http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/how-technology-use-messes-with-your-sleep/7950336

Your son’s communication with you while he is not in your care is very important, both for you and him. For the boarders, having a chat to you on the phone regularly is very important.

Many boys at Joeys now have their own mobile phone. It is important for you to understand that while we are happy for boys to have their phone at school, it is their responsibility and we have some strong guidelines in place regarding their use which the boys must follow.

 Mobile Phones

Boys are allowed to have mobile phones at the College and use them under the following conditions.

 Mobile phones are not to be carried or used;

• on campus from 8.30am until 3.30pm.
• in dining rooms
• at sport
• during evening study
• after lights out

During these times boys are required to store mobile phones securely in their boarding lockers.

Mobile phones brought to school by boys are the responsibility of the owner. The school does not take responsibility for the loss or damage of mobile phones.

Boys are also reminded that transmission of inappropriate communication is unacceptable at any time.

Students are permitted to make and receive calls, send and receive SMS messages, on their personal mobile phones DURING THEIR FREE TIME as designated by their Boarding Coordinator.

NOTE:

Each mobile phone must be switched to the SILENT MODE at all times. Each mobile phone must be SWITCHED OFF outside the times listed above. 

Students who are unable to follow these directions above will have their phone confiscated for 24 hours and will be handed to the students Board Coordinator or Academic Coordinator.

Students are required to register their mobile phone with their Boarding Coordinator. This means giving him the phone number, serial number and the model of their mobile phone.

Please note that in Year 9, boarders’ phones are away by 9:30pm and locked in a safe area overnight. Boys can collect them again the next day after school.

There is certainly a time and a place for mobile phone use and the College rules attempt to educate the boys in this. Parents can support these guidelines by not calling or texting boys during times when they should not be using their phones. Your support on this would be very much appreciated.

For further information you may wish to look at this study which found that students who were not using their mobile phones wrote down 62% more information in their notes, took more detailed notes, were able to recall more detailed information from a lecture, and scored a full letter grade and a half higher on a multiple choice test than those students who were actively using their mobile phones.

Jeffrey H. Kuznekoff & Scott Titsworth (2013) The Impact of Mobile
Phone Usage on Student Learning, Communication Education, 62:3, 233-252, DOI:
10.1080/03634523.2013.767917
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03634523.2013.767917

In Year 9 the evening study schedule changes significantly from what the boys would be used to from years 7 and 9 in order to align with the study schedule used in the senior years. Study times are as follows:

6:15pm: Session 1 commences
8:00pm: Study break, day boys leaving at 8 check out

8:15pm: Session 2 commences
8:45pm: Session 2 ends

As well as leaving  at 5:00pm, day students can elect to depart at 8:00pm or 9:00pm each day if they wish to take advantage of the evening study sessions.

During study the boys are supervised by the boarding staff who have a range of areas in which they can assist the boys. Each night during study there are also 2 homework support tutors who are available at no charge for the boys to get assistance with their work.

Part of each night is “technology free” where the boys put aside their laptops and use the “old fashioned” pen and paper.

We don’t allow the boys to use mobile phones during study in an effort to keep them focused on their work.  Parents could greatly assist us by only making phone calls or text messages to your sons before or after study, or during the study break.