August 21, 2024
Dear AMS Families,
As we are preparing for the start of the school year next week, we wanted to call your attention to and seek your cooperation with a very important matter related to your students’ success at Abington Middle School. As has been the case with many school systems and districts recently, we have also had a growing concern about the negative impact and pervasive use of cell phones and other electronic devices during and beyond the school day for our developing adolescents. At AMS, we often find our students distracted by games and social media alerts at best, and at worst using cellphones and social media in a highly disruptive manner.
To that end, in accordance with our student handbook, Abington Middle School will be limiting student cell phone use during the school day. We want our students to experience and appreciate the benefit of having their sustained and undivided attention to the important academic work and growth that happens in our classrooms. Students also admit to us that they would like a break from their phones as well, acknowledging that they feel better and are more focused when they do not have the constant distraction from their phones.
Next week, students will experience a consistent expectation building wide that phones are placed in a bin in the front of the room, off and away in their backpack, or even better, left at home when they come to school. To our parents and families, we are seeking and relying on your support to emphasize the importance of shutting off devices and focusing during class. With community wide adult solidarity, we can improve the teaching and learning experience for our students, provide opportunities for important development and growth, and improve their long-term mental health with genuine social connections.
As always, we welcome dialogue with parents and the community about how we can best achieve our mutual interests on behalf of our students.
Sincerely,
Matthew MacCurtain, Principal
Jessica Sullivan, Assistant Principal
The Abington Public School System is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, homelessness, national origin, race, religion, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. The contents of all Abington Public Schools publications are available upon request in languages other than English.