Dear SUA Community,
As we often remind our community, Saint Ursula Academy is committed to student safety and well-being as we provide a faith-filled and supportive educational environment. Part of this commitment involves regularly reviewing our policies to ensure that they reflect both the needs of our students and the realities of the world in which they live. Today I want to share an update to our cell phone policy that takes effect in the 4th quarter.
We know that parents, families, and schools are all grappling with how to help young people learn how to manage these devices so that they are not managed by them. While some schools have gone to a complete ban on cell phone usage, that is not a perfect solution as there are some potential unintended consequences. For example, students may invest a lot of time and energy into how they can circumvent the ban. Even more concerning, they may retreat to unsupervised areas - away from the community - to access their devices.
SUA’s goal is to educate students on how to use their cell phones responsibly and healthily while still prioritizing their safety and academic success. At the beginning of this school year, we equipped each classroom with a cell phone caddy where all phones and personal devices are stored during instructional time. This practice will remain unchanged, ensuring that cell phones are stored safely and out of sight during class time to maintain a focus on learning.
What’s Changing:
Starting in the 4th quarter, students will be expected to refrain from using their cell phones when they are walking around campus. This change is a safety measure to encourage greater situational awareness as students move through the hallways at transition times and among our buildings and parking lots. We want to reduce distractions that could lead to accidents or harm. These transition times are often times of informal conversation and connection among students that will be tech-free.
Why This Change:
Since part of our mission is to prepare students for the future, we also want to help them build the skills of how to use technology responsibly. This includes understanding when it is appropriate to use their phones and when it is important to be fully present in the moment. More than anything, we hope that students will develop this healthy cell phone habit that will transfer to other areas of their lives.
Looking Ahead:
Regardless of our feelings about cell phones, they are an integral part of modern life. They offer students ways to stay connected, access resources, and even enhance their learning when used appropriately. As we move into next year, we will continue our efforts to guide our students towards healthy technology use. We will increase education around the topic and continue to update practices to reflect this commitment to empowering our students to make informed, responsible choices about technology.
Thank you for your understanding and partnership. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Go Bulldogs!
Kathy