Dear Parents / Guardians of St. Francis Xavier,
Thank you for your continued support of our school community as we move toward the end of semester one. The school year has been a great opportunity for achieving, believing, and belonging at St. FX. As an administrative team, we continue to work with students, teachers, and parents to create a learning environment where your child can thrive. Our Catholic Graduate Expectations guide our understanding of the use of digital tools in the classroom and Procedure No. VI-62, Use of Technology and Digital Citizenship defines that teacher permission is necessary for the use of cell phones within the classroom. We know technology can be used to help students engage in curriculum and for educational purposes, however, we must also acknowledge that technology, specifically cell phones, can be a distraction for students.
For this reason, at the beginning of semester 2 we will be adopting a no cell phone policy in the classroom. This decision aligns with Procedure No. VI-62 which asks students to follow teacher direction when using a cell phone in the classroom. The procedure specifically says that students are responsible for:
· Using personally owned technology for curriculum related/educational purposes only while on HCDSB property (e.g., classrooms or instructional time) with staff permission.
The decision to adopt a no cell phone policy was made to address issues related to inappropriate use, classroom disruptions and an increase in student classroom disengagement. In the event that families need to reach their child during the school day they should be calling the main office for support, 905 636 8799. Each classroom will be provided with a receptacle for your child’s cell phone and the expectation is for cell phones to be put away in the receptacle when they enter the classroom. Alternatively, if you do not want your child to house their cell phone in the classroom receptacle, they can leave their cell phone in their locked locker. Student concerns regarding appropriate classroom use will be addressed by the school administrative team. STFX will not be responsible for phones which are damaged or reported stolen when placed in the pouch.
We ask for your cooperation as we roll out this new initiative to support the creation of a distraction free classroom that focuses on your child’s well-being and academic achievement.
Mr. Perusin