Mobile phone and Electronic Devices
Mobile Phone & Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy
Bridgetown High School’s Mobile Phone Policy has been developed in response to the recent Department of Education’s Student Mobile Phones in Public Schools Policy endorsed by the Director General. This mandatory policy is effective in all public schools as of 3 February, 2020. The Department of Education does not permit student use of mobile phones in public schools unless it is for medical, or a teacher directed, educational purpose.
Effective as of 3 February, 2020, Bridgetown High School will implement a ban on the use of mobile phones for all students from the time they arrive at school to the conclusion of the school day. Mobile phones should be ‘off and away all day’ and all smart watches must be on ‘aeroplane mode’ so phone calls and messages cannot be sent or received during the school day. This includes before school and at break times.
Students in Years 7 to 12 are permitted to bring their mobile phone to school. However, all mobile phones must be switched off and remain in their bags in the Student Common Room.
For the purposes of this policy, ‘mobile phones’ includes smart watches and all other electronic devices (including iPods and other branded tablets), as well as their associated listening accessories – such as, but not limited to, headphones, ear pods and ear buds.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
All students attending Bridgetown High School are asked to abide by these expectations for the safety of all.
Students will:
- Turn their mobile phones off from the time they arrive at school to the conclusion of the school day
- Not turn their mobile phone on at any point during the school day – including break times or between classes
- Leave their mobile phone in their school bag in the Student Common Room, thus abiding by the ‘off and away all day’ component of the policy
- Switch their smart watch to ‘aeroplane mode’ for the duration of the school day
- Hand their mobile phone or electronic device immediately to a teacher or member of staff if instructed to. Failure to do so will incur more severe consequences, including suspension
- Accept responsibility for any damage, loss or theft of their mobile phone. If students bring their mobile phone to school, they do so entirely at their own risk
- Sign the Mobile Phone & Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy
Parents or Caregivers will:
- The parents or caregivers of all students attending Bridgetown High School are asked to abide by these expectations for the safety of all.
PARENT or CAREGIVER EXPECTATIONS
- Contact the school’s Front Office to pass on messages to their child during the school day rather than contacting them directly on their device (for acceptable reasons only, students will be permitted to use a phone in the Front Office to contact their parents)
- Ensure that mobile phones are properly and adequately insured as personal property
- Work collaboratively with the school and help reinforce Bridgetown High School’s Mobile Phone & Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy with their child/ren
- Sign the Mobile Phone & Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy section of the Enrolment Form
CONSEQUENCES
If students do not abide by the Mobile Phone & Electronic Device Acceptable Use Policy and their mobile phone is confiscated by a member of staff, the following will occur:
First Offence
The mobile phone or electronic device will be stored in the Front Office until the end of the day. Parents will be contacted and informed of the breach of policy. The student will be permitted to collect the device at the end of the school day.
Second Offence
The Student Services Coordinator will store the mobile phone or electronic device and issue the student with a letter explaining the policy at Bridgetown High School. When this letter is signed by a parent or caregiver and returned to the school, the device will be returned to the student – usually the next school day.
** This breach will count towards a Loss of Good Standing (LOGS) as outlined in the Bridgetown High School Good Standing Policy **
Third Offence
The Student Services Coordinator will store the mobile phone or electronic device, issue the student with a letter explaining the policy at Bridgetown High School and notify the parent or caregiver that they must come to the school to collect the mobile phone or electronic device in person. Under no circumstances will the device be returned to the student.
** This breach will count towards a Loss of Good Standing (LOGS) as outlined in the Bridgetown High School Good Standing Policy **
Fourth Offence
The Student Services Coordinator will store the mobile phone or electronic device, and then contact the parent or caregiver to advise them that their child is banned from bringing to school and/or using any mobile phone or electronic device for the remainder of the school term. A parent or caregiver will need to personally collect the item from the Student Services Coordinator. Students who fail to comply with this ban will be automatically suspended from school. Where students are banned close to the end of a school term, the ban may apply for all or part of the next school term as well.
** This breach will count towards a Loss of Good Standing (LOGS) as outlined in the Bridgetown High School Good Standing Policy **
Please Note: Many students own more than one mobile phone or electronic device. It is possible for students to break this policy using their own mobile phone (first offence), their iPod (second offence), their smart watch (third offence) and another student’s mobile phone (fourth offence). Students DO NOT receive four offences for each device they own.