We want to make you aware of an important school policy update taking place at the start of this school year. All South Ogden Junior High classrooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms will be cell-phone-free zones. This requires that students keep cell phones in school bags, off or in silent mode, throughout the entirety of their classes and while using restrooms or locker rooms. This is a change from previous years when teachers set individual policies within their classrooms and enforcement was inconsistent school-wide. All teachers will have consistently worded cell phone-free classroom expectations for their students in their disclosures. School-wide cell phone expectations will also be defined and shared with students. These expectations will be reviewed with every student during the first week of school.

The Policy:

Cell phones and headphones may be used on school grounds before school, during lunch, and after school. Cell phone and headphone use are prohibited in classrooms, restrooms/locker rooms, and school offices unless otherwise stated by a teacher/staff. During classroom instruction, cell phones and headphones must remain out of sight (in your backpack) and in silent mode.

Cell phone and headphone misuse: 

• First time students will receive a warning.
• Second time we collect the phone or headphones and will place them in the office for students to pick up at the end of the day and a parent is notified.
• Third offense, the parent has to pick up the phone or headphones.

The reason for the policy change:  

As we embrace and integrate technology into our classrooms, South Ogden Junior High wants to help teach and promote appropriate digital citizenship. Our school staff has overwhelmingly agreed that a consistent school-wide cell phone policy that clearly defines when and how to appropriately use their cell phone is critical to the safety and learning of our students. Our goal is to have South Ogden Junior High School students stay more present and engaged in their learning. The intent is to support them in their academic success, removing major temptations and distractions, and promoting face-to-face social interaction and connections.  When a cell phone notification goes off the minds of our students wander away and their attention moves from instructions to their phones. Phones are not only a distraction for their owners in the classroom, but cell phones can also be a source of distraction for teachers and classmates alike. 

We have also collected data at the school over the last couple of years that show cell phones by students are negatively impacting safety and learning success.  

Examples of potential impacts of improper and unsupervised cell phone use:  

• Cheating on assignments and quizzes, by sharing answers or Google searching answers. 
• Sending sexually explicit or inappropriate messages through text or social media. 
• Connecting or coordinating drug use. 
• Bullying/Harassment and/or perpetuating bullying and harassment.
• Increased depression and anxiety with dependence of their phones
• Increased distraction during teaching and learning in classrooms.
• Inappropriate filming/photos in bathrooms and locker rooms 
• Promotion of participating in illegal behavior (fights, drug use, vandalism, bullying/harassment, etc.)
• Social media posts that target, and/or defame other students or school staff.  

We realize that cell phones are an integral part of our lives and are an important part to how we interact and communicate with each other. We also know that managing and training students on how to appropriately use and manage cell phones can be challenging. Attached are some resources that you may find helpful: