Mobile Phone Policy
At Rosehill College, we believe mobile phones are not necessary during the school day. However, we understand that some parents and caregivers want their children to have a phone for after-school communication.
If a student brings a phone to school, the following guidelines apply.
This policy helps keep our school a safe, respectful, and focused learning environment.
Rosehill College Digital Usage Guidelines
General Guidelines
- The school is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen phones.
- Phones must be on silent and kept in school bags between 8.45am and 3.10pm.
- Teachers may allow supervised use of phones for learning activities.
- Phones may be brought on EOTC activities, at the discretion of staff and in line with school policies.
- In an emergency, parents should contact the school office, and we will pass the message on to students.
- Parents/caregivers can call or email the Student Office if they need to contact their child during the day.
Consequences for Misuse
If a phone is seen during class or break times, it must be handed to staff immediately.
- It will be kept at the Student Office and collected by a parent, caregiver, or student at the end of the school week (Friday).
Phones may be confiscated if they disrupt learning or break school guidelines. Collection is available Fridays between 3.15–4.15pm from the Student Office.
Early collection can only be arranged through the Principal by emailing the Principal’s Secretary at pa@rosehillcollege.school.nz. Please arrange this in advance.
Continued violations may result in a parent/student meeting with a Kaitiaki or Deputy Principal and could be treated as persistent defiance.
Inappropriate Use During School Hours
Examples of inappropriate mobile phone use include:
- Bullying or disrespectful messages about staff or students
- Taking photos/videos of others without permission
- Sharing inappropriate content
- Disrupting learning in class or for others
The school will investigate incidents through our discipline procedure. Parents will be informed, and appropriate consequences will be applied depending on the behaviour.
Guidelines for Parents – Use Outside of School
Parents and caregivers are responsible for their children’s phone use outside school hours. We encourage families to:
- Set clear rules about phone use at home
- Encourage children to be the same person online and in person
- Monitor passwords, limit Wi-Fi use overnight, and stay engaged with your child’s online activity
If online incidents occur involving Rosehill College students:
- Reach out to the other student’s parents in a calm way to resolve the matter together
- If behaviour breaches the Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015, please contact Netsafe or the New Zealand Police
For further support, resources are available from:
Netsafe – www.netsafe.org.nz
The Parenting Place – www.parentingplace.nz
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