Good Evening Everyone,

Since the beginning of the school year, we have engaged students in dialogue around healthy habits as it relates to regulating their use of cell phones. Currently our school's cell phone policy does not allow students to access and use cell phones during instructional time. Students are allowed to use cell phones during passing time and lunch.

CELL PHONE DIALOGUE

Understanding the local and national conversation around teens and the use of cell phones at school, a small group of high school students, teachers, and parents (K-12) have come together to help plan a community dialogue around this topic.

Please consider this memo an invitation for you to participate and check out our attached flyer. So that our team can plan accordingly, please register to participate using this registration link by May 9th. Please note the intent of the dialogue forum is not to debate or take sides on the cell phone in school issue, but rather to allow participants to engage in meaningful conversations by sharing their experiences, listening to others, and thinking critically about the role technology plays in our learning environment. Information collected through the dialogue will be used to inform our next steps with Newburyport High School’s cell phone policy.

• Dialogue Date: May 13
• Dialogue Time: 5:30 - 7:00
• Dialogue Location: NHS

WHY WE VALUE AND TEACH DIALOGUE AT NHS

As we continue working to create a supportive and enriching environment for our students, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of open dialogue when it comes to making decisions that affect the school experience for all stakeholders.

The ability to have respectful, thoughtful conversations is an important skill more valuable than ever, and we believe this begins with modeling and practicing dialogue in a supportive learning environment. Teaching dialogue goes beyond simply learning how to speak and listen—it helps students appreciate different perspectives, express their own ideas without judgement, and work through disagreements in a constructive way. These are essential life skills that support both learning and relationships, in school and beyond. Additionally, when students learn to engage in dialogue, they develop empathy, confidence, and the ability to collaborate effectively.

Thank you to our Newburyport community members, Kristen Vicente, Sarah Hall, and Kate Suchecki; our staff, Kristen Prusinski, Eric Schildge and Lynne Cote; and our students, Caroline Jones, David Pearce, Lucy Rimer, Isla Trail and Tommy Rich. . . . for serving on the dialogue planning team. This has been important work they have taken on.

Again, please sign up to participate using this link by May 9th.

Sincerely,

Andy Wulf

Understanding the local and national conversation around teens and the use of cell phones at school, a small group of high school students, teachers, and parents (K-12) have come together to help plan a community dialogue around this topic.

Please consider this memo an invitation for you to participate and check out our attached flyer. So that our team can plan accordingly, please register to participate using this registration link.

Note the intent of the dialogue forum is not to debate or take sides on the cell phone in school issue, but rather to allow participants to engage in meaningful conversations by sharing their experiences, listening to others, and thinking critically about the role technology plays in our learning environment. Information collected through the dialogue will be used to inform our next steps with Newburyport High School’s cell phone policy.

Dialogue Date: May 13

Dialogue Time: 5:30 - 7:00

Dialogue Location:NHS

As we continue working to create a supportive and enriching environment for our students, I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of open dialogue when it comes to making decisions that affect the school experience for all stakeholders.

The ability to have respectful, thoughtful conversations is an important skill more valuable than ever, and we believe this begins with modeling and practicing dialogue in a supportive learning environment. Teaching dialogue goes beyond simply learning how to speak and listen—it helps students appreciate different perspectives, express their own ideas without judgement, and work through disagreements in a constructive way. These are essential life skills that support both learning and relationships, in school and beyond. Additionally, when students learn to engage in dialogue, they develop empathy, confidence, and the ability to collaborate effectively.

Thank you to our Newburyport community members, Kristen Vicente, Sarah Hall, and Kate Suchecki; our staff, Kristen Prusinski, Eric Schildge and Lynne Cote; and our students, Caroline Jones, David Pearce, Lucy Rimer, Isla Trail and Tommy Lynch. . . . for serving on the dialogue planning team. This has been important work they have taken on.

Again, please sign up to participate using this link.

Sincerely,

Andy Wulf