CELL PHONE POLICY
While the school acknowledges that cell phones have become an important and useful means of communication, it is also aware of the fact that their use and abuse, particularly by children, pose social, ethical and safety consequences.
- Learners who carry or use cell phones in public, particularly when traveling to and from school have become the target of criminals who accost them and rob them of their cell phones and other possessions.
- Theft of cell phones at school from bags and blazers is a consistent problem.
- Cell phones can be used to cheat in examinations and tests. For this reason, no cell phones are permitted in examination venues or in teaching venues when tests and examinations are being written. This same policy applies to the externally set national examinations.
The school will not take responsibility for the theft or loss of any cell phone brought to school, no matter what the circumstances. This includes the loss or theft of cell phones that may be handed in to teachers and/or coaches for safekeeping, as well as cell phones which have been confiscated from learners who use them in defiance of the school rules.
The school will not, in principle, under any circumstances engage parents in discussions resulting from complaints parents have received from their children by cell phone during the school day.
- Cell phones may be handed in at the office for safekeeping (07:15) and collected at the end of the day (14:10) at no cost.
- Cell phones in possession of learners must be switched ‘OFF’ for the duration of the academic class/programme.
- Cell phones may not be used during the academic day (07:15 – 14:10) to phone or receive calls from parents/guardians, institutions/businesses and/or any other person.
- Cell phones may not be used for any reason whilst moving between academic classes.
NB: Learners and parents need to be aware that publishing text, images or video via social networking places it in the public domain and that, even after it has been deleted by you, it may still be able to be accessed by others. Careful consideration must be given to any information published online and the following guidelines may be useful:
- Understand that you are an ambassador for the school in all online activities. Material published on social networking websites should not reflect negatively on fellow learners, educators, or on Grenville High School.
- Don’t publish anything that could cause you future embarrassment.
Disciplinary action will be taken if the above is not adhered.
If the above stipulations are not managed successfully then this cell phone policy will be withdrawn and other or previous policy will be implemented where cell phones in possession of learners at school will not be allowed.
LATE-COMING POLICY
Learners are expected to arrive at school and at classes on time. Late coming
disrupts the efforts of both educators and other learners.
- At 7:12, the bell will ring indicating the start of the school day. All learners will be expected to go to assembly.
- At 7:15, the bell will indicate that any learner not at assembly is considered late. After this time, only one entrance can be used (i.e. Main school entrance).
- The learner must give her name to the Executive leader at gate duty.
- Parents must submit letter for reasons of late arrival.
- Advanced knowledge of late arrival at school must be conveyed in writing by the parent to the grade tutor at least 24 hours before the event.
- All other lateness will result to disciplinary action (See disciplinary policy).
- If a learner is late for a lesson (i.e. if the door is shut or the lesson has begun) the teacher must write out a default slip, which the learner must sign.
NB: All learners are expected to arrive at school in accordance with school rules for the start of the school day, and to be punctual at all times during the day.