North Thurston Public Schools’ phone-off policy engages more students in class and extracurricular activities 

Since the opening of the current academic year, North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) has implemented its Off and Away, All Day mobile device expectations at all of its schools.  

The Off and Away, All Day expectation mandates that cell phones and headphones be put away in backpacks or left at home, and smartwatches be set to airplane mode and put away or left at home. 

“Students may use their devices before and after the regular school day. During classes, lunch, and passing periods, devices must remain off and away. The purpose is to support students' focus on learning, increase attention span, reduce bullying and conflicts, and improve students' mental health,” NTPS’s page stated. 

For emergencies, parents may call the school office to reach their students, or the students may also get permission to go to the office to contact their parents.  

“With our Off and Away, All Day mobile device expectations, we strive for a higher level of school engagement and learning, a reduced level of anxiety and distraction for students, and more positive face-to-face interactions with peers and staff,” stated NTPS’s page.  

NTPS Assistant Superintendent for School Leadership Nikki Grubbs said the policy has received positive feedback, and they are looking forward to its effect on learning and student achievement. 

“We also have…an Off and Away, All Day mobile device expectation across all secondary schools, and we believe that with the removal of cell phones, for example, in classrooms, that kids will be better able to attend to the learning,” said Grubbs. 

“And we've gotten so much positive feedback, not only from the teachers but from lots and lots of students as well. So we're really excited about this new expectation and how it's going to change learning and hopefully improve grades for kids,” Grubbs added.  

Ashley Yourkoski, a North Thurston High School senior and Student Advisor to the NTPS Board, reported more chances of student engagement because of the off and away policy. 

“Another thing that we've been trying to do every Friday is called Friday lunch activities. With a no cell phone policy, we're really trying to get…more students [to] engage with each other during lunch,” said Yourkoski. 

The activity involves trivia, which gives students points to get ahead in the newly minted class competition, RAM Cup. The cup is a battle between the freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes.