Schools have the authority to ban anything which is illegal, dangerous or is likely to cause disruption or harm to the smooth running of the school and the education of students.
The use of mobile phones and other electronic equipment by students at school can be disruptive and is not permitted at Mackay State High School.
This includes, but not limited to, games devices, PDAs, cameras, video recording devices, mobile phones, iPods and other media players or devices of a similar nature. School eLearning and Tablet laptops are exempt from this policy, but these have their own usage agreement.
Student use of mobile phones and other electronic devices is not permitted at Mackay State High School. The school acknowledges that there are circumstances in which it is necessary for students to have access to such devices before and after school. Any mobile phone brought to school must be turned off and kept away and out of sight at all times. Leaving mobile phones on silent, checking them during breaks, or using them for other functions such as a clock or calculator is not acceptable.
Mobile phones and other electronic equipment are brought to school at their owners’ risk. No liability will be accepted by the school in the event of loss, theft or damage to any device. If students wish to book their phone in and collect at end of day at office, they may do so at the Year Masters Room.
All communications between students and parents, guardians or other outside personnel is to be conducted through the office. Messages, be they information or urgent, will be conveyed to students at the appropriate time, using the new system with phones to all classrooms. Any student who is feeling unwell at school and needs to contact home must arrange this through the office. Under no circumstances may students use mobile phones to make arrangements to leave the school. During break times, students can access a phone in the school office to contact parents if needed. Permission to make such calls will be at the discretion of school staff. Students with eDevices in tests will be assumed to be taking advantage and will likely be awarded an E Rating.
Students, who choose not to follow this policy, will be dealt with in the following manner. Offences refer to breach of the policy, and are not specific to one type of item.
1st offence
The device will be confiscated by the teacher, who will pass it with student name on to the Office at next break to be booked in electronically and parent/caregiver will be sent an SMS. Teacher will enter on One School. The student will be able to collect the device from the Office after school.
2nd offence
The device will be confiscated by the teacher, who will pass it with student name on to the Office at next break to be booked in electronically and parent/caregiver will be sent an SMS . The device will be returned to the student via their Year Level Administrator and parent/guardian will be contacted.
3rd offence
The device will be confiscated by the teacher, who will pass it with student name on to the Office at next break to be booked in electronically and parent/caregiver will be sent an SMS. The device will only be returned to the student’s parent or guardian.
The student may be suspended.
Failure to comply
Any failure to hand over an electronic device when asked will be treated as refusal to follow a reasonable instruction and will be dealt with in the normal manner through the school’s behaviour policy.
When the school becomes aware that any device has been used for cyber-bullying or to capture or distribute images of violence or malice, appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the schools anti-bullying and behaviour policies. Students will be required to remove any material deemed to be offensive from any device, website or social network. Failure to comply with such requests will result in serious disciplinary action. Devices believed to contain illegal material or evidence of illegal activity will be confiscated and, where appropriate, provided to Police.