As many of you are aware, we launched our mobile devices (laptops, phones etc) ban in Years 7 – 10 this week. This is in line with what many schools are doing as we seek to help teenagers manage the trap of too much screen time. The issue has been raised with us over the past couple of years and we were ready to move last year but then went into home learning.

So far, I am pleased to report good cooperation from students. We have confiscated some phones and laptops, but we trust this sends a message to students that we are serious, and they must comply. There are always other means of communicating and messages from parents can be checked at 3:15pm.

How can you help? You can see if it is feasible for them to leave their phone at home. You can make sure you do not message them during school hours unless it is urgent. You can discuss with your teenager what alternative activities they might engage in if they can’t use their laptop at break times. You can discuss with them how to better manage their screen time outside of school, so the problem does not just shift to home time.

We are conscious that for a few students, they hide behind their screens because of social and relational challenges, and we are monitoring them and working with them to help them learn to manage their anxiety in other ways. If you become concerned for your child, please let us know so that we can support them.

We have not imposed the ban on Years 11 and 12 students as we want them to learn to better manage themselves as they prepare to move on from the controlled environment of school. I am encouraged that the majority are learning this and trying to set a good example to the younger students. I have also asked the staff to do the same and be aware of their own public use of phones during break times.

I think the biggest challenge may be us as adults and parents. Do you seek to model this to your child? We know they learn as much, if not more from modelling as they do from instructions. Setting some device free times at home and introducing other activities you all do together may be a great way to enhance family relationships as well as deal with over-use of a device.

You should monitor what is happening on their devices and do not feel bad about putting monitoring software on them. It is so easy to access pornography and other violent and dangerous material via the internet. It is your responsibility as a parent to keep your child safe and take whatever measures you need to do that.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this move. I have appreciated the almost 40 emails of support that have come in from parents. We want to work together on issues like this as we seek to equip our children for a positive life.