"Away for the Day" 

PVMS Digital Device Changes

Cell phone issues were persistent within Pennsville Middle School during the 21-22 school year.  We were more than willing to be flexible last year as we were very sympathetic to the fact that our students were coming back to school full time for the first time since March 2020.  Initially, we allowed cell phone usage in the cafeteria in the first 10 minutes, and then that was expanded to the entire lunch period.  

Throughout the school year, we couldn’t help but notice that the majority of behavioral, defiance, bullying, and distraction issues were initiated and amplified by cell phone usage.  Upon reflection, many discussions, and poring through research, we have decided to make a change regarding the use of digital devices at PVMS.

This coming school year, non-school approved devices must be “away for the day.”  This includes phones, AirPods, smartwatches, and non-school approved computers.  Students may bring their electronic devices to school, but they must be turned off, away for the day, and out of sight.  This applies to hallways, bathrooms, classrooms and the cafeteria.  We are looking to allow a short time frame (5 minutes) for parents/guardians to message students during the day with important information as needed, on an emergency basis, that does not take away from instructional time.  This change is a necessity, as our priority is to create an environment in which instructional time is maximized, distractions are minimized, and we can address the social-emotional needs and coping strategies of our students, in order to best prepare them to focus on learning.

Please see the linked article for more rationale - PVMS NEW DIGITAL DEVICE POLICY RATIONALE