Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this note finds you and your family well. I am writing to inform you of an important update to our mobile phone policy that requires your immediate attention and support. Over the past few weeks, our new mobile phone pouch system has been successfully implemented across the school, and we are now moving to the next phase of this initiative.
Effective immediately, we will no longer be allowing students to open their phone pouches during the school day for any reason. This change marks the end of our interim adjustment period, during which students were permitted to access their phones when necessary. We believe that students have now had sufficient time to adapt to the new system and are ready for full implementation of our mobile-free learning environment.
As a result of this policy change, it is essential that your child brings their payment card or canteen barcode tag to school separate from their mobile phone. Many students have been storing these important items with their phones, but this will no longer be possible as pouches must remain sealed throughout the entire school day. Please ensure your child organises their belongings accordingly, keeping payment cards and any barcode tags easily accessible outside of their phone pouch. This will allow them to continue accessing canteen services and other school facilities without any disruption. In some cases a student may present to school with no phone or pouch and in this case we will make contact with you to confirm they have no device with them on that day.
I want to emphasise the importance of your child’s compliance with this policy. We have implemented a progressive approach to managing violations, beginning with verbal warnings and reminders. However, after repeat offences of not keeping mobile phones properly secured in pouches and in keeping with our existing policy, parents will be asked to collect the phone from the school. This measure ensures that all students understand the seriousness of our commitment to maintaining a focused learning environment. We believe this approach is fair while maintaining the standards necessary for effective education.
The decision to implement stricter guidelines comes after careful observation of the adjustment period and consultation with staff. We have found that allowing occasional access to phones, even for legitimate purposes, has created inconsistencies and continued distractions in our learning environment. By maintaining sealed pouches throughout the day, we can ensure that all students benefit equally from an environment free from mobile phone distractions, while still having access to the tools they need for daily school activities.
We greatly appreciate the support and cooperation you have shown during the initial implementation of this policy. Your understanding and reinforcement of these expectations at home have been instrumental in the smooth transition we have experienced thus far. As we move forward with full implementation, your continued support will be essential to maintaining the positive learning environment we have worked together to create.
In Summary
Key Phone Pouch Measures Effective Immediately:
Enforcement:
Reason for Change:
Staff consultation revealed that allowing occasional phone access created inconsistencies and ongoing distractions in the learning environment. Sealed pouches ensure equal benefit for all students in a mobile-free educational setting.
Action Required:
Parents should discuss this update with their child and help them organise belongings to keep payment cards accessible outside their phone pouch.
The school thanks parents for their continued support during the policy implementation and requests ongoing cooperation to maintain the positive learning environment.
Yours Sincerely,
Keith O’Rahilly
Principal
App