|
July 30, 2025
Dear Pilot Families,
We’re excited that the 2025-2026 academic year is right around the corner! We miss everyone on campus and look forward to getting back into the swing of things. In preparation for the start of the year, please review the June and July communications along with the additional information and links below. We may see you on campus tomorrow, Thursday, 7/31, from 10:00 am - noon for our Uniform Exchange or we’ll see you and the students the first week of August when we begin our student orientations. The following information will prepare everyone for their orientation and the first day of classes.
Cell Phone Policy
Over the past year we’ve conducted research, held conversations and received feedback from the community and our employees about cell phone use. In an effort to support student learning, well-being, and engagement, the Leadership Team at SJND has made the decision to implement a school-wide restriction on student cell phones and smart watches during all school hours, including lunch and passing periods, beginning this school year. This decision follows extensive input from our school community, including faculty and family surveys, one-on-one conversations, and a review of research and successful practices at peer schools such as Saint Mary’s and nationwide.
While many have expressed strong support for this change, we also recognize that not everyone agrees. We remain committed to ongoing dialogue and evaluation as we implement the policy and assess its effectiveness. Importantly, this move is not an outlier, it reflects a growing national and statewide trend as schools across California and the country adopt similar restrictions in response to mounting evidence about the impact of personal devices on student focus, mental health, and campus culture.
Some families have asked how students will manage tasks typically done on their phones, such as using the Verkada Door app for building access or ApplePay at the Pilot Café. We want to assure you that we have a plan in place:
- Building access will not require students to use their phones: doors will be unlocked automatically around our bell schedule and bathroom/hall passes will contain keycard to unlock buildings.
- For Pilot Café purchases, students can continue to use their MySchoolBucks accounts. Those who wish to use Apple Pay may do so through a physical credit or debit card, which does not require a phone.
We will continue to monitor the phone policy’s impact and make adjustments or improvements as needed.
More information is available in this document, and we invite you to join a community Zoom discussion to ask questions and share feedback on Monday, August 4, from 6:00 - 7:00 PM.
Dress Policy Updates
In addition, we’ve updated our Dress Policy for clarity. While most expectations remain the same, we have made two key changes:
- Jeans and cargo pants are now permitted as part of Daily Dress.
- Pilot Pride Days have been added to the monthly calendar to give students more opportunities to show their school spirit.
Click here to view the updated SJND Dress Policy.
Be safe and enjoy the remaining days of summer!
Go Pilots!
| 
