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How may students use smartphones at Overlake?

Learn more about Overlake's Personal Device guidelines that govern student's usage of cell phones, ear buds, smart watches, and more.

Super Administrator

Written By Jay Heath (Super Administrator)

Updated at September 3rd, 2024

Personal Device Guidelines

Introduction

Since the first iPhone in 2007, personal devices have transformed our lives, offering unprecedented power, connectivity, and access. These benefits also bring challenges, including social isolation, distraction, and addiction. Nearly two decades later, research and data, including the Surgeon General’s 2023 report on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, clarify that schools like Overlake must do more to help students develop the skills necessary to manage personal devices, including the apps and services they enable like social media, for long-term success and overall well-being. We also know from tools like our High Achieving Schools Survey that an increasing number of students are experiencing negative impacts on their mental health due to social media.

In the winter of 2024, Overlake launched a new definition for Well-Being as part of our Strategic Plan. This definition has helped the school think through more comprehensive guidance for how students should use smartphones and personal devices. Through these updated practices, Overlake reaffirms its commitment to providing a supportive and enriching educational environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our goal is not to reject modern technology but to create time and space for students to focus on their education while teaching them self-regulation and management skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Overlake's revised personal device practices are based on research and expert recommendations to promote student well-being, social interaction, and academic success:

  • Enhancing Academic Focus: Limiting device use during school hours reduces distractions and improves concentration, optimizing learning outcomes.
  • Promoting Social, Emotional, and Physical Development: Encouraging face-to-face interactions helps students develop interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, essential for personal growth and future success. Living our definition of well-being requires recognizing both the benefits and harms that devices bring.
  • Addressing Mental Health Concerns: In line with the Surgeon General's findings, our policy aims to mitigate social media's negative effects on youth mental health by promoting healthy digital habits and self-regulation.
  • Preparing for Responsible Citizenship: By teaching responsible technology use, we equip students with the skills to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and contribute positively to society.

Terminology

Terms like "cell phones," "mobile phones," and "smartphones" are used interchangeably and refer to internet-connected, handheld, personal computers. These primarily include devices like Android phones by Samsung, Google, HTC, etc., as well as Apple iPhones. Such devices are characterized by large screens, installable apps, and ubiquitous internet connectivity through Wi-Fi and/or cellular networks. Our practice starts with smartphones, which are most people's most-used computers, and will be extended to other wearable devices like AirPods and smart watches if students cannot use these devices responsibly.

Our Guidelines

At Overlake, we prioritize our students' academic success, social development, and well-being. Our personal device policy reflects these values and integrates recommendations from the Surgeon General's advisory on the effects of social media on youth mental health. Key components include:

  1. Personal Device Usage Guidelines
    • Middle School: Middle school students may not use their personal devices during the school day. Research shows that the developing adolescent brain is typically incapable of managing the complexities of smartphones and social networks. Students who struggle with smartwatches or other wearable devices should consider storing them with their phones during the school day.
      • Grades 5-6: Personal devices must be stored in cubbies as assigned in the 5/6 Building. Access is restricted during school hours to minimize distractions and promote focused learning.
      • Grades 7-8: 7th and 8th grade students will use Yondr pouches to create a phone-free environment during the school day. This approach supports a focused learning environment and encourages face-to-face interactions among peers.
    • High School (Grades 9-12): Personal devices should be used discreetly during non-instructional times. Teachers must approve educational use to ensure alignment with academic goals. School overnights such as any Experiential Education trips will be device-free. 
  2. Educational Use
    • Teachers may integrate personal devices into lessons when appropriate, fostering digital literacy and responsible use of technology.
  3. Social Media Awareness and Mental Health
    • As highlighted in the Surgeon General's advisory, students will receive education on the potential impacts of excessive social media use on mental health. This includes strategies for managing screen time and promoting positive online behaviors.
  4. Parent/Guardian Partnership
    • We encourage parents/guardians to reinforce the school's policy at home, discussing the importance of balanced technology use and supporting academic engagement during school hours.

With these updates, Overlake will take a more proactive approach to student well-being, integrating insights from the Surgeon General's advisory to address contemporary challenges in youth digital and social media usage. For more details about our personal device policy and its implementation, please visit overlake.org or contact our school administration.

Who should I contact with questions?

This initiative has been a collaboration between the following program leaders at Overlake. Please feel free to contact any of the following folks:

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What about when I must reach my student during the school day?
A: So that parents and guardians are not part of the distraction during class that we are trying to address, we strongly encourage parents to take the following steps to stay in contact with their students.

  • Build the habit of giving your student the information they need at the start of the school day, and send your student a message that they will receive when they access their phone at the end of the school day.
  • Students can ask a teacher or visit a designated unlocking point around campus to quickly access their phone and be in contact if needed.
  • If a parent or guardian urgently needs to be in contact with a student in the event of an emergency, please contact the front office at 425.868.1000 and the message will be relayed to the student.

Q: When will pouches be distributed?
A: We aim to distribute the Yondr pouches to 7th and 8th grade students during our first Wellness assembly on Tuesday, Sept. 3. For students in grades 7 and 8, we will provide the pouches with the expectation that they will manage this responsibility independently throughout the school day.

Q: What if a student arrives at school late or leaves early?
A: Students should put their devices away when they arrive on campus. Students leaving early can visit a designated unlock point on campus to unlock their devices before leaving for the day.

Q: Where will the unlocking stations be located around campus?
A: There will be multiple unlocking stations around campus in the Campus Center, Front Office, Athletics, bus arrival/departure area, etc. Students will be made aware of all locations when the pouches are distributed.

Q: What about students who need their device for medical purposes such as blood glucose monitoring or another accommodation?
A: We are committed to an equitable community and will have Velcro pouches for students who need them to ensure they can use their devices to support themselves as required.

Q: What if a student loses their pouch?
A: A limited number of replacement pouches will be available. For repeat losses, student accounts will be charged $35 per pouch.

Q: What about lunch? Study Hall?
A: The practice of not using devices during the school day also applies to lunch and Study Hall, where we hope students will find opportunities to eat without screens, socialize, and work with their peers.

Q: What about wireless earbuds?
A: In the past five years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the use of wireless earbuds, with students wearing them during classes, passing periods, and more. Wireless earbuds are acceptable during independent study time but should not be worn in class. Students should feel free to keep their wireless earbuds or other wearable devices in their Yondr pouches or backpacks.

Q: What about smartwatches?
A: Wearable technology can be a great way to get quick information without getting lost in a rabbit hole of apps or social media. Smartwatches are fine unless they become a distraction, as determined by a teacher, coach, advisor, or other school employee. At that point, students will be asked to place their watches in their pouch with their smartphones.

Q: Why isn’t the High School using Yondr pouches?
A: We hope to learn from our program in 7th and 8th grades throughout the year to make informed decisions about the rest of the school.

Q: What about the benefits of using smartphones for students, especially for those who already feel isolated?
A: We understand that social media can be a lifeline for marginalized or underrepresented students. We encourage students to speak with trusted adults and peers on campus to unpack feelings of loneliness and isolation. Unlocking stations will be available around campus, specifically in our student support offices in the Library, to ensure students have a space to access social media to support their mental health and well-being.

Q: Can my student use their Yondr pouch outside school?
A: Students may find that their Yondr pouch adds a bit of friction to using their device, and they want to keep that same friction outside of school as well. They are welcome to use it whenever they like. Note that they will not be able to unlock it again until they come to school next. They may also find that turning the device off, turning on airplane mode, or using device restrictions like limiting certain apps to a certain number of minutes per day supports their goals of using devices less.

Q: What happens if students take out their device when they are supposed to have it away or in their Yondr pouch?
A: If a student takes out their personal device when it is supposed to be away or stored in their Yondr pouch, the consequences will align with Overlake's existing disciplinary guidelines. The school's approach to discipline emphasizes restorative practices, aiming to foster a community of respect and responsibility.

The first step involves a conversation between the student and a professional educator to understand the situation and reinforce the importance of the policy. Repeated violations could result in more formal disciplinary measures, such as temporary confiscation of the device, meetings with parents or guardians, or other consequences designed to help the student reflect on their behavior and make better choices in the future.

The overarching goal is to ensure that students understand the impact of their actions on their own learning and the learning environment of others, and to guide them towards more responsible use of technology

Q: Does this apply just to the school day, or also to Project Week, Retreats, Athletics, or other school programs?
A: Yes, this policy applies to the regular school day and extends to all school-related programs, including Project Week and Retreats. These programs are considered extensions of our educational environment, and the exact expectations for responsible use of personal devices are in place. This ensures a consistent approach to fostering focused, engaged, and respectful learning spaces across all aspects of school life. The use of personal devices during Athletics will be at the discretion of the Athletics Department.

Q: What can parents, guardians, and families do to improve their use of personal devices and engage in the same skill-building process as students?
A: We’re so glad you asked! There is a growing body of research about how families can participate in this work together and how parents and guardians can model the types of skills we wish to see in our students. Below are a few more resources you may enjoy to build better skills for yourself and continue to engage in these conversations and learning at home.

News, References, and Research

US Surgeon General’s Social Media and Youth Mental Health

“Bans help low-achieving students the most”

“Lower levels of anxiety when smartphones not present”

“Smartphones should be used in school only when they clearly support learning”

“When I was a kid, my elementary school banned slap bracelets because they were too distracting. Why couldn’t we do the same for smartphones?”

 “When students are addicted to their phones, who is to blame?”

“…social media is, in fact, a major cause of declining adolescent mental health”

Phone Free Resources and Advocacy

 

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