Acceptable Use Policy

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that students will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s Internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. Although the school takes active steps to promote safe use of the Internet, it recognizes the possibility that students may accidentally or deliberately access inappropriate or objectionable material. If the school's AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions – as outlined in the AUP – will be imposed. The AUP should be read carefully to ensure that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.


School’s Strategy

The school employs a number of strategies in order to maximize learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet. These strategies are as follows:


General
 

• Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
• Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used in order to minimize the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
• The school will regularly monitor students’ Internet usage.
• Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.
• Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
• The use of personal floppy disks, memory sticks, CD-ROMs, or other digital storage media in school requires a teacher’s permission.
• Students will treat others with respect at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

World Wide Web

• Students will not intentionally visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
• Students will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in accordance with school procedures.
• Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
• Students will not copy information into assignments and fail to acknowledge the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
• Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• 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.
• Students will not download, send, or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
• Students will not access chat rooms, discussion forums, and other electronic communication forums unless approved and supervised by teacher, and will only be used for educational purposes.
• Students will not play online games that are objectionable and have inappropriate content, such as violence or graphic content.

Consequences

1. First Offense: The student will lose computer privileges for one week, and the parents will be notified of the broken rule(s).
2. Second Offense: The student will lose computer privileges for up to two weeks, and the parents will conference with the teacher to discuss the rule violation(s). Limited access to the computers and/or Internet may be enforced.
3. Third Offense: The student will lose computer privileges for the remainder of the trimester, and the student must meet with the teacher, principal, and parents to develop a plan for continued computer use.

**Student will be required to complete any projects using paper, pencil, and books.