Mobile Phones and Personal Technology Devices

Benefits of clear policy

This policy promotes focused learning environments, minimises distractions, and encourages responsible digital citizenship.

This policy outlines the expectations for student use of mobile phones and personal technology devices at St Columba Anglican School. 

General Guidelines:

• Students are encouraged to leave personal technology devices, including mobile phones, at home unless required for educational purposes.

• The school is not liable for lost, damaged, or stolen devices. Students bring these items at their own risk.

• Students are required to keep mobile phones and headphones turned off and in their bags until they are off the school premises. 

• Mobile phones brought to the attention of staff during normal school days will be immediately confiscated and kept in safekeeping until the end of the day.

• Parents who need to communicate with a student throughout the day should contact the administration office. The administration liaises messages between teachers, students, and parents/caregivers.

Primary

• Primary children are not allowed devices on school camps or excursions, excluding Year 6 camp to Canberra.

• If circumstances change, parents will be informed of exceptions through formal channels prior to the events. In the case of an emergency, School administration staff will communicate with teachers, parents, and caregivers.

• The use of mobile phones at school for any purpose is not permitted for any student in Years K - 6. 

Secondary 

• At times, students may be allowed to use mobile devices to record images, video or sound for learning purposes only. At all times, this will be done under the instruction of the classroom teacher. Recording images for any other purpose is not permitted. 

• At 3:20 pm students are allowed access to mobile phones to allow them to make arrangements for travel or communicating directly with parents. 

• When students attend overnight camps, all mobile phones are collected once they arrive at camp and kept by the teacher for the duration of the camp. The only time mobile phones can be used is when travelling to and from the camp on the bus. 

Smart Watches

• Smartwatches and related devices must be switched to flight mode during the school day. Students are not permitted to use their smartwatch or other device as a substitute for a mobile phone. 

• Messaging services on laptops (e.g., iMac Messages) should not be used as a substitute for mobile phone communication. 

• Smartwatches are not permitted to be worn during examination and assessment events. 

Updated 30th April 2024