Scituate Middle School is committed to fostering a focused and engaging learning environment, promoting positive social interactions, and supporting the mental well-being of our students. To achieve these goals, we are implementing an "Away for the Day" cell phone initiative.

This initiative applies to all students during the official school day, from the first bell to the final dismissal bell, including when students enter the building in the morning, lunch periods, and transitions between classes.

To ensure a distraction-free and optimal learning experience, all personal electronic devices (PEDs), including but not limited to cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, and other internet-enabled devices, must be away for the day. This means devices must be

• Turned completely off or silenced.

• Stored out of sight in a locker, backpack, or designated classroom storage area (e.g., cell phone caddy).

• Inaccessible for personal use throughout the entire school day.

Consistent enforcement is critical to the success of this initiative. Violations will result in the following actions:

• First Offense: The device will be confiscated by school staff and returned to the student at the end of the school day. A verbal warning will be given, and parents/guardians may be notified.

• Second Offense: The device will be confiscated and held in the main office. A parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device at the end of the school day. A written referral will be issued, and disciplinary action (e.g., detention) may be assigned.

• Third and Subsequent Offenses: The device will be confiscated and held in the main office. A parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device. Further disciplinary action will be taken, which may include lunch detention, in-school detention, and/or requiring the student to check their phone into the main office daily upon arrival for a designated period.

Any misuse of a device for bullying, cheating, or accessing inappropriate content will result in immediate and more severe disciplinary action, in accordance with the school's code of conduct.

We understand that there may be legitimate needs for device use. Exceptions will be made only in the following circumstances:

• Medical necessity: For students with a documented medical plan (e.g., IEP, 504 plan) that requires access to a device for health monitoring or communication. Parents/guardians must provide relevant documentation to the school office.

• Teacher-directed instructional use: A teacher may explicitly permit the use of a device for a specific educational activity or project within the classroom. This use will be supervised and limited to the designated task.

• Emergency situations: In the event of a school-wide emergency, students will be directed by staff on appropriate communication protocols. For individual student emergencies, parents can reach their child by calling the main office at 401-647-4123. Messages will be delivered promptly.

We encourage parents/guardians to communicate with their children through the main office during school hours if an urgent message needs to be relayed. This helps us maintain a consistent learning environment for all students.

We appreciate the cooperation of our students and families in adhering to this "Away for the Day" initiative, which we believe will significantly enhance the educational experience at Scituate High School.