Information for 2020

We would like to advise all parents and caregivers of Massey High School’s stance on cell-phones and headphones for 2020. As you are aware, many schools have taken very public steps to ban cell-phones outright. However, we are aware that many of our students who travel extensively on school buses etc. require the means to contact parents/caregivers after school hours. We are also mindful that cell-phones can be utilised positively in the social development of students at interval and lunchtime.

As such, we advise that we are not banning cell-phones completely, rather we have reviewed our existing policies. Massey High School has long had a “no-show” policy surrounding cell-phones (you will have noted this as part of the enrolment process). Moving into the new academic year, a mechanism has been put in place to ensure an equitable, and consistent application of this policy as cell-phone usage in class can prove to be a major distraction to the learning of the individual student, and to other students in the class.

Accordingly, we advise that cell-phones and head-phones are not permitted to be used during class time, the only exception to this is if the teacher has specifically signalled to the class that they are to be used for curriculum purposes.

Similarly, cell-phones and head-phones are not to be visible when students enter any formal setting e.g. an assembly. The vast majority of our students will adhere to this policy in the course of their professional interactions with teachers in class. However, there will be those who choose to challenge the policy. In such a case, the teacher’s priority is to teach their class – so any follow up that is required beyond an initial in-class discussion will be through the Deans. Our commitment here is to keep parents and caregivers involved in the process, ensuring that our students make the most of their learning opportunities.

All year levels have been advised of the increased commitment to consistent application of our no show policy and its rationale, both through their initial assemblies during the administration week, and more formally at their ‘learning-to-learn’ sessions this week.