Purpose of the Colorado Heritage Electronics Policy
Colorado Heritage believes that although modern communication technology offers many benefits to the user, this same technology is the gateway to much mental, spiritual, and physical damage with its ever-crowded highway of alluring worldly thoughts, its ungodly philosophies and solutions, temptations, dishonest representations of life, and sometimes, with simply just too much screen time.
Colorado Heritage remembers the days when free time was spent talking with people who were physically present, when books were read, when young people engaged in playing tangible games together such as chess, checkers, etc. Life, relationships, and activities were not “experienced” via looking at a 4x6 screen while much of the surrounding environment, and, yes, people actually present, were tuned out. The need to determine who we are and how we measure up to everyone else was not at a desperate and frantic level like it is today. Research abounds that reveals a constant rise in depression linked to cell phone use. Our young people’s peers and counselors are quite often other internet users, famous or not, who fill their minds and hearts with bleak and hopeless messages and beliefs.
The Colorado Heritage Electronics Policy not only helps to create a distraction free classroom environment, but also gives our students a healthy hour or two away from the addiction cell phones and other devices can be, giving our students an opportunity to look up, look around, communicate with those around them, read a tangible book, play those real board games, etc.
Beyond CHESS walls, we encourage adults and children alike to leave the cell phone, the tablet, and the computer behind in their daily routine. Use these great inventions only for necessary things, and then only minimally. Look up, look at each other, talk, read books, read out loud together, play board games, play outside, take a walk, paint, draw, write, cook together. Rediscover the real world.
Colorado Heritage Electronics Policy
Cell Phones/Smart Watches: Students are not permitted to use cell phones or have/wear smart watches on campus (or on school-sanctioned field trips and activities). Students will be permitted to use the school phone in case of emergencies. We understand students may have a cell phone in their possession for a variety of reasons. If a cell phone/smart watch is seen or heard on campus, it will be confiscated by a staff member and will be released only to a parent.
Urgent Communications: If a parent needs to reach the student for an urgent matter, the parent will contact the office or principal who will then relay the message to the student.
Laptops/Tablets in the Classroom: Teachers may give permission for a student to use a laptop/tablet in their classroom for schoolwork.
Laptops/Tables in Study Hall: Students may use laptops/tablets for schoolwork during Study Hall if they receive permission from either the Study Hall Monitor or the principal. The screen of the laptop or tablet will be visible to the Study Hall Monitor or principal while the student uses the device.
Listening Devices/Earbuds/Headsets may not be used while on campus unless the student is with the parent in a non-study hall setting.
Gaming Devices: Devices that are specifically for gaming are not to be used while on campus.