Help for non-English speakers
If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.
As valuable partners in your child's wellbeing, learning and engagement at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.
To explain to our school community the Department’s and William Ruthven Primary School’s policy requirements and expectations relating to students using mobile phones and other personal mobile devices during school hours.
This policy applies to:
Definitions
A mobile phone is a telephone with access to a cellular (telecommunication) system, with or without a physical connection to a network, and any device that may connect to or have a similar functionality to a mobile phone such as smart watches.
William Ruthven Primary School understands that students may bring a personal mobile phone to school, particularly if they are travelling independently to and from school.
At William Ruthven Primary School:
Personal mobile phone use
In accordance with the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy issued by the Minister for Education, personal mobile phones must not be used at William Ruthven Primary School during school hours, including lunchtime and recess, unless an exception has been granted.
Where a student has been granted an exception, the student must use their mobile phone for the purpose for which the exception was granted, and in a safe, ethical and responsible manner.
Secure storage
Mobile phones and other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) owned by students at William Ruthven Primary School are considered valuable items and are brought to school at the owner’s (student’s or parent/carer’s) risk. Students are encouraged not to bring a mobile phone or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) to school unless there is a compelling reason to do so.
Please note: William Ruthven Primary School does not have accident insurance for accidental property damage or theft. Students and their parents/carers are encouraged to obtain appropriate insurance for valuable items. Refer to the school’s Personal Property Policy and the Department’s Claims for Property Damage and Medical Expenses policy.
Where students bring a mobile phone or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) to school, William Ruthven Primary School will provide secure storage. Secure storage is storage that cannot be readily accessed by those without permission to do so. At William Ruthven Primary School students are required to hand their phones into the school administration office to be placed in a lockable cupboard.
Enforcement
Students who use their personal mobile phones or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) inappropriately at William Ruthven Primary School may be issued with consequences consistent with our school’s existing student engagement polices:
At William Ruthven Primary School inappropriate use of mobile phones or other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches) is any use during school hours, unless an exception has been granted, and particularly use of a mobile phone:
Exceptions
Exceptions to the policy:
The three categories of exceptions allowed under the Department’s Mobile Phones — Student Use Policy are:
Specific exception
Documentation
For specific learning activities (class-based exception)
Unit of work, learning sequence
For students for whom a reasonable adjustment to a learning program is needed because of a disability or learning difficulty
Individual Learning Plan, Individual Education Plan
Students with a health condition
Student Health Support Plan
Students who are Young Carers
A localised student record
Travelling to and from excursions
Risk assessment planning documentation
Students on excursions and camps
Where an exception is granted, the student can only use the mobile phone for the purpose for which it was granted.
Camps, excursions and extracurricular activities
William Ruthven Primary School will provide students and their parents and carers with information about items that can or cannot be brought to camps, excursions, special activities and events, including personal mobile phones and other personal mobile devices (such as smart watches).
Exclusions
This policy does not apply to:
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Related policies and resources
Links to related local policies:
The Department’s Policy and Advisory Library (PAL):
