The middle years team (Mme King, Mme Lind, M. Boyer, Mme Gagnon) have had a meeting to discuss the use of cellphones within the middle years (grades 6-8). We feel that cellphone use has increased a great deal, and because of this, has caused interruptions to the learning that is taking place throughout the school day. We have decided that we will institute new cellphone rules that will help preserve the learning environment. These rules are as follows:

1. Students will no longer be allowed to text anyone from their phone throughout the day. This includes parents and siblings. If you need to get ahold of your child please feel free to call the office at any time. If your child needs to contact you for any reason they, too, are free to use the school phones, with permission from the teacher, to call.

2. Cellphones are no longer allowed to be on their person. They may be in their binder or in their backpack. This is to avoid the use of cellphones in the bathroom and other unsupervised areas. If a phone is seen on a table or in the hands of a student, without specific permission from the teacher, the cellphone will be confiscated until the end of the day.

3. Cellphones will not be allowed out at recess or lunch, and again, are not allowed on their person. They must be stored in their binder or their backpack, as stated in #2.

4. Cellphones may be used for listening to music during work periods BUT with the following requirements:

1. students must use pre-made playlists that do not use wifi while being played and they are not allowed to flip around on their phones to switch search for songs. They must just listen to the playlist as is.

2. phones must remain in their binders at all times. If we see a phone out we will confiscate it until the end of the day. Of course, the headphone cord coming out from the phone that is stored in the binder is acceptable.They are allowed the initial set up  of the music, turning it on and adjusting the volume, and then it is not to be seen.

5. Cellphones will be allowed as a tool to be used for educational purposes only. This includes things like videoing (if needed for a project), FreshGrade, and possibly research. If students are on their phones when they haven't been given permission by the classroom teacher, or if the phone is out of the binder without permission then the phone will be confiscated until the end of the day.

We want to reiterate that these decisions are being made so that the school day can focus on the students' leaning. Thank you for your support of these new rules. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.