In an effort to keep the campus safer and promote academic focus and reduce distractions, NHIS has implemented a new cell phone policy that prohibits students from using their cell phones throughout the school day, with limited exceptions.
Students are not allowed to go on their phones throughout the day except during lunch and passing time. Students may be allowed to use their cell phones during class time if it is being used as a direct instruction device as directed by the teacher.
Assistant Principal David Kaniaupio said, “The safety aspect is what we notice is students use cell phones to meet at the bathroom, students use cell phones to take inappropriate pictures, students use cell phones to bully other people, students use cell phones to spread drama instantly.”
If phones are taken out during class time an Assistant Principal will be notified to collect the cell phone immediately. Parents and/or guardians must contact the grade-level Assistant Principal to schedule an appointment for the retrieval of the device after school.
Students may request to use the classroom phone, see the counselor to use the phone, or use the phone in the main office to communicate with a family member for urgent situations or emergencies.
There are different safety issues addressed by the new cell phone policy.
“Take all those distractions away, hopefully make it safer. Control the speed at which information can move on campus so that as the leadership team and other teachers and everybody else we can address those things in real time,” said Kaniaupio.
Eighth Grader Liana Kekawa shared her perspective on the new cell phone policy, stating, “I’m actually okay with it because most of the stuff about it is true and it does cause a lot of drama. So they have a good reason to make us put it away.”
Physical Education Teacher Sandy Suzuki expressed her support for the new cell phone policy, explaining, “I’m for it. We implemented that in summer school. We told the kids, if we even see it out, you’re getting a zero for the day.”
