Some of our Junior students may have their own cell phone, or Smart watch, primarily so that they can communicate with their families and let them know that they’ve arrived safely at school or home. While we appreciate the need for students to connect with their families, cell phones will not be allowed to be used during the school day. If there is a need for your child to contact you, or you to contact your child, Kim in the school office will be happy to accommodate a call or relay a message. We ask that you speak with your child about this to ensure that they use these devices at appropriate times and in appropriate ways.

PPM128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Board Codes of Conduct

There are minimum requirements for cell phone/mobile device use in schools to be implemented for September 1, 2024. A mobile device refers to any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or to access the Internet, such as a cellphone tablet, laptop, or smartwatch. Minimum requirements include the following: 

All Members of the School Community

• All members of the school community must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under the following circumstances: for educational purposes (as directed by an educator), for health and medical purposes, to support special education needs. 

Students in Grades 6 and Below

• At minimum, the local policy must require that students’ personal mobile devices are stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above.
• If an educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional day and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location designated by the principal.

Responsibility, Progressive Discipline, and Best Practices

The student is responsible for their personal mobile device, how they use it, and the consequences of not following the school board’s policy on personal mobile device use. If the student does not hand in their personal mobile device when required, they must be sent to the Principal's office. Principals have discretion under PPM145: Progressive discipline and promoting positive student behaviour, to consider a range of responses to address this behaviour including suspension.

A new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools policy will involve a cultural shift in how we use technology. It will take some time, patience and family support. In the end, it is about supporting the positive mental health and well-being of students and enhancing their focus on learning.