Cell Phone Resources

List of 10 frequently asked questions.

• What should a student do if they need to make a phone call?

  If a student needs to call home, they should go to the Administrative Assistant in their division to make a call. 

• I am concerned about safety in an emergency situation on campus. What if a student is outside of class during an emergency?

  When there are emergency situations on campus, we communicate through sirens and announcements played on speakers throughout campus. We have not relied upon student cell phones to communicate in the past. The school will communicate with parents and guardians in emergency situations through  phone, text, and email via our mass notifications system.

• What if an emergency occurs and 911 needs to be called, and my child does not have a phone?

   

  The protocol is for 911 to be called by an adult member in the community using the school’s landline phone.

  In case of emergency, students should find the nearest faculty or staff member on campus. That adult will contact the appropriate person.

• What if my child has a medical condition that is monitored using their phone or smartwatch?

  Students who depend upon their phones for a medical condition are allowed to use their phones and smartwatches during the day. Parents and Guardians should contact Wellness Coordinator Happy Salinas-Santos to set up a meeting so that the school is aware of their child’s medical needs

• My child and I use their phone to check in with each other during the day. How can we do this if they do not have their cell phone?

  Generally speaking, we encourage parents not to communicate with students during the school day so that students can remain engaged with their classes and community. However, if a parent needs to communicate with their child during the school day, they should contact the Administrative Assistant for their division, and they can coordinate a message to be delivered. Parents can also email their child and ask them to call home from the Administrative Assistant’s office.

• What if I need to pick my child up from school early?

  Parents should contact the Administrative Assistant for their division to inform us that you’ll be picking up your child early. If a student is not aware of it already, school personnel will inform the student.

• My child uses their phone to access their schedule, how will they be able to do this?

  In the Middle and Upper School, students will be given customized planners that reflect the school schedule for every school day during the year. Teachers and advisors will work with students on making sure that they are using the planners to help keep track of their schedules so they know where they need to be and what work they need to do for their classes.

• What are the consequences if my child has their phone during the day/ did not turn it in?

  If a Bush faculty or staff member sees a student with a cell phone on them, they will ask the student to put the phone away either in their backpack or locker. If this happens a second time, students will be asked to turn in their phone, and they can retrieve them at the end of the school day. If it continues to happen, there will be a parent meeting and further disciplinary consequences.

• Are there any situations where students would be allowed to use their cell phones during the school day?

  There may be some instances where a teacher explicitly asks students to use cell phones for educational purposes in the classroom. In those cases, students may do so for that class period only.

• How are teachers and staff in the community modeling this behavior? 

  Faculty and staff are allowed to use their cell phones as they frequently need them during the course of their work day. For example, communicating with Administrative Assistants about attendance or contacting a colleague if assistance is needed. However, we are encouraging faculty and staff to minimize their use of cell phones when possible in order to be more present to the students and community around them.