Welcome to the Unplug & Connect 2023 Challenge!

What is the Unplug and Connect Challenge?

The Unplug and Connect Challenge is a promise you make to go without screens for 24 hours. Instead of disconnecting from people, you use this time to reconnect with those around you. The 24 hours start on Thursday, April 6th at midnight and goes until April 7th at midnight.

This challenge has been given to all Hidden Valley Middle School students, but it also extends to other family members! Can you finish this challenge as a family?

How do I participate?

Your HVMS student will receive a contract and a letter addressed to parents and guardians on paper on Friday, March 25th 2023 in their TA class. You will fill in that paper with your student, deciding what the challenge-taker will be doing instead of being on their screen those 24 hours. You can then submit the paper on this website or give it filled out and signed to your student's TA teacher. This must be done by Wednesday, April 5th 2023. We will not accept any late contracts after that date.

What is there in it for me and my student?

From the feedback we've received from last year's Challenge, families have benefited from the challenge as they grew closer and gained precious quality time with their loved ones. Behavior improved immensely and some parents found the kids happier and more joyful. Learning in school without screens meant kids could leave their Chromebooks at home and learn the "old-school" way.

For all students who successfully accomplish this challenge, they will have a celebration of the challenge, a school organized party, in May including games, fun and no studying at all for an entire hour! They will also automatically be added to the raffles draw for prizes (see our prizes page). If you attend the parent night, they will also have an added name in the Raffle draw, so make sure you attend that as well.

Parent night? What parent night?

To best support our students and gain knowledge for our family, we have organized a parents' night, which we highly encourage you to attend if your child uses technology. This year, our keynote speaker will be Emily Jones from Technology University. She will address parents on Tuesday, April 4th at 7 pm at Hidden Valley Middle School. For those who attend, their student will get an extra lot per parent/guardian attending for the raffle draw and a discount on the educational Technology University program for families. You'll want to be there! Refreshments will be provided by our amazing PTSA.

Should my student leave their phone at home on April 6th?

Parents have the freedom to choose what is best for their child. We would encourage you to have the conversation with your student to see what they feel is best for them. Will they be able to resist the temptation when their phone is in their pocket? Will they feel more comfortable leaving it at home? You know your child better than we do, you will make the best decision with them.