Mobile Phone Ban

Mobile Phone Ban 2020

The state-wide Mobile Phone Ban in government schools commences from Day One 2020. In consultation with staff, students and parents, last year we developed the Northcote High policy and implementation process. 

We strongly recommend that students avoid bringing a phone to school. If they do have to do so, phones must be switched off and locked in the student's locker from before Period 1 to after Period 5, including during break times. Phones will not be used for class activities: teachers have arranged alternatives for when the learning requires such a device. 

The link to information and the policy can be found here:

Website                                      https://www.nhs.vic.edu.au/about-us/policies/

myNorthcoteHigh                 https://schoolbox.nhs.vic.edu.au/homepage/9065

Essentially, the vital information for the start of the year is this:

1. All students will be allocated a lockable locker on Day One
2. They must bring their school combination lock to lock their locker on Day One. If they do not, we will issue one and it will be charged to the family account.
3. If phones are brought to school, they should be turned off and locked in lockers prior to Period 1 and remain there until after Period 5. Phones are not to be accessed at recess and lunch.
4. Any student found to be using their phone during the day will be required to take it to the front office where it will be confiscated and kept in locked storage until the end of the day. Parental involvement will be required for collection after repeat occurrences.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I check my Compass timetable and room changes?

We recommend checking for room changes in the morning before you get to school: they are usually posted to Compass by 8am. You can use your laptop during the day to check Compass.

Room changes are also displayed on the screens around the school.

It's also a good idea to have a paper copy of your timetable stuck up inside your locker so that you can quickly remind yourself of what classes you have next.

How will I check the time?

There are clocks in each classroom, and the screens around the school also display the time. You could also wear a watch (not a web/message-enabled one though).

Sometimes I use my phone to hot-spot when the internet connection is poor or I've run out of my allocated data. What am I going to do?

Over the holidays the school has been investing in upgrades to our wifi, including the routers and the bandwidth available. All internet connection must be via the school network.

The daily student data quota should be ample for academic use. Use of school systems such as myNorthcoteHigh is exempt from the data quota. Often data is used up by programs, automatic updates and apps running in the background: make sure these are switched off. Playing games and watching videos (non-school related) also use up your data. You should avoid using your device for these, even at recess and lunchtime.

What if my parents need to contact me in an emergency?

If there is an emergency at home, your parents will need to ring the school office on 9488 2300. We will get the message to you.

If it is non-urgent (eg. arrangments for after-school pick up), your parents can message you and you will be able to check this after the end of the school day. 

What if I am leaving school early (eg. for a medical appointment)? Can I use my phone?

You can only use your phone once you have left the school grounds.  You will need to leave it switched off and in your school bag on your way out of school. If you are getting collected by a parent/guardian you will need to make sure that you have arranged the time and place beforehand.

Can I still use messaging and receiving notifications on my laptop or iPad?

No - these functions must be switched off during the school day.

What if I need my phone for a medical reason (eg. it helps to manage my insulin pump)?

There are some exemptions for medical and learning support reasons - these need to be approved by the school and students will be issued a personalised card to indicate this. See the policy for more details.

Can I still use my phone on excursions?

If the excursion requires it for safety or other reasons (eg. you are working unsupervised in a small group during City School), you will be given permission to use your phone. Your teachers will communicate this explicitly to you.

Does this change any of the school rules and expectations around 1:1 devices?

No. All students must have a school-approved device (laptop, notebook or iPad) for academic use, as it is essential for accessing our curriculum and learning resources. This must be brought to school fully charged each day. As usual, you should not start using your device until instructed by your teacher.  The Acceptable Use of ICT and School Networks and Cybersafety policies apply as per usual.  Your laptop/iPad may still be confiscated if you are using it inappropriately.

Are teachers still allowed to use their phones?

The ban does not apply to teachers, however teachers and other staff members will try to model appropriate and limited use of mobile phones, especially in student spaces. There are some good reasons why teachers may sometimes need to use their phones during the school day, both in the yard and in classrooms. These include, for example:

•  Whilst on Yard Duty, to notify the office if there is an emergency or to call an ambulance if someone is seriously sick or injured
• To notify the office of other emergencies or concerns during class time (if there is not a phone in the classroom or nearby)
• To mark the roll, especially during outdoor activities or if there is a class/event where they do not need their laptop
• To check Compass for student information and safety when they do not have access to a computer
• To take a photo of notes on the whiteboard at the end of a class, that they can post to myNorthcoteHigh for student reference

Want to know more?

Here are links to some of the research around negative effect of mobile phones on young people that the State Government used in deciding upon the  ban: