Personal Digital Devices- A personal digital device is any privately owned digital device. This includes cellphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, handheld PCs and consoles, portable music players, e-readers, and other similar devices.

Somerfield Te Kura Wairepo does not recommend that students bring personal digital devices to school. These are not necessary to have during the day. However, we understand that some parents like their children to have a device to communicate with them after school.

We discuss the school rules about personal digital devices at the beginning of the year, and throughout the year as needed.

If a student does bring a personal digital device to school, the following guidelines apply:

• The school does not accept responsibility for lost, damaged, or stolen personal digital devices.
• Students must hand in their device to the office at the beginning of the day, and can collect the device at the end of the day.

Personal digital devices may not be taken on EOTC events.

If a parent needs to contact their child urgently during the day, they should call the office.

Inappropriate use

Inappropriate use of a personal digital device may include:

• using the device when not permitted
• any sort of bullying, including online 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.

Inappropriate use of a personal digital device is dealt with through the school's behaviour management, responding to digital incidents, and surrender and retention of digital devices guidelines, as appropriate.