Bellows Free Academy recently installed vape detectors in every bathroom across campus in hopes of combating the rising issue of vaping among students. These devices were placed to monitor and detect vaping activities to maintain a healthier and safer environment for all students. 

Mrs. Rico, a key figure in the initiative, expressed her hopes that the new system would steer students away from considering vaping on school grounds. “I hope that it deters students from vaping at school and in general,” she said, highlighting the preventive purpose of the detectors. 

Additionally, Mrs. Rico emphasized that the detectors would assist in identifying students who might be vaping for fun as opposed to those who are genuinely struggling with addiction. “Another reason is to try to find people that just do it for fun, and then identifying the students that are addicted that need help,” she said. This initiative not only aims to enforce school policies, but also provides support to those who may need help overcoming addiction. 

The introduction of these vape detectors at BFA reflects the school’s commitment to student health and well-being, as well as its proactive approach to addressing the challenges posed by vaping. 

Along with the new vape detectors, Mrs. Rico is also hammering down on the phone policy this year. This policy limits phone use during school hours, which is implemented to create a more focused learning environment. This is conducive to creating a more focused learning environment and addressing the growing concern over the impact of excessive phone usage on student engagement. 

Mrs. Rico, the main advocate for the policy, acknowledged that similar initiatives in the past have had varying degrees of success. “We always start the year strong, but throughout the year we get lazier about enforcing the policy,”  she said, highlighting the challenge of maintaining consistent enforcement. 

She also expressed her longstanding concerns about the influence of phones on students’ social skills “I have always been a person that hates phones,” Mrs. Rico said, adding: “I feel like kids don’t understand how to interact with people without their phones,” The new phone policy is part of BFA’s strategy to create a healthier and more interactive school environment, complementing other recent initiatives such as the installation of vape detectors in school bathrooms. Both measures reflect the school’s commitment to addressing modern challenges in education and student well-being.