At Living Academy, we recognize that while mobile phones offer convenience for travel to and from school, they can also act as a distraction to learning and a risk to student wellbeing. These guidelines ensure a focused, respectful environment for all students.

Core Rule: “Out of Sight, Out of Mind”

• No Usage During School Hours: Mobile phones must be turned off and kept out of sight at all times. This includes during all lessons, recess, lunch, sport, study periods, and assemblies.

• Examination Bans: In accordance with NESA and IB regulations, mobile phones are strictly prohibited in NAPLAN and IB examination rooms.

• Learning Tools: Mobile phones may not be used as a substitute for approved calculators during learning activities.

Parents have the ability – and responsibility – to control access on their child’s phone via account settings – to learn how you can manage this, please read our blog here.

Student Responsibility and Risk

• Personal Responsibility: Students are solely responsible for the security of their devices.

• School Liability: The school does not accept responsibility for the loss, theft, or damage of mobile phones brought to campus, camps, or excursions. Students bring these devices at their own risk.

   

Contacting Your Child During the Day

To maintain school procedures and minimize disruption, we ask parents to observe the following:

• Emergency Contact: If you need to reach your child urgently, please contact the School Office at (02) 5632 1218. Staff will ensure the message is passed on immediately.

• Non-Urgent Contact: Please confine direct mobile calls or texts to your child to before or after school hours.

• Bypassing Procedures: Students must not use their phones to bypass official school notification procedures for illness or early departure.

   

Compliance and Behaviour

• Digital Citizenship: Harassment or bullying via SMS, web-based communication, or voice messages is a breach of school policy and may be referred to the police.

• Confiscation: If a phone is seen by a staff member, it will be collected and held until the end of the school day.

• Repeated Non-Compliance: Students who refuse to hand over a device will be sent to the Academy Director. In these instances, a parent will be required to collect the phone personally.

   

Full Policy Document

For the complete details, including the Student Agreement and compliance signatures, please view the full document here: