New mobile phone policy, subject selection and choir tour to Melbourne.

Dear parents

Recently there has been much discussion by staff, parents and students regarding the use of mobile phones (to be differentiated from learning devices with larger screen sizes) in the class room.

There is a growing amount of evidence that shows that unlimited access to phones can have a detrimental effect upon learning and social development. Issues that all schools are experiencing include:

• rising levels of social isolation and anxiety, particularly around the use of social media
  
• phone addiction
  
• distraction from learning (games, social media, online media)
  
• conflict between students and other students/teachers over device use
  
• students ‘unable’ to learn without access to music/headphones (the benefits are disputable)
  

Nayland College has to date taken a proactive stance on the use of student phones in classrooms. There are significant advantages to learning that can be achieved from appropriate use of a mobile phone. For example:

• taking simple notes
  
• setting reminders
  
• video or audio recording and analysis
  
• using apps such as a calculator
  
• taking photos of notes or instructions on whiteboards
  
• checking timetable changes or school-specific notices
  

However, the current ‘traffic light’ system for phone use is not working. We have therefore made changes to make our processes much easier to understand. Generally, mobile phones are not to be seen or used during school lessons. Exceptions can be made if students ask the teacher’s permission to use their phone for a learning purpose or the teacher explicitly states that phones are allowed during an activity. Should a student refuse to quietly put their phone away it will be confiscated. If students do not follow these instructions, they will be referred to their dean. If this happens consistently they will be referred to the senior leadership team and high-level consequences are possible. We hope that this new process encourages positive use of phones for learning purposes and assists with minimising the distraction these devices can cause. We ask that parents assist by not excepting your child to answer messages until break times.

Next Tuesday we will be holding our annual senior subject selection evening. We encourage all students who will be in year 11-13 in 2019 to attend. Students should be working with their tutor teacher, subject teachers and deans to ensure they are choosing appropriate courses. I feel strongly that school is usually the best option for young people until the end of year 13, so even if your child is considering leaving Nayland College I encourage them to attend and explore the types of programmes we can offer.

Finally, good luck to our choir members who will be travelling to Melbourne next week to compete in the Victorian Schools Music Festival. If you have family and friends that live in Wellington they can hear the choirs on Saturday 4 August, 1:00pm at Wellington Airport. Supporters in Melbourne can hear the choirs at the Queen Victoria Market at 10:30am on Sunday morning and at the Deakin Edge Theatre at 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.

Nga mihi nui

Daniel Wilson
Principal