| Cell Phones Use |
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| Written by Administrator | |||
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January 29, 2009 Dear Weathersfield School Students & Parents, Over the course of the last two-three weeks, the faculty and I have become increasingly concerned with students’ unwarranted use of cell phones during school hours. The rules for cell phones and other electronic devices, including iPods and computer games, are spelled out very clearly in the student handbook on page 7: “Cell phones can be brought to school at Weathersfield School by 5th-8th graders but they must be turned off during the day. Students need to ask permission to use their cell phones. Cell phones may be brought on trips but students need to follow the rules of the teacher. For example, if a group is staying together, there is no need to have the phone on. If groups are separated, teachers and parent chaperones may want the phones on for communication between groups.” Electronic devices are addressed on page 8: “The use of electronic devices during school hours is not allowed unless in conjunction with a school project. Such devices are to be kept in the student backpack or locker or the school office and are not the school’s responsibility if broken, lost, or stolen. iPod’s may be used on buses, but a regular radio with no earphones is not allowed.” In speaking with staff and checking the handbook there is no protocol for dealing with infractions of the cell phone policy, thus we have developed the following protocols for addressing infractions. - First Infraction: The phone will be confiscated and brought to the office. The student will be allowed to pick it up at the end of the school day. - Second Infraction: The phone will be confiscated, only returned to the student’s parents, and an after school detention will be issued. - Third Infraction: The phone will be confiscated, returned to the student’s parents, and the student will not be allowed to have a phone on school property. Two after school detentions will be assigned. - Fourth Infraction: The student will be suspended from school for one school day. - Subsequent Infractions: Disciplinary action will be determined by school administration. (Hopefully, we never get to this point.) The same protocols apply for other electronic devices, but cell phones are our main concern. It is certainly not our intent to stymie or curtail communication between students and families, but we are finding that most cell phone usage while students are in school are text messages or calls to friends, not family members. Students who need to communicate with parents during the school day are free to use the student phone in the office. We will not deny students access if they have a legitimate reason to call. In the very near future I will be sending home information regarding a serious new topic, “cyber-bullying”. I recently attended a conference regarding bullying/harassment and the #1 concern/topic was cyber-bullying through text messaging, emails and chat rooms. It certainly is a reason for us all to be concerned and take notice of what is on children’s phones and computers. I do realize that this new protocol mostly impacts upper intermediate and middle school students and parents, but I want to make sure that the entire Weathersfield School community is informed and up to date with current information. Please, if you have any questions or concerns do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, Donald R. Hart, Interim Principal
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