Pupils in some Kildare schools will be 'phone free' this week

Primary schools in Naas are participating in a Go Phone Free Week, which starts today.

The Mercy Convent Primary School launches a week-long art poster competition, which started today and is centred on a phone free theme. New families to the school will also be sent information about the initiative and given an opportunity to sign-up to this initiative.  

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On Tuesday, the second to sixth class children will be treated to an interactive comedy show,  Distracted, by Reuben the entertainer, who will also perform a puppet/magic show for the Infants  and first class on the same day. 

On Wednesday, all classes will be invited to dress-up in the GPF colours - blue, yellow, green. Thursday will be the final day for new family sign-ups, and the last day for art poster competition submissions. 

On October 17 (Friday) the judging of the poster competition takes place with judge Fran Halpin, announcing the winners that day.

This voluntary initiative was launched last year and invites parents and guardians collectively to agree for their children to have no smartphones while in primary school and not interact with social media while in school. They are also invited to respect the age rating on video games.