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  2. Cell Phone Procedures

Cell Phone Procedures

Beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, JHS students will place their phones in cell phone locker at the start of each class period and will retrieve them at the end of the class period. While awaiting the installation of the cell phone lockers, students may keep cell phones in their possession, but they must be shut off and not used in the classroom. This expectation will be a part of the rules and procedures at JHS, and will be subject to the expectations outlined in the Student Handbook. 

Our goal for JHS  is to create an environment that encourages students to meet their full potential personally, socially, and academically. Our vision statement reads, “we pursue excellence by: providing a safe, rigorous, innovative and career-focused learning environment, inspiring self-discover, embracing diversity and collaboration, bridging the transition to post-secondary aspirations, developing world-class leaders… so learners emerge as productive, responsible citizens.” By limiting student interactions with cell phones during the school day, we hope to support this vision and promote student well-being. 

  • Phones will only be stored in assigned, lockable “lockers” when a student enters the learning zone or instructional space. When students leave the learning zone, they will unlock their locker and take their phones with them to their next class. Their devices will remain available to them during passing periods and at lunch, so timely messages would still be received at least on an hourly basis. For emergency needs, parents are welcome to call the school secretary at 417.625.5230.

  • Students will be assigned a “locker” space in each of their learning zones, and will place their devices into the locker upon entering the learning zone. They will use an attached key to lock the locker, then use the same key to unlock the locker and retrieve their phone at the end of class. The same process will be repeated when they enter and exit each learning zone throughout their schedule.

  • The learning environment should be a place where students are practicing healthy socializing, sustaining attention, taking learning risks, and building relationships with friends and mentors that will sustain them through the challenges in their lives. However, addictive devices like modern smartphones constantly demand student attention and disrupt healthy learning behaviors like learning zone discussion, public speaking, collaboration, and focused attention.

    Additionally, we have become increasingly concerned about the mental and emotional well-being of our students because of their increased exposure to bullying, circulation of inappropriate content, and distractions that encourage disengagement from diverse learning and social experiences of high school. While the locker system will be new, our school’s policy on cell phones has remained consistent for many years.

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    Keeping cell phones out of learning zones offers the following benefits, among others:

    • Reduced distractions
    • Improved academic performance
    • Reduced dependence on technology for critical thinking, problem solving and social skills
    • Reduction in cheating
    • Enhanced engagement
    • Social well-being and increased social interactions

  • 1st Violation-Sent to the office, phone is locked in the office for the remainder of the day. 

    2nd Violation-Sent to the office, phone is locked in the office for the remainder of the day.

    3rd Violation-Sent to the office, phone is locked in the office for the remainder of the day.

    4th Violation- 3-Days ISD

    5th Violation- 1-Day OSS

    6th Violation- 3-Days OSS

    *Students may lose the privilege of possession of personally owned devices at school if the problem persists.

    *Students who refuse to relinquish possession of their phones to office staff will receive 3 days OSS.

  • No, once the lockers are in each learning zone, teachers will all use the locker system. 

  • The lockers are constructed with clear acrylic, and are mounted to learning zone walls with secure hardware. The lockers are within view of teachers the whole time the phones are locked.

  • The teacher has an additional matching key for every locker.


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    The lockers will be similar to this attached image, which shows a clear plastic locker containing about 30 lockable numbered cubbies with individual keys attached.

  • The purchasing and installment process is expected to take a few months, with the goal of being complete by Christmas Break 2024. Some learning zones are currently equipped with lockers and have been using them already. Lockers will be used immediately upon installation in each learning zone.