PS 107’s Cell Phone and Other Device Policy

We recognize that parents provide their children with cell phones and smartwatches for safety reasons. Therefore, we understand that students will bring their cell phones/smartwatches to school. Students can call or text parents immediately upon arrival or at dismissal. Other than that, cell phones/smartwatches must remain turned off and stowed away during the school day including at early arrival, lunch, and recess. 

Cell phones and smartwatches:

• may not be turned on or used during instructional time, except for instructional and educational purposes with the explicit approval of the teacher and/or teaching artist. Smartwatches must be in airplane mode during the school day.

• may not be turned on or used during early arrival, lunch, or recess. 

• may not be turned on or used in the bathroom. 

• may not be turned on or used during field trips, fire drills, or lockdown drills. 

• will be collected during NYS exams. 

Students are not to call, text, or message their family members during the school day. If students need to reach a member of their family, they can use one of the phones in the main office.

You can help us enforce this policy by not texting your children and calling or answering their calls during the day. 

Students may not photograph or take videos of any staff members or other students in and outside of the building. 

In an effort to enforce this policy, the following logical consequences will be in place: 

• If a phone/watch rings or is otherwise used during class, the student will be reminded of the policy and instructed to turn off the phone/watch.

• If a student is reminded of the policy, but does not turn off their cell phone/smartwatch, the phone/watch will be taken by a school staff member and held in the main office for the remainder of the day. Students can pick up their device at the end of the school day.

• Students with consistent cell phone/smartwatch usage during the school day will have their device collected by an administrator. Parents will be contacted and will have to pick up their child’s device from school.

Please review this policy with your children. We greatly appreciate your assistance!