Welcome back! Students returned to Holmstead on Wednesday, 9/3/25 with some notable changes to the program. Please see below for some additional information.

1. Holmstead is now a phone-free and distraction-free school. There is strong evidence that decreasing screen time overall and not having access to their cell phones during the school day improves overall mental health and academic success. All students were supplied with a Yondr pouch. They will place their phone in their assigned pouch during morning homeroom and will have it with them throughout the school day, albeit with no access. Staff have been provided with the unlocking keys to open the pouch in the unlikely occurrence of an emergency. Students can make outside calls through one of the office phones if needed. They return to homeroom at the end of the school day to have their pouches unlocked. Seeing the students off their cell phones and interacting socially with each other during lunch on the first day was incredible!
2. Holmstead is now a Google School. All teachers have set up Google Classroom, which many of our students are already familiar with. Students will all have a Holmstead Google email. Students will all have a laptop computer. New cybersecurity and blocks to inappropriate websites were installed over the summer.
3. Lauren Bergrin is our new LDTC. She will be working with your child on everything "IEP", including consulting with students and teachers to ensure a successful educational experience.