Orara High School

Opportunity Innovation Success

Telephone02 6652 1077

Emailorara-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

New smart devices procedure for the Orara school community

New smart devices procedure for the Orara school community

Staff and students have been collaborating for some time to develop a whole-school framework for positive expectations for everyone, The Orara Way. Upon coming into the school, you will see banners and signs that highlight our three key values: safe, inclusive and respectful.

An important aspect of this is how we are going to support students to use technology and smart devices in a safe, inclusive and respectful way. We have defined what we class as smart devices later in this procedure. Our first assembly this term (via Zoom), the principal explained to the school community that as of Monday, 19 July 2021, the following procedures will be in place across the Orara school community. 

Students are able to quickly and easily contact family members through the front office and likewise, parents and carers can very quickly be connected with their children by contacting the school on 6652 1077 at any time during the school day.

We expect there to be significant reductions in student anxiety and mental health concerns related to the use of smart devices, in particular, the use of social media, and we expect negative interactions in classes and the playground to decrease and positive face-to-face social interactions to increase. Studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between these two issues, where the frequent use of smart devices increases a person’s anxiety levels and mental health concerns.

Also, we expect there will be a significant improvement in learning, with an increase in students’ attention, concentration and performance. Studies have shown that smart devices, such as mobile phones, have a negative impact on productivity through distraction, and schools that ban these devices see student performance increased in exam results. 

To support students, the staff and students have organised viable alternative activities for students during break times.For example, students will have the opportunity to participate in board games, card games, and sporting activities. This will be an ongoing and evolving process as students find different and varied activities in which they would like to participate.

There are a studies and articles that support this approach to improved wellbeing and learning. Please take the time to read the two articles linked below. Over the coming weeks we will be sharing studies and articles in our newsletter to help keep parents, carers and students informed.

 

Year 11 and 12 students

Year 11 and 12 students may have their device on school premises following the below conditions.

Students will:

  • Have their device turned off and placed in their bags upon entering school premises.

  • Use their device upon teacher request for learning purposes.

  • During study periods, use a school device offered in the library (for example, the chromebooks).

  • Be able to use their device respectfully at recess and lunch.

  • Be responsible for their device brought on school premises.

Failure to adhere to these expectations will result in the device(s) being confiscated as per agreed procedures as outlined later in this procedure.

 

Year 7 - 10 students

Year 7, 8, 9 & 10 students will not be permitted to have device(s) at any time while at school. 

Failure to adhere to these expectations will result in the device(s) being confiscated and managed as per agreed procedures as outlined later in this procedure. 

 

Staff

Staff will, at times, need to have a device with them for particular purposes, for example:

  • Accessing administrative tools and functions, such as roll marking,
  • Accessing learning delivery and management tools, such as Google Drive or Kahoot, to deliver learning experiences or assessments,
  • Contacting support in cases of emergency.

Staff are expected to model professional and ethical device use and etiquette while in the workplace.

 

Parents, carers and community

Parents, carers and community members will be able to assist the wellbeing of all students by doing the following:

For students in Years 7 - 10:

  • Ensure their child(ren) does not bring their device(s) to school.
  • Ensure they have spoken with their child about the school’s device(s) expectations.

For students in Years 11 - 12:

  • Remind their child(ren) their device(s) is to be turned off and placed in their school bag.
  • Ensure they have spoken with their child about the school’s device(s) expectations.

 

School disciplinary procedures

If a student breaches the aforementioned expectations and complies with handing over their device to the staff member managing the breach, the following will occur:

  • First time: 
    • The parent/carer will be contacted and required to pick up the device from school,
    • A conversation will take place between relevant school executive staff member and the student.
  • Second time:
    • The parent/carer will be contacted by the DP and be required to collect the device from them,
    • The student will be issued with a formal caution.
  • Third time:
    • The student will be issued with a short suspension,
    • Participate in a mandatory meeting/session regarding device-dependence with the counsellor/SSO as part of the return to school.

Continued breaches will result in escalation in the school disciplinary procedures.

 

If a student breaches the aforementioned expectations and does not comply with handing over their device to the staff member managing the breach, the following will occur:

  • First time:
    • The parent/carer will be contacted by the DP and be required to collect the device from them,
    • The student will be issued with a formal caution.
  • Second time:
    • The student will be issued with a short suspension,
    • A mandatory meeting/session regarding device-dependence with the counsellor/SSO as part of the return to school.

Continued breaches will result in escalation in the school disciplinary procedures.

 

The definition of smart devices

The Orara High School community agrees to the following usage of devices are listed below:

  • Mobile phones
  • Smart watches
  • Gaming devices (including, but not limited to, Nintendo Switch)
  • Phablets
  • Wearable smart bands
  • Earphones
  • Headphones
  • MP3 players
  • Portable and/or compact music devices
  • Portable and/or compact video and/or audio recording devices
  • Tablet (including, but not limited to, iPad, Samsung Galaxy tablet)

 

We appreciate your consideration and support of the above as we are all committed to students’ learning and wellbeing being optimised through these changes. 

As always, any significant change within our school community is an opportunity for us to collaborate closely on the most beneficial outcomes for every student. We hope this also provides parents and carers with an opportunity to reflect on their own expectations and routines in relation to young people and technology beyond the school. 

If you've gotten to this stage and have not had a chance yet, please take the time to read the two articles linked below.

If you would like to discuss any of the above in relation to your child(ren) please contact the school on 6652 1077 to make an appointment with relevant staff.