D-E’s Digital Wellness Team, led by Madigan Kacmar ’26, Anna Ibargüen ’26, and Ezra Newman ’26, recently brought back “Phone Free Fridays,” an initiative that began last year to encourage students to disconnect from their phones during the school day. Students who participated brought their phones to the Epstein Family School Store for safekeeping before their first period classes. They were given stickers that granted them access to experiences such as matcha tea whisking, snapping pics with photo booth props, and making friendship bracelets. “It’s important for students to navigate everyday life without using their devices,” said Madigan, who also cautioned about the negative effects of social media. “We often look at our screens to avoid confronting what makes us uncomfortable in real life,” she reasoned. “It’s very easy to fall prey to other peoples’ expectations of you.” Anna added that this exercise teaches you that several hours away from your phone is not a huge commitment and helps you “be present in the presence of people.”