Acceptable Use Policy

As required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), Sacred Heart School uses Content Filtering to assist in protecting students from objectionable materials on the Internet. This does not absolve parents and students of their responsibility to observe all school policies and procedures.
 
PUBLICATION OF RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR INTERNET AND NETWORK RESOURCES
 
In order to maximize the benefits of Internet and school network usage and minimize the dangers, Sacred Heart School has developed a set of rules and procedures for student use. The rules and procedures may vary with the age of the students involved. School procedures will outline the specific purposes for which students and teachers may use Internet services, the specific obligations of faculty and students, and guidelines for acceptable, legal, ethical and efficient use. The procedures will outline penalties prescribed for staff and student. The use of school network services is considered a privilege and the Administration may revoke that privilege for any misuse or violation of its acceptable use or for any other reason at any other time.
 
PARENT PERMISSION
Students in grades K-3 will be allowed to use the Internet services unless parents/legal guardians deny permission. Parents/Legal guardians may request that their child be given alternate assignments, projects and/or methods of research not requiring use of the Internet for the same assignment or project. Teachers will respect the parent’s right to choose in this situation. On the other hand, in giving permission, parents assume responsibility for their children’s acceptable behavior as they would in any other school activity. Students in grades 4-12 are required to sign the “Acceptable Use Policy” annually. These documents will be kept on file in the school office along with a list of students who are allowed access. The list of students will also be provided to their teachers. Students in grades 4-12 require Internet use, parent permission is not voluntary.
 
E-READER ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR GRADES 5 – 12
Electronic readers (E-Readers) such as Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook, are digital devices which primarily display books and may offer subscriptions to newspapers, periodicals, and magazines. Other tablet or internet-connected devices that includes apps, web browsers, etc., are not permitted. Sacred Heart School, in striving to maintain technological relevance in education, is providing the opportunity for students to utilize these devices.  A student who violates any portion of the E-Reader Acceptable Use Policy may immediately lose the privilege to use their E-Reader at school for a length of time commensurate with the nature of the violation.
 
All E-Readers must be registered with the Sacred Heart School Technology Department and verification of the parent and students’ signatures for the Parent and Student Handbook. Readers are to be used only for the reading of school-approved material (books, etc.) and not for other purposes such as communication, entertainment, music, gaming, etc. All material on the E-Reader must comply with the spirit and policies of Sacred Heart School. All E-Readers must have network capabilities disabled (turned off) while the device is at school. E-Readers must be used at appropriate times in accordance with teacher instructions. The E-Reader must not be a distraction for the student or those around him/her nor be a source of any classroom disruption. The student is responsible for knowing how to properly and effectively use his/her E-Reader, and this should not be a burden for the faculty.
  This opportunity is a privilege that requires caution and responsibility both on the part of the students and their parents/guardians. Sacred Heart School accepts no liability, should equipment become damaged, lost or stolen. The parent/guardian/student will assume total liability for repair and/or replacement costs.
 
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS
The Sacred Heart School Internet resources will be used for professional communication by the staff and in pursuit of specific educational objectives. Student access will be limited by the educational objectives set by the teacher as appropriate to the age of the students.
 
The school resources are never to be used by students for the following purposes and/or activities:
 
To access, upload, download or distribute pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit materials To access, upload, download or distribute any material which expresses hate of or contempt for any group or proposes violence for any group of individuals based on their race, color, sexual orientation, religion or any other characteristic To transmit obscene, abusive, sexually explicit or threatening language To obtain or exchange information with the intent to violate or to actually violate any local, state or federal statutes To vandalize, damage or disable the property of the school, other people or organizations To access another person’s materials, information or files without the permission of that person To violate copyrights or otherwise use another person’s intellectual property without his/her express approval or proper citation of the source For entertainment of any kind including, but not limited to playing games To gamble To use the Sacred Heart resources for commercial or financial gain To post anonymous messages To gain or seek to gain unauthorized access to the Sacred Heart School network or other resources to which they are not entitled To divulge personal information about oneself, other students or members of the faculty To purchase any goods or services without the express approval of the Administration of Sacred Heart School Or in any manner which will bring harm, embarrassment or discomfort to another person or Sacred Heart School.  
In using school resources, students are to agree:
 
To use the Internet and school network resources only for appropriate educational purposes and research To use the Internet and school network only with the permission of designated school staff To use appropriate language and be considerate of other users To report any violation of the rules and procedures governing Internet usage to the Administration.
  SOCIAL NETWORKING, BLOGS AND CYBERBULLYING

• Engagement in any social networking such as, but not limited to, Facebook®, Twitter®, LinkedIn®, Instagram®, etc. may result in disciplinary actions if the content of the Sacred Heart student’s profile includes defamatory comments regarding the school, faculty and/or other students. Blogging is permitted only in classes where the blogs are created and monitored by faculty/administration and are part of the curriculum.
   
  PRIVACY
  Students may not use or view files not specifically assigned to them or specifically designated for their use. However, files stored on school computers are not private. The school reserves the right to monitor and archive all files and electronic messages of students and faculty members, to insure that rules and procedures are being followed and to maintain the integrity of the system.
   
  STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES


• Students are representatives of the Sacred Heart School community and must conduct themselves in a manner that does not impact negatively on either the school or the community.
• Inappropriate language, either stated or implied, that may be offensive or inflammatory of others is strictly forbidden.
• Because there are materials unsuitable for a school environment, users are cautioned that access to this type of material for any reason is prohibited.
• Students are not allowed to bring software of any kind to school. Any student loading or exchanging software will be held in violation of this Acceptable Use Policy and disciplined accordingly. Strict adherence to copyright rules and licensing agreements will be maintained.
• Downloading or importing files from the internet or any portable media brought from outside the school is strictly prohibited.
• Impersonation and/or anonymity are prohibited.
• Any use of the Internet, computers or school’s communication systems for any purpose other than curriculum-related work is prohibited.
• Students shall have equal access to the Internet and all communication systems and should be considerate of others (including time and computer supplies).
• All unwanted communication or harassing messages are prohibited and should be brought to the attention of the teacher or the supervising adult immediately, who will then report the violation to the Administration.
• Any effort to disrupt Internet services or computer systems by spreading computer viruses, vandalism, unauthorized entry or destruction of computer files will be referred to the proper authorities for investigation and possible prosecution.
• Students are not allowed to open any folders on the network other than their own designated folder. Browsing, deleting, adding or any type of editing done to someone else’s work will be a violation of this Acceptable Use Policy.
• Playing online or any computer games is not allowed. Only those educational programs that are part of the school curriculum may be used with permission granted by the supervising teacher.
• All computers are for research or school assignments only. Online games, shopping and/or other non-educational use are strictly prohibited.
• Information created, received, transmitted, stored, held, copied, viewed, read, attached to or printed using the school’s communication systems is not protected by an individual’s right to privacy. It is the right of the school to access, review, and archive all such information at its discretion, including disclosure to third parties when warranted.
• Students in grades 9-12 may search use search engines. Students in grades K-8 may not use search engines. Image searching by any student is prohibited.
• Students in grades 4-12 will be assigned a unique User ID and Password for use on school computers. Students will be held accountable for keeping this information private and for logging off the computer when work is completed. If a student finds that the previous student has not logged off of a computer, the student must first log off then log back on with their own User ID and password. Violation of this policy will be grounds for referral.
• Students are prohibited from accessing web-based e-mail, newsgroups, online journals, social networking sites, blogs, etc., with the exception of those created and assigned by the school.
• Students of Sacred Heart School will not post or transmit names, photographs or any other information of or about Sacred Heart School, other students or faculty of Sacred Heart on any website, newsgroup, instant messenger, email or any other online service. Furthermore, students will not post any information about themselves that is in any way deemed derogatory, obscene, pornographic or otherwise inappropriate by school authorities on any website, newsgroup, instant messenger, email or any other online service.
   
• CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATIONS
  The consequences of violations of the acceptable use policy for use of the Internet and school network may range from suspension of privileges, to revocation of privileges, to school suspension or expulsion, to legal action and prosecution by authorities depending on the severity and circumstances of the violations. Penalties may also include any other appropriate disciplinary measures determined by the Administration.