Santa Sabina Dominican College
Acceptable Internet and Computer Facilities Usage Policy (AUP)
Mission Statement
We, in Santa Sabina Dominican College, aim to educate the whole person and to encourage the qualities of respect, truth, responsibility, happiness and excellence in a caring Christian atmosphere.
Rationale
The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy is to ensure that students will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s Internet and Computer Facilities in a safe and effective manner. Internet access and computer use is considered a school resource and privilege. If the school AUP is not adhered to, this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions, as outlined in the AUP, will be imposed.
Development of the Policy
This policy was developed by the Board of Management following consultations with all members of the school community – school management, teachers, parents and students.
Parent
The word “parent” as used in this policy denotes parent or guardian.
School’s Strategy:
The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet and computer use. These strategies are as follows:
1 General
a)Internet and computer usage in the school will be supervised by a teacher.
b)Filtering software and or equivalent systems will be used on order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
c)Students and teachers will be advised about Internet safety, conduct and copyright issues.
d)Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.
e)Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
f)The use of personal memory devices or other recordable media in school requires a teacher’s permission.
g)Students will observe good “netiquette” (i.e. etiquette on the Internet and all computer equipment) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
h)Google Apps for Education runs on an Internet domain owned and organised by the school and is intended for educational use. Teachers will be using Google Apps for lessons, assignments and communication.
2World Wide Web
a)Students will not visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
b)Students will report accidental use of accessing inappropriate materials to the supervising teacher.
c)Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
d)Students will be familiar with copyright issues relating to online learning.
e)Students will never disclose or publicise personal information unless it is with the permission of the teacher.
f)Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons
3Email/Storage
a)Students will use approved class/personal school email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher. Teacher/school will have full access to these accounts and will reserve the right to view any and all emails and files sent or stored on the school computer and email systems.
b)Students are responsible for the use of their individual email accounts. They must not reveal their own or other people’s personal details such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures unless involved in a supervised project. Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
c)Students must protect their log in and password information, as well as class password. If a student suspects that a password has been compromised she must notify a teacher immediately.
d)Students must tell their teacher about any message they receive that is inappropriate or makes them feel uncomfortable.
e)Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the Internet.
f)Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.
g)Access to Internet chat rooms and social networking websites is prohibited, except under teacher supervision.
h)Students will not use,share or store material that breaches copyright law.
4School Website/Apps
a)Students may be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or schoolwork on the www.
b)The publication and access of any student work will be coordinated by a teacher.
c)Any material on the website will be covered by a copyright notice.
d)Digital photographs, audio or video clips of individual students will not be published on the school website. Instead photographs, audio or video clips will focus on group activities.
e)Personal student information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.
5Computer Room Code of Behaviour
a)No food or drink is allowed in the Computer Room.
b)No computer usage or access without supervision by a teacher.
c)Students’ work will be saved to a server or google drive. Saving work on other recordable media will only be allowed with a teacher’s permission.
d)Each user will be instructed to use a User Name Password.
e)Any tampering with a machine or with the software is prohibited.
f)The exchange of passwords is prohibited.
g)Each user is responsible for her own password, account and saved work.
h)All work saved to the school server may be deleted at the end of each academic year.
i)School issued emails will be deleted 5 months after a student leaves the school.
j)Any faults with computer equipment must be reported immediately to the supervising teacher.
k)Breach of any of the above may be sanctioned.
l)All students’ work may be monitored and inappropriate use may be sanctioned.
The above also applies to all school computers and laptops.
6Legislation
The school will comply with the following legislation relating to use of the Internet and recommends that teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with the legislation:
a)Child Trafficking & Pornography Act 1998-2004
b)Video Recordings Act 1989
c)Data Protection Acts1988 and 2003
7Sanctions
Misuse of the Internet or the school’s information technology facilities may result in disciplinary action. Such action may result ina report slip, a written warning,withdrawal of access privileges and in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.
The school reserves the right to request a student to submit their device e.g.mobile phone for inspection by the school authorities where there is a suspicion that it has been used for in-appropriate use.
The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the relevant authorities.
Review
The policy will be reviewed by the school management authority periodically.
This policy was ratified by the Board of Management on 9 May 2016.
Internet Permission Form
Dear Parent
Re: Internet Permission Form
As part of the school’s education programme we offer students supervised access to the Internet. This allows students access to a large array of online educational resourcesthat we believe can greatly enhance the learning experience.
However, access to and use of the Internet requires responsibility on the part of the user and the school. These responsibilities are outlined in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (enclosed). It is important that this enclosed document is read carefully, signed by a parent and returned to the school.
Although the school takes active steps to promote safe use of the Internet, it recognisesthe possibility that students may accidentally or deliberately access inappropriate or objectionable material.
The school respects each family’s right to decide whether or not to allow their children access to the Internet as defined by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.
Having read the terms of our school’s Acceptable Use Policy, you may like to take a moment to consider how the Internet is used in your own home, and see if there is any
way you could make it safer for your own family.
Yours faithfully
______
Catherine Cavanagh
Principal
Permission Form
Please review the attached school Acceptable Internetand School Computer Facilities Usage Policy, sign and return this permission form to the Principal.
School Name: Santa Sabina Dominican College
Name of Student:______
Year/Class:______
Student
I agree to follow the school’s Acceptable Usage Policy on the use of the Internet and School Computer Facilities. I will use the Internet and School Computer facilities in a responsible way and obey all the rules adopted by the school.
Student Signature:______
Date: ______
Parent
As the parent or legal guardian of the above student, I have read the Acceptable Usage Policy and grant permission for my daughter or the child in my care to access the Internet and Computer Facilities. I understand this access is intended for educational purposes. I also understand that every reasonable precaution has been taken by the school to provide for online safety but the school cannot be held responsible if students access unsuitable websites.
I accept the above paragraph
In relation to the school website, I accept that, if the school considers it appropriate, my child’s schoolwork may be chosen for inclusion on the website. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy relating to publishing student's work on the school website.
Regarding the above paragraph tick the box to indicate your preferred response:
I accept the above paragraph
I do not accept the above paragraph
Parent Signature:______
Date: ______
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