Student guidelines

Discovery Middle School follows the District’s cell phone policy to help create a focused, safe, and engaging learning environment for all students. Personal electronic devices, not including school-issued laptops, need to be powered down and stored away from 9:20 a.m. to  3:50 p.m. Students may use their devices only during the following times:

Lunch

• Use of personal electronic devices is allowed, unless there is explicit content and/or inappropriate use
• It’s OK to listen to music while you are seated at your table. Take earbuds out when speaking or listening to others.
• Taking pictures and filming other students is not permitted.

Class

• Phones must be off and away in a backpack at all times in the classroom.
• Students cannot use their phones to listen to music in the classroom. Headphones and earbuds must be put away in backpacks and not worn.
• Students cannot use cell phones for calculators. 

Before and after school

• Use of personal electronic devices is allowed, unless there is explicit content and/or inappropriate use

When traveling in the hallways

• Cell phones are permitted in the hallway during passing periods, at lunch/recess and before/after school. Once students enter the classroom, phones are put into backpacks (not pockets).

Violations

Students violating the policy will have their cell phones locked in the office for the remainder of the day. Parents/guardians will receive an email notification if their child violates the policy. Repeated violations will result in disciplinary consequences.

Beginning the 2026-2027 school year, VPS is changing the model of laptops for middle school students. This change means instead of each student receiving a 1:1 device that they will take home, we will place device carts in classrooms whose curricula require students to complete work on a device and the devices will remain in the classroom ready for use. We will also supply devices in a central location for use in classrooms that only need devices at certain times of the year for one-off projects or other unique class needs.

This change is an effort to decrease the number of broken devices and lost chargers that result frequently from devices being carried in backpacks between home and school. This should cut down on the rising, and frequent, costs of replacing lost, broken or stolen devices. We also realize students often forget to charge their devices overnight and show up with devices that are not immediately ready to use in class. This change will mean student devices will be charged and ready to use at the time our students need them for class work.

Before and after school

• Walk to and from school with a friend.
• Always stick to the safe, usual route.
• Use the crosswalks and sidewalks when they are available. Follow all safety and traffic rules.
• Use the appropriate crosswalk in the bus zone.
• Wear a helmet and walk bikes on campus.

On the bus

• Change-of-bus requests can be approved in the main office in the morning.
• Bus notes are required to ride with friends. 
• Changes in bus routes/stops must be approved.

At the school

• Valuables, large sums of money, etc. should be left at home; the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Students are prohibited from buying/selling unauthorized items at school.
• Health Department guidelines prohibit students from sharing food/beverages with others.
• Students are prohibited from giving or receiving any medications, vitamins, pills or drugs of any type.
• Never share personal passwords or locker combinations.
• Lock and secure items during PE; don’t leave personal items unattended.

Always report any unusual situations to the school and/or parents/guardians, or call 911 immediately.

For the safety and well-being of students, the following items are not allowed at school:

• Weapons, guns, toy guns, knives of any kind, baseball bats, throwing stars or any lookalike items
• Lighters, matches, fireworks, live ammunition and shell casings
• Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vapes and drug/alcohol paraphernalia
• Safety pins and other potentially dangerous items
• Glass items and glass containers
• Blankets, pillows and stuffed animals
• Balloons and water balloons
• Valuables, large amounts of money and expensive jewelry
• Scooters, skates, skateboards and Heelys
• Laser pens and pointers
• Permanent markers and paint pens
• Perfume and cologne body sprays, lotions and deodorants

Cellphones should be turned off and put away in backpack. See “Personal electronic devices.”

We conduct monthly safety and evacuation drills. Students are asked to stay calm, follow the staff’s directions and remain quiet for instructions. Evacuation maps are posted in each classroom.

Should an emergency or disaster ever arise in our area while school is in session, the building staff at Discovery has made preparations to respond effectively. Students will be cared for until we are able to release them safely to authorized emergency release contacts (who have picture IDs).

Please take a few minutes to review and update your phone numbers and emergency contacts in ParentVUE. Having current contact information ensures we can reach you quickly if your child becomes ill or if an emergency occurs. If you need assistance accessing or updating your information in ParentVUE, please contact the front office at 360-313-3300. We’re happy to help!

Preserving a beneficial learning environment and assuring the safety and well-being of all students are primary concerns of the Board of Directors of Vancouver Public Schools.

Students’ choices in matters of dress should be made in consultation with their parents.

Student dress will only be regulated when, in the judgment of school administrators, there is a reasonable expectation that:

A.  A health or safety hazard will be presented by the student’s dress or appearance including possible membership in a gang or hate groups;
B.  Damage to school property will result from the student’s dress; or
C.  A material and substantial disruption of the educational process will result from the students’ dress or appearance.