Important Information on Personal Mobile Device Use at School

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has implemented a policy on the use of personal mobile devices (PMDs) to ensure a focused, respectful, and safe learning environment for all students. Below are the key points for families and students:

TDSB Personal Mobile Device Policy

1. General Use:

   • PMDs can only be used during the school day for educational purposes, health and medical needs, or to support special education requirements.

   • Inappropriate use, such as accessing offensive content or engaging in cyberbullying, is strictly prohibited.

2. Grade-Specific Guidelines:

   • Grades 6 and below: PMDs must be kept off and out of sight during the instructional day unless otherwise directed by a teacher.

   • Grades 7-12: PMDs should be off and out of sight during instructional time, but can be used during breaks, lunch, and other non-instructional times.

3. Emergency Situations:

   • In case of emergencies (e.g., lockdown or hold and secure), PMDs must not be used. Students may use their devices to contact parents/guardians only with permission from staff.

4. Responsibility:

   • Students are encouraged not to bring PMDs unless necessary for educational or health purposes. Parents are encouraged to reinforce appropriate use at home.

   • Non-compliance with the policy will result in disciplinary actions as per TDSB's progressive discipline policy.

5. Privacy and Security:

   • Students must not use their PMDs to take or share photos, videos, or personal information without explicit consent. All members of the school community must protect privacy and follow relevant guidelines.

Please ensure that your child understands these guidelines, and if you have any concerns, feel free to contact the school.

Thank you for your cooperation!

The Ministry of Education mandated that changes be made to board and school Codes of Conduct specific to student use of cell phones. School boards were required to have these changes in place by November 4th, 2019. The mandate is as follows:

All members of the school community must: 

• Respect the need of others to work in an environment that is conducive to learning and teaching, including ensuring that cell phones and other personal mobile devices are used only during instructional time (as directed by an educator), for health and medical purposes and/or to support special education needs. 

 

Bowmore Policy: 

At Bowmore Road Junior and Senior Public School, cell phones and personal electronic devices (e.g. tablets, gaming devices) must be turned off before entering school property and placed in student lockers or backpacks for the day upon entry into the building.  

Cell Phone use will not be permitted during non-instructional times on school property including on the school yard before and after school, recesses and nutritional breaks. 

Teachers may, at their discretion, choose to provide a “tech break” at the end of an instructional block to allow students to use their phones.

Devices may be removed from student lockers at lunch ONLY if the child is leaving school property but must be left off and out of sight, until the student is off of school grounds.

Parents are asked to contact the office if they need to send a message to their child. If students are observed using a cell phone during school the following consequences will occur:

1. First time: The teacher, at their discretion, may issue a warning.  Otherwise, the phone will be taken and given to the homeroom teacher to be returned at the end of the day.

2. Second time: The phone will be taken by the homeroom teacher to the office. A parent will need to come to pick up the phone. 

3. Third time: The phone will be taken and the students will not be allowed to bring it to school. 

Please note that the school cannot be held responsible for the loss, damage or theft of any electronic device. 

Additional Information

For students who stay after school for practice or extra help, they may take their device to the teacher’s classroom and turn it on in the class to phone or text their parents if they need to inform them that they will be staying late at school.  Students will not be permitted to walk through the hallways or bathrooms with their phones in their hands. 

Google classroom is used by most of our staff to communicate homework; however, should a student want or need to take a photo of their homework  or class notes, they may do so only at the end of the day, under the direct supervision of the teacher. Again, students may not turn on their device until they have entered the teacher’s classroom.