Claren Academy’s vision is to send our students into the world as creative, kind, self-reliant individuals, with the skills and motivation to thrive, help, and be happy in their changing future. One of our founding principles is to teach our students to use technology in a mindful, safe, and creative way as opposed to merely consuming media or being overwhelmed. The rapid rate of technological advancement and availability of cell phones and other mobile devices has made this priority even more important, and nuanced. 

With that, Claren is at the forefront of preparing our students to be technologically adaptive and to use their digital skills in creative and socially conscious ways. We partner with parents to foster these values, and give our teachers and staff members the structure to keep our students safe and focused. Claren ensures that access to technology in order to learn and be creative is equitable by giving students iPads and Chromebooks during instructional time. The teachers use their professional discretion to determine the appropriateness of using technology during the day in order to enhance learning rather than distract from it. 

In order to ensure that technology is used in a responsible way that enhances rather than detracts from learning, Claren has adopted the following Mobile Device Use policy: 

1. Claren Academy is committed to developing and expecting a high standard of digital citizenship from all students. In the BC Curriculum, to be a good digital citizen is to “understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behaviour.”

2. Claren Academy students may bring a personal mobile device, such as a phone or smartwatch  to school with the parents’ permission. The devices are not to be used until dismissal from school or extracurricular activities. 

3. Mobile devices must be silent and kept in lockers (older students) or cubbies/backpacks during instructional time, unless a student is given permission by a staff member to temporarily use the device. Smart watches  can be worn by students, but only used for telling time. If smart watches are being used for other purposes, the student will be asked to put the smart watch  in a locker or cubby. If this is a persistent problem, the student will be asked not to bring the smart watch to school.

4. At their discretion, Claren Academy staff members may allow personal device usage during instructional time. In these instances devices will be used only for the prescribed learning purposes

5. Mobile devices may not be brought to outside spaces such as the park, gym, assemblies, outdoor adventures, etc. unless explicitly requested by staff members.

6. To ensure the safety of all children and clarity of information, all parent communication regarding changes in attendance, pick up, drop offs, illnesses, absences, etc. will be communicated directly to Claren staff through the regular channels of either email or Toddle. Students will not pass messages between parents and staff members via their mobile devices.

7. Claren Academy appreciates parents as partners in our shared goals of fostering responsible and effective use of mobile devices. As requested, we will continue to offer parent education sessions on the effects of technology use, and strategies for building and modeling healthy systems and habits.

It is important that the Claren Academy community embrace the rights and responsibilities related to the use of mobile devices; therefore, consequences for poor digital citizenship choices or abuse of the mobile device use policy will be enforced by school staff and administration as follows: 

Any unauthorized use of a mobile device (including, but not limited to: harassment, bullying, or unauthorized photography or video recording) will result in immediate consequences from the administration. These consequences may include, but are not limited to: the confiscation of the device, restrictions on student use of the Claren WiFi and computer network, immediate  communication with parents, in-school suspension, or out-of-school suspension.

School staff will review this policy regularly, and alterations may be made at any time. It is our sincere desire at Claren Academy to be responsive to the digital realities of our world while growing in digital citizenship as a learning community.