November 21, 2024 Newsletter
In This Edition:
1. NEW: Petition from Wakefield Educators Supporting Away for the Day
2. Wakefield Teachers See Positive Impact of Phone-free School
3. Call to Action!
4. Parent's Corner: Choose a Lasting Solution
5. November 14th School Board Meeting
6. Happening Soon
NEW: Over 160 Wakefield Educators Sign Petition Supporting Away for the Day
(Editor's Note: We have been granted permission to publish this petition letter before it is officially summited to the School Board and Superintendent, while it is still gathering signatures.)
Dear APS School Board Members,
We strongly urge you to adopt a policy restricting student phone use from the start of the school day until the end. Phones pose a significant barrier to student learning, acting as major distractions in the classroom and negatively impacting students’ social-emotional well-being. If phone use is only limited during instructional time, teachers will face the challenge of enforcing a weak policy, which has, from our experience, proven to be nearly impossible.
Furthermore, the distraction caused by phones extends beyond their immediate use. When a student encounters a message that triggers an emotional response, those feelings do not simply disappear when class begins. The emotional impact lingers, affecting their focus and engagement in the classroom.
The recent pilot program at Wakefield, utilizing Yondr pouches from the start of the school day to the end, has shown remarkable results in reducing phone use during the school day. While there are areas for improvement, the positive impact on student engagement and peer interactions has been significant. We believe locking phones in Yondr pouches for the entire school day will ultimately lead to greater student success.
Therefore, we strongly recommend implementing a comprehensive policy restricting phones throughout the entire school day, building on the successes observed at Wakefield during this pilot phase.
Thank you for your consideration as you make your policy decisions.
Signed,
Over 160 Wakefield Educators
Wakefield Teachers to APS School Board:
We Support Pouches In School
(Editor's Note: We have obtained permission from the twelve Wakefield teachers who signed the letter below, submitted to the School Board on Friday, November 15, to share their message publicly.)
We are writing to express our strong support for the continued use of cell phone pouches in our schools. Since their implementation, we have observed a significant positive impact on student engagement and learning outcomes.
The introduction of cell phone pouches has fostered an environment where students can focus more on their studies without the constant distraction of their devices. This has led to increased participation in class discussions and a noticeable improvement in overall academic performance. Teachers have reported that students are more attentive and involved, which is crucial for creating a productive learning atmosphere.
We also want to acknowledge that our teachers are incredibly busy, and their potential silence on this matter should not be interpreted as a lack of support. Many of us are fully behind this initiative, recognizing its benefits for both students and educators alike. We understand the challenges teachers face and appreciate their efforts to enhance the learning experience.
Moreover, the pouches promote responsible use of technology, teaching students valuable lessons about self-discipline and the importance of being present. This aligns with our educational goals of preparing students not just academically, but also socially and emotionally!
We urge the board to consider the long-term benefits of maintaining this policy. The positive changes we have witnessed are too significant to overlook, and we believe that continuing to use cell phone pouches will further enhance our students' educational experiences.
We appreciate your commitment to improving our schools and look forward to your support in this initiative.
Signed by 12 Wakefield Educators
Speak Up: Help Pass "Away for the Day" Policy
What’s happening:
The School Board votes on Dec. 12 on the Bell to Bell: Away for the Day policy, which would limit personal device use during school hours. This critical policy is not a sure thing—opposition is vocal, and we need a strong show of support.
Why it matters:
Phones can distract from learning and impact the mental health of students. Passing this policy ensures students stay focused and present during school hours. Many schools across the country are passing bell-to-bell policies and it is important that APS not fall behind given the consensus research that having access during the day harms learning.
How you can help:
Email the School Board today: Share your support for Away for the Day.
Spread the word: Ask five friends AND your kids' teachers to email or attend Open Office Hours in support.
Upcoming Open Office Hours:
Nov. 25 (In person): Mary Kadera, 6–8 p.m.
Dec. 9 (Virtual): Cristina Diaz-Torres, 6–8 p.m. Details here.
The bottom line:
School Board Members are deciding how to vote now for the Dec. 12 meeting. Emailing the School Board and attending Open Office Hours before December 12th is critical to protecting this policy.
Let’s make this happen!
Read more about Away for the Day and common concerns.
Parent's Corner:
Choose A Lasting Solution to Personal Devices, Not a Band-Aid
(Editor's Note: From time to time we will offer an unedited perspective written by an APS parent or teacher on a topic of concern or interest to APS.)
I'm nervous about the upcoming School Board vote on Away For The Day (AFTD). I'm worried that the board will take the easy way out and vote for a band-aid solution instead of a lasting solution. This is it everyone, the time is NOW. We have a chance to make a huge change in our children’s lives by eliminating phones from bell-to-bell. This is an opportunity for APS to lead the way to a richer, more vibrant community in our schools. It is imperative at this point to effect a uniform change and prohibit cell phone use throughout the whole school day. We know what the data tells us about the detrimental effects that cell phones have on kids, on their health and on their emotional well-being. We see the way it interrupts learning and the dysregulating effect it has on children. We see how difficult it is to regulate our own cell phone use. What more do we need to know?
I do realize that for older students it will be a difficult change to manage, but we owe it to our kids to make those difficult decisions, particularly when there is so much at stake. My child is in elementary school and I already see the benefits to restricting her exposure to cell phones. I dream of sending her to middle school without fear of someone taking a picture or video of her and using it to bully or embarrass her. I dream of her coming home and telling me about the fun things she did and talked about with her friends, and not about things she saw online.
Why all day? Because if we allow access in between classes, it's like a slow titration of a drug. Kids will be focused on getting to "check-in" at the next point they're allowed, and not focused on their peers and the other wonderful advantages of being in school. Lunchtime is one of the best opportunities in a child's day to talk to and connect with their peers in ways that you can't connect during class time. Instead of teaching social-emotional skills, let's let our kids be kids and practice these skills in real life without the distraction of cell phones. If we adults normalize the idea that you don't need to access your phone every minute of the day, the older kids will get on board and the younger kids will be better able to embark on a rich and rewarding school experience as they grow.
As I await the school board vote, I encourage parents to verbalize their support of AFTD and make their voices heard. Are we going to take a hard stand, or will we just slap a band-aid on the problem?
November 14th School Board Meeting Recap
Highlights from the meeting include:
Revisions to school board boundary policy B-2.1 approved.
The Options and Transfers applications for the 2025-26 school year are now open.
Kadera recognized the winners of the School Board election, Kathleen Clark and Zuraya Tapia-Hadley.
Winter weather policies - Up to 13 Snow Days, Extended Day will close when schools close on early release days, decisions will be announced by 6 p.m. the prior evening, if forecast is uncertain, the decision is announced by 5 a.m.
Policy J-30 Draft for students' personal devices was presented and reviewed. 100% of APS high school principals were said to be in support of a bell to bell policy.
Read the full recap here.
Happening Soon!
Wednesday, December 4, 8am, Policy Subcommittee Meeting. School Board Conference Room, Suite 260
Thursday, December 12, 7pm, School Board Meeting. Sign up to speak. Syphax.Watch live.
