Elizabeth Public Schools Offers Tips to Help Students Adjust to Bell-to-Bell Device-Free School Days

Elizabeth Public Schools is preparing students for a new bell-to-bell cell phone and personal electronic device policy. District officials are encouraging parents to help their children prepare for the transition. For middle and high school students accustomed to having their phones readily available throughout the school day, going without their devices from the beginning to the end of the school day may take some adjustment.

Elizabeth Public Schools recommends several strategies to help families support this transition. Parents should consider building screen-free stamina by introducing short, device-free periods at home, such as during study sessions or family time, and gradually increasing these periods. The district also suggests framing the change as an opportunity for students to take a break from social media pressures, constant notifications, and other digital distractions during the school day.

Parents should reassure students that urgent communications can still be directed through the school's Main Office, providing an alternative when immediate contact is necessary. The district encourages students to bring a book, journal, or sketchbook to occupy their free time and participate in student activities, clubs, sports, and other opportunities to build face-to-face relationships and strengthen connections with classmates and the school community.

The new policy is part of Elizabeth Public Schools' broader effort to establish a bell-to-bell device-free environment during the school day. Parents and guardians can find more information about the Cell Phone/Personal Electronic Devices Policy and other back-to-school resources on the Elizabeth Public Schools website at www.epsnj.org.

This article was produced with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy against official sources.

Produced with AI assistance and reviewed against source records.