Distraction-Free School Zones

Hello West Seneca Central School District,

As we inch closer to the first day of school, we wanted to ensure you had a breakdown of what to expect within our Distraction-Free Learning environments.

As you all have become aware, effective August 1, 2025, all students in NYS need to comply with the Distraction-Free School Zone Law, which prohibits the use of personal internet-enabled devices(phones, watches, etc.) during the school day - from “bell to bell”.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to your students' school or please visit our website by clicking the following link - www.wscschools.org/offandawayfortheday.

Thank you for your partnership as we work together to create an optimal learning environment for all students!

Students’ devices will be off and away for the day in cubbies/lockers.

(Parents are encouraged to not send their students to school with devices.)

Devices are off and away for the day in lockers, and students are expected to lock their lockers.

We understand that there may be a need to get in touch with your student. The main office, as it was "back in the day"(when those of us born in the 1900's walked uphill to & from school in snowstorms) will be able to assist you with that contact. Please call the main office of your student's school to facilitate that exchange of information. Alternatively, we ask that students needing to communicate with their parents/guardians, request assistance in the main office as well.

This is a perfect time to make sure your demographic information(contact phone & email, emergency contacts) is up to date in the parent portal. Our main office staff would be devastated to assist a student to call home and the number is no longer valid; or call a cell phone number that is no longer in service. (FYI - The school nurse relies on these contacts as well.)

Typical consequences may include:

• Verbal warning
• A phone call to parent/guardian

Typical consequences may include:

• Detention
• A phone call to parent/guardian

Typical consequences may include:

• Two detentions

• A phone call to parent/guardian

• A parent/guardian will be required to pick up the device from main office during an allotted period of time.

Typical consequences may include:

• For 10 weeks the student is expected to stop in to the main office at the beginning of each school day to turn over their device to be locked up and then, stop back in to the main office at the end of the school day to pick up their device before leaving school.

Typical consequences may include:

• For the remainder of the school year, the student is expected to stop in to the main office at the beginning of each school day to turn over their device to be locked up and then, stop back in to the main office at the end of the school day to pick up their device before leaving school.

Use of cell phone will not result in a suspension from school. However, additional negative behaviors (i.e. insubordination, failure to comply with the reasonable request of an adult, etc.) may lead to more significant consequences than those summarized above. Please refer to the Code of Conduct below for additional information.

We are an educational community that encourages kindness, inspires confidence, and instills the belief that together we can achieve anything.