Here at Rolleston College it’s hugely important that our learners are provided the best learning opportunities and environments available to them. Recently it has become evident that some of these learning opportunities are being interrupted by learners becoming distracted on their phones and not being able to manage themselves with the responsibility of having a phone in their possession.

Our policies here are very clear. Our R2L expectations are that if a student wants to have their phone out in class (sometimes some self-directed tasks allow music to be listened to) then students need to ask the teacher first. If a student has a phone out without permission, then the phone is to be handed to the teacher to look after for the lesson to prevent further distractions. There is no reason a student needs to have their phone out in class without permission, this is taking valuable learning time away from their own academic progress and takes teacher time away from teaching when having to deal with this situation. On-going mis-use will result in possible confiscation requiring a parent/guardian to pick it up.

As you can appreciate we are really clamping down on misuse of phones in class. We want the students to focus directly on learning. You are able to support this by engaging in conversation with your child around the importance of staying focused in class and to use phones at appropriate times such as break times and out of school hours. Working together as a community around this will allow us to develop a culture to appropriately use phones during allocated times.

Below is the Rolleston College policy regarding cell phone use:

Cellphones

Rolleston College allows students to bring a cellphone to school. We recognise that cellphones can be used as a learning tool in the classroom, and teachers may incorporate the use of cellphones into their lessons when appropriate.

We discuss the cellphone etiquette expected at school with students at the beginning of the year, and throughout the year as needed.

Guidelines

• The school does not accept responsibility for lost, damaged, or stolen phones.

• Students may use their phones during breaks.

• When phones are used for learning activities, this will be at the teacher's discretion, and their use is supervised by school staff.

• Students may take a cellphone on EOTC activities. These guidelines and other relevant school policies will apply.

Inappropriate cellphone use

If a student is observed using a phone inappropriately, it will be confiscated and a parent must pick up the phone from the office. If possible, students should lock their phone before handing it to staff.

Inappropriate use of a cellphone may include:

• any sort of bullying, e.g. disrespectful messages about staff or other students

• taking photos or videos of other people without their permission

• forwarding inappropriate messages or content.