Siena Blog

It's lunch time. All around the school, groups of high schoolers sit, lunch bags scattered about, chatting and making jokes. A gaggle of seniors sit at a picnic table by the carpool line, half on the benches, half on the table itself, their raucous laughter loud enough to hear inside. A group of juniors sit on the steps outside the building, food laid out and music playing from a laptop. In the gym, students from all grades shout and shoot baskets, sneaking sips of water and bites of lunches in between plays. 

Meanwhile, in the school’s common area, a hodgepodge collection of high schoolers from various grades crowd around a table with a couple of teachers, a hilariously intense game of Taboo under way. 

"Potato!" a high schooler shouts.

Ordinarily, this might seem a bit unusual, but this school year is different.

What brought about this wholesome series of images? Yondrs.

New High School Cell Phone Policy

This year, The Siena School launched a new cell phone usage policy that extended our existing policy for middle school up to the high school. 
Students in grades 9 through 11 are now required to Yondr their cell phones and other smart devices (Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, etc.) from 8:30am to 3:10pm. Seniors are exempt from this policy as they work to self-monitor their tech usage in preparation for college and beyond.

As Head of School Katie Douglas shared in a communication to families at the start of the school year, "As there is not yet enough research to inform the impact of cell phone and social media access for young people at a crucial stage in their development, we are going to take a more proactive approach in our school policy."

The new cell phone policy has already made a noticeable difference this year.

Students and the New Cell Phone Policy

Unsurprisingly, this change was initially met with many complaints. Students objected to this separation from media they were accustomed to consuming during breaks. They insisted that leaving the phone in their pocket was sufficient. On the more serious side, they worried over their ability to contact family and friends in the event of an emergency.

Advisors, faculty, staff, and administrators provided reassurance and alternatives. Students can socialize face-to-face during breaks. They can still participate in TikTok dances; they simply can't record or scroll through TikTok itself during the school day. Regular daily contact with family can be handled through the Front Office, so students can reach their families when needed.    

We're about a month into the school year now, and the vast majority of concerns have subsided. That said, not everyone is convinced.

"There are some days where I really need my phone during 8th period," one student shares. "I pick up my siblings and I have to coordinate times."

Another student nods: "I've always used my phone for reminders," he says. "Setting reminders on my computer is not the same."

Some students are noticing the culture shift, though, especially during study halls and lunch. Several students have gone outside to the playground during lunch for some fresh air and activity.

"Before, I would be on social media [during study hall]," “Not having my phone [...] has allowed me to finish my homework before I go home.”

And, for this 11th grader, waiting in the hallway for class to start: "I don't even bring my phone to school. It feels better."

Moreover, several Siena teachers and staff members have noticed students being more present when interacting. “They’re actually talking to each other and engaging in conversations,” said a high school teacher. “It’s refreshing to see.”

Research on Cell Phone and Social Media Use in Teens

Although the lasting effects of social media and frequent cell phone use on teens is ongoing, some recent research suggests benefits of such limits, for example:

• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (May 2023), Surgeon General Issues New Advisory About Effects Social Media Use Has on Youth Mental Health
• Washington Post (August 2024), Cellphone Bans Spread in Schools Amid Growing Mental Health Worries
• New York Times (August 2024), Why Schools Are Racing to Ban Student Phones
• MoCo 360 (August 2024), Cell-Phone Restriction Pilot Program, Mandatory IDs Among New MCPS Safety Measures

Siena Blog and Resources

Want to know more about lunch games? Here's a list of the ones offered during High School lunch:

• Taboo
• Anomia
• Linkee
• Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
• One Night Ultimate Werewolf

For additional relevant information from The Siena School blog, see our Parents and Community category, as well as previous posts about Mental Health Awareness for teens and the benefits of early intervention for LD students.

The Siena School, a national leader in dyslexia education, serves bright, college-bound students with language-based learning differences on campuses in Silver Spring, MD (grades 3-4 and 5-12) and Oakton, VA (grades 3-12).