Mobile Phone – Student Use

HELP FOR NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS

If you need help to understand the information in this policy, please contact Traralgon (Stockdale Road) Primary School on 03 5174 1607 or traralgon.ps.stockdale@education.vic.gov.au.

PURPOSE

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Stockdale Road Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal technology devices during school hours

SCOPE

This policy applies to:

1. All students at Stockdale Road Primary School and,

Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal technology devices brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime

DEFINITIONS

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network.

POLICY

Stockdale Road Primary School understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone or other personal technology device to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.

At Stockdale Road Primary School:

• Students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored in the safe at reception

• Exceptions to this policy may be applied if certain conditions are met (see below for further information)

• When emergencies occur, parents or carers should reach their child by calling the school’s office.

Personal Mobile Phone Use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones and other personal technology devices must not be used at Stockdale Road Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.

Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

Secure Storage

Mobile phones and other personal technology devices owned by students at Stockdale Road Primary School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Please note that Stockdale Road Primary School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items.

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Stockdale Road Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Stockdale Road Primary School students are required to switch their devices off and securely store them in the safe at reception.

Enforcement

Students who use their personal mobile phones inappropriately at Stockdale Road Primary School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices.

At Stockdale Road Primary School inappropriate use of mobile phones is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:

• in any way that disrupts the learning of others

• to send inappropriate, harassing or threatening messages or phone calls

• to engage in inappropriate social media use including cyber bullying

• to capture video or images of people, including students, teachers and members of the school community without their permission

• to capture video or images in the school toilets, changing rooms, swimming pools and gyms

• during exams and assessments

Exceptions

Exceptions to the policy:

• may be applied during school hours if certain conditions are met, specifically,

  • Health and wellbeing-related exceptions; and

  • Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite.

• can be granted by the principal, or by the teacher for that class, in accordance with the Department’s MobilePhones Policy.

The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones Policy are:

1. Learning-related exceptions

1. Health and wellbeing-related exceptions

1. Exceptions related to managing risk when students are offsite

Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.

Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities

Stockdale Road Primary School will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones.

Exclusions

This policy does not apply to

• Out-of-School-Hours Care (OSHC)

• Out-of-school-hours events

• Travelling to and from school

• Students undertaking workplace learning activities, e.g. work experience

• Students who are undertaking VET

Related Policies and Resources

• Mobile Phones – Department Policy

• Ban, Search and Seize Harmful Items

• Personal Goods – Department policy

COMMUNICATION

This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:

• Made available publicly on our school website

• Made available in hard copy from school administration upon request

FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies on the Department’s Policy and Advisory Library

(PAL):

• Complaints – Parents

The Department’s parents’ website:

• Raise a complaint or concern about your school

• Report racism or religious discrimination in schools

POLICY REVIEW AND APPROVAL