Shandrum National School

Policy on Phone Calls and Mobile Phones

§ The school staff and the Board of Management appreciate parents/guardians giving their mobile phone numbers to the school so that the school can communicate with the parents/guardians.

§ If parents/guardians wish to communicate with the Principal or the class teacher by phone please do so only when it is absolutely necessary in the interests of the pupil.

§ If it is necessary to communicate with the teacher please do so before or after school or during break time.

§ If a parent/guardian wishes to discuss the progress of the pupil or any school related issue please phone to make an appointment as the teacher cannot discuss the issue on the phone.

§ Please do not phone the teachers to discuss any school matter or any matter relating to a pupil on the teacher's home line or mobile.

§ If parents/guardians wish to communicate with their children in an emergency please communicate by using the landline at 063/70236.

§ Before communicating with the children parents/guardians are requested firstly to identify themselves to the class teacher and to explain to the teacher the nature of the emergency.

§ It is the policy of Shandrum N.S. that teachers will only be available to make or receive phone calls during break time and never during class time except in the case of an emergency.

§ It is the policy in Shandrum NS that pupils may not have or use mobile phones during the school day.

§ If a parent/guardian feels that in a case of emergency that a pupil needed a mobile phone on a particular day the principal or class teacher must be contacted.

§ The phone must be given to the class teacher with a note and the class teacher will keep the phone in a safe place during school hours.

§ A pupil may not make/ receive a call or send/ receive a text or picture message on a mobile phone in school.

§ If a pupil brings a mobile phone to school without permission the phone will be confiscated.

§ If a phone is confiscated the phone must then be collected by the parent at the school during school hours.

§ The parent/guardian will be requested to guarantee that the pupil will only bring the phone to school in keeping with the school policy.

§ If a pupil uses a mobile phone in a way that is not in keeping with the school policy it will be taken to be an act of serious misbehaviour.

The use of mobile phones can cause serious discipline problems in schools and we ask your cooperation to implement the school policy as outlined above.

This policy was passed by the B.O.M on 09/02/2004 and was reviewed in November 2012 & June 2017.

Chairperson: Fr. Gerard Coleman