Amistad High School Cell Phone Policy
2023-2024
Amistad High School permits students to have cell phone devices, but they must be powered off and kept out of sight during the school day with the exception of before and after school and during lunch. Cell phone devices also include communication enabled items like smart watches, ipods, or other electronics used for that purpose. The school day includes, but is not limited to, class time, restroom breaks, after-school tutoring, school spirit events, and/or school day extra-curricular events.
Expectations
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Cell phones must be powered off during the school day. Teachers may direct students to use cell phones for class purposes.
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Placing a cell phone on vibrate or texting is not considered “off” and is prohibited, except before school, during lunch, or after school.
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Headphones and other Bluetooth-enabled devices (earphones/earbuds) are not permitted to be worn on campus unless directed by the teacher or staff and connected to chromebooks. They must be put away securely by the student, except before school, during lunch for secondary students, or after school.
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Cell phones are not to be used in the hallways, restrooms, or any common area during the school day, except before school, during lunch, or after school.
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Using a cell phone to record or videotape anyone or any situation is prohibited (this includes recording fights/altercations.)
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If a cell phone/electronic device rings, vibrates, or is used for any reason without the teacher’s permission, it will be considered a violation of the policy and subject to consequences.
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Students may carry their phone during an emergency drill. Therefore, students will have access to their cell phone in case of an emergency.
Exceptions
Exceptions will be made with a medical note from a doctor. Please contact a school nurse for approval.
Inappropriate Use or Severe Violations
Inappropriate use or severe violations include, but are not limited to:
1. Electronic communication that contains inappropriate content, profanity, intimidation, or threats to others;
2. Sexting, which includes intentionally creating, producing, distributing, presenting, transmitting, posting, exchanging, disseminating, or possessing, through any computer or digital media, any photograph or digitized image or any visual depiction of a person in any condition of nudity, or involved in any prohibited sexual act;
3. Bullying (this includes cyber-bullying);
4. Academic dishonesty or cheating;
5. Possession and/or use during state testing;
6. The use of camera or recording features of cell phones and portable digital media devices in restrooms, locker rooms, common areas, classrooms or for any use constituting an invasion of any person’s reasonable expectation of privacy (this includes recording fights and other altercations);
7. Communicating in a way with outside groups or individuals to participate in violent acts or other inappropriate or unlawful activities on school property or at school sponsored events;
8. Refusal to relinquish the phone to any staff member upon request.
*According to the Student Code of Conduct, failure to comply with a staff directive to turn in a cell phone will be considered defiance of authority and insubordination will receive disciplinary action. Any violation of these guidelines, which causes or involves a distraction or interruption of transportation, the instructional environment, or leads to the violation of other district rules or policies, will be subject to disciplinary action.
Violation Consequences
Violation of the cell phone guidelines will result in the following:
First Offense
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Verbal warning.
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Re instruction of cell phone policy
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Recording in teacher’s individual discipline file
Second Offense
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Verbal Warning
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Parent Contact by classroom teacher
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If unable to contact parents, the phone will be turned into the office. The student will retrieve the phone from the office.
Third Offense
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Student turns the phone to the office.
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Parent Contact by office
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The student will retrieve the phone from the office at the end of the school day.
Fourth Offense
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Student turns the phone to the office.
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Parent contacted by the office
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Parent/guardian will retrieve the phone from the office at the end of the school day.
Fifth or More Offense
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The cell phone will be confiscated, turned into the office, and returned to a parent after school that day after a parent conference explaining consequence number two.
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The cell phone will be prohibited for the remainder of the quarter. This means that the phone may not be in a purse/bag/or backpack and may not be used before or after school or during lunch.
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Students will be required to leave their phone in their vehicle/at home, or turn in their phones upon entry and will be dealt with on an individual basis, at administrator discretion.
Communication of Important Messages
Parents Communicating with Students
We understand how important it is for parents to be able to contact their child/children during the day for various reasons. If a parent/guardian needs to get a non-emergency message to their student, they can send their child a text message, which can be viewed before school, during lunch, or after school, or use the Remind app @amihspar to send a message to a school official. In the case of an emergency, a parent should call the front office (1st) or use the Remind app @amihspar to send a message designated as “urgent” (2nd).
Students Communicating with Parents
If a student needs to get a message to a parent/guardian, they will be allowed to use classroom or personal phones at the appropriate time with the permission of a teacher.