CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE DEVICES AT SCHOOL

The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies: 

• Thinking.
• Using language, symbols and texts.
• Managing self.
• Relating to others.
• Participating and contributing. 

People use these competencies to live, learn, work and contribute as active members of their communities. More complex than skills, the competencies draw also on knowledge, attitudes and values in ways that lead to action. They are not separate or stand-alone. They are the key to learning in every learning area.

Central to these is our young peoples' ability to use ICT, including assistive technology, to access and provide information and to communicate with others.

Our school prides itself on being a progressive and leading school. Two of our strategic goals seek to ensure all our students will develop the skills to live in a global community and for the school to be innovative and focused on continuous improvement.

The world our young people live in today is far different from that even five years ago. For the young and increasingly for business, social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Flicker; and information sites such as Google and Wikipedia, are as well-known as Coca Cola and McDonalds.

It is our responsibility to ensure our students can take their place in this world with the skills, values and moral obligations that accompany such freedom of information access and communication. All students must sign a responsible use agreement before they are able to access the school computer network.

At our school students are permitted to have cell phones and other mobile devices at school under strict protocols. Provided individual students follow these protocols, they will have a Trusted Student status. Those who fail to follow the protocols will lose this status and will be banned from having a device at school. Other students’ privileges do not deserve to be compromised by a small number who will be placed on a restricted list.

With the presence of student cell phones and mobile devices at school, we will develop new and innovative ways to utilise this technology for learning.

Our school is pioneering ways to use a range of digital devices for learning and in this way our students will be able to lift their engagement in learning to a higher and more meaningful level.

PROTOCOLS FOR USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE DEVICES AT SCHOOL

Cell Phones

Student cell phones are only permitted at our school for the following two reasons: Learning and communicating with parents and caregivers before or after school. They are not permitted for entertainment or gaming. Specific rules are as follows:

1. Phones must be switched off in class unless teachers give permission to use these for learning.

2. No direct calls to friends or parents are permitted during school time. All contact with people who are not in the school must continue to be made through the school office during the school day.

3. No accessing of personal emails or texts during school time.

4. You must ask your teacher for permission to access the internet during class time.

5. Cell phones can’t be used at all during morning tea or lunch times. They are to remain in your classroom or your pocket.

6. No access to the internet is permitted during morning tea or lunchtime. The school student wi-fi system will be turned off during these breaks.

7. Gaming is not permitted at any time on school site.

8. Students with their own mobile data plan must register their cell phone with their teacher and keep the mobile data off during school time.

9. No videoing or photographing of others at school without their permission and only for learning purposes.

10. No uploading of school images to social media sites such as Facebook, and YouTube.

11. No use of social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook and twitter during school time.

12. No put downs or nasty texts allowed.

13. No inappropriate music or ringtones.

14. No inappropriate photos or videos.

15. No cell phone chargers at school.

16. Cell phones brought to school remain the responsibility of the student. The school will take care but no responsibility for loss, breakage or theft of cell phones.

17. Teachers will not take responsibility for the security or storage of cell phones.

ICT Devices Including Laptops, Chromebooks, iPads, Watches etc

All of the above apply plus

1. All students wishing to have an ICT device at school must have signed and returned the Responsible Use of ICT Devices Agreement to school.

2. Mobile devices are for learning in class. They are not to be used in the playground during morning tea and lunch times.

3. Leave your device in a secure place in the class room when not using for learning.

4. Ensure your device comes to school fully charged.

5. Devices brought to school remain the responsibility of the student. The school will take care but no responsibility for loss, breakage or theft of devices.

6. Keep passwords secure and private. Do not share with other students.

7. Each student is responsible for the content of their own device. If someone else uses your device you must ensure it is used responsibly.

8. Ensure your device is named and easily identifiable. Keep a record of the serial number at home.

9. Only use the device for learning as directed by your teacher or in association with the topic you are studying at the time.

10. Only log in to your own account with your own username and pass word.

11. No watching or downloading music, video or movies at school without the teacher’s permission.

12 No playing of games at school that have not been provided by the teacher as an educational activity.