Heidelberg PS - Capers

Assistant Principals' Report

Hello everyone and welcome to our newsletter article,

 

HPS Mobile Phone Policy 

At HPS, there will be some students (mostly in Year 6) that may need to carry a phone to school, for example, getting in touch with a parent at the end of the school day. If your child does bring a mobile phone or any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches, they need to be handed to the teacher at the beginning of the day and locked in a secure storage area. As it is mostly year 6 and some year 5 students, we have small safes for which the mobile phone or device can be stored. 

A few key points from the policy are below and the full policy can be found through the following link. https://www.heidelbergps.vic.edu.au/uploads/174/20/Mobile-phone-policy.pdf

 

PURPOSE

To explain to our school community the Department’s and Heidelberg Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones [and other personal mobile devices] during school hours

 

SCOPE

This policy applies to:

  1. All students at Heidelberg Primary School
  2. Students’ personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices brought onto school premises during school hours, including recess and lunchtime.

 

DEFINITIONS

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 this 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.

 

Personal mobile phone use

In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at Heidelberg Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.

Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.

 

Secure storage

Mobile phones and devices owned by students at Heidelberg Primary School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so. Please note that Heidelberg Primary School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items. (Refer to the Heidelberg Primary School’s Personal Property Policy and the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy).

 

Where students bring a mobile phone to school, Heidelberg Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At Heidelberg Primary School students are required to hand their mobile (or device) to the class teacher at 9am to be placed in a lockable cupboard/ safe. Students’ mobile (or devices) will be handed back to the students before they leave school at 3.20pm.

 

All our other polices can be found on our school website: https://www.heidelbergps.vic.edu.au/publications-policies

 

Have a great weekend.

 

Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin

Assistant Principals

Heidelberg Primary School