Dear Students and Families,
We hope you are well and experiencing the joys of summer. Here in Andover, we are savoring sunshine, longer days, and a more relaxed pace of life. At the same time, we are planning for the upcoming academic year. We write today to share important information about a cell phone policy that will go into effect in September.
We approached the question of cell phone regulation with curiosity, care, and the goal to create a safer, friendlier, and more socially connected community. We formed a task force composed almost equally of campus adults and students. Students came from all grades and were a mix of boarding and day students. This group researched literature and data, other schools’ policies, and our own current practices. We then drafted a policy, which has now been approved by school leadership to go into effect this fall.
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Cell Phone Use: What You Need to Know
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From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Wednesday) student cell phones should be silenced and out of sight.
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Students may use their phones to call for help in case of medical or safety emergencies.
- If students need to make any other type of call during the school day, they may access their phones in their dorm room, the GW mailroom/locker area, or Susie’s.
- With permission from a faculty or staff member, students may use their phones for 2-factor authentication.
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Students may listen to music with ear buds/headphones while studying or working out, but their phones should not be visible.
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From 3 p.m. (or 1 p.m. on Wednesday) until 8 p.m. on school days, and all day on Saturday and Sunday, students may access their phones in most spaces, with the following exceptions:
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- Students may not access phones during school commitments (athletics, rehearsals, community engagement, speakers, etc.) unless given permission by a faculty or staff member.
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We have a “heads up” campus, meaning that students should make eye contact with, and say hello to, people passing by. Students may not look at their phones while “on the move.” If they need to check their phone while walking from place to place, they need to stop and step aside.
- Students may never access their phones in the Garver Room in the library, in line for food in Paresky Commons, or in restrooms or locker rooms.
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After 8 p.m. on evenings before days with classes, students may not access their phones in a supervised place of study or in dormitory common rooms.
By 11 p.m. on evenings before days with classes, all 9th and 10th graders must place their phones in a charging station outside of their room. Students may access their phones at 6 a.m.
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We recognize that change is difficult, and we’re prepared to encourage, support, and celebrate our community in taking these steps to be more present and engaged with each other.
We will also respond, as needed, if a student has their phone out during prohibited hours or in phone-free spaces. An adult will take the phone and bring it to the Dean of Students Office, where the student can pick it up at 3 p.m. If this happens repeatedly, the deans may determine additional consequences are appropriate.
Access our Cell Phone Usage FAQ for more information.
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Context, Research, And Expert Tips
In the past year you have likely seen news articles about schools limiting smartphone use. (See “Majority of US states now have laws banning or regulating cell phones in schools, with more to follow”). Most of our peer schools already have policies that limit cell phone usage. There are compelling reasons for this effort to shift behavior. Research suggests that cell phones impact our presence, engagement, focus, and sleep. We are increasingly more distracted and socially disconnected.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth stated in her May commencement address at Bates College: “Where you physically place your phone matters. It might be one of the most consequential decisions you make.” She encouraged the graduates to:
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Put your phone in another room when you need to focus.
- Change your sky-to-screen ratio (spend more time outdoors and less time looking at a screen).
- Try phone-free dinners.
- Keep your phone out of reach while driving.
- Leave your phone outside your bedroom at night.
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As educators, we think all the time about what constitutes a safe and healthy environment, and we believe that learning to regulate time spent on cell phones and other screens is an essential skill for teenagers to develop.
We’re Here to Help
Campus adults are here to support students and families as we transition to this new way of being together. We will provide an online tutorial for students who need assistance setting up their phones so that emergency alerts can bypass Do-Not-Disturb mode. If families need to reach students urgently, they can call the Dean of Students Office at 978-749-4175 or Campus Safety at 978-749-4444. Students who require a disability-related accommodation may email Student Accessibility Services with any questions.
People come to Andover for all that our community offers. In a world of distractions, we want to do all we can to encourage students to be present, form lasting relationships, and make the most of their Andover experiences. Researcher and author Brené Brown wrote:
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To stay genuinely connected in this disconnected world is not something we can do halfheartedly.
To practice courage, compassion, and connection is to look at life and the people around us, and say, “I’m all in.”
| Now is the time for us to prioritize genuine connection, to look at life and the people around us and say, “ALL IN, ANDOVER!”
With gratitude for your time and best wishes for the final weeks of summer,
Susan Tsao Esty, PhD, P’22
Dean of Students and Residential Life
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