Sacred Heart School

Sacred Heart School recognizes that access to the resources of the Internet can be valuable teaching/learning and communication tool for teachers and students. Access to the information available via the Internet allows students to use the wealth of thousands of databases and libraries around the world, to interact with content area experts from around the world, to conduct joint projects and studies with other students and teachers in a global community. The use of the Internet as a scholarly tool is a necessary skill to all students. As much as possible, student use should be directed to or structured in ways that point students to educational sites that have been evaluated by the professional staff prior to use or have been recommended by reliable professionals. As much as possible, Internet use will be a supervised activity with a staff member present for all students with the most diligent supervision of young students. Sacred Heart School also recognizes that the wealth of information on the Internet poses some very real dangers and problems for its students and teachers. In spite of procedures it has developed to guard against students being exposed to morally, spiritually and legally objectionable materials, the school recognizes that it may not always be completely successful in protecting its students. Outside of school, parents have responsibilities for guiding their children’s use of other information sources such as television, telephones, radio, movies and other media that may contain offensive materials. Sacred Heart parents and students must share with the school the responsibility for using the resources of the Internet only for moral, legal, educational, life affirming and spiritually uplifting opportunities and experiences.

The use of the Internet and email services may be offered to students on a limited basis in keeping with what is appropriate to the age and need of the students. These resources are to be used at all times in keeping with the philosophy and mission of the school, to be used to contribute to the school’s goals and objectives and always in a manner appropriate to Christian men, women and young people.

Beginning in the school year 2003 – 2004, Sacred Heart School began using Content Filtering, as required by the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), to assist in protecting students from objectionable materials on the Internet. This Content Filtering 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. Development of the school procedures will be the responsibility of the Administration and his/her staff. School procedures will outline the specific purposes for which students and teachers may use the Internet services, the times and places allowed for using the Internet, 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 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 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. Because some classes 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) are digital devices which can store books, periodicals, magazines and other electronic media. E-Readers such as Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook or Sony Reader and are quickly becoming ever-present in our digital culture and should not be ignored. Sacred Heart School, in striving to maintain technological relevance in education, is providing the opportunity for students to utilize these devices in accordance with our E-Reader Acceptable Use Policy. 

The wide variety of hardware and software capabilities of available E-Readers make them challenging to monitor and control in a school environment in contrast with school-owned technology assets such as computers. As a result, our E-Reader Acceptable Use Policy needs to be precise and specific. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. All material on the E-Reader must comply with the spirit and policies of Sacred Heart School.
4. All E-Readers must have network capabilities disabled (turned off) while the device is at school.
5. E-Readers must be used at appropriate times in accordance with teacher instructions. The E-Reader and must not be a distraction for the student or those around him/her nor be a source of any classroom disruption.
6. 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, MySpace.com®, Xanga®, Friendster®, Facebook®, etc. may result in disciplinary actions if the content of the Sacred Heart student’s blog 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 all files (of students and faculty members) 
and electronic messages to insure that rules and procedures are being followed 
and to maintain the integrity of the system.

STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 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.
2. Inappropriate language, either stated or implied, that may be offensive or inflammatory of others is strictly forbidden.
3. Because there are materials unsuitable for a school environment consisting of both sexual and violent contents, users are cautioned that access to this type of material for any reason is prohibited.
4. 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.
5. To reduce the risk of spreading computer viruses, no student will be allowed to download or import files. The use of floppy disks, flash drives or other portable media brought from outside the school is strictly prohibited.
6. Impersonation and/or anonymity are prohibited.
7. Any use of the Internet, computers or school’s communication systems for any purpose other than curriculum-related work is prohibited.
8. Students shall have equal access to the Internet and all communication systems and should be considerate of others (including time and computer supplies).
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. Students are NOT allowed to play any games, including but not limited to, Solitaire, Doom, Hearts, etc. Only those educational programs that have been loaded in conjunction with curriculum software may be played with permission granted by the supervising teacher.
13. All computers, including those in the library, are for research or school assignments only. Online games, shopping and/or other non-educational use are strictly prohibited.
14. 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/or inspect all such information at its discretion, including disclosure to third parties when warranted.
15. Students are prohibited from doing image searches. Students in grades 9-12 may
16. search for content, then use images found on the content sites. Students in grades K-8 may not use search engines.
17. Students in grades 4-12 will be assigned a unique User ID and Password for use on
18. 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.
19. Students are prohibited from accessing web-based e-mail, newsgroups, online
20. journals, social networking sites, blogs, etc., with the exception of those created and assigned by school personnel (e.g., gaggle.net).
21. 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 dismissal of staff, 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.