Due to the lack of students’ attention during class periods, Watertown High School has established a new cell phone policy that is meant to approve students’ focus and grades. Students cannot have access to their cellular devices (phones, apple watches, airpods/earbuds, etc.) during instructional classes that are a requirement for graduation. Mr. Perugini, the Principal of WHS, expresses that being on devices during classes increases anxieties in students, causing the students to get easily distracted and take focus away from their work. Mr. Perugini explained the policy during an assembly at the beginning of September to all students of WHS. When he “saw the looks on the students’ faces” he knew it was going to work.

As a parent, Mr. Perugini understands parental concerns about locking away cellular devices. Parents have shown concern towards their children being unable to use their devices to contact them in class, but with the WHS policy, it allows students to text their parents immediately after class during passing time, in study halls, and in lunches. Other Connecticut high schools, such as Naugatuck uses “Yondr Pouches” that seal students’ phones away entirely for the whole school day. Parents have shown concern towards their children being unable to use their devices to contact them in class, but with the WHS policy, it allows students to text their parents immediately after class during passing time, in study halls, and in lunches. Mr. Perugini believes that this policy will last, as he’s seen a tremendous difference in the students academically and socially from last year. Mr. Perugini stated that if the write ups get worse during the year, he may have to resort to the use of the “Yondr Pouches,”  but that is the very last resort for this issue!