Orrville Schools Website

Welcome Back!

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

As summer comes to a close, I'm happy to welcome you all back for the 2025–2026 academic year! I hope your summer was pleasant and refreshing, with plenty of chances to relax and enjoy yourself. I can already feel the excitement and enthusiasm for the new school year. I'm eager to see our hallways and classrooms filled with activity again.

We're building on the fantastic achievements we've made in the past this year and look forward to even more success. Our dedicated teachers and staff have been working diligently throughout the summer to ensure a smooth and successful start. They have been making teaching more engaging, maintaining our buildings, and ensuring everything is in order. We remain committed to ensuring that every student feels respected, challenged, and supported in a secure, welcoming, and stimulating learning environment where they can reach their full potential.

We know that students perform better when family and school work together effectively. We encourage you to maintain regular communication with your child's teachers, school administration, and our district throughout the year. As we work together to help our young learners grow in mind and spirit, your participation and input are critical.

Welcome back to our returning students! We can't wait to see how much you've developed and to keep learning with us. We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new students and their families, and we are excited to help you integrate into our vibrant school community.

The 2025-2026 academic year promises to be a period of growth, learning, and collaboration in achieving shared goals. Let's start this trip together with excitement and a promise to do our best.

We can't wait to see you, everyone!

Dr. David Toth, Superintendent

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Superintendent Coffee Talks!

Please take note of the dates on your calendars! This school year, I will be hosting my coffee talks at Buehler's Foods on High Street in the community room. The dates will be Wednesday, October 15; Wednesday, January 15; & Wednesday, March 19. Times are from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. This informal setting allows you to ask questions about the school district while enjoying a cup of coffee and a donut or two. I am looking forward to seeing you there!

No Cell Phone Zone — Cell Phones in Schools

Dear Families of the Orrville Schools:

At Orrville Schools, we strive to ensure that all students are engaged and feel safe every day. Student cell phones lead to educational disruptions, distractions, and significant social conflict. For this reason, the Orrville School District will no longer allow students to use cell phones during the school day.

Please review the student handbooks for each school building, which outline the expectations for student use of cell phones and other devices, the consequences of improper use, and instructions on how to contact your student through the main offices during school hours. In the event of a school or district emergency, you will be notified by phone, email, and text message with updates regarding the situation through our automated communication system.

Family support is essential to the success of the cell phone policy at Orrville School District. Be sure to review the phone policy as a family. Consider:

· Proactively discuss with your student their after-school plans, lunch arrangements, appointments, or activities in advance of arrival at school.

· Remind students how to contact you and their families during school hours.

· It is important to emphasize adherence to school rules regarding the cellphone policy to ensure consistency in expectations between home and school.

· Visit http://education.ohio.gov/cellphones for more information and resources about cell phone use for your family.

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation in facilitating a safe and supportive learning environment. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Dr. David Toth, Superintendent

About Our Cell Phone Policy

Our classrooms are dynamic spaces where students are actively engaged in learning, collaborating, and focusing on their studies. When cell phones are present and in use, they can become a significant distraction, not only for the individual student but for the entire classroom. Limiting their use during instruction helps us maintain a focused and productive learning environment where all students can thrive.

We understand that cell phones are an integral part of daily life and can be necessary for communication, especially before and after school. However, during the school day, we ask that students keep their phones turned off and stored away in their lockers or backpacks from the first bell to the last. If there's an urgent need to contact your child during school hours, please continue to do so by calling the school office directly. Our staff will ensure your message reaches your child promptly.

We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing this policy at home. Your support enables us to cultivate a school culture that prioritizes learning and minimizes distractions.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Benefits of No Cell Phones in Schools

1. Enhanced Academic Focus and Performance:

Reduced Distractions: The primary benefit is the elimination of constant notifications, texts, and social media alerts that pull students' attention away from lessons. This allows students to be fully present and engaged in learning.

Improved Concentration: Without the temptation of their devices, students can develop stronger concentration skills, absorb information more effectively, and participate more actively in classroom discussions.

Higher Test Scores: Research, such as studies from the London School of Economics, has shown that schools implementing cell phone bans often see an improvement in student test scores, particularly for lower-achieving students who benefit most from reduced distractions.

2. Improved Student Mental Health and Well-being:

Reduced Anxiety and Stress: A phone-free environment provides a break from the constant pressure of social media, online comparisons, and cyberbullying, which are often linked to increased anxiety and depression in adolescents.

Less Social Pressure: Students are freed from the need to constantly check their phones for validation or to keep up with online trends, allowing them to focus on their personal growth and learning.

Better Sleep: Limiting screen time during the school day can contribute to healthier sleep patterns, as excessive phone use, especially before bedtime, can disrupt sleep.

3. Stronger Social-Emotional Development and interaction:

Increased Face-to-Face Communication: Without cell phones, students are more likely to engage in direct, in-person conversations with their peers and teachers during breaks and lunch, fostering essential social skills and building stronger relationships.

Development of Coping Skills: Students learn to navigate uncomfortable social situations or solve problems by interacting with those around them, rather than immediately reaching for their phones as a crutch.

Reduced Cyberbullying: A phone-free environment can significantly decrease incidents of cyberbullying, as the primary tool for such behavior is removed during school hours.

4. Minimized Behavioral Issues and Classroom Disruptions:

Fewer Disciplinary Incidents: Many schools report a noticeable decrease in behavioral issues, including arguments and conflicts that often stem from text messages or social media interactions.

A More Respectful Learning Environment: Teachers can maintain a more orderly and focused classroom when they are not constantly managing phone use, resulting in a more productive and respectful learning atmosphere for everyone.

Reduced Cheating: Cell phones can be used for academic dishonesty, and a no-phone policy helps maintain academic integrity.

Cell Phones in Schools: School Safety

Cell phones used by students often make the school setting less safe, both physically and mentally. Distractions, bullying, physical violence, and false security fears associated with student phone use make many schools and districts challenging learning environments.

In an emergency, families can quickly contact their children, or children can call for help or family. However, calling and texting during an emergency may not be as safe for kids and families as it seems.

Students' cell phone use during the school day or in an emergency could make schools less safe, not safer.

Many people make threats and plan violent acts on their cell phones and social media.

When kids use cell phones, it can speed up the spread of false information, lies, and fear.

Cell phones might rattle or ring when students need to be quiet for their safety.

When teens are on their cell phones, they probably aren't paying as much attention to what adults are saying about how to act and stay safe.

Families may show up at school because of cell phones, which makes it harder for first responders to make sure everyone gets out safely and handle emergencies.

Cell phones can delay family reunions, putting them at risk.

Please call our school's main office if you need to leave a message for your child.

OHS CELL PROCEDURES

CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Cell phones are valuable and important communicative devices in today’s world. However, the use of cell phones during the instructional day seriously impedes and distracts from the learning process. Students will be required to turn off all electronic devices (including, but not limited to, iPods, MP3 players, games, and digital cameras, along with their corresponding earbuds or headphones) during regular school hours. All devices must remain in students’ lockers or out of sight during the school day. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure their locker is locked. Students failing to comply with this policy will face the following progressive discipline:

• 1st Offense: The student will be warned, and the device will need to be put away.

• 2nd Offense: The cell phone will be confiscated, and the student will receive one detention. Parent contact will be made, and the phone will be picked up at the end of the day.

• *3rd Offense: The cell phone will be confiscated, and the student will receive three detentions. Parent contact, phone picked up at the end of the day.

• 4th Offense: The cell phone will be confiscated, and the student will receive 1 day of alternative placement. Parents must pick up the phone at the end of the day.

• 5th Offense: The cell phone will be confiscated, and the student will receive 3 days of alternative placement. Parents will need to pick up the cell phone at the end of the day.

*After the third offense, the student will be required to turn the phone into the office at the beginning of each school day and may retrieve it at the end of the day.

OMS CELL PHONE PROCEDURES

CELL PHONES & ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Any electronic communication or entertainment device not required for classrooms is prohibited during the school day. Students will not be permitted to carry electronic devices during the school day. School personnel will confiscate electronic devices immediately and turn them into the main office. For the first offense, the student may retrieve the device after school, and a warning will be issued. Second offense, the student will be given recess detention. Third and subsequent violations will result in a detention or an in-school alternative.