Personal Electronic Devices Policy – 2020

In line with the changes to the Education and Training Reform Act (2006) St Patrick’s College has made significant changes to the Personal Electronic Devices Policy.
For the purposes of this policy Personal Electronic devices include iPods, mobile phones, MP3 players, iPads, Air Pods, Smart Watches and headphones.

Summary of Changes
• From Term 1 2020, students who choose to bring mobile phones to school must have them switched off and securely stored during school hours. (8:50am to 3:25pm). This encompasses all areas of the College including the private study in the KRC and the Year 12 study centre.

• Mobile phones are deemed to be securely stored if they are stored in lockers during school hours. (8:50am to 3:25pm)

• Padlocks are available for purchase from the College Shop if required.

• All personal electronic devices owned by students are brought to schools at the owner’s risk.

• Airpods, headphones and ear buds are to be stored in the student’s pencil case and used only as directed for teaching and learning purposes.
If a student is seen to have a personal electronic device the following will take place:

• Electronic device (including mobile phone and Air Pods) will be confiscated, placed in an envelope which will be labelled with student’s name and home room and handed into Student Services for collection at the end of the day (after 3:25pm).

• The breach will be tracked in the College’s Behaviour Tracking Module.

• The student will be issued with a Thursday afterschool detention.

Given this policy has come into effect in all State Government and Catholic schools the College does not anticipate any significant compliance concerns. However, in the event of noncompliance the following will apply.

If a student refuses to relinquish their electronic device:

• The student will attend Student Services.

• An external suspension will be issued (which will occur next day) and parents and or guardian will be notified.

• The student will be required to hand in their phone. The student will then return to class.

• If a student still refuses to hand in their phone, they will receive an internal suspension for the duration of the day (or until they hand their phone in) and issued an external suspension for the following day.

These significant changes will be outlined to all students during our Welcoming Assembly on January 30, 2020 and will be enforced from Friday January 31, 2020.