Tech Hub

Our New User Agreement

Next Year, we will be rolling out our new Digital Technologies User Agreement for BPS. Please see a preview below of the parent section of this agreement. Please note that in 2026, the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program will only be for students in Grade 5/6. Students in Grades P-4 will have access to a bank of iPads to be shared amongst the students in their class.

Information for parents

Our commitment to the responsible use of digital technology

At Buninyong P.S we are committed to building a culture of respect and responsibility. We show this in the way we use technology and interact online. We teach our students about responsible digital behaviours, including how to recognise and respond to online dangers and threats. We support students to develop the digital skills they need to make a positive impact in the world. We are intentional and discerning about our integration of digital tools into the curriculum, providing rich, interactive and personalised experiences, while ensuring a balance with offline learning opportunities.

What we do

We set clear expectations

We have clear expectations about appropriate conduct using digital technologies.
Our MobilePhone Policy outlines our school’s expectations relating to students using mobile phones during school hours.
We have clear and appropriate consequences when students breachthese expectations, in line with our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy.
We have specific consequences for misuse of digital technologies outlined in our Breaking the ICT Acceptable Use Agreement.

We teach appropriate conduct

We teach our students to be safe, intentional, and responsible users of digital technologies. This includes age-appropriate instruction on important digital issues such as cybersafety,
cyberbullying, managing online relationships, and protecting personal information. Our approach is informed by best practices, and we regularly draw on resources and lesson materials from the eSafety Commission to support our teaching.

We partner with families

We work with parents and carers to understand the digital technology-related issues they are facing at home. We support them with information and tools that help. Families are
encouraged to visit the eSafety Commission website to explore tools and tips for supporting safe and responsible technology use at home.

We provide access to technology

We provide students with access to a range of educational software and digital platforms to support their learning across the curriculum. These include:
Google Workspace for Education – including Drive, Classroom, Docs, Slides, Sheets, and Forms
Microsoft 365
Webex – for virtual meetings and collaboration
Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express (formerly Adobe Sweep)– for digital design and creativity
Hopscotch – for coding and programming
Tinkercad – for 3D design and modelling
Minecraft: Education Edition – to support creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving
A range of other educational apps and tools, depending on curriculum needs and classroom programs
Students receive Google school accounts, which provide access to these platforms in a safe, managed environment. All student email accounts are school-managed, non-identifiable, and used solely for educational purposes. They are maintained in line with our digital safety,
privacy, and cybersecurity protocols.

How parents and carers can help

Learning about technology and its impacts doesn’t stop at the school gate. Below are our suggestions for ways you can support your children to responsibly use digital technology.

Establish clear routines

Talk to your child about expectations including when, where, and how digital devices can be used at home, ensuring these rules are age-appropriate and consistent. These can include:
- Requiring devices to be used in a common area, such as a living room or kitchen
- Setting up a specific area for charging devices overnight, away from bedrooms, to promote better sleep hygiene.
Be present when your child is using digital devices, especially for younger children who may not yet understand online risks.

Restrict inappropriate content

Use built-in parental controls on devices and apps to help manage their device access and restrict inappropriate content, including apps and websites that are not suitable for their age group.
Consider restricting the use of non-educational apps and apps with addictive game mechanics (e.g. rewards, badges, limited exit options).

Talk about onlinesafety

Talk about the importance of protecting personal information and recognising online scams.
Encourage your child to talk to you or another trusted adult if they feel unsafe online.

Model responsible and balanced technology use

Encourage a healthy balance between screen time and offline activities, especially outdoor unstructured play and time with friends and family, face-to-face. *
Demonstrate responsible and balanced tech use in your own daily routine to set a good example for your child.

Work with us

Let your child’s teacher know about concerns you have regarding their technology use

Keep informed about what your child is learning at school, so you can help reinforce positive
messages at home.
Partner with school to restrict and limit access to technology at home. Buninyong PS provides safe, locable charging stations for students to leave their own devices (BYOD) at school.

Support for parents and carers

To learn more about how to support the safe, intentional and responsible use of digital technologies at home, the eSafety Commissioner provides resources for parents, and outlines available counselling and support services.

There are three days left until we begin the process of removing JAMF (our school management tool) from your child's iPad. Please ensure you consent to the event on Compass and back up your child's device before Friday. I have spoken to a few families who are having some troubles backing up due to low storage. If this is you and the only thing from your child's device that you do not want to lose are photos, then you could airdrop the photos to another device or save them to a folder in the google drive. Please ensure on Thursday that you have also signed your child out of apple ID and remove the passcode from the home screen. If your child does not bring an iPad to school, or leases one in our exclusive use program, please decline this event.

If you have a child in grades 4 or 5 and you are leaving the school next year, please email me so I can add you to the Compass event and remove JAMF from your child’s iPad. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Maggie CooperICT Leading Teacher

maggie.cooper@education.vic.gov.au