Trailblazer Tribune
Oregon Trail Elementary - January 2020
Principal's Message
One of the questions that I get asked pretty regularly by parents and students is, "Are phones allowed in school?" My joking response to that question is, "Of course phones are allowed! There is a phone in every classroom and several in the office!" I understand, though, that the question really being asked is "Can my child have their cell phone with them at school?" Here is our policy on Cell Phones:
The use of (personal) electronic devices during school hours is prohibited. Students are not to use cellphones to call parents during school hours. Parents are not to call their child's cell phone during school hours. Office/classroom phones will be used for parent-child communication as deemed necessary by the teacher. Any electronic device used or powered on during school hours will be held by the school until parents are able to pick it up from the office.
To clarify, this policy includes phones, tablets, phone watches, or any other personal device. This policy is in place to maintain the focus and integrity of the educational environment. The playground is an extension of the educational environment.
We understand that sometimes your student needs to call from their phone after school. During school hours, we just ask that phones be turned off and put away in backpacks.
Cell phones are powerful machines that allow our children access to the world. While that is impressive, it also gives the world access to our children. Because of that, Oregon Trail's policy on student use of cell phones will remain strict. We will also be diligent in the access our students have to other forms of technology and ensure that they are used appropriately. I will be including some links to informative articles and research that identifies some of the issues that are arising due to increasingly young exposure to cell phones.
Screen time and children: How to guide your child
Teaching Kids To Be Smart About Social Media
Thank you for reading through this message and your understanding of our cell phone policy and the reasoning behind the policy!
Have a great January!
Mr Matlock