Lakeside School

The policy is part of Lakeside's focus on Community Experience, Engagement, and Impact as part of our strategic plan, Hope in Action. Our goal is to promote personal and community health and well-being. You can reach more about the policy in this message from Assistant Head of School / Upper School Director Ryan Boccuzzi.  Learn more about Lakeside's strategic plan.

What is Lakeside Upper School’s invisible device policy? 

Lakeside Upper School students will not use their cell phones and/or smart watches during the school day (8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.). This includes during free periods, lunch, and community time. Students are expected to store devices in their bags or backpacks, not in their pockets. 

What if a student needs to receive or make a call during the school day? 

Students still have access to their email on their computers throughout the day for general messages. Parents and guardians may relay an urgent message to their student by calling the main office; the message will be delivered to the student between classes or more urgently, if necessary. Similarly, students may speak with an administrator or go to the main office if they need to contact someone during the school day (8:30 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.).

What if there is an emergency? How will students be notified?

When there are emergency situations or drills on campus, Lakeside uses a campus-wide intercom system to communicate with everyone on campus. This system works in coordination with the Titan HST app for emergency notification. All Lakeside employees and Upper School students have Titan HST installed on their devices. During an emergency situation, students will be able to access their devices in their bags; follow the instructions communicated via the campus-wide intercom; and follow the directions of adults on campus. Lakeside also uses Titan HST to communicate with parents and guardians during emergency situations; families should make sure that their contact information is up to date in Veracross to receive emergency alerts (phone, text, email). 

Some students use their phone for schoolwork and for checking their schedule. How will they be able to do this?

This policy only applies to phones and smartwatches. Students may use their laptops for schoolwork and checking their schedules while on campus.

What if a student has a medical condition that is monitored by their phone or smartwatch?

Students who use their phone for a medical condition are allowed to do so and simply need to contact Nurse Joy Irvin for approval. She can be reached at info@lakesideschool.site, 206-440-2906, or be found in the health room in Bliss 120. 

What if a classroom activity or club requires phone use?

Students may use their phones for educational purposes when directed by a Lakeside adult.

What happens if a student has their phone or smartwatch out or in their pocket during the school day? 

If a Lakeside faculty or staff member sees a student with their device out or in their pocket during the school day, the student will turn the phone over to the adult. At the end of the day, the student can pick up their device from the office of Assistant Head of School / Upper School Director Ryan Boccuzzi (Bliss 217). In this situation, an email is sent to the student’s advisor. Multiple instances of the behavior will result in parents/guardians being notified and, for a period of time, a student needing to turn in their device to Mr. Boccuzzi’s office before the school day begins. Additional infractions may result in more serious consequences.

Does this policy also apply to adults on campus?

Lakeside employees are conscious of their use of devices and respectful of the community we strive to create with this policy, but they are permitted to use devices since it often pertains to their jobs and can be for the safety of our students and our community.

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS & FAMILIES

We have compiled the following resources for students and families. We hope they will be helpful in navigating conversations at home. 

• US Surgeon General’s Advisory on social media and teen mental health. 
• Education Week: “Why Many Schools’ Strict Cellphone Policies May Not Go Far Enough”
• UNESCO, “To ban or not to ban? Monitoring countries’ regulations on smartphone use in school” 
• New York Times, Opinion Essay “We Don’t Have to Give In to the Smartphones”
• Seattle Times, Education Lab opinion piece: “It’s time to ban student phones in WA schools”