More students might have to unplug this school year.
That is, be disconnected from their personal smartphones during instructional portions of the day. From a statewide pilot program in the works, to individual districts and schools making the call — more Delaware educators are questioning stricter control of cellphones during the school day. Smyrna schools and Brandywine High School are just some of the latest announcements.
In this weekly roundup, we'll catch you up on this and some education honors you may have missed.
[Did we miss another good education story? Tell me about it: kepowers@gannett.com.]
Delaware schools are taking another look at cellphones in class. Smyrna, Brandywine join in
Smyrna schools just announced it will be making a change for the coming school year: No more phones.
The district's school board said beginning this September, student cellphones and other personal electronic devices will be placed in "a designated area" during any instructional time. The devices will be made available outside of class, while every student will still have their school devices at all times.
"The Board asks that instructional staff lead by example and refrain from cell phone usage during class time," the board wrote in a statement posted last week. "Parents and guardians, we need your support in helping your child/children understand that being without their phone for a little over an hour at a time has benefits to the learning environment and their overall academic success."
Brandywine High School also joined the fold, as announced last month.
"Students will be required to place their cell phones and related electronic devices in designated pockets at the front of the classroom for entirety of the instructional period," the school wrote to Facebook. "This change is aimed at reducing distractions and promoting better focus in the classroom."
A pilot program for similar efforts came as one line item in this year’s supplemental spending plan, looking to eliminate distractions throughout state schools.
Lawmakers approved $250,000 to test an expansion of "cell-hiding pouches," as previously reported, in Delaware middle and high schools, along with other measures. Colonial School District's George Read Middle School already uses such pouches, made by YONDR. Delaware Department of Education will be responsible for gathering experts, creating a system for this pilot program and evaluating it.
Smyrna said it plans to gather feedback on the coming move, to develop a formal policy on student personal devices. Superintendent Susan Brown said the district will continue to provide the community with updates throughout the remainder of the summer and school year.
Are cellphones hurting students?Cellphone pouches to be piloted at Delaware schools
2 Delaware State students honored inaugural 'Du Bois Scholars' in Harvard partnership
Delaware State University's Olayimika Joy Adeyemi and Yasmeen Olass were just honored as inaugural "Du Bois Scholars" — clinching a summer research internship at Harvard College for students from select research-focused Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
The pair will work within the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health this summer, according to a release from Harvard University.
Adeyemi told Harvard she was raised in an environment where adequate healthcare was not universally available. Now, she hoped to see a different future for families like hers. This summer, she gets to work alongside Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire, assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases, on researching spike-based vaccine antigens.
"Adeyemi embodies the school’s legacy of being a center for teaching, research and service," a Harvard spokesperson wrote.
For Olass, she knows malaria may not be top of mind for most people. But its impact remains expansive.
This Dover resident is studying Anopheles mosquito reproductive and transmission patterns at Harvard this summer, digging into that work beside Flaminia Catteruccia. The professor of immunology and infectious diseases, according to Harvard, is researching biological and environmental factors that shape that insect's malaria transmission.
The Du Bois Scholars Program is fully funded by "The Harvard & Legacy of Slavery" initiative, with housing, meal plans and more until mid-August.
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Delaware's future health professionals bring home awards
Delaware saw more than 140 students and advisers join ranks with some 12,000 other members in the 47th annual "HOSA-Future Health Professionals International Leadership Conference" in Houston last month.
That's the career and technical student organization dedicated to health care careers. Members get opportunities to participate in career-focused events, take part in community service work and become leaders in their school, state or at the international level, according to the Delaware Department of Education.
But in Houston, they competed.
Delaware scholars joined competitions related to medical math, public health, behavioral health, community awareness and more. Alicia Guajardo of Sussex Tech took home gold in the physical therapy event, while some eight other Delaware students landed in various top-10 lists.
Cape Henlopen High School landed the "Outstanding HOSA Achievement" award, thanks to students Lindsay D’Ambrogi, Kyli Doyon-Baridon, Emily McCullough and Lily Joyce. A complete list of nearly 20 Delaware wins can be found on DDOE's website.
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Got a story? Kelly Powers covers race, culture and equity for Delaware Online/The News Journal and USA TODAY Network Northeast, with a focus on education. Contact her at kepowers@gannett.com or (231) 622-2191, and follow her on X @kpowers01.
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