Technology At St. Peter Catholic School

St. Peter Families,

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, we will be implementing a new social media policy to better protect and form our students as digital disciples. As many of you are aware, we have taken various measures to better understand the negative impact of social media on elementary students. We have also worked toward intentional usage of technology while considering the amount of screen time that our children often encounter on a daily basis. Our Instructional Technology Committee (ITC) has been working with parents to gather feedback while also promoting parent-led initiatives such as the Wait until 8th pledge. We have formed a partnership with Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes (PYE) to provide professional development for our teachers, parents, and students. Over the past few years, we implemented a Tech-Fast during Advent and Lent. Still, we understand the continuous challenge in navigating the appropriate use of technology in the world of today.

For years, we have enforced a social media ban for students participating in extra-curricular activities. We have continually discouraged any and all use of social media for our students, as we have seen the harmful effects both nationally and locally. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School recently announced a new school policy banning social media use for their students for the current school year. The policy was highlighted in the Clarion Herald: Forming Digital Disciples: St. Catherine of Siena Rolls-Out New Social Media Policy - The Clarion Herald - New Orleans, LA. We have been in communication with St. Catherine of Siena to collaborate on digital and social media policies.

After discussions with our School Advisory Board, recommendations were unanimously made to expand our policy in tandem with St. Catherine of Siena. Starting for the 2026-2027 school year, we will be adopting a new policy for all grade levels. 

• No student enrolled at St. Peter Catholic School shall host an account or page (whether in his/her true name or an alias) on any social media site.

• A social media site is one that has individual user profiles, user-generated content, networking capability (can connect with others or groups), and interactivity (can comment, like, share or direct message). 

• Social media accounts prohibited include but are not limited to Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, TikTok, CapCut, YouTube, Twitch, and any social media platform or app St. Peter Catholic School sees fit to include in the future.

• A student who will attend St. Peter Catholic School in the fall is considered to be enrolled at St. Peter Catholic School during the preceding summer. The prohibition against social media accounts includes summers, holidays, nights and weekends.

• Violation of the Social Media Policy will result in disciplinary action as follows: 

  • First violation: detention and dismissal from extracurricular activities (including team tryouts) for the remainder of the academic quarter. Extracurricular activities include but are not limited to sports teams, spirit teams (POM, Dance, and Cheer), and clubs.

  • Second violation: one-day suspension and dismissal from extracurricular activities (including team tryouts) for the remainder of the school year.

  • Third violation: three-day suspension and dismissal from extracurricular activities (including team tryouts) for the remainder of the school year; student placed on probation.

  • Fourth violation: expulsion.

• Violations are cumulative and do not “reset” at the beginning of a new school year. The disciplinary action for violations occurring during the summer will take place in the first quarter of the next school year.

Further information about the impacts of digital technology on children and adolescents can be found in the technology section of our website. St. Peter Catholic School - Technology At St. Peter Catholic School - Covington, LA

We care deeply about our mission to assist our parents in forming our students spiritually, intellectually, humanly, and apostolically. We are very excited for this new policy and the positive impact it will have on our entire school community.

Sincerely,

St. Peter Catholic School Administration

1. Individual user profiles

2. User generated content 

3. Networking (can connect with others or groups)

4. Interactivity (can comment, like, direct message, share items)

Social media includes but is not limited to Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat, TikTok, CapCut, YouTube, and Twitch.

What does the data say?

Recent research has clearly demonstrated the negative impact that social media has on the social, emotional, and mental health of elementary-age children. The rise in depression and self-harm in young children since the development of the smart phone and social media cannot be ignored. We are not advocating for “no tech” but for “slow tech.” In a crucial time of brain development for our young children, we want them to grow and develop with an authentic approach to instructional technology. We want to provide them with the skills to use it wisely when they are ready for it, and to become less susceptible to its negative effects. 

Where can I find resources to help support my child at home?

We have worked alongside Chris McKenna of Protect Young Eyes to provide parents with the tools they need to create a tech-safe home. His website provides information on apps and devices, and how to protect our families. Also, as the first educators, parents are encouraged to model healthy habits in order to empower the entire family to engage with technology for the good. 

There are also resources available on the Anxious Generation website, as well as Catherine Price’s website (under “Shareable Guidelines and Resources”).

https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/tech-facts 

https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/resources 

As a school, we utilize technology in a meaningful manner by personalizing student learning, promoting collaboration, and inspiring creativity. While we leverage technology in the classroom to meet our students’ needs, our main focus is to form our students as digital disciples by practicing the virtues of self-control, moderation, and wisdom. Our web-based tools allow teachers to differentiate instruction and enrich what they are already teaching. We carefully select all of our programs to support our students’ learning, and to align with our Catholic Faith. All classrooms are equipped with a Promethean Smart Board, and we utilize Securly Classroom to monitor our students in order to keep them safe and on task.

The Instructional Technology Committee, made up of teacher representatives, meets quarterly with parents to discuss how we can support families in this digital age.

Resources for Families

https://www.waituntil8th.org/

https://www.1000hoursoutside.com/ 

https://www.bark.us/

Kindergarten utilizes an iPad station during center time.

• Programs:

  • Starfall

  • ABCya

1st-3rd Grade utilizes 1:1 Chromebooks and Google Classroom, and they are introduced to typing skills.

• Programs:

  • IXL Reading

  • Reflex Math 

  • Zearn

  • Mystery Science

4th-7th Grade utilizes 1:1 Chromebooks and they continue to practice their typing skills, as well as further explore other Google Apps beyond Google Classroom. 

• 4th and 5th grade required technology enrichments:

  • Blended Learning

  • Computer

  • Media Center

• Programs:
  • Generation Genius
  • Mystery Science
  • IXL Reading and Math
  • McGraw Hill Inspire Science
  • World Book
  • Zearn

6th-7th Grade

4th-7th Grade utilizes 1:1 Chromebooks and they continue to practice their typing skills, as well as further explore other Google Apps.

• 6th and 7th grade choices for technology enrichment electives:

  • Broadcast Video Production

  • Coding I and II

  • Computer Skills

  • Robotics I and II

  • Typing

• Programs:

  • Generation Genius

  • Mystery Science

  • IXL Reading and Math

  • McGraw Hill Inspire Science

  • World Book

  • Zearn

  • Math XL