Behavior Policies

Aloha High School: Cell Phone and Personal Digital Device Practices

Dear Aloha High School Students and Families,

At Aloha High School, we are always looking to improve our practices to create the most welcoming, safe, and supportive school environment for our students, parents, and staff. We are dedicated to the health and safety of our students as they pursue their academics and extracurricular activities. At the heart of our Cell Phone and Personal Digital Device policy is one goal…we want our students to be Present for Learning.

Cell Phone and Personal Digital Device Expectations 

At Aloha High School, we focus on all students being “Present for Learning”. This means students will need to be in class, on time, and ready to learn. It also means cell phones and personal digital devices need to be off and away during class time.

• Cell phones/Digital Devices are required to be off and away during class time. This means the devices cannot be seen or heard during class time.
• This expectation applies during class time in classrooms, hallways, restrooms, cafeteria, and common spaces. 
• Students may use their device before and after school, during passing time, and during lunch.
• Families can support their student’s presence for learning by recognizing you may not receive an instant response to a message.
• Students can request a pass to the main office if they have an urgent need to use their cell phone.
• If you have an emergency, please call the main office and we will prioritize communication with your student.  

Why Do We Need a Cell Phone Policy?

Personal digital devices, like smartphones, ear buds, video games, and music players have become an everyday part of our world. At Aloha High School, we have observed how this trend is impacting our students and the effect digital devices are having in the academic setting. Though cell phones can be an important tool in many parts of our lives, it is clear that cell phones have a negative impact on student learning and peer relationships during class time. At Aloha High School, we have seen a pattern of phone use during class that contributes to behaviors that interrupt learning and create negative peer interactions. We are committed to ensuring that each student has a device to access learning and meet any individualized accommodations your student may need. If your student does not have a Chromebook laptop computer, please encourage them to connect with our library staff and sign one out.

The Aloha High School staff are committed to adhering to this change. This expectation will be reviewed in every class at the start of the year. If students cannot follow the cell phone and personal digital device expectation, we will work with the student and their family, and progressive discipline will be implemented. Some families may opt to have their student leave their phone at home.  

We are confident that putting cell phones/digital devices away during class time will support a healthier experience for our students and staff. We have followed the research that presents a resounding concern around teens and their addiction to cell phones and social media. The research is highlighting that teen cell phone and social media addiction is having a negative impact on academic success and mental health.  Here are a few key pieces of research and references that support this decision:

• Book: ”Glow Kids” Author: Nicholas Kardaras
• Book: “Last Child in the Woods” Author: Richard Louv
• Website: Center for Human Technology
• Website: Common Sense Media
• Teens spend 9 hours a day on devices (Dodgen-Magee, 2018).
• Students earned an average letter grade and a half higher in the absence of mobile devices (Kuznekoff & Titsworth, 2013).
• There are correlations between time spent looking at phones and reports of teen depression (Twenge, 2017)
• The Case for Making Classrooms Cell Free from a Teacher’s Perspective
• Rewire Schools for Belonging and Achievement

Please have conversations as a family about this policy so that everyone knows what to expect. 

If you have any questions regarding this policy and what to expect, please feel free to call the school to request a conversation with an administrator. The Main Office can be reached at 503-356-2760.

Respectfully,

Matt Casteel           Doug Boyer                       Dennis Joule                      Lara Smith
Principal                  Assistant Principal           Assistant Principal            Assistant Principal
 

 

Dress and Grooming Policy at Aloha

Dress and grooming are primary responsibilities of students and parents/guardians. However, students may be directed to change dress or grooming if it interferes with the learning process or school climate, is unclean, or threatens the health and safety of the student or others. Clothing, jewelry, or working/graphics on clothing or on the person (e.g. tattoos) that is equally suggestive, drug or alcohol-related, vulgar, which depicts violence, insulting, gang membership related, or ridicules a particular person or group may be prohibited.

Permitted Dress and Grooming

• Adequate coverage of the body is required, including shirt with pants or skirt, the equivalent, and shoes.
• Shirts and dresses must have fabric in the front and on the sides.
• Clothing must cover undergarments, waistbands and bra straps excluded.
• Fabric covering private parts must not be transparent.
• Hats and other headwear must allow the face to be visible and not interfere with visibility to any student or staff. Hoodies must allow the student’s face and ears to be visible to staff.
• Special courses may require special attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.

Not Permitted Dress and Grooming (including bags, backpacks, and jewelry)

• May not depict, advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
• May not depict pornography, nudity, or be sexually suggestive or vulgar.
• May not use or depict hate speech targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation or any other protected groups.
• May not represent gangs, be gang-related, or indicate gang affiliation.
• Must not threaten the health or safety of any student or staff.
• Must not disrupt the educational process.