Student Safety & Formation
Royal Palm Academy is a Smartphone & Personal Device‑Free School
Children deserve a slower, more human childhood—rooted in friendship, family, prayer, and the beauty of the real world. To protect presence, focus, and friendship, RPA is a phone‑free campus and we invite families to join a shared commitment at home.
Watch the 1‑minute PSA Join the RPA Family Alliance
Updated: Sept. 29, 2025
Why a Device‑Free School?
Rates of anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, and attention problems in young people have risen in the smartphone era. Heavy social‑media use tracks with lower well‑being. This is not the childhood most of us remember—and not the one we want for our children. At RPA, we teach virtue and formation, not just content. A phone‑free campus safeguards learning and friendship.
From the Head of School: “As both a dad and your Head of School, I’m increasingly convinced that early access to smartphones and social media is the biggest safety risk our kids face—and that the only way to meet it well is together.”
What This Means at RPA (During the School Day)
- No student smartphones on campus. If a phone must be brought for after‑school logistics, it stays powered off and stored; it may be checked out from the office at dismissal.
- No personal devices: smartwatches with messaging/phone functions disabled; no tablets, gaming devices, or earbuds.
- Communication home goes through the school office and teachers/coaches.
- Medical/learning devices are permitted with administrative approval and documented need.
- After‑school programs & athletics: the policy remains in effect unless a staff member explicitly authorizes limited use for a learning purpose.
Note: RPA affirms the wisdom of Florida’s July 1, 2025 K–12 limits on student cell‑phone use during the school day.
The RPA Family Alliance
We invite families to stand together around four simple commitments (adapted from The Anxious Generation):
- No smartphones before high school.
- No social media before age 16.
- Phone‑free schools. (RPA: check!)
- More independence and free play.
Family Pledge (copy/paste to use at home)
“In partnership with Royal Palm Academy, our family will delay smartphones until high school and social media until age 16; keep bedrooms device‑free; charge devices overnight in common spaces; and use shared guidelines for healthy tech. We will revisit this pledge each semester.”
How to Get Started (This Week)
- Move all charging to a common area; make bedrooms device‑free.
- Set app store/YouTube restrictions and disable web browsers on kid devices.
- Use a talk‑and‑text‑only phone or a managed option (see resources) if needed for rides.
- Post a simple Family Media Agreement on the fridge (link below).
- Plan two phone‑free family blocks this weekend (parks, Mass, board games, neighbors).
Frequently Asked Questions
“What if my child needs to reach me?”
Call the front office; coaches and after‑care staff also facilitate needed calls. In emergencies, staff will contact families immediately.
“My child already has a smartphone—now what?”
It’s never too late to pivot. Start with clear expectations, remove social media, and transition to a basic phone or a managed device. Lead with love and consistency.
“Won’t my child feel left out?”
That is why we commit together. A shared community standard lightens the load for every family and strengthens friendship in real life.
“Does this hurt digital literacy?”
No. RPA teaches purposeful, age‑appropriate technology skills in class—without the distractions and risks of personal devices.
Parent Resources
Featured: 1‑Minute PSA
Watch now and share with a friend.
The Anxious Generation (Jonathan Haidt)
Smartphone Free Childhood US
Bark (Kid‑Safe Phone & Controls)
Pew Research
Common Sense Media
NCMEC
Florida K–12 Cell‑Phone Limits
Catholic Resources
From the Head of School
Read the full reflection: “Screens, Social Media, Smartphones, and the Struggle to Parent Well”.