--- title: Ditching the Cell Phone and Embracing Interpersonal Connection description: For the past two years, we have been actively working on reducing students’ exposure to social media by enacting our phone and social media policy at KES. image: https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/DSC_3695.jpg --- - [My KES](https://mainsite2022-kes.onmessagestaging.com/app) - [About](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about) - [Welcome to KES](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/welcome-to-kes) - [Meet Our Head of School](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/meet-our-head-of-school) - [Mission, Vision and Values](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/mission-vision-and-values) - [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) - [Our Campus](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/our-campus) - [Employment](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about/employment) - [Admissions](https://www.kes.ns.ca/admissions) - [Why King's-Edgehill School?](https://www.kes.ns.ca/admissions/why-kings-edgehill-school) - [Future Families](https://www.kes.ns.ca/admissions/future-families) - 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The research is out there, from various [UNESCO reports](https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en/articles/new-unesco-report-warns-social-media-affects-girls-well-being-learning-and-career-choices), to the [U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf) warning in May 2023, along with Jonathan Haidt’s bestselling book released in this spring, [*The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness*](https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=the+anxious+generation&gad_source=1&hvadid=703103874706&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1002130&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=16290455267425232966&hvtargid=kwd-1295499898949&hydadcr=22457_13497860&tag=googcana-20&ref=pd_sl_4qson3fzh1_e), which all implore adults in children’s lives to reduce how much time they are spending on their phones.   In June, the Nova Scotia government agreed and issued [a new directive](https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2024/06/06/new-cell-phone-directive-nova-scotia-schools#:~:text=Starting%20in%20the%202024%2D25,instructional%20purposes%2C%20will%20be%20available.) to all schools in the province that no phones should be in classes, unless for instructional use (as directed by teachers), and further, that no elementary student should have their phone out during the school day.   At King's-Edgehill School (KES), our phone policy states that cell phones will not be permitted during regular school hours. The first time a student is caught using a device without permission, they will have their device confiscated for the day. The second time a student is caught using a device without permission they will have their device confiscated for a period of three days.   We are three weeks into the school year, and the results of the implementation of our policy are tangible. We see students in the student lounge (“the Slounge”) talking to each other, instead of looking at screens, and our hallways are filled with chatter and eye contact. Not only do we know this is better for their mental health, but all of this leads to a greater sense of belonging and community here at school which is the magic of our KES culture.   Although we have a strongly worded policy, we also do not feel that it is enough to simply take away a student’s phone. We also need to teach them how to use social media positively. As such, we have signed on with [The Social Institute](https://thesocialinstitute.com/) to provide resources for our advisors, teachers, students, and parents about tech use. Throughout the year, our students will engage in at least seven lessons through their advisory period, where as a group they will unpack what it means to be a digital citizen, how to develop a personal brand, and what to be cautious of when online.   KES parents have full access to the Social Institute’s toolkit which contains information about all the social media platforms currently being used by youth, opportunities to converse about social scenarios, and highlights examples of social media being used for good.    **Vanessa Wade** **Assistant Head of School**   **[![FallOpenHouseNew2024-253](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/422624/fe140865-67f7-4f22-9ca1-8dab8f8617a2.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/422624/fe140865-67f7-4f22-9ca1-8dab8f8617a2)** [Back](https://blog.kes.ns.ca) ## Become a Highlander - [Discover](https://www.kes.ns.ca/about) - [Apply](https://www.kes.ns.ca/admissions/admissions-process) - [Donate](https://www.kes.ns.ca/donate/annual-giving) [![Kings-Edgehill School](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KES_July2022/images/footer-logo.png?width=150&height=988&name=footer-logo.png "Kings-Edgehill School")](https://www.kes.ns.ca/) [![Kings-Edgehill School](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KES_July2022/images/footer-content-logo.png?width=150&height=988&name=footer-content-logo.png "Kings-Edgehill School")](https://www.kes.ns.ca/) [33 King's-Edgehill Lane](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/33+Kings+Edgehill+Ln,+Windsor,+NS+B0N+2T0/@44.9830759,-64.1367771,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4b59a607602eb07f:0xd0cc4fd656a8b213!8m2!3d44.9830759!4d-64.1367771!16s%2Fg%2F11cs9hpqbd?entry=ttu) [Windsor, Nova Scotia, Canada, B0N 2T0](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/33+Kings+Edgehill+Ln,+Windsor,+NS+B0N+2T0/@44.9830759,-64.1367771,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x4b59a607602eb07f:0xd0cc4fd656a8b213!8m2!3d44.9830759!4d-64.1367771!16s%2Fg%2F11cs9hpqbd?entry=ttu) [(902) 798-2278](tel:902-798-2278) [kesinfo@kes.ns.ca](mailto:kesinfo@kes.ns.ca)[tel:902-798-2278](tel:902-798-2278) - [Sitemap](https://www.kes.ns.ca/website-sitemap) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.kes.ns.ca/privacy-policy) - [![Facebook](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/facebook.png)](http://www.facebook.com/kingsedgehill) - [![Youtube](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/KES_July2022/youtube.png)](https://www.youtube.com/user/kingsedgehill) - [![Twitter](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/KES_July2022/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/kingsedgehill) - [![Instagram](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/KES_July2022/instagram.png)](https://instagram.com/kingsedgehill/) - [![Linkedin](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hubfs/KES_July2022/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/king's-edgehill-school/) King’s-Edgehill School is located in Mi'kma'ki, the unceded ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq People. - [![The Duke of Edinburgh's Award](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KES_July2022/images/DE%20logo.png?width=150&height=988&name=DE%20logo.png "The Duke of Edinburgh's Award")](https://www.dukeofed.org/) - [![International Baccalaureate](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KES_July2022/images/world%20school%20logo.png?width=150&height=988&name=world%20school%20logo.png "International Baccalaureate")](https://www.ibo.org/) - [![Canadian Accredited Independent Schools](https://blog.kes.ns.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/KES_July2022/images/CAIS%20logo.png?width=150&height=988&name=CAIS%20logo.png "Canadian Accredited Independent Schools")](https://www.cais.ca/)