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WAMS/RHS Screen Time Challenge
WAMS/RHS Screen Time Challenge
The goals of the Ridge High School Screen Time Challenge are to:
Raise Awareness: Encourage participants to examine their personal cell phone use and recognize patterns of overuse.
Understand Impact: Help students, staff, and families comprehend how phone overuse affects mental health, focus, and productivity.
Build Healthier Habits: Provide practical strategies and support for reducing unnecessary screen time and increasing engagement with productive activities.
Develop Personal Plans: Equip participants with the tools to create sustainable plans for meaningful phone use going forward.
Timeline
Timeline
Week 1 (October 21 - October 27)
Monitor cell phone usage (time, apps, pickups, notifications).
Week 2 (October 28 - November 3)
Continue monitoring cell phone usage.
Week 3 (November 4 - November 10)
Reflect and develop a personal plan to reduce usage.
Week 4 (November 11 - November 24) *Extended
Implement the personal plan and compare phone usage to the previous two weeks.
November 25 - Post-Challenge Reporting: Participants will submit their usage data, reflections, and feedback on the process.
Why are we talking about FOCUS?
Why are we talking about FOCUS?
We are diving into the hot topic of "stolen focus" and the rise of the anxious generation because, let's face it, today’s students are navigating a whirlwind of distractions! With endless notifications, social media overload, and the pressures of modern life, keeping their attention has become a real challenge. Educators and parents are buzzing about how these distractions are hijacking students’ ability to focus and creating a more anxious, stressed-out generation. By sparking this conversation, we are leading the charge to help kids reclaim their focus, manage anxiety, and thrive in a fast-paced, digital world.
Why is FOCUS so important today?
Why is FOCUS so important today?
In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, focus has become *the* superpower we’re all struggling to master—especially for young people! With every swipe, ding, and notification, our attention is pulled in a million directions, making it harder than ever to stay locked in on what matters. For the younger generation, who are growing up in a sea of TikToks, Snapchats, and streaming binges, staying focused feels like a full-time job! Whether it's studying for a test or just having a meaningful conversation, our attention is constantly under attack, and mastering focus has become the key to success and well-being in this digital age. Let's face it: focus isn't just a skill anymore—it's a survival tool!
Is FOCUS really a problem?
Is FOCUS really a problem?
According to the eye-opening research from Jonathan Haidt and Johann Hari, focus is under siege like never before—and it’s not just our imagination! They reveal that social media, endless notifications, and constant online scrolling are rewiring our brains, making it harder for us to concentrate for long periods. Hari describes how the dopamine-fueled addiction to our devices is keeping us hooked, while Haidt’s data shows the alarming rise in anxiety, depression, and attention disorders, especially among teens, in the age of smartphones. It’s like our attention is caught in a constant tug-of-war with technology, and spoiler alert: the gadgets are winning! The result? A generation struggling to stay focused and engaged in a world that’s designed to distract us at every turn.
What is the Restoring Focus Collaborative?
What is the Restoring Focus Collaborative?
Bernards Township is taking action with the Restoring Focus Collaborative, a dynamic new initiative designed to unite the entire community—students, parents, educators, and neighbors—for some real talk about the focus crisis. We’re digging deep into the data from Stolen Focus and The Anxious Generation to get to the heart of why our attention is slipping and, more importantly, what we can do about it. From strategies at school to helpful tips at home, and even changes across the community, this collaboration is all about finding practical solutions. It’s time to hit pause on distraction and work together to reclaim our focus, one conversation at a time!
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