Mobile Phone Policy

Rationale

The Department of Education has implemented a ban on the use of mobile phones by students during school hours in both primary and secondary school settings.

An increasing number of parents/carers wish to provide their children with mobile phones for safety, security, and/or emergency purposes. These procedures outline the conditions under which mobile phones are permitted at Belmore South Public School. The school reserves the right to amend these procedures in the future.

Principles

1. Students will only be permitted to bring a mobile phone onto school premises for safety, security, or emergency purposes (e.g. to contact parents after school to arrange pick-up times).

2. In order for a student to bring a mobile phone to school, parents/carers must write to the principal requesting permission for the child to have the device at school.

3. Mobile phones must be turned off during school hours and are to be handed in to the office before school begins and collected at the end of the day.

4. Mobile phones may only be turned on and/or used once the student has left the school premises.

5. While at school, students are the responsibility of school staff and the Department of Education. Any instances that require emergency contact with parents must be made through the appropriate staff member or a member of the school administration team, who will then contact the parents/carers.

6. Devices must not be used by other students.

7. The school does not accept responsibility for any theft, loss, or damage to mobile phones.

8. The mobile phone must not be used for inappropriate purposes (e.g. students are not to take or share photos or videos on mobile phones on school premises or message friends or family members).

Inappropriate Conduct

It should be noted that it is a criminal offence to use a mobile device to menace, harass, or offend another person. Therefore, students with devices must not engage in personal attacks, harass another person, or post private information about another person through messages, taking/sending photos, videos or objectionable images, and phone calls. Students who infringe upon the principles outlined above will have their mobile phone confiscated and secured. It will be taken to the front office and kept secure, and the parent/carer of the student will be informed. The parent/carer may collect the device at their convenience. Any incidents of inappropriate behaviour involving mobile phones will result in consequences as determined by the principal.

The principal may then withdraw permission for the student to bring a mobile phone to Belmore South Public School for a specified period or permanently.