for the duration of the school day, including nutrition and lunch. We strongly suggest students store their devices in their backpacks or off their person to reduce the accessibility.
Upon arrival at school, students must turn off/silence their cell phones. They should be kept out of sight for the duration of the school day, including nutrition and lunch. We strongly suggest students store their devices in their backpacks or off their person to reduce the accessibility.
Students who violate the policy will be subject to the following progressive discipline:
• 1st offense - Verbal warning
• 2nd - Bag the phone* (see below)
• 3rd - Parent contact
• 4th - Referral to Dean or Administrator
• 5th - Parent meeting
• 1st offense - Verbal warning
• 2nd - Bag the phone* (see below)
• 3rd - Parent contact
• 4th - Referral to Dean or Administrator
• 5th - Parent meeting
Under no circumstances will anyone confiscate a student’s phone.
*Bag the phone:
Students who still have their phone out after a verbal warning must seal their phone in an opaque, single-use bag. The students retain possession of their phone, but they will be unusable unless the bag is destroyed. All teachers will be provided with single-use bags for this purpose. The expectation is the phone will remain in the bag for the duration of the school day. The bag’s purpose is to add another layer by preventing ready access and as a reminder to students of the no device policy.
Students who still have their phone out after a verbal warning must seal their phone in an opaque, single-use bag. The students retain possession of their phone, but they will be unusable unless the bag is destroyed. All teachers will be provided with single-use bags for this purpose. The expectation is the phone will remain in the bag for the duration of the school day. The bag’s purpose is to add another layer by preventing ready access and as a reminder to students of the no device policy.
Additional Points:
• The success of this policy requires us to be united in our enforcement
• We cannot make exceptions for any activities in the classroom or for individual students
• Teachers can lead by example by keeping their cell phones out of sight during class time.
• Parents are asked to refrain from contacting students during the school day
• All calls to and from school should go through the appropriate office
• The success of this policy requires us to be united in our enforcement
• We cannot make exceptions for any activities in the classroom or for individual students
• Teachers can lead by example by keeping their cell phones out of sight during class time.
• Parents are asked to refrain from contacting students during the school day
• All calls to and from school should go through the appropriate office
Finally, point out to your students the benefits of “unplugging” from their devices during the school day:
• Greater mindfulness – living in the moment
• Improved sleep
• Increased productivity and learning
• Reduced stress and anxiety in a safer environment
• Improved connections to friends and the natural world
• Greater mindfulness – living in the moment
• Improved sleep
• Increased productivity and learning
• Reduced stress and anxiety in a safer environment
• Improved connections to friends and the natural world
Please remind your student of this new policy. Thank you for your support.