In case of an emergency, parents need to call the office of their child’s school. 

Barton 631-687-6900 

Bay 631-687-6950 

Canaan 631-687-8100 

Eagle 631-687-8150 

Medford 631-687-8300 

Oregon 631-687-6800 

*Patchogue-Medford HS 631-687-6500 

Raider Academy 631-687-8760

River 631-687-8350 

Saxton 631-687-6700 

South Ocean 631-687-6600 

Tremont 631-687-8700 

*At the high school, parents can also email students using their school email address. 

The district strongly discourages students from bringing devices to school.  However, if they do bring devices, all devices must be silenced before entering and kept in the following locations: 

• Elementary School- a backpack that will be stored in a personal cubby in the classroom. 

• Middle School- student locker. 

• High School- individual pouches supplied by the district that can be kept on them during the school day.  

A bell-to-bell ban refers to the time a student arrives until the time they are dismissed.  This includes all instructional periods, passing time, lunch, recess, homerooms, and study halls. 

At the elementary level, students must silence their phones upon arrival, and all electronic devices will be kept in a backpack that will be stored in the student’s personal cubby. 

At the middle school level, students must silence their phones upon arrival, and all electronic devices must be stored in the student's locker. 

At the high school level, students must silence their phones upon arrival, and all electronic devices must be stored in individual pouches. 

Students who leave early for an approved early dismissal, medical emergency, or an athletic event will be able to unlock the Yondr pouch before departure.  We will have mountable, unlockable bases set up at key locations in the building (security, nurse, main office, etc.) 

Students will only be permitted to use headphones with cords to connect to their school-issued device.  All Bluetooth devices, including AirPods, smartwatches, and other headphones, must be stored in lockers or individual pouches.  The district is in the process of researching music platforms that will be accessible through Classlink.  

During the school day, teachers are actively teaching and may not be checking their phones/laptops until they have a free period.  Parents should refrain from using this as a form of contact for emergencies, which include changes in pick-up procedures.  Families must contact the main office to speak directly to an employee who will get the message to their child. 

If there is a need for students to contact you during the school day, they can make calls from the main office.  Additional phones are located in the nurse's office and the guidance office.  Students in grades 9-12 will also be able to email families during the school day using their school email address. 

As per Board of Education Policy 5500, devices include “internet-enabled devices,” defined as any smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, or other device capable of connecting to the internet and enabling the user to access content on the internet, including social media applications. However, these devices do not include any such devices supplied by the district for educational purposes. Other personal electronic devices include those that are not capable of connecting to the internet and accessing content on the internet, as well as fitness trackers, wireless headphones and earbuds, ereaders, voice recorders, cameras, and music devices.  

Yes.  Students are permitted to use their cell phones before entering the building each morning and can begin using them once they are dismissed at the end of the school day. 

Yes. Before and after school.  Cell phones will not be permitted on buses when students are on a field trip during the instructional day unless authorized by the building principal.   

Yes. Students who have medical conditions or special education plans that require cell phone access will have differentiated plans in place to meet their needs.

The safety of the students and staff is our top priority during an emergency. All safety protocols will be followed before communication is made to parents via the school messaging system. 

All classrooms across the district are equipped with landline phones able to dial 911. 

Teachers and staff members should model "off and away" so they can focus on teaching and learning by being fully present.  Teachers do need to use phones to access the Duo Security App, which is a two-factor authentication security system the district has implemented.  

Every locker for students 6-12 is equipped with built-in locks.  The only person given the combination is the student. 

Families should rely on factual information from the school district. Currently, Patchogue-Medford protocols include the frequent use of ParentSquare and website/social media notifications for sharing information and updates with families.  If families are not signed up for ParentSquare, please access additional information on our website. Technology Parent Portals

The rules and consequences for inappropriate use of cell phones and/or social media posts have not changed.  Consequences range, and families should refer to the District’s Code of Conduct. 

If your child forgets to bring in the pouch, they will enter the building through an alternate location.  They will receive an envelope to store all electronic devices in, which will be stored in the main office.  They will be permitted to pick up electronic devices from the main office at the end of the school day. 

Students can store electronic devices in the main office each day.  However, the district has purchased additional pouches, should a family want to purchase a replacement. 

Students will be reminded of this policy regularly and consistently, especially at the start of the school year and after returning from breaks. For students out of compliance with this policy, the device will be held in the school office until the end of the school day.  The first time this happens, the student may retrieve the device, and the parent will be notified.  For subsequent instances, the parent or an adult listed as an emergency contact must retrieve the device.    

The district may not suspend from school if the sole ground for the suspension is that the student accessed an internet-enabled device as prohibited by this policy.   However, the district may utilize consequences under the district’s Code of Conduct, including detention, in-school suspension, and exclusion from extracurricular activities.   The district may also utilize assignments on the detrimental impact of social media on mental health, smartphones in school, or other relevant topics.  

All students are expected to follow the distraction-free policy; however, reasonable accommodations will be made for students with disabilities as required by their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. If a student has a documented need to access their phone or alternative assistive technology, this will be addressed through a Committee on Special Education meeting.

Students who rely on personal devices for communication will be permitted to use them as outlined in their IEP or 504 Plan. These devices will not be considered a distraction under this policy when used for approved, disability-related purposes.

These needs may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the IEP or 504 team. The team will assess whether access to a phone is a necessary support or if other accommodations (such as a computer application, access to a trusted adult, calm-down strategies, or school-based counseling) can effectively address the student’s needs.

Students are expected to follow all school rules, including the appropriate use of any approved accommodations. Misuse of phones beyond documented accommodations may result in consequences aligned with the school’s code of conduct, while still considering the student’s individual needs.

If a student requires access to a medical application during the school day, this need will be reviewed and addressed through a Section 504 or Committee on Special Education (CSE) meeting. The team will determine whether phone access is necessary and, if so, outline specific parameters for use in the student’s 504 Plan or IEP.