New Cell Phone Policy Approved

							Volume 6-6, February, 2009




        BoardNews
                                                                                                A news update from the
                                                                                                  Board of Education,
                                                                                                  School District No.5
                                                                                                 (Southeast Kootenay)




 February Board Meeting
                                            New Cell Phone Policy Approved
 The February Board meeting was held
 at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, February 10 at      As the technological world advances rapidly around us, it is important that the
 the Board Office in Cranbrook.             School District’s policies keep pace. After considerable consultation with
                                            partner groups, including the District Student Advisory Council (DSAC), the
 School Growth Plans                        Board approved a revised policy regarding the use of cell phones and other
                                            digital devices in schools. The intent of the new policy is to teach responsible
 Principals Steve Rogers of Steeples        digital citizenship and to allow the appropriate use of technology by all
 Elementary and Wendy Hogg of               members of the school community.
 Pinewood Elementary presented their
 respective School Growth Plans to the      Students may carry cell phones or other digital devices and may use them as
 Board. Trustees were impressed with        follows:
 the strides the schools are taking
 toward achieving their numeracy and
                                            1. Cell phones and other digital devices may be used during non-instructional
 social responsibility goals.
                                               times only. During instructional time, all such devices are to be turned off
                                               and kept out of sight.
 FSA Letter                                 2. Cell phones and other digital devices may not be used in change rooms or
 The Board will send a letter                  washrooms at any time.
 encouraging the Ministry of Education      3. The in-class use of digital devices other than cell phones will be at the
 to consider not making FSA results            discretion of the teacher.
 available to outside organizations that
 might use the results to rank schools in
 the province.
                                            GREAT Conferences
 Draft School Calendar                      Studies show that many students struggle through the transitions from level to
 A draft of the calendar for the            level in our school system. A particularly difficult time for girls is the
 2009/2010 school year is posted on the     transition from middle to secondary school (Grade 9 to 10). In fact, this
 website and interested parties are         transition can be so traumatic that achievement levels can drop and some girls
 invited to make comments.                  may end up dropping out of school. Tom Piros, Social Responsibility
                                            Coordinator, has organized GREAT (Girls Reaching for Esteem And Trust)
 Sustainable Schools                        conferences to be held on May 15 and 22. Grade 9 girls will hear
 Forum                                      presentations and participate in discussions about self-esteem and body image,
                                            relational aggression, dating safety, positive relationships, sexual health and
 This webcast, sponsored by the             drug and alcohol prevention.
 Provincial Government through the
 BC Education Leadership Council,
 was held in the Board Office last
 Monday. The forum was a strong
 reminder that all Boards of Education
 must be “carbon neutral” by 2010. The
 School District will be taking a
 leadership role in supporting
 environmental initiatives and is in the
 process of preparing a carbon neutral
 action report.