ATTENTION PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Cell Phone and Personal Electronic Devices

While Tates Creek Middle School acknowledges there are valid reasons for students to bring electronic devices to school, a student brings such a device to school at his/her own risk.  Tates Creek Middle School faculty and staff will not be held responsible for any physical damage, loss, or theft of personally owned devices.  This includes, but it not limited to, any situation in which such a device is confiscated pursuant to this policy.  

A student at Tates Creek Middle School may activate and display an electronic device on school property as long as he/she follows the school’s policy as prescribed below. This policy serves to maintain an academic focus in classrooms and other study areas while respecting the needs of our students to have reasonable access to such devices. 

FCPS Student Code Conduct Page 33

PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES 

Personal electronic devices may be used by students during the school day, with teacher permission, for instructional purposes. Sharing data between students via cable, peer-to-peer networking or infra-red during a classroom activity is permitted only with teacher approval. Devices shall not be used in a manner that disrupts the educational process, including, but not limited to, posing a threat to academic integrity or violating the confidentiality or privacy rights of another individual. Exceptions to this policy may be made by the principal on a case-by-case basis. The principal or his or her designee may confiscate the device (including any SIM card). 

The following consequences may be used as a guide for violations of this policy:

1st violation: Confiscation of device and return to the student’s parent/guardian. The device may be returned to a student following a parent-principal communication. 

2nd violation: Confiscation of device and return to the student’s parent/ guardian at the end of 3 (three) school days. 

3rd violation: Confiscation of device and return to the student’s parent/guardian at the end of 5 (five) school days. 

4th and subsequent violations: Appropriate consequence determined by principal or his/her designee as outlined in the Behavior Management Charts (see Section 5.03). 

NOTE: Failure to turn a device over to school personnel when requested shall be considered a failure to follow staff instructions and shall subject the student to disciplinary consequences.