Wellbeing

Mobile phone ban in schools

A reminder that the Department of Education has a mobile phone ban in place that requires students who bring mobiles phones and smart watches to school to have them switched off and securely put away during school hours.

The department requires all schools to ensure this ban is in place and enforced from the start of the 2024 school year.

The ban applies equally to all government schools right across the state.

This helps ensure that school is a learning environment free from unnecessary distractions and disruptions.

By ensuring mobile phones and smart watches are kept away at recess and lunch times, students can interact with each other face-to-face, without the distractions and social pressures that mobile devices can cause.

We ask for the support of all our families, staff and students in continuing to support the implementation of this policy in our school.

A copy of our school’s local mobile devices policy, which implements the government’s mobile policy in line with our local context, is available on the school website. 

Parent/carer support: The Mobile phones in schools webpage provides links to resources for families to help them balance their children’s time using mobile phones.

Communicating with our community in an emergency

The bushfire season is a timely reminder to ensure our school community is aware of how we plan to communicate with them if there is an emergency. This is particularly important given we are expecting warmer and drier conditions this summer.

Compass notifications remain our primary mode of communication with families. For emergencies requiring action or attention from families, a push notification, email and text message via Compass will be sent to all primary contacts. Notification headlines will include the words ‘URGENT’ or ‘ACTION REQUIRED’.

International Day of People with Disability

Over the past week, we recognised International Day of People with Disability. At EPS we strive to create a safe and empowering environment for all. It is important that we continue to educate our students about diversity and inclusion throughout the year but also recognise and celebrate this day to increase student awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. We had the privilege of hosting Jeremy, Dean, Tamara & Anat from Glen Eira City Council with lived experience of disability to share their unique journeys with our students. They shared their individual stories, their interests and challenges and adjustments they have made in their lives. They talked about what they want others to know about people living with a disability and how we can all contribute to changes that can be made within society to create an environment where everyone feels included. People living with a disability are people first and it is important that we treat everyone with respect and kindness.