Barstow’s Phone-Free February
In an era dominated by smartphones, Barstow’s upper school has taken on an ambitious challenge: Phone-Free February. The challenge was created following discussions among grade level coordinators to encourage students to step away from their screens during school hours and experience the benefits of a phone-free environment.
The Challenge: Can You Go Without Your Phone?
Here’s how it works: Students are asked to go without their phones from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. The challenge offers three levels of participation: five days, ten days or 15 of the 17 school days in February. The goal? To push students to interact more with their peers and teachers, engage in screen-free activities and reduce digital distractions.
The Rules
To participate, students must drop off their phones in their grade level coordinator’s room before 8:30 a.m. Seniors with a free first period had until 9:50 a.m. to place their phones in the designated holder. Each morning, the coordinators take a photo of the collected phones, and in the afternoon, a class captain verifies participation before students retrieved their devices.
Character and Integrity
Participation is entirely voluntary, and students are expected to follow the rules with integrity. Students should also inform parents and friends that they are participating in the challenge and put their phone in silent mode when dropping it off in the morning. If a student chooses to retrieve their phone early, they opt out of the challenge for the day. To maintain fairness, only full days count—arriving late, leaving early or being absent meant a student could not participate that day.
Creating a Phone-Free Culture
To engage students who are used to having access to their phones at all time, upper school faculty developed some creative alternative activities. They can play chess, solve puzzles, collaborate on a giant coloring sheet and even play ping-pong. Graphic design students, led by Director of Broadcasting & Media Studies Sean Holmes, designed promotional posters to spread enthusiasm for the challenge. Participants earn stars based on the days they successfully participate. For example, five stars earns a treat or an extra point on a vocabulary quiz. Students who earn ten to 17 stars can earn a Starbucks, Chipotle or Panera card or a Door Dash meal with friends. Perhaps the biggest prize is 50 pep points for the grade level with the highest percentage of students who make it to 17 phone-free days.
Here’s how it works: Students are asked to go without their phones from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. The challenge offers three levels of participation: five days, ten days or 15 of the 17 school days in February. The goal? To push students to interact more with their peers and teachers, engage in screen-free activities and reduce digital distractions.
The Rules
To participate, students must drop off their phones in their grade level coordinator’s room before 8:30 a.m. Seniors with a free first period had until 9:50 a.m. to place their phones in the designated holder. Each morning, the coordinators take a photo of the collected phones, and in the afternoon, a class captain verifies participation before students retrieved their devices.
Character and Integrity
Participation is entirely voluntary, and students are expected to follow the rules with integrity. Students should also inform parents and friends that they are participating in the challenge and put their phone in silent mode when dropping it off in the morning. If a student chooses to retrieve their phone early, they opt out of the challenge for the day. To maintain fairness, only full days count—arriving late, leaving early or being absent meant a student could not participate that day.
Creating a Phone-Free Culture
To engage students who are used to having access to their phones at all time, upper school faculty developed some creative alternative activities. They can play chess, solve puzzles, collaborate on a giant coloring sheet and even play ping-pong. Graphic design students, led by Director of Broadcasting & Media Studies Sean Holmes, designed promotional posters to spread enthusiasm for the challenge. Participants earn stars based on the days they successfully participate. For example, five stars earns a treat or an extra point on a vocabulary quiz. Students who earn ten to 17 stars can earn a Starbucks, Chipotle or Panera card or a Door Dash meal with friends. Perhaps the biggest prize is 50 pep points for the grade level with the highest percentage of students who make it to 17 phone-free days.
The Reaction
The number of “official” participants varies each day, but a check with students in the hallways and Upper School Commons seems to show early positive results. On Friday, a group of seniors sat worked together on a large coloring sheet during a free period. “I’m not part of the challenge today because I came to school after a doctor’s appointment, but I’m not using my phone anyway,” Alina Stribling said.
Liam Grodin said he did have his phone with him that day, “but I’m not using it like I normally would. I’m doing this with my friends instead. And isn’t that the point?” Junior Drew Liss said he was participating in the challenge to take a break from scrolling. “I want to see if it has an effect on how I feel,” he said.
Why It Matters
The interest in phone-free school days is growing in many independent, private and public schools. Studies show that excessive phone use during the day contributes to distractions, reduces social engagement and can have a negative impact on mental health. Research supports the benefits of limiting phone use in school. A 2023 study found that the average American checks their phone 144 times per day, with Gen Z (ages 13-28) being the most frequent users and revealed that even a brief phone distraction can take the teenage brain up to 20 minutes to refocus on a task.
The Impact
One week into the challenge (including an online learning day that will not count toward final results), Director of Upper School Jenny Marien has already noticed its impact.
“I wasn’t sure how many students would choose to participate, and it varies by grade level,” she said. “It is great to see students braving the cold to play a game of ping-pong or students chatting while they work together on activities we have offered as cellphone alternatives."
Phone-Free February originated as a fun way to encourage engagement among students, but by the end of the month, it might have been the spark that started meaningful conversations about technology’s role in daily life and how mindful usage can lead to stronger academic and personal connections.
The number of “official” participants varies each day, but a check with students in the hallways and Upper School Commons seems to show early positive results. On Friday, a group of seniors sat worked together on a large coloring sheet during a free period. “I’m not part of the challenge today because I came to school after a doctor’s appointment, but I’m not using my phone anyway,” Alina Stribling said.
Liam Grodin said he did have his phone with him that day, “but I’m not using it like I normally would. I’m doing this with my friends instead. And isn’t that the point?” Junior Drew Liss said he was participating in the challenge to take a break from scrolling. “I want to see if it has an effect on how I feel,” he said.
Why It Matters
The interest in phone-free school days is growing in many independent, private and public schools. Studies show that excessive phone use during the day contributes to distractions, reduces social engagement and can have a negative impact on mental health. Research supports the benefits of limiting phone use in school. A 2023 study found that the average American checks their phone 144 times per day, with Gen Z (ages 13-28) being the most frequent users and revealed that even a brief phone distraction can take the teenage brain up to 20 minutes to refocus on a task.
The Impact
One week into the challenge (including an online learning day that will not count toward final results), Director of Upper School Jenny Marien has already noticed its impact.
“I wasn’t sure how many students would choose to participate, and it varies by grade level,” she said. “It is great to see students braving the cold to play a game of ping-pong or students chatting while they work together on activities we have offered as cellphone alternatives."
Phone-Free February originated as a fun way to encourage engagement among students, but by the end of the month, it might have been the spark that started meaningful conversations about technology’s role in daily life and how mindful usage can lead to stronger academic and personal connections.
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Seniors trade cellphones for social interaction over a coloring project during Phone-Free February in upper school at Barstow.
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Junior Drew Liss opted in to the challenge to see how it feels to go without scrolling during the school day.
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Alternate activities include board games and chess, with a variety of prizes as incentives for earning phone-free stars.
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