Cell Phones

Interlake High School - Cell Phone, Personal Laptop and Headphone, Smart Glasses Practice

In order to maintain a positive and thriving educational environment at Interlake High School, all cell phones will be put away during instructional time.  For the purposes of this practice, reference to "personal technology" includes cell phones, headphones, ear buds, smart glasses, personal laptops.  The decision to adopt an IHS cell phone practice is in service to our core values of Integrity, Humanity, and Scholarship.

Integrity: All members of the Interlake community are principled; we operate in an environment that supports truth, respect, and honor. Removing cell phones from the classroom will limit opportunities for cheating, bullying, and other tech-enabled poor decisions.

Humanity: All members of the Interlake community treat others as they would like to be treated. Students and staff inspire each other through selfless actions, empathy, compassion, and kindness.  When cell phones are put away, students will focus, connect, and engage with each other more deeply.

Scholarship: All members of the Interlake community believe that scholarship is an internal desire to know more developed through collaborative and independent learning.  Without cell phones to distract them, students will spend less time out of class and more time in class focused on the content and learning activities.

Our Practice:

When you can use your personal technology: Passing period, lunch, before and after school.

When you CANNOT use your personal technology: Never to be used during class without the explicit, direct permission of the teacher.

Protocol for Cell Phones:

To support focused, distraction-free learning environments, students are required to place their cell phones in the designated classroom cell phone pockets during instructional time.

Students should not have personal technology on their person or use them during instructional time. This expectation also applies when students are outside of the classroom during class time, including in hallways, restrooms, or other areas of campus.

When a Phone Is Seen During Instructional Time

If a staff member sees a student's cell phone during instructional time including in the hallways during class:

• The phone will be confiscated for the remainder of the school day.
• The phone will be turned in to the main office.
• The staff member will document the violation in Synergy.
• The student may retrieve the phone from the main office after the final class period of the day has ended.

When appropriate, staff should follow up with the student to understand the reason for the noncompliance and reinforce the expectation. Staff may also communicate the incident to the student's family via email, phone call, or TalkingPoints.