Cell Phone Policy

In order to facilitate engagement in classrooms and community spaces, St. Ignatius will be a cell phone free campus during the school day including unstructured time. 

From 9 a.m. until after school, students are to keep their cellphones away from their person, placing them in zipped pockets of backpacks/bags either off or in do not disturb mode. All other electronic devices, tablets, laptops, smartwatches, etc should be used to enhance classroom instruction and may only be used within the parameters given by faculty. 

Students who violate this will have their electronic device confiscated and disciplinary action may be taken.  Students who repeatedly violate this policy will be subject to parent pick up of the mobile device and are liable for suspension. A student may receive a pass (linked here) from the office of the Deans to use a mobile device when a  licensed physician or surgeon determines that the possession or use is necessary for the student’s health and the use is limited to purposes related to the health of the student. 

St. Ignatius reserves the right to inspect the contents of electronic devices for inappropriate material.

Communication During School Hours

We understand families may need to contact students during the day. We encourage:

• Parents to communicate with students outside of school hours so that students can be fully present during the school day to their peers, teachers and schoolwork. When students do not put their smart devices on “Do Not Disturb” mode they get an average of one notification per minute which interferes with the learning process constantly derailing their attention making getting back on task that much more difficult for the student and teacher.
• Email communication for non-urgent matters
• Calling our Dean’s Office (415-731-8571) for immediate needs
• Students may request to use phones for necessary calls through the Dean’s Office

Medical Accommodations

Students requiring smartphones for medical purposes (such as diabetes monitoring) should submit written documentation from their healthcare provider to our Dean’s Office for approval and accommodation. Use this link to submit documentation.

Emergency Procedures

Parents should contact our Deans Office for personal emergencies. For school-wide emergencies, we will use our established communication systems including email and texting. Security experts affirm that students are safer during emergencies when following adult guidance rather than using personal devices. If we believe that it’s appropriate for students to use their devices we will make that determination based on the situation.

Continued Formation and Commitment to Jesuit Values

Beyond removing devices during school hours, we are committed to providing comprehensive digital citizenship education so that students understand the rationale behind our new policy.

This policy emerges from our unwavering care for each student and our commitment to academic excellence, authentic relationships, and the formation of young people prepared to be leaders in service to others. We trust in your support as we implement this change together.

Additional Resources:

For families seeking to understand the research behind this decision, we recommend:

• U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy's guidance on youth mental health and technology
• Jonathan Haidt's research in "The Anxious Generation"
• Common Sense Media's research on smartphone use among adolescents
• National School Safety and Security Services recommendations

We remain grateful for your partnership in the education and formation of our students.