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Cell Phone Policy

by | Aug 6, 2022 | Uncategorized | 0 comments

CELL PHONE POLICY

Daily Process 

 START OF SCHOOL DAY 

Students are allowed to use their phone before the start of the school day at 8:00am.  

  • Students should use the unlockable base on their way to homeroom to confirm the pouch is unlocked and ready for use.  
  • Students must power down their cell phone and secure phone along with all wearable technology (ex. smartwatches, earbuds) in their assigned Yondr pouch during homeroom.   
  • Homeroom teachers will verify the proper use of the Yondr pouch. The Yondr pouch remains in the possession of the student and is their responsibility at all times. 

 DURING SCHOOL HOURS 

  • Students are to keep their phone and wearable tech inside their Yondr pouch for the duration of the school day.  
  • Student(s) who arrive late, should receive a pass, and secure phone in pouch upon entry. 
  • When student leave campus for early dismissal, or seniors with lunch privileges, he or she may unlock the pouch at the front office upon signing out. Upon re-entry, students must secure items and relock the pouch in the main office before returning to class.  

 END OF SCHOOL DAY 

  • When leaving school, students will use the unlocking base accessible at each exit: front office, auditorium lobby, and gym lobby.  
  • Students will retrieve phone and any wearable tech from the pouch before leaving campus. 
  • Students should close the empty pouch and place it in his/her backpack for the next day. Each student is fully responsible for their pouch. 

 Parents/guardians should contact the office to reach their child, and students will be permitted to call home from the office. 

VIOLATIONS

Consequences 
Damaged Pouch 
  • Parent/guardian will be contacted when there is physical damage to the pouch to circumvent its intended purpose (ex. Inappropriate markings, holes, bent pin, stripped lock, loose flaps or seams, etc). 
  • Students will receive an after-school detention ($10 charge) within the same school week. 
  • Students will pay $40 to replace the damaged Yondr pouch. 
  • Repeated violations will require a meeting with parent/guardian. 

 
Unsecured Phone or wearable tech 
1st offense 
  • Phone confiscated by faculty/staff and retrieved by administration 
  • Cell phone violation recorded in FACTS Management by faculty/staff 
  • Parent/guardian notified 
2nd offense 
  • Phone confiscated  
  • Cell phone violation recorded in FACTS Management  
  • Parent/guardian notified and required to pick up the phone from the school office and meet with Dean of Students and/or Upper School Principal 
3rd offense 
  • Phone confiscated 
  • Cell phone violation recorded 
  • A meeting with the parent/guardian with administration team and student will not be allowed to return to school until the meeting takes place. 
Forgotten Yondr Pouch 
1st -2nd offense 
  • Student’s phone will be confiscated and placed in the office.  
  • Admin will notify student’s parent/guardian 
3rd offense 
  • Student’s phone will be confiscated, parent/guardian will be notified and required to pick up cell phone.  

Other Violations – refer to the PVCA Student Computer and Network Use in Parent/Student 

In addition to the Yondr pouch policy, students misusing cell phones or wearable tech will receive additional consequences.  
No video or audio recording is permitted 
  • Phone will be confiscated and held until a parent conference with the Dean of Students occurs and further discipline is determined. 
Misuse of cell phone or wearable tech (cheating or harassment, etc) 
  • Disciplinary action, which may include confiscation, immediate zero on assignment, suspension, and/or police notification. 

 

Pioneer Valley Christian Academy reserves the right to confiscate any electronic device from students who violate technology policies. Any faculty or staff is authorized to confiscate a cell phone, smart watch, wireless earbuds, or any other electronic device deemed to violate technology policies. Refusal to turn over electronic devices will be deemed as insubordination and result in progressive disciplinary action.  

 

*Seniors with “senior privileges” will be permitted to use their cell phones during lunch only. * 

PARENT RESOURCES

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

WHAT DOES "FROM BELL TO BELL" MEAN?

The phrase “From bell to bell” means students in grades six through grade eleven MUST have their cell phones, smart watches, and ear buds TURNED OFF and STORED IN THEIR LOCKERS from the moment they enter the school building until the last dismissal bell at the end of the school day.

*Seniors with “Senior Privileges” will be permitted to use their cell phones, during lunch, while in the Senior Lounge. Upon exiting the Senior Lounge, they will be expected to turn them off and place them in their lockers once more.

WHAT IF I NEED TO REACH MY STUDENT DURING SCHOOL HOURS?

Parents should not contact their child via cell phones during the school day but instead call the school office to convey a message to the student or request that he/she call them.
MAIN OFFICE PHONE NUMBER: 413-782-8031
During the school year, the main office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM-4:00 PM.