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Technology Overview
Protecting Childhood in a Digital World
At St Mary’s, we want to create the best possible conditions for children to flourish. Part of this is giving children something that is becoming increasingly rare – the space to simply be children.
Technology has an important place in our world and in education. We want our students to be confident, creative and responsible users of technology, and we recognise the important role digital skills will play in their future.
But we also believe in balance.
Our school-leased iPads for students in Years 3–6 remain at school. This allows technology to be used purposefully as a learning tool during the school day, while allowing home time to remain focused on family, play, rest and connection.
The same philosophy applies to mobile phones and smartwatches. These are not part of our learning environment and are not used during the school day. If students need to bring a phone or smartwatch to school, it is handed in at reception each morning and collected at the end of the day.
We are not anti-technology. Rather, we want children to understand that technology is a useful and powerful tool, but it does not need to be constantly present.
Protecting Space for Childhood
Children need time to talk, play, create, move, explore and spend time outdoors. They need face-to-face friendships and conversations. They need opportunities to use their imagination, solve disagreements, become bored, invent games, laugh together and notice the world around them — without a screen continually competing for their attention.
When technology is used with purpose and clear boundaries, we see the difference.
They talk more. They play more. They notice more. They create more.
Partnering with Families
We encourage parents to stay informed and actively involved in their child’s use of technology at home. Knowing which apps, games and platforms children are using, understanding privacy and parental settings, setting age-appropriate boundaries and having regular conversations about what is happening online are important ways families can support healthy and responsible digital habits.
Many of the online spaces children access outside school — including private messaging, gaming platforms and group chats — sit beyond the school’s digital environment and supervision. While we will always respond when an online issue has a direct impact on a child’s safety, wellbeing or relationships at school, the school does not monitor or manage private group chats or students’ personal devices used outside school.
We encourage families to take the same active approach at home — to get savvy about the technology their children are using, supervise online spaces and maintain clear, age-appropriate boundaries.
Since moving to school-provided, school-managed devices that remain at school, we have seen very few issues arising from students’ use of technology within our school environment. We believe our combination of managed devices, explicit digital citizenship education, clear expectations and purposeful use provides students with a safe and well-supported environment in which to develop positive digital habits.
By working together, school and home can help children develop the judgement, responsibility and self-management they need to navigate an increasingly digital world safely and confidently.
Resources for Parents
We know that keeping up with children and technology can sometimes feel like a moving target. The Australian Government’s eSafety Commissioner provides practical, up-to-date information to help parents understand their child’s digital world, establish healthy boundaries and keep conversations about online safety open.
Online Safety Basics for Parents
Practical advice about helping children stay safe online, including privacy, inappropriate content and strategies parents can use at home.
Family Tech Agreements
A particularly useful resource for establishing shared family expectations about when, where and how technology is used. eSafety provides downloadable agreements specifically designed for different ages and stages, including children aged 5–8 and 9–12.
Screen Time & Healthy Technology Habits
Advice to help families find a healthy balance between online and offline activities and establish positive routines around devices.
Parental Controls & Settings
Information about using the controls available on devices, apps and services to manage content, communication and access.
Social Media Age Restrictions
Current information for families about Australia’s social media minimum age requirements and supporting children as they navigate online spaces.
Preparing for the Future, Protecting the Present
At St Mary’s, we believe preparing children for the future involves teaching them to navigate a digital world while still protecting what is precious about the childhood they are living right now. Clear and consistent boundaries around technology support learning, strengthen relationships and, most importantly, protect the joy of childhood.
1:1 iPad Program Years 3-6
At St Mary’s, technology is used purposefully to enhance high-quality teaching and learning. Our 1:1 iPad Program for students in Years 3–6 provides every student with access to their own school-leased iPad, giving teachers greater opportunities to create engaging learning experiences.
In Kindergarten to Year 2, banks of iPads are available as needed when teachers plan curriculum activities where technology can enhance, extend or enrich learning. From Years 3–6, having a dedicated device allows technology to be readily integrated across the curriculum when it genuinely adds value to the learning experience.
The program is designed to be simple and equitable for families. All costs associated with the iPad lease, educational apps and digital learning platforms are covered through the IT Levy included in school fees. Device insurance is also included, providing families with reassurance that there are no additional costs for the core technology and digital resources required as part of the program.
Enhancing Teaching and Learning
iPads are not used as a replacement for effective teaching, handwriting, books, practical experiences or face-to-face learning. Instead, they are one of many tools teachers draw upon when technology can enhance pedagogy and improve learning outcomes.
Students use their iPads in a variety of ways across the curriculum. Literacy Pro supports reading development and comprehension, while Seesaw allows students to create, reflect upon and share their learning with their families. Students also have access to Numero, generously funded by our P&F, to develop mathematical fluency, problem-solving and number skills.
Importantly, iPads are tools for creativity, not simply consumption. Students use them to research, create and collaborate, and to demonstrate their understanding through presentations, videos, animations, digital artwork, photography, recordings and other multimedia projects.
Technology also provides opportunities for differentiated learning, allowing teachers to respond to individual learning needs and giving students different ways to access learning, receive feedback and demonstrate what they know.
Our approach is intentional. Teachers carefully consider when technology adds value to learning and when another approach is best, ensuring students continue to develop strong foundational skills alongside the digital skills they will need for the future.
Managed, Safe and Supported
Our technology program is supported by Mrs Amanda McFall, our IT Lead Teacher, who oversees device management and supports staff in using technology effectively for teaching and learning. St Mary’s is also supported by IT Dynamics, our CEWA IT partner, who visit the school each term to provide specialist technical support.
Because the iPads are school-owned and centrally managed, we are able to provide a much safer and more controlled digital environment for students. The educational apps are selected by the school and distributed through Apple School Manager. Devices operate within CEWA’s managed digital environment, with appropriate safety, security and filtering controls in place.
CEWA uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) as part of its internet filtering and security systems. This allows web traffic on the CEWA network to be inspected, including searches made through search engines such as Google and AI tools. This provides a level of visibility that goes beyond simply blocking inappropriate websites.
CEWA also uses a cloud-based monitoring and alert system called Assure. Where concerning online activity is detected — such as attempts to access blocked content or searches that may indicate a safety or wellbeing concern — relevant school staff can receive an alert so that the matter can be followed up appropriately.
This means our approach is not simply about restricting access. It is about creating a managed, safe and supported digital environment, where technology can be used purposefully for learning while appropriate safeguards are in place to protect students.
Digital Citizenship and eSafety
Learning how to use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly is an important part of our program. At the beginning of each year, students complete a dedicated six-lesson eSafety and digital citizenship program, covering age-appropriate topics including online safety, privacy, respectful communication, responsible digital behaviour and cyberbullying. Students also learn about responsible device care, including how to handle, carry, store and look after their iPad appropriately, reinforcing that being a responsible digital citizen includes taking care of the technology entrusted to them.
Parents and students sign our Technology Agreement and Student User Agreement, establishing clear expectations around the appropriate use and care of school devices.
Our expectations for behaviour extend to digital spaces. Bullying, inappropriate communication and misuse of technology are not accepted, and breaches of our digital citizenship expectations are addressed by the school through appropriate consequences, further education and family involvement where required.
A Balanced Approach
Our 1:1 program sits within St Mary’s broader commitment to a balanced approach to technology. School-leased devices remain at school, allowing technology to enhance learning during the school day while protecting time at home for family, play, rest and connection.
Through our program, we aim to prepare students for an increasingly digital world while ensuring that great teaching and meaningful learning remain at the centre of everything we do.