August 29th, 2025
Dear Elmira Community,
As educators, we have a responsibility to cultivate an environment that is conducive to learning and focused on the well-being of our students. Ideally, students experience a sense of community as they learn, which grows out of full engagement with their teacher and curriculum during instructional time. Last semester, the Ontario Ministry of Education mandated direction around mobile devices in schools. This enhanced policy is supported by research and the clear direction given by the Ministry of Education in their PPM128 and was effective on September 1st, 2024. These changes, driven by caregiver and educator feedback as well as mental health experts, acknowledge that mobile devices have positive uses, but in classrooms, they can lead to distracted, disengaged students. It has become clear that limiting the use of mobile devices (e.g., cell phones, smart watches etc.) during class time will benefit our students in several ways.
In schools where limited access to cell phones has been implemented, the following outcomes have been reported:
- Improved mental health
- Improved connection with others
- Increased attentiveness
- Increased application of learning
- Increased engagement in learning
- Improved time-management skills
It is in light of these benefits, we invite caregivers to consider making arrangements for cell phones to remain at home. We recognize that this would be a significant departure from many families and students’ current practice, so, for our part, we will continue to implement this updated policy around cell phone use in school by requiring students who do bring cellphones to school to silence and store their cell phones out of view during class time (e.g., set to airplane mode, in a backpack or locker, not on their person). Students are permitted to use their cell phones in-between classes and during their scheduled lunch. During instructional time, students are not allowed to use their cell phones in hallways, washrooms and/or changerooms.
Please note that senior students with scheduled spares can use their cell phones in designated areas of the school (library and the cafeteria, not hallways). Should your student need to contact you during instructional time, they are encouraged to come to the office. While we understand the importance of technology in our students’ lives, we firmly believe that safeguarding their academic success and emotional well-being remain paramount.
- Students who are found accessing their cell phones during instructional time will be directed to put their cell phone in a secure place designated by the classroom teacher for the rest of the period.
- Students who refuse to place their cell phone to the secure location at the direction of the classroom teacher will be referred to an Administrator. At the Administrator’s discretion, a call will be made to their caregiver(s) so the policy expectations can be clarified and support can be offered, if needed, to help the student positively adapt to this policy. In these cases, students will be asked to surrender their phone to a secure space in the main office for up to the end of the school day or the caregiver can choose to pick up the device. Students may return to learning once their cell phone has been safely stored or picked up.
Chronic Noncompliance: Students who continue to use their cell phones during instructional time will experience further involvement with caregivers and/or progressive discipline measures, which may eventually lead to suspensions if necessary, as determined by the school’s Admin team and outlined in the WRDSB administrative policies.
We extend our sincere gratitude for your support and cooperation as we enact this positive effort to foster a healthier and less distracted learning environment for all of our students.
Sincerely,
The EDSS Admin Team
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