August 15, 2025
Dear WHS Students and Families,
I am optimistic as I share that during the first quarter of this school year, we will pilot an entry-to-exit cell phone free school day. As you may know we conducted pilot days this past spring and saw a noticeable difference in students socially and academically, so we must continue with our efforts.
Author and researcher Jonathan Haidt, in The Anxious Generation, calls the smartphone era "the greatest uncontrolled experiment humanity has ever performed on its own children." He explains that as smartphones replaced much of the in-person play, conversation, and exploration of earlier generations, many young people experienced a loss of focus, creativity, and social connection. By contrast, when schools commit to keeping phones out of sight for the entire school day, Haidt notes that students' attention improves, relationships deepen, and problem-solving becomes more collaborative. You can learn more about his work at anxiousgeneration.com.
At the start of the school year students must power off their phone and store it in their backpack upon entry, and only take it back out upon exit from the building. This initiative reflects our shared commitment to creating a learning environment where students can fully engage with their peers, their teachers, and their own ideas without the constant pull of mobile devices.
You will recall last November, Max Stossel came and addressed our entire student body and also held an evening parent workshop. Mr. Stossel decried the access to cell phones in schools as well as the negative influence the barrage of social media has on the teenage brain. You can find more about him, his mission and resources at socialawakening.org. Many of our students gave positive feedback, were impressed with his presentation, and personally reflected on the information they received. And...we need to help our kids make good choices so they can learn to be less dependent on their personal devices.
Research also shows that without the interruption of constant notifications, students are more likely to sustain their focus on complex work and think more critically. As Albert Einstein once said, "Creativity is intelligence having fun." By removing phones from the school day, we are giving our students the mental space to have that kind of fun, whether it is through spirited classroom debates, hands-on problem solving, or simply laughing with friends in the cafeteria.
Again, during this pilot students must power off their phones and either keep them in their backpacks or cars for the entirety of the day, or better yet, leave them home. Airpods and headphones will also be prohibited from classrooms, hallways and all areas within the building. More information about the implementation can be found on page 40 of our Student Handbook. I have had conversations with my own children on how they should reach me during the school day: for an urgent issue or emergency, they will call the school, if it can wait, they will email. I encourage you to have conversations as a family about how you will communicate in the absence of cell phones. We will all need to make adjustments to create a healthier environment.
We will be listening closely to feedback from students, families, and staff to understand the impact on learning, engagement, and school climate. We reflected on student feedback from the spring and have installed TVs in our hallways which will display pertinent information as well as they daily schedule and digital clock. PACT teachers will also have copies of student schedules on the first day of school.
This is not about taking something away, it is about giving something back: the freedom to be fully present, the space to think deeply, and the joy of genuine connection. If phones are no longer a part of our daily culture there is nothing for students to fear they are missing out on (FOMO) and they can more intently focus on their school day and all of the wonderful opportunities it will present (the Joy of Missing Out on social media - JOMO). Thank you for joining us in this important step toward a more vibrant learning environment for all.
As always, should you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me. This is a moment for us all to stay curious in support of a healthy learning environment for our students and teachers. I know we will all rise to this occasion.
Kindly,
Meghan Conetta
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