Cellphones and Vaping in Schools
Dear Families,
On Sunday, April 28, the Ministry of Education announced its plan to reduce distractions in classrooms and improve the health of children. This strategy involves the implementation of provincewide measures and mandatory learning to address cellphones and vaping in schools.
With these changes taking effect in September 2024, a staff team with representatives from various roles, departments and schools has already started working on strategies for HWDSB. This planning will involve consultation with various groups, including students, staff, families, union partners and the community. Once finalized, any related updates to policies and procedures will be clearly communicated to all families before the start of the 2024-25 school year.
These changes are part of Ontario’s “back-to-basics” plan. At HWDSB, we welcome this announcement in support of our Board Improvement Plan.
Improvements in literacy, numeracy, preparedness, well-being and engagement are the foundation of this plan. If we want to see improvements for every student, change must take place. While improvement does not begin or end with distractions in classrooms, it is a worthy starting point.
Families can find measures similar to the new provincial stance in our current Responsible Use of Digital Technology, Code of Conduct and Progressive Discipline and Promoting Positive Student Behaviour procedures. As mentioned earlier, we expect changes to these procedures ahead of September 2024.
In addition to the Board Improvement Plan, this Ministry announcement has also led me to reflect on one of the five pillars in our new Multi-Year Strategic Plan: Collaborating with Students, Families & Communities. If we want to build relationships that enhance engagement for students, families and communities, it begins in moments like this one.
In a letter to Ontario parents, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce wrote:
“No matter how strong the policy is, we can’t do this alone. To truly change behaviour, we are asking for your support and collaboration to hold conversations at home about the new expectations and the importance of respecting school staff and the rules as we head into September. Change will come when we all work together and stand by teachers, principals, and education workers as they implement these new measures.”
Public education is a partnership that begins with you, the families of HWDSB. When you send your children to school, we, as educators and service providers, do our very best to uphold that meaningful partnership. As we develop plans to address distractions, we look forward to collaborating with students, families and communities. Any improvements are impossible without your support and enthusiasm.
Thank you for dedication to your children and public education as we prepare to usher in changes that limit distractions in classrooms. I look forward to sharing another update with HWDSB families when plans to address cellphones and vaping in schools begin to take shape.
Sheryl Robinson Petrazzini
HWDSB Director of Education
Updated on Friday, May 03, 2024.