Acceptable Use Policy
Preamble:
All students are encouraged to use computer technology to develop skills and improve learning through research, collaboration, and dissemination of successful educational, methods, and materials available through the use of the computer.
The Whitehall Christian School (WCS) network is to be protected with software that restricts access to objectionable sites on the Internet and eliminates a vast majority of potential problem situations. This document details the Acceptable Use Policy for Internet, Network and Computer Technology at WCS.
Definitions:
Social Media- Social media is any digital tool that allows users to quickly create and share content with the public. Social media incorporates a wide range of websites and apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat.
Cyberbully- A person that uses electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature.
Cyber bullying- is the use of electronic information and communication devices to bully a person. This is done by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature through but not limited to email messages, instant messaging, text messaging, cellular telephone communications, Internet blogs, Internet chat rooms, Internet postings and defamatory websites.
Copyrights- Copyrights protect the right of an author to control the reproduction and use of any creative expression, such as literary works, graphical works, photographic works, audiovisual works, electronic works and musical works. It is illegal to reproduce and use copyrighted content publicly on the Internet without first obtaining the permission of the copyright owner.
Social Networking Site- A social networking service is an online platform which people use to build social networks or social relationships with other people who share similar personal or career interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.
Facebook- A social media website/app where people can connect with friends, family, and other people you know for sharing photos, videos and messages which provides a social networking service.
Instagram- A social media website/app that allows messages, photo, and video sharing social networking service
Policies
Use of technology and the computer system at Whitehall Christian School is a privilege. To make the computer systems available to students who need them and to keep the network operating efficiently, it is required that students agree to and abide by the following conditions:
Students are expected to:
- Share and interact in a way that will enhance their reputation, the reputation of others, and the reputation of the school, rather than damage them.
- Always treat others in a respectful, positive, and considerate manner.
- Exercise good judgment in all situations, behaving in a way that will make you and others proud and reflect well on our school.
- Use technology for the purpose of learning, conducting research and completing classroom assignments.
- Treat technology equipment with care and respect.
- Use only accounts provided by the school.
- Communicate with others in a courteous and respectful manner.
- Maintain the confidentiality of his/her personal name, address, phone number, password(s), and respect the same privacy of others.
- Refrain from online gaming and non-academic multimedia consumption.
- Agree to the review of communications, data, and files by WCS.
- Comply with copyright laws and the intellectual property rights of others.
- Report any incident of harassment to the Principal, School Board Chair, and/or Superintendent.
- Report any violation of this Acceptable Use Policy to the principal or school board chair.
The Whitehall Christian School (WCS) network is protected with software that restricts access to objectionable sites on the Internet and eliminates a vast majority of potential problem situations. The school’s filter system supports blocking or filtering access to anything that may be harmful to minors. To ensure the safety of our students, all devices with Internet access will be restricted from accessing inappropriate materials.
Whitehall Christian School has the right and duty to monitor and restrict both the amount of time online and the sites visited. This responsibility extends to any communication to or from the sites.
The school has the right to search all electronic media/devices on campus including computers, storage devices, and cell phones.
Cyber Bullying
Cyber bullying is the use of electronic information and communication devices to bully a person. This is done by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature through, but not limited to, email messages, instant messaging, text messaging, cellular telephone communications, Internet blogs, Internet chat rooms, Internet postings, defamatory websites and social media.
As a Christian school we strongly believe in creating a safe environment for our students. WCS has a zero tolerance against cyber bullying. Reported instances will be taken very seriously in accordance with school and Conference policies and guidelines. WCS prohibits acts of cyber bullying by WCS students and staff through the use of any WCS owned, operated, and supervised technologies. The school principal or superintendent may report allegations of cyber bullying to law enforcement authorities.
Any student or school staff member that believes he/she has or is being subjected to cyber bullying, as well as any person who has reason to believe a student or school staff member has knowledge or reason to believe another pupil or school staff member is being subjected to or has been subjected to cyber bullying shall immediately make a report to the school principal, superintendent or school board chairperson.
Student access to the school network and Internet may be restricted because of low grades or other disciplinary issues. It is not possible to list all activity that is not permitted, but the following list gives examples of unacceptable behavior that extends to the technology area:
Students Will NOT engage in any of the following:
- Logging into another student’s account without his or her authorization
- Using another person’s password or sharing your password with others
- Browsing in another person’s folders, work, or files
- Photographing or recording students or staff members for non-instructional purposes and/or without their explicit permission
- Engaging in cyber bullying of students or staff members by harassing, insulting, or attacking others or negatively impacting the learning environment in any way through the use of technology
- Posting any picture, video or derogatory/offensive comments on social media of any students, teachers/staff or volunteer from the school
- Visiting unacceptable internet or social networking sites
- Knowingly entering unauthorized networks or install software to tamper or destroy data
- Bypassing, or attempting to bypass, the school’s Internet filtering software or restrictions
- Accessing or distributing abusive, harassing, libelous, obscene, offensive, profane, violent, pornographic, threatening, sexually explicit, or illegal material
- Installing personal software on WCS devices
- Distributing personal information about yourself or any other Whitehall Christian School student or staff online by using chats, blogs, social networking sites, e-mail or other electronic communication
- Arranging a meeting with an online contact without school and parental approval
- Using obscene language
- Damaging computers, computer systems, or computer networks
- Violating copyright laws
Students may NOT, in any way or for any reason, synch their personal or home computers with school computers.
Access is a privilege, not a right, and involves responsibility. Access to network services is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Because communications on the network are often public in nature, individual users of the school computer network are responsible for their behavior and communication over the network just as they are in the classroom. It is required that users will comply with the school standards and will honor the agreement they have signed.
Violations of these policies may result in any or all of the following:
- Parental notification
- Suspension of technology, network and/or computer privileges
- Detention or suspension from school and school-related activities
- Potential expulsion from school
- Legal action and/or prosecution