École White City School AP 1300 – Information Technology Acceptable Used Student Cellular Device Policy Students and Cellular Devices Cellular devices are an important communication device for families. Often, parents purchase cellular devices for their children so that two‐way communication can happen in a timely fashion. In addition, used appropriately, these devices can be valuable learning tools and can help students to organize and coordinate their busy school and home lives. Used inappropriately, however, cellular devices can be very distracting to students and teachers. Appropriate Use of Cellular Devices 1. Students may use their cellular devices before school (prior to 8:55 a.m.) and after school (after 3:30 p.m.). 2. Students may use their cellular devices with the permission of their classroom teachers. Possible approved uses may include: a. entering assignment or activity information into a calendar; b. searching for information on the internet; c. using the device’s calculator; d. listening to music; and/or, e. using the device’s camera for an assignment related task. 3. Students may contact a parent/guardian either by phone or text message after asking permission from a staff member. 4. Students may keep their phones with them, but the ringer/notifications are to be muted. Inappropriate Use of Cellular Devices 1. Students may not to use their cellular devices during class time without permission. 2. Students may not to use their cellular devices during recess or noon hour without permission. Students are encouraged to use their recess periods to engage in physical or social (face‐to‐face) activity with their peers. 3. The devices are to have the ringer/notifications turned off or muted. All notifications are distractions in the classroom. 4. Students may not check for text messages without prior permission from the teacher. 5. Students may not use cellular devices to check the time. All classrooms and instructional spaces have clocks. 6. Students may not take photographs or make audio/video recordings of other students or of staff members without their express permission. If a parent needs to get in contact with a student during class time, parents may phone the office and a message can be given to the student. If there is an emergency situation and parents would like their child to have access to his/her device, a phone call or e‐mail to the school can be made. In such a circumstance, students may be allowed to check their phones for messages intermittently. Violations of the Student Cellular Device Policy If students use their cellular devices in a manner or spirit that contravenes the Student Cellular Device Policy, the following steps will be implemented: First Offence 1. The student’s device will be confiscated and taken to the office for safe‐keeping. 2. The student’s device will remain in the office for one school day. That is to say, if the device is confiscated in the morning, the device can be picked up at the end of the same day. If the device is confiscated in the afternoon, the device can be taken home that evening, but will be again turned in to the office the next morning and may be picked up after the noon recess. If the device is confiscated following afternoon recess, the device can be picked up following dismissal, but will be brought back to the office for the entire day the following morning. Second Offence 1. The same procedure as the first offence shall apply. 2. Parents will be e‐mailed or communicated with by phone. Third Offence 1. The same procedure as the first offence shall apply. 2. Parents will be notified by phone and the device will held at the office until a parent can pick it up. Following the third offence, subsequent offences shall follow the same procedure as the third offence. In addition, subsequent offences shall be regarded as incidents of defiance/disrespect. An Office Discipline Referral (ODR) shall be completed for each violation of the Student Cellular Device Policy.