News for the Nest
September 5, 2025
In order to improve learning conditions at Clayton and reduce distractions for students and staff, Nan Clayton Elementary will have a new policy for device use. The policy went into effect Monday, September 23, 2024.
Our policy is that should a student bring a personal device to school, including a cell phone or smart watch, the device will need to be powered off upon entering the school building each day. Devices will need to be stored in the child’s backpack during the school day. Students may access devices when exiting the building at the end of the school day.
Reasons for our new device policy:
Reduce distractions for children, such as alerts, games, sounds, and messages
Reduce distractions for others, such as pings from a neighbor’s device
Reduce distractions for teachers, who are trying to teach your child
Caregivers may be wondering:
What if I need to change how my child is going home and the child doesn’t know about the change?
We have a process to take care of this need. Parents/guardians call the front office to notify our staff of the change. Our front office staff notifies your child’s teacher, who lets your child know.
What if my child is sick during the school day and I need to be notified?
We have a process to take care of this need. Children let their teacher know if they are not feeling well. Sick children see our nurse, who will assess your child’s symptoms.
What if there is an emergency at school?
Safety is our #1 priority at Clayton. Our staff is trained to handle emergencies and follow required protocols set by the State of Texas and Austin ISD. In case of an emergency, a device making noise would actually make our school less safe. In the case of an emergency affecting Clayton, school and/or district leadership send out information to families as soon as possible to let everyone know what is going on.
Thank you for your support and help in keeping our school better focus on students’ learning.
