As you will be aware, we currently have rules around cell phone use at school.

Our goal is to ensure that that everyone at school feels safe, that they belong and that they are in a focused learning environment. We know that at times, cell phones really impact on our ability to achieve this. Please make sure you talk with your rangatahi about how they manage cell phone use at school and at home.

We also suggest that you establish clear guidelines about cell phone use at home. Shared dinner or kai times are great for conversation when they are cell phone free. It's a great idea to have everyone's cell phones, including parents, charging overnight on the kitchen bench. A rule around devices eg laptops or chromebooks being used only in shared spaces at home such as kitchens, not in bedrooms, is really sensible and safe. This means that you can keep an eye on your rangatahis' online activity and provide support around boundaries which is important for adolescents at all ages and stages. Other support is available online for parents at https://netsafe.org.nz/parenttoolkit/. 

We will be in touch with you next week to share with you our suggested changes to our school cell phone use rules. The new government regulations require that: 

• Schools must ensure students do not use or access a personal phone while they are attending school, including during lunch time and breaks. This includes students who are on a school course or visit outside the school grounds. 
• Schools must allow students to use or access a phone when: 
  • a phone is needed for health reasons (for example, to monitor insulin levels); or  
  • a phone is needed to help a student with a disability or learning support need (for example, to assist with impaired communication); or 
  • a teacher requires students to use phones for a specific educational task or purpose (for example, for a class assignment); or 
  • the principal decides that they are needed for special circumstances (for example, the student is a teenage parent).

We appreciated your feedback through our Board consultation about cell phones in school. Many of you commented that they are a distraction in class and at times provide a source of distress and harm through online bullying. 

It is clear that our current rules do not meet the new regulations and we will send out more information and a short survey to you next week. In the meantime, thank you for your ongoing support as we begin the 2024 school year.