News

Bell to Bell Ban Fails to Pass Connecticut State Senate

by Madelyn and Lauren Visser

A bill for the bell-to-bell cellphone ban (House Bill 5035) passed the CT State House of Representatives by a vote of 117-31 in late April of this year. The overwhelming vote against cell phone use during the school day was a result of many factors, including the widespread idea that today’s youth are exceedingly addicted to their devices and that their phones are causing mental struggles such as anxiety.

This bill was voted on by the State Senate on May 06, 2026. There, it failed to pass due to the fact that the Senate failed to vote on it, rendering this bell-to-bell ban ineffective. Senators were concerned about deciding upon something so complex for all public schools and wanted to ensure that in all situations, they would be able to meet the community’s needs.

We interviewed a few students and asked them to share their opinions:

One sophomore is relieved that the ban was not passed, as she frequently uses her phone to contact her family. She would be concerned about missing crucial information and being unable to be communicated with throughout the school day. The lack of a bell to bell ban allows our school to decide its individual policy, granting her more flexibility.

Furthermore, another sophomore student revealed that while he personally doesn’t use his phone excessively during the school day, he believes that some students may have an increased need for their device, due to medical conditions. He pontificates that while the ban had a “good intent,” there are better solutions to the issue, such as discussing how to use phones responsibly.

Now that the ban has officially failed, it brings up the question of whether or not any future actions will be taken against students and their phones. In the meantime, students can continue to enjoy the freedom of utilizing their devices throughout the school day.

Club Spotlight

by Madelyn and Lauren Visser

Here at Newington High School, you have the opportunity to get involved in a wide variety of clubs! But, there is one problem - there are too many to pick from! That’s why we have narrowed it down to a few clubs to pique your interest, each showcasing different activities that we think any student will enjoy.

First, there is Crochet Club. Whether you are a crocheter, embroiderer, knitter, crafter (of any kind), or just a student who wants a fun place to make friends or learn a new hobby, this is the club for you! We usually meet once a month, on Tuesday, in room 215. See you there!

Next, we interviewed an avid adventurer, Jacob Tessitore, to tell us all about the Adventure Club. He said, “Adventure Club, run by Mr. Sepko, is a very fun club to join, but is pretty different from most other clubs. Instead of meeting weekly or every other week, we only meet once at the beginning of the school year. Then, Mr. Sepko schedules activities for us to do, ranging from canoeing to rock climbing and even hiking! If you like being active, hanging out with friends, and trying new things, then this club is for you, and I would highly recommend joining.” Sounds like a fun time, Jacob!

Additionally, in Anatomy Club, the participants learn about each part of the body in isolation, and get to be involved in an interesting trivia game afterwards. They also learn about careers that align with these systems. Whether you are just looking to become more knowledgeable about the body you live in, or are striving for a career in the medical field, this is the club for you! They meet in Mrs. Butryman’s room (316) every other Wednesday.

Lastly, we talked to Educators Rising Vice President Katherine DeNapoli to tell us a little bit about this club. She said, “EdRising is a club for aspiring educators, but you do not have to want to be an educator at this time in your life. Joining the club can help you build your leadership skills. Furthermore, we go on field trips, and we compete at the state level and the national level. We meet twice a month. During meetings we discuss the teaching profession, competition details, and upcoming events. We also have special guests come in and talk to our members about the education profession. Overall, Edrising is a wonderful club and community and we are always looking for new members.” EdRising sounds like a great club option for those interested in educational careers.

Whether you’re interested in one of these clubs to make friends, become more active, learn something new, or prepare you for your future, each one has something unique to offer. Clubs often publish meeting dates on the announcement slides, so check them out for more information about joining!

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