MS Personal Technology

Cell Phones and Personal Devices

In 2024-25, Overlake implemented updated middle school guidelines for personal device usage, specifically smartphones. In alignment with our mission and vision, we believe this change will enhance the learning environment, increase focus, promote well-being, and support responsible technology and media use. 

The decision to revise our personal device policy is based on extensive research, including insights from the Surgeon General’s advisory and other research on the negative impacts of social media on youth mental health, feedback from faculty, and positive student feedback with phone-free experiences such as Project Week.

In Middle School, smartphones will not be in students’ hands during the school day. 5th and 6th-grade students will keep any phones in their cubbies in the 5th and 6th-grade building, to be retrieved only at the end of the day. 7th and 8th-grade students will no longer have access to their smartphones and will be given magnetic-locking pouches to keep their phones out of reach from when they arrive at school until the end of the school day. For urgent matters, parents and guardians can always call the front office at 425-868-1000 to have a message delivered to their student, and students may use phones in the classroom or front office to call home if needed.

As parents or guardians, know that a phone is not required for Middle School life at Overlake, and simply not providing your student with this technology to bring to school is an option we support.

In the case of a personal emergency on campus (illness, personal situation, etc.), the student's first line of contact is a faculty, staff, or administration member. In family emergency situations, parents should contact the front office to reach a student outside of the lunch hour. We expect parents to abide by these guidelines and encourage parents to plan to speak to their children during lunch or to call the front office in case of an emergency that needs to be communicated outside of lunch. Learn more about our Student Personal Device Guidelines, including FAQs, contacts, and research.