We have recently updated our 'cell phone' policy to 'personal digital devices'. Please see the information below and talk with your children about this. Your child's teacher will also chat to children about this topic. It is a good reminder that children should only contact their parents or caregivers, and vice versa, during the school day through their teacher or the school office only.

To view the full policy, please go to :

http://waitakiri.schooldocs.co.nz/. Username : waitakiri Password : waitakiri

Personal Digital Devices

A personal digital device is any privately owned digital device that is not part of any school-approved Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programme.

Waitākiri School does not recommend that students bring personal digital devices to the 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. Any changes to our school rules are communicated to students and our school community.

Parent/Caregiver and student responsibilities

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

If a student brings a personal digital device to our school, the following guidelines apply:

• The school does not accept responsibility for lost, damaged, or stolen personal digital devices brought to the school but investigates any issues as appropriate.
• Students must hand in their device to the studio staff 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.

Students are expected to follow our Digital Technology and Online Safety policy when using personal digital devices on school property or the school network.

Inappropriate use

If we see a student using a personal digital device inappropriately, we confiscate it. After the student locks the device, we place it in the studio staff office to be collected at the end of the day.

Inappropriate use of a personal digital device may include:

• using the device when not permitted
• any sort of bullying, including online bullying
• taking photos or videos of other people without their permission
• forwarding inappropriate messages or content.

Inappropriate use of a personal digital device is managed through the school Behaviour Management, Responding to Digital Incidents, and Surrender and Retention of Personal Digital Devices policies and procedures, as appropriate.