It is timely to remind our community that there are many items which are prohibited at Foxwell State Secondary College. When the Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students was developed and endorsed in 2019 for our new College to use in 2020, the focus was on identifying prohibited items which a child could not bring to school because they:

• have potential to cause bodily harm to self and others, either physically or emotionally,  
• interrupt the teaching and learning process
• pose a threat to the good order and management of the school 
• have potential to cause property damage.                                                       

We have seen an increasing number of prohibited items start to appear on site and consequences are being applied as per our Student Code of Conduct, for those students who bring to school, prohibited items.

In order to ensure that our College remains a safe environment for all members of our community a reminder that the following items, as outlined in the 2022-2023 Student Code of Conduct which is a direct iteration of the original Responsible Behaviour Plan for Students are prohibited.

Students who bring prohibited items to school will have consequences applied, in addition, the items may be removed/confiscated if found in a student’s possession:

• e-cigarettes, pod vapes, vape pens, box mods and vaporisers
• illegal items or weapons (e.g., guns, knives*, throwing stars, brass knuckles, chains)
• guns or weapons – real or look alike [replicas]
• knives – real or look alike.                                                                             No knives of any type are allowed at school, including flick knives, ballistic knives, sheath knives, push daggers, trench knives, butterfly knives, star knives, butter knives, fruit knives or craft knives, or any item that can be used as a weapon, for example a chisel. Knives needed for school activities will be provided by the school, and the use of them will be supervised by school staff. In circumstances where students are required to have their own knives or sharp tools for particular subjects or vocational courses, the school will provide information about the procedures for carrying and storing these items at school.
• potentially dangerous items (e.g. blades, rope)
• illegal substances or paraphernalia related to drugs**
• other legal substances but restricted to 18+ such as alcohol and tobacco
• matches, lighters
• aerosol deodorants or cans (including spray paint)
• explosives (e.g. fireworks, flares, sparklers)
• flammable solids or liquids (e.g. fire starters, mothballs, lighters)
• poisons (e.g. weed killer, insecticides)
• inappropriate or offensive material (e.g. racist literature, pornography, extremist propaganda).

Use and Possession of Combustibles

The most common prohibited items being brought on site are aerosol [spray] deodorants and hair spray. Although these are readily available and widely used, we ask that you ensure your child does not bring them to school. Aerosols have potential to cause asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, if used in confined spaces or around students or staff with respiratory conditions. Aerosol cans, in the worst case scenario, may be used for chroming.

Chroming is a form of volatile substance abuse involving the inhalation of solvents such as deodorants or other household chemicals to get high. Health professionals have long been concerned about the practice because it can lead to permanent brain damage, worse still, to death. There were multiple incidents reported in Queensland last year where young people have being hospitalised with brain injuries whilst others have died due to the adverse effects of chroming.

For more information about the dangers of chroming, otherwise known as ‘rexing’, see link.

https://adis.health.qld.gov.au/drug-profile/inhalants

In addition, aerosol cans are considered combustibles and when paired with other prohibited items such as lighters, have potential to cause property and personal damage.

Any item brought on site which has potential to cause bodily harm or property damage is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, lighters, matches, firecracker, petrol, lighter fluid and aerosols. Consequences for such offences – use/possession of combustibles may include exclusion and/or Queensland Police Service involvement. Refer to Foxwell SSC Student Code of Conduct p37.

Use and Possession of Weapons

Knives and guns, real or lookalike, and other items capable of causing bodily harm are considered weapons [from an Education viewpoint]. Such items may have the potential to cause harm either physically or emotionally. Consequences for use and possession of weapons may include exclusion and/or Queensland Police Service notification. Refer to Foxwell SSC Student Code of Conduct p37.

Substance Misconduct involving Tobacco and other Legal Substances

Possession of items such as cigarettes, lighters, tobacco, alcohol, vaping devices of any kind and cigarette papers are strictly prohibited and consequences may be applied including Saturday detentions and/or suspensions and for repeat offenders, possible exclusion.

It is considered more serious to supply to others than to possess and/or use prohibited items, such as cigarettes, lighters, tobacco, alcohol, vaping devices of any kind, cigarette papers and more serious consequences will be applied in line with the greater severity of the nature of the offence and in line with the Student Code of Conduct.

Substance Misconduct involving Illegal Substances

Substance possession or use of illegal drugs/substances/imitations or implements such as, but not limited to, cones, cutters, bongs, pipes, papers, lighters, matches, needles and syringes are strictly prohibited. In Queensland, marijuana is illegal and will be treated as such if students are found in possession. Students found in possession of one or more of these items may be excluded and/or Queensland Police notified.

It is considered more serious to supply illegal substances/items to others than to be in possession and the consequences applied will be in line with the greater severity of the nature of the offence. Students found supplying illegal substances or items may be excluded and/or Queensland Police notified.

Prohibited Item Confiscation

If a student brings a prohibited item to school, it may be removed from the student to promote the caring, safe and supportive learning environment of the school. Refer to Foxwell SSC Student Code of Conduct p40

Please note, mobile phones found in possession of a student during the school day - 8.35am - 3.00pm, may be confiscated. Students are prohibited to have on their person or carry in their bag, a mobile phone during the school day. Mobile phones must be secured in lockers and can only be accessed prior to 8.35am and after 3pm. If you or your child need to make contact during the school day please do so through our Student Services team. We ask you also to refrain from contacting your child via messages on their iPad as this puts your child in breach of the IT agreement.

We thank you in advance, for your support, in keeping our community safe.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the appropriate  member of the College’s Executive Leadership Team:

Year 7 – Mrs Dianne Russell, druss121@eq.edu.au

Year 8 – Ms Zana Schroeder, zschr2@eq.edu.au

Year 9 – Ms Dianne Nicolas, dnico0@eq.edu.au