The Committee for Education and Technology presents to Poly Lower School Parents’ Association for the first time.

COMET Launches

The Lower School’s Committee for Education and Technology (COMET) was formed in response to parents’ interest in Poly’s technology policies and a desire to connect with other parents on issues surrounding smartphone usage, social media, and screens. COMET’s mission is to empower families to navigate the digital landscape, foster healthy technology habits, promote mental well-being and digital literacy, and create a supportive, non-judgmental community. This committee is a partnership between parents and Lower School leadership.

Introductory Cross Divisional Panel Discussion with School Leadership

On Thursday, December 5, the Lower School Parents’ Association (LSPA) hosted a meeting to introduce COMET. The committee includes Cristin Frodella P’36, Sam Breslin Wright P’33, Lower School Technology Director Stacy Hunter P’15, and Head of Lower School Francis Yasharian P’36.

Organized by LSPA co-leaders Kristin Smith P’36 and Lillian Goldenthal P’37, ’39, the meeting featured a panel discussion led by Hunter, Poly’s Head of Technology Charles Polizano P’18, Computer and Information Science Chair Jean Belford P’24, ’30, Head of Middle School Dan Doughty, and Head of Upper School Sarah Bates. Parents had the opportunity to learn from leaders shaping Poly’s evolving technology policies and philosophies.

“It offers peace of mind knowing how thoughtful our leaders are about all of the facets of technology, including the positive elements, like teaching our kids coding, programming and robotics, which are easy to overlook amongst so many anxiety provoking aspects of tech these days.”

– Kristin Smith P’36, ’39 and Lillian Goldenthal P’37, ’39, LSPA co-leaders

The discussion offered families important information about Poly’s Technology and Computer Science curricula, guidance for how to strengthen the partnership between school and home to create a greater network of support for students, and fostering digital literacy and healthy online habits. Families also had a vital opportunity to have their concerns about technology heard by division and department leaders. Responsive to parents’ thoughts and feelings, leaders shared at-home recommendations for reinforcing healthy technology habits and school policies that ensure technology is used as a tool for successful learning in a safe environment.

Students & Technology at Poly

The philosophy regarding the use of technology in the Lower School is to “complement and supplement learning experiences and to contribute to a variety of learning modes.” For Poly’s youngest students, iPads are available in early childhood years through Grade 1 and Chromebooks are assigned in Grades 2 through 4.

While technology is an accessible tool which supports classroom instruction and learning, there are many systems in place that ensure students’ safety and maintain their privacy. For example, in all divisions, programs like GoGuardian are used in the classroom and there are several filters to block students from non-academic sites, YouTube, games, etc. In Middle and Upper School, student Chromebooks are programmed to shut down between specific hours to discourage students from working online into the late hours. Charles Polizano also shared that until Grade 7, students’ school gmail accounts are blocked from receiving communications from emails outside of the Poly Prep network. 

While there is no one-size-fits-all digital shoe that fits all families and individual circumstances, in Middle School, officials recommend waiting until at least age 13 to join social media, with age 16 being a better goal. Encourage kids to keep phones out of bedrooms overnight, use devices in public spaces, limit usage hours, and monitor activity. Digital safety is paramount both in and out of school. Let them know you will periodically review their messages and online activity.

The theme of digital safety continues in Upper School where Poly advises parents to avoid allowing phones to become entirely private spaces for teenagers. Regularly talk with your child about what they see online to normalize these conversations. For example, asking, “What was the funniest meme you saw today?” is a simple, lighthearted way to engage with them about their online experiences. Building this habit and trust early can make tougher conversations easier in the future.

Positive Meeting Takeaways

Daniel Doughty reflected on COMET’s first meeting’s success. “I’m glad we had the chance to connect with the Lower School community. As we shared in our presentation, technology policies constantly evolve to keep up with rapid technology advancements. And while we can’t predict what the policies will be in a few years, one of the key takeaways we hoped to emphasize is that we are intentional and student-centered in our decision-making.”

The goal of nurturing strong, kind, and emotionally healthy students, informed by research and responsive to the newest data, as it emerges, is at the core of Poly’s decision-making. “We carefully balance emerging research, what we observe on the Dyker Heights campus, and the need to equip students with the skills to be responsible users of technology—always in an age-appropriate way,” Dan said. “It’s all about preparing them for a digital future while keeping their well-being front and center.”

After the discussion,  parents felt a strong sense of connection with each other and gathered a greater understanding of technology at Poly. Leaders of the PA shared that the panel’s approach to the discussion with transparency encouraged a greater sense of collaboration. This first meeting was essential to informing the direction of future COMET meetings, as it pursues its goal of remaining responsive to the needs and interests of parents.

Healthy Technology Habits Both Inside and Outside of School  

LSPA co-leaders Kristin Smith and Lillian Goldenthal, have confidence that COMET will help foster greater exchange of resources that support healthy relationships with technology through kids’ developmental stages. “Now that we have a solid understanding of where things are when our children are at school, we are looking forward to bringing parents together through COMET to explore research, tech outside of school hours, and how we can band together and support each other through the reality of raising children in this moment. The panel and the energy behind COMET is another testament to how community is brought to life at Poly.”

Poly Prep Technology Philosophy

In the presentation, the panel shared the schools’s philosophy. Poly offers access to various types of technologies and services to provide an enriching educational environment for students. Students are encouraged to utilize technology as a powerful learning tool, while developing the skills to become responsible digital citizens. Poly’s approach balances age-appropriate guidance with intentional preparation for active participation in a digital world. Because technology is ever evolving, we continuously revisit and refine our strategies, incorporating emerging technologies and the latest research to drive innovation and foster growth.

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