Mobile Phone & Digital Device Policy
The following policy aims to maintain a safe, nurturing environment where the personal dignity and rights of all the members of the school community are preserved in line with our mission statement. This policy has been put in place in order that teaching and learning can take place without interruption and also with the intention of protecting students and staff from potential harassment or bullying.
In order to assist the school in implementing this policy, parents/guardians are not to arrange to contact students by mobile phone at any time during the school day. Contact with the school may be made through the school office at (01) 4507017. All student communication with parents/ guardians must be made through the school office.
A student, who wishes to go home for any reason during the school day, must arrange to do so through the school office with the written permission of their Year Head, the Deputy Principal or the Principal and not independently by mobile phone. This ensures that correct procedures for leaving school before the end of the day are observed. Responsibility cannot be taken by school authorities for students who arrange independently to go home without following proper procedure. Any such arrangement is a breach of our Code of Behaviour and will incur sanctions.
Policy Arrangements:
Breaches of this policy will be dealt with under the Code of Behaviour for Students
All staff
This policy is subject to review
In order to assist the school in implementing this policy, parents/guardians are not to arrange to contact students by mobile phone at any time during the school day. Contact with the school may be made through the school office at (01) 4507017. All student communication with parents/ guardians must be made through the school office.
A student, who wishes to go home for any reason during the school day, must arrange to do so through the school office with the written permission of their Year Head, the Deputy Principal or the Principal and not independently by mobile phone. This ensures that correct procedures for leaving school before the end of the day are observed. Responsibility cannot be taken by school authorities for students who arrange independently to go home without following proper procedure. Any such arrangement is a breach of our Code of Behaviour and will incur sanctions.
Policy Arrangements:
- Where a student brings a mobile phone/digital device to school, they must be switched off and stored in her locked locker and may not be used at any time or for any purpose on the school premises or grounds (inside the school gates). A student may not keep her phone / Digital device on her person or in her school bag. Phones / Digital devices must never be brought to class or examinations
- Students participating in school related activities (e.g. Study, Extra- Curricular Activities, School Trips, and Tours etc.) must abide by the rules governing these activities.
Breaches of this policy will be dealt with under the Code of Behaviour for Students
- A student who is found using a mobile phone/digital device or with a mobile phone / digital device on her person will be obliged to leave the phone/digital device and its SIM card in the school office for three days. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- At the end of the period the phone/digital device will be returned. The school has the right to ensure in so far as is practicable, that the phone/ digital device contains no images or information which would compromise any member of the school community. The student will be required to remove any school related images after which the phone/digital device will be returned.
- Because mobile phones/digital devices have the potential to invade privacy, the teacher dealing with the matter can also issue a docket which may result in the imposition of any of the normal sanctions.
- Incidents where students use mobile phones/digital devices to bully other students or send offensive messages or calls will be investigated under the Anti-Bullying Policy for Students. It should be noted that it is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone/digital device to menace, harass or offend another person. As such, the school may consider it appropriate to involve the Gardaí in such incidents.
- The school accepts no responsibility for replacing lost, stolen or damaged mobile phones/digital devices. The safety and security of mobile phones/digital devices is wholly a matter for students and their parents/guardians.
- It is strongly advised that students mark their mobile phones/digital devices with their names and use passwords to ensure that unauthorised phone calls cannot be made on their phones. Each student is responsible for all communication from their phone and any image or recording on their mobile phone.
- The taking of photographs or the use of any recording equipment is strictly forbidden and a range of sanctions, up to and including expulsion, will apply.
All staff
- Monitor the implementation of this policy
- Implement sanctions in cases of breach of policy
- Support school policy on mobile phones/digital devices.
- Comply with rules on mobile phones/digital devices.
This policy is subject to review