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Updated Cell Phone and Safety Policy

The Updated Phone Policy

  • Phones Must Be Off During School Hours

  • Students May Not Use Their Phones And Earbuds At Lunch

  • Students Should Have Their Phones in Their Backpacks

  • Please Discuss These Changes With Your Child

 

Students are permitted to have electronic devices while on campus, but they must be turned off and put away (out of sight) from the first bell at 8:25 until students are dismissed by their teacher after the dismissal bell at 2:35 or 1:35 on Wednesdays.

 

If an electronic device is seen or heard during the school day, the device will be confiscated (taken from the student) and the student may be referred to the Main Office. The school will contact the parent/guardian to inform them of the confiscation.  This includes cell phones,  gaming devices, tablets, digital cameras, smart watches, earbuds, headphones etc.

 

To clarify further:

 

  • Any staff member can confiscate an electronic device.

  • If a cell phone/electronic device is used to video students, staff, and school activities and/or such, the phone will be confiscated.  If appropriate, the police may become involved (as cell phone videos can be involved with crimes).

  • If an electronic device is lost or stolen, students and parents are encouraged to file a formal report with Pinole PD. Pinole Middle School is not liable for any instance of loss or theft that takes place on campus.

  • Cell phones, headphones, earbud headphones, and such need to be out-of-sight during class, passing periods, and lunch.

  • It is illegal to record (video and audio) a person without consent (CA Penal Code 632)

  • A student who refuses to hand over a cell phone or any electronic device is in violation of the Reasonable Request rule and is subject to further disciplinary action.

  • Cell phones - if confiscated:

 

First Offense:

 

  • Staff will confiscate the device for the remainder of the day & sent to the office
  • The incident will be logged into PowerSchool
  • Staff will notify parent(s)/guardian(s)

 

Second Offense:

  • The offense is logged into the PowerSchool and the device is again sent to the office.
  • A parent will be notified that the device was confiscated by a phone call before the device is released to the student at the end of the day.  
  • The device can be retrieved by the student on the same day, after school.

Third-Fifth Offense:

  • The offense is logged into the PowerSchool and the device is sent to the office.
  • A parent will be notified that the device was confiscated AND a parent will need to pick up the device.
  • The device can be retrieved by a parent on the same day, but after school.

Sixth and further Offenses:

  • The offense is logged into the PowerSchool and the device is sent to the office.
  • A parent will be notified that the device was confiscated.
  • The student will be required to surrender their device daily for one week.
  • Students unwilling or unable to follow the check-in procedure will be prohibited from bringing devices on campus.

Emergency Communications (where a student needs to talk with a parent or other family member), the student is to come to the Office or Wellness Center to request to make a phone call from a school phone. Please make sure to answer calls from the school number for this reason. Students should not make or answer calls without permission.  Family members who need to communicate with a student should call the office.  We ask family members not to call students directly (on their cell phones) during the school day, as this disrupts the educational environment and will result in the student’s phone being confiscated.

no electronic devices are allowed

Horse Play is rough play in which people push and hit each other, or behave in a silly way. Other terms for horse play include rough housing, tumble, clowning around, romping, fooling around.

We have had numerous unfortunate incidents at Pinole Middle School. 

Many students have been horse playing in the hallways. This has led to fights.

Children are playing until one of the participants decides it is serious.  

Moving forward, any student caught horse playing will receive a consequence.  With each infraction, the severity of the consequence will increase.

Please discuss with your scholars the importance of following the rules, and also cursing will not be tolerated.