Principal's News

Mobile Phones Reminder

All state schools are required to have a mobile phone policy that complies with Department policies. 

We understand that students may be bringing a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school. However they are not to use these devices whilst at school (unless there is a medical exemption).

Students are required to switch their device off and place them in their school bag during school hours. Personal mobile phones must not be used during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.  If parents need to contact their child urgently, they should reach their child by calling the school’s office.  

Smart watches in particular are expensive and easily lost and hugely distracting for students. We would discourage parents from sending them to school with children as we have found they are unable to resist the temptations of playing on them.

A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network.  For the purpose of the policy, “mobile phone” refers to mobile phones and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.

All staff are responsible for the implementation of the Mobile Phones Policy.  Students who use their mobile phone will be asked to hand it in and collect it at the end of the school day.  Parents will be notified.

How You Can Help

Parents are asked to assist us with the implementation of this policy by:

- reading and talking to your child about the policy.  Teachers will also have these conversations with the students.

- not sending mobile phones or smart watches to school unless they are absolutely necessary. These devices are expensive and easily damaged and the school does not take responsibility for their safety.

- not trying to contact your child during the school day on their mobile phone or smart watch.  Please contact the office if you need to contact your child urgently.

- not encouraging or requesting your child to contact you on their mobile phone or smart watch during the school day.

- ensuring your child's smart watch is set to class mode (or similar) where they are unable to send or receive communications during the school day.

Successful Grant Applications

Playground Grant 

Late last year we were informed that we have been successful in our application to replace the Adventure Playground through the Inclusive School’s Grant.

The new playground will replace the current Adventure Playground and extend further into the playground area. The playground will be funded by the grant and the Spring Fair funds raised in 2022.

The playground will include rubber soft fall and ramps, enabling students with mobility issues to move safely around the equipment and play with their peers, it will also enable parents to move safely around the equipment as they support their child’s play. The reduction of mulch will also make the paths around the playground safer.

We do not have a date for the installation as yet.

Please see the picture below for our playground plan.

Solar Panels

Late last year we were also informed that we were successfully included in the Greener Government Schools initiative.

As a result we will be installing solar panels on the roof of the Paul Collier Building.  Apart from saving money on energy bills and being less reliant on non-renewable energy, the system will enable the students monitor our energy use and make recommendations as to how we can reduce our energy consumption.

Robyn James