Updated Greenbrier Cellphone Policy 2025-26
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In the Spring, the Ontario Government released a new policy addressing cellphones and social media in schools. Backed by research and putting children’s learning at the forefront while at school, some changes have been made to our cellphone policy.
Continuing this September, our school is committed to minimizing distractions during the day so students can focus on learning and socializing face-to-face with their peers. As a team at Greenbrier, we have decided to implement the policy in the following way:
We understand this will be a change, and we appreciate your support at home as we transition to a distraction free learning day for our students. To have full transparency, please note the following steps that will be taken for progressive discipline, should that become necessary.
** Please note that if a student reaches step three in our progressive discipline plan, they will lose the privilege to have their phone in their possession during the school day (bell-to-bell) and if the phone is brought to school, it will remain locked in the office for the entirety of the school day for the remainder of the school year.
As a team, we are trying to balance the concept of using cellphones as learning tools and devices, while understanding the extreme disruption and hardship that can go along with them. With that said, we are hoping that our policy will allow students to learn to cope without their phones more often, focus on learning and appropriate socialization with peers, and allow students the opportunity to check in on their devices during smaller increments in the school day.
We know this will be a change for all, so please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like any further clarification. We would appreciate it if families could share this new information prior to the first day of school so your children have time to adjust to the new policy. Students in grades 4-8 will take part in an information session on the first day of school to learn more about the policy as well.
Thank you for your support in our quest to provide the best learning environment we possibly can for your children.