The new no cell phone or mobile devices in classrooms across the province policy seems to be going well in the Foothills School Division.
The policy was implemented across all Alberta schools by a ministerial order by the Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides earlier this year.
It went into effect at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
FSD Superintendent Chris Fuzessy says while it's only been three weeks, it's been well received.
"It seems to be well supported. Parents seem to support it. Students are being respectful following the directive of having their cell phones not on their person, if you will, during instructional time."
This seems to coincide with the results from École Secondaire Highwood High School which implemented the policy during the last school year.
Principal Dave Roberts and Vice Principal Carolyn Lenstra said there was a decrease in bullying and more socialization among students.
Fuzessy says it's encouraging to hear that "It seems to be building anecdotally at least school community because students do spend more time in face-to-face conversations and less time in that digital format."
Al Davidson, Assistant Superintendent of Employee Services chimed in with thanks going to the teachers helping through this transition.
"When we rolled this out the initial part of the school year was all about an educational approach, shifting students into a model that may be newer to them and so we're very appreciative of our staff for taking that approach and supporting students as we made the transition."
Fuzessy adds, that it's not an outright ban on the cell phone as students are allowed access to them, as long as it's not during class time.
"Students can have those phones, use them before and after school and at lunch in case they need to check in with their parents and whatnot. So overall, I'd say it's going quite well."