9507 Burns Rd.
Cell Phone Policy
To continue supporting a safe and connected school environment that promotes enhanced learning, we will be asking students to keep their cell phones in their backpacks and out of sight during the school day for the 2023-2024 school year.
The goal of our cell phone policy is to increase student engagement in the classroom and to create a culture of respect for learning. Data shows that students are more focused and have higher test scores and grades when cell phones are kept out of the classroom. (Source: Away for the Day website)
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. Will students be able to have their phones during lunch/recess?
A. No. Cell phones must stay in their backpacks during the school day. This is not a change from our current cell phone policy inside the building, but students will no longer be able to use their phones outside during lunch/recess.
Q. What if my student needs to communicate with me during the school day?
A. We have a phone in the front office dedicated for student use. If students need to contact their families during the school day, we will allow them to use the school phone to call home. Students will also be allowed to use their phones immediately after school when the final dismissal bell rings.
Q. If my student forgets their laptop, will they be able to use their phone?
A. No. Cell phones must stay in their backpacks during the school day. Students must be responsible and bring a charged laptop to school daily.
Q. What happens if I don’t want my student’s phone being confiscated?
A. Please ask your student to keep their phone in their backpack, out of sight, during the school day.
Q. What if I am unable to to get my student's phone if it is confiscated more than once?
A. Please ask your student to keep their phone in their backpack, out of sight, during the school day. If there are extenuating circumstances, please contact the grade level assistant principal.
Q. What are other local middle school policies? How does the Reynolds policy compare? How is it similar? How is it different?
A. It is very similar to local middle schools.
- Pasco – McLoughlin Middle School implemented this policy starting in April of this school year and have had positive results in student engagement. All middle schools in Pasco are going to utilize some form of an out of sight cell phone policy for the 2023-2024 school year
- Kennewick – All middle schools have an out of sight cell phone policy.
- Richland – Most policies allow cell phones at lunch but not in the hallways, bathrooms and teacher discretion in the classrooms. Phones are confiscated if they are visible.