Acceptable+Use+Policy

** ICT Acceptable Use Policy **

St. Mel’s Primary School is committed to student use of technology as a tool to expand learning opportunities and enrich current educational practices. The use of technology facilitates global collaboration. Students at St. Mel’s utilise laptop computers on a wireless network. Laptops and other school computers are strictly for educational use consistent with the educational goals of St. Mel’s Primary School. Along with the opportunity this provides some responsibility. This Acceptable Use Policy is designed to give students and their families clear and concise guidelines regarding the appropriate use of laptops as well as other computers at the school. The underlying premise of this policy is that all members of St. Mel’s community must uphold the values of honesty and integrity. The proper use of technology reflects the strength of one’s character, as does one’s behavior. We expect our students to exercise good judgment and to utilize technology with integrity.
 * Laptop use at home **
 * At home we recommend that the laptops are only used in a shared place in the house - not bedrooms.
 * Laptops are for student use only. They are not to be used by siblings.
 * It is illegal for students under the age of 13 to use social networking sites such as Facebook.
 * The school does not condone students under the age of 13 using social network sites.
 * Parents are advised to supervise their children’s internet use and regularly check what websites they are visiting. This can be done by viewing recent histories.

• Laptop and laptop cases are not to be defaced in any way. • Identification sticker on your laptop and Laptop Bag ID tags are not permitted to be defaced or removed. > up personal files. Students will be instructed on the correct backing up > procedures. File sharing includes the sharing of public or private computer data and/or space and the sharing of music (including iTunes music sharing).The only exception to this is when it is specific to an assignment given by the classroom teacher. This is covered through the schools licensing agreements.
 * Passwords **
 * Each student has their own login and password for the internet and it is __their responsibility__ to keep it secret. If anyone finds out your password, it is your responsibility to change this immediately.
 * Parents are entitled to know their child’s username and password. This information is available from your child or from the school.
 * At no stage is any student allowed to use another individual’s login and password.
 * E-Mail **
 * The use of e-mail during class is prohibited unless authorised by a class teacher.
 * E-mail services provided by the school are to be used __only for educational purposes__ unless the class teacher grants specific permission. The school’s email program is to be used for student mail only. Other programs such as Hotmail are prohibited.
 * Students are prohibited from using any form of communication through the internet of an abusive, derogatory, sexual or harassing nature (this includes mean-spirited e-mails, offensive blogging, statements of a bullying nature, communication with sexual innuendo etc.). This will be regarded as a major violation and will be subject to a disciplinary response.
 * Chain letters and spam of any kind are prohibited. Chain letters are defined as any e-mail message asking you to pass information or messages on to other individuals or groups via e-mail.
 * Students are prohibited from accessing anyone else’s e-mail account.
 * School e-mail addresses are not to be given to **ANY** websites, companies, or other third parties without the explicit permission of your classroom teacher.
 * Only school related attachments are to be sent on the school e–mail system.
 * E-mail etiquette will be consistently observed by teachers at school. Parents are strongly encouraged to observe their child’s e-mail etiquette at home.
 * Chatting **
 * Instant messaging through chat rooms is only permitted during an assigned, in-class activity that is supervised by your class teacher.
 * Audio and Video **
 * Audio and video (including music) on computers is to be turned off unless it is specifically required for the activity being conducted.
 * When sound is needed, headphones provided by the student must be used.
 * Any audio or video recording must only be done with the prior permission of all parties being recorded.
 * Laptop Care and Handling **
 * Students must not lend their laptops to other students unless instructed by a teacher.
 * Students must not borrow a laptop from another student unless instructed by a teacher.
 * Laptops must be carried and transported appropriately in their approved cases at all times. Failure to close the lid of a laptop before transporting it could damage the hard drive and result in permanent loss of data.
 * No food or beverages should be in the vicinity of the laptops.
 * Laptops should be handled safely, responsibility and respectfully
 * Students must bring their laptop fully charged to school each day.
 * It is the responsibility of the student to purchase an external hard drive to back
 * Network Access **
 * Students are only permitted to access the student pathway on the curriculum server ie their class folder.
 * Students are not to degrade, damage or disrupt online services. This includes tampering with computer hardware or software, vandalizing data, invoking computer viruses, attempting to gain access to restricted or unauthorized network services, or violating copyright laws.
 * File Sharing **
 * File sharing of any kind is strictly prohibited. File sharing breaches copyright and is subject to appropriate consequences, some of which may be legal.
 * Deleting Files **
 * Students are not permitted to delete any folders or files that they have not created or do not recognize. Deletion of certain files may result in a computer failure and will interfere with your ability to complete class work.
 * Students are not to delete internet history. Deleting this information will result in loss of computer privileges.
 * Downloading and Loading of Software **
 * Students are not permitted to install custom/individual applications that require administrator privileges.
 * All installed software must be a legally licensed copy.
 * All software currently installed on each laptop is legally licensed.
 * Students are not permitted to install any unauthorized software programs.
 * The downloading of music files, video files, games, etc. through the school’s network is absolutely prohibited.
 * The school reserves the right to remove any software that has been loaded onto the computer that impedes the educational purpose of the laptop program.
 * Copyrighted movies may not be “ripped” from DVDs and placed on the laptops nor may copyrighted movies be downloaded to the laptops from the Internet.
 * Inappropriate or copyrighted media may not be used as a screensaver or as a desktop background.
 * Students must adhere to the laws concerning copyright, other intellectual property rights and licensing agreements.
 * Internet Use **
 * The Internet is a rich and valuable source of information for education. Inappropriate materials are available on the Internet and are strictly prohibited. These materials include items of a sexual nature, depictions of violence, images that are intended to be abusive or harassing, etc. Students must not access, display or store this type of material.
 * Students are required to give proper credit to all Internet sources used in school assignments, whether quoted or summarized. This includes all forms of media on the Internet, such as graphics, movies, music, and text.
 * If a student accidentally accesses a website that contains obscene, or otherwise offensive material, he/she is to notify a teacher as quickly as possible so that such sites can be blocked from further access. **This is not merely a request; it is a responsibility.**
 * Privacy, Use, and Safety **
 * Students are not permitted to give any personal information regarding themselves or others through e-mail or the Internet without a teacher’s permission. This includes information such as name, age, phone number, address (including e-mail address), passwords, etc. Handing out such information is considered inappropriate and unsafe.
 * Students must not share their private passwords or usernames for network and laptop access . This is important in order to protect the privacy of each student. Students must inform their class teacher of any changes to their password.
 * Laptops that are provided by the school continue to be the property of the school. Therefore the school has the right to view all content at any time.
 * The school administration has the ability to access all internet files and accounts of students. The school will regularly access and monitor computer activities that take place on school-owned computers including logging website access, newsgroup access, bandwidth and network use. The school will use this ability to investigate any misuse that is suspected.
 * Students are prohibited from using any method to obtain control of another person’s computer through the use of their own computer.
 * Any additional ICT device (such as a camera or ipod) used on the school network, even if privately owned, is subject to all policies and consequences of the Acceptable Use Policy including: the right to view the content of the device at any time; the right to remove the contents from the device.
 * Consequences **
 * The school reserves the right to enforce appropriate consequences for the violation of any section of the Acceptable Use Policy. Such consequences could include the loss of privileges on a laptop, the loss of the use of the laptops/computers for an amount of time determined by the school and possible disciplinary action.
 * These consequences apply to the usage of all ICT equipment (including laptops and computers) owned by St. Mel’s Primary School.
 * Computers with illegal or inappropriate software or materials on them will need to be reformatted or “re-imaged”.
 * When disciplinary action involves the removal of laptop usage, no lease credits or refunds will be made available to parents.
 * In the case of repeated laptop abuse and/or damages, the school has the right to revoke the use of the school’s laptop.
 * Students are to report any known violations of this Acceptable Use Policy to their teacher. Random checks of student laptops will be conducted throughout the year to ensure that these policies are being followed.
 * It is not the responsibility of St. Mel’s but rather the responsibility of students for the activities conducted or materials stored on the school’s computers, laptops and network.