Acceptable Use Policy for Mobile Phones
This policy is based on the principles of responsibility and respect of all students and requires accountability on the part of the user for their actions.
Purpose
MSHS has established the following Mobile Phone Policy so supervisors, students and parents understand the guidelines and instructions for the appropriate use of mobile phones during school hours.
Students and their parents or carers must read and understand the Acceptable Use Policy before students are given permission to bring mobile phones to school.
The Mobile Phone Policy also applies to students during excursions, camps and extracurricular activities.
Rationale
Personal Safety and security
MSHS accepts that parents give their children mobile phones to protect them from everyday risks involving personal security and safety. There is also increasing concern about children travelling alone on public transport or commuting long distances to school. It is acknowledged that providing your child with a mobile phone gives parents/carers reassurance that they can contact their child if they need to speak to them urgently outside school hours.
Responsibility
It is the responsibility of the student who brings a mobile phone to school to abide by the guidelines outlined in this document.
The decision to provide a mobile phone to their child while at school should be made by parents or carers. Parents give permission for their child to bring a mobile phone to school.
The School/ Parents/carers may revoke approval for the students to bring a “switched” off mobile at any time.
MOBILE PHONE POLICY DETAILS
Mobile phones are to be switched off and out of sight during school hours. All related mobile phone listening devices are also be put away and out of sight.
Parents/Carers are reminded that in cases of emergency, the School office remains a vital and appropriate point of contact and can ensure your child is reached quickly and assisted in any appropriate way.
In the rare and exceptional circumstances where the arrangements above does not meet requirements, an exception may be permitted if the parent/carer specifically requests in written format through the Principal. Such requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. The Principal will give approval for use in a specific time frame.
Students should protect their phone numbers by only giving them to friends and keeping a note of who they have given them to. This can help protect the student’s number from falling into the wrong hands and guard against the receipt of insulting, threatening or unpleasant voice, text, picture and video messages via the usual phone networks, the internet or blue tooth and infrared connectivity.
Unacceptable Uses
Mobile phones must be turned off and out of sight during school hours, unless explicit permission is granted by the Principal.
Mobile phones are not to be used to make calls, send SMS messages, take photos, used as hotspots, or use any other application while at school.
Students are to make contact with their parent/carers via the office phone.
Using mobile phones to bully and threaten other students is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. In some cases it can constitute criminal behaviour.
It is forbidden for students to use their mobile phones to take videos and pictures of acts to denigrate and humiliate that person and then send the pictures to others or upload it to a website for public viewing. This also includes using mobile phones to photograph or film any person without their consent.
It is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend another person and almost all calls, text messages and emails can be traced.
Mobile phones are not to be used in changing rooms or toilets or used in any situation that may cause embarrassment or discomfort to their fellow students, staff or visitors to the School.
The use of mobile hotspots to access the internet from school equipment is forbidden. Access to the internet on school equipment is via Education Queensland’s network only.
Theft or damage
Students should mark their mobile phone clearly with their name.
Students who bring a mobile phone to school should leave it locked away in their locker or in the school office.
Mobile phones that are found in the school and whose owner cannot be located are to be handed to a staff member.
Miles SHS accepts no responsibility for students who lose or have their mobile phones stolen while at school or travelling to and from school and the school will not interrupt instruction time to investigate any loss.
It is strongly advised that students use a password or a pin to ensure that unauthorised phone calls cannot be made on their phones (eg by other students, or if stolen). Students must keep their password and pin confidential. A mobile phone, password or pin, may not be shared.
