Digital Technologies News

Today, our updated ICT User Agreement was sent home via nForma. This is a new and revised form, updated in line with MACS requirements, so it is important that families take the time to read them carefully.

The Photography and Recording Permission Form will be sent out on Monday. Please note the photo and recording permission you signed in 2025 is current until this new agreement is signed. 

For students to access technology at school, both of the following forms must be completed:

• Student Digital Technology User Agreement

• Student Photo/Video Permission Form

These documents outline the expectations for safe, responsible and respectful use of technology at St Martin de Porres. They must be read and signed by both students and parents/guardians to ensure everyone is clear about how technology supports effective communication and learning in our school.

We kindly ask that all forms are completed by Friday 27 February. Please note that students will be unable to access school technology until the forms have been submitted.

Teachers will also review the agreement with students in class to ensure they understand how to use technology safely and responsibly.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a safe and positive digital learning environment.

Personal Mobile Devices at St Martin de Porres Primary School

St Martin de Porres Primary School is committed to creating a positive and productive learning environment for all students. To achieve this, we will be implementing a comprehensive policy regarding the use of personal mobile devices. This policy aims to ensure that the presence and usage of such devices does not disrupt the learning process. Additionally, it seeks to clarify the responsibilities of both staff and students in relation to these devices. The policy is available via the school website.

The main points of the policy are:

• Personal mobile devices such as phones, smart watches, laptops, iPads & tablets are not to be brought to school, taken on excursions, camps, or out of hours school activities.

• Research has found that students learn best in classroom environments where teachers can teach and students can learn without being distracted by personal devices. The unregulated presence of mobile phones and smartwatches in classrooms can undermine students’ capacity to think, learn, remember, pay attention and regulate emotion.

• Regular watches and Fitbits that only track steps (please see example below) and tell the time are allowed to be worn at school

• Students who bring a personal mobile phone or smartwatch to school for the purpose of traveling to and from school must switch them off and delivers them to the Administration Office in a named pouch/glad bag prior to the commencement of the school day and collect them from the office after the school day or if they are required to leave school early.

• We understand that some smartwatches have the ‘schooltime’ feature on the watches which restricts the use of messages during the school day however, this creates difficulties in managing equality, safety and consistency across the school.

• The school accepts no responsibility for lost, stolen or damaged personal mobile devices at school or while traveling to and from school.

Lucas Mangani

Deputy Principal | Digital Technologies  Leader