Internet Acceptable Use Policy Contents 1. Introduction 2. General Approach 3. Content Filtering 4. Web Browsing and Downloading 5. Email and Messaging 6. Social Media 7. Personal Devices 8. Images & Video 9. Cyberbullying 10. School Websites 11. Permission Form General Approach The aim of this Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from the 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. If the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege may be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.
When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected:
To treat others with respect at all times.
Not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
Respect the right to privacy of all other members of the school community.
Respect copyright and acknowledge creators when using online content and resources.
This Acceptable Use Policy applies to pupils who have access to and are users of the internet in Christ the King GNS.
It also applies to members of staff, volunteers, parents and others who access the internet in Christ the King GNS.
Misuse of the internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.
Christ the King GNS implements the following strategies on promoting safer use of the internet :
Pupils will be provided with education in the area of internet safety as part of our implementation of the SPHE curriculum.
Teachers will be provided with continuing professional development opportunities in the area of internet safety.
This policy and its implementation will be reviewed annually by the following stakeholders:
Board of Management, teaching staff, support staff, pupils, and parents
The school will monitor the impact of the policy using:
Logs of reported incidents.
Should serious online safety incidents take place the appropriate authorities should be informed.
The implementation of this Internet Acceptable Use policy will be monitored by the principal, staff and Board of Management of Christ the King
Content Filtering
Christ the King GNS has chosen to implement the following level on content filtering on the Schools Broadband Network:
Level 4: This level allows access to millions of websites including games and YouTube but blocks access to websites belonging to the personal websites category and websites such as Facebook belonging to the Social Networking category.
Pupils taking steps to by-pass the content filter by using proxy sites or other means may be subject to disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges, and in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.
Web Browsing and Downloading
Pupils will not intentionally visit internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in the classroom to their teacher.
Pupils and staff 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.
Pupils will use the school’s internet connection only for educational activities.
Pupils will not download or view any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
Downloading by pupils of materials or images not relevant to their studies is allowed with staff permission.
Email and Messaging
The use of personal email accounts is only allowed at Christ the King GNS with expressed permission from members of the teaching staff
Pupils should not under any circumstances share their email account login details with other pupils.
Pupils should not use school email accounts to register for online services such as social networking services, apps, and games.
Pupils will use approved class email accounts only under supervision by or permission from a teacher.
Pupils should be aware that email communications are monitored.
Pupils will not send any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
Pupils should immediately report the receipt of any communication that makes them feel uncomfortable, is offensive, discriminatory, threatening or bullying in nature and must not respond to any such communication.
Pupils should avoid opening emails that appear suspicious. If in doubt, pupils should ask their teacher before opening emails from unknown senders.
Social Media
The following statements apply to the use of messaging, blogging and video streaming services in Christ the King GNS :
Use of instant messaging services and apps including Snapchat, Whats Apps, G Chat etc. is not allowed in Christ the King GNS .
Use of blogs such as Word Press, Tumblr etc. is allowed in Christ the King GNS with express permission from teaching staff.
Use of video streaming sites such as YouTube and Vimeo etc. is with express permission from teaching staff.
Staff and pupils must not use social media and the internet in any way to harass, insult, abuse or defame pupils, their family members, staff, other members of the Christ the King GNS community Staff and pupils must not discuss personal information about pupils, staff and other members of the Christ the King GNS community on social media.
Staff and pupils must not use school email addresses for setting up personal social media accounts or to communicate through such media.
Staff and pupils must not engage in activities involving social media which might bring Christ the King GNS into disrepute.
Staff and pupils must not represent your personal views as those of bring Christ the King GNS on any social medium.
Personal Devices
Pupils using their own technology in school should follow the rules set out in this agreement, in the same way as if they were using school equipment.
The following statements apply to the use of internet-enabled devices such as tablets, gaming devices, and digital music players in Christ the King GNS :
Pupils are only allowed to bring personal internet-enabled devices into Christ the King GNS with expressed permission from staff.
Pupils are only allowed to use personal internet-enabled devices during lessons with expressed permission from teaching staff.
Images & Video
Care should be taken when taking photographic or video images that pupils are appropriately dressed and are not participating in activities that might bring the individuals or the school into disrepute.
At Christ the King GNS pupils must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of others without their permission.
Taking photos or videos on school grounds or when participating in school activities is allowed once care is taken that no harm is done to staff or pupils of Christ the King GNS .
Taking photos or videos on school grounds or when participating in school activities is only allowed with expressed permission from staff.
Written permission from parents/guardians will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school website.
Pupils must not share images, videos or other content online with the intention to harm another member of the school community regardless of whether this happens in school or outside.
Sharing explicit images and in particular explicit images of pupils and/or minors is an unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved. Sharing explicit images of other pupils automatically incurs suspension as a sanction.
Cyberbullying
When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected to treat others with respect at all times.
Engaging in online activities with the intention to harm, harass, or embarrass and another pupil or member of staff is an unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved.
Measures are taken to ensure that staff and pupils are aware that bullying is defined as unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.
Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour, including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private messaging, do not fall within the definition of bullying and will be dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour.
The prevention of cyber bullying is an integral part of the anti-bullying policy of our school. School Websites
Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the internet in accordance with clear policies and approval processes regarding the content that can be loaded to the school’s website.
The website will be regularly checked to ensure that there is no content that compromises the safety, privacy, or reputation of students or staff.
The publication of student work will be coordinated by a teacher.
Christ the King GNS will use only digital photographs, audio or video clips of pupils focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual students will only be published on the school website with parental permission.
Personal student information including home address and contact details will not be published on Christ the King GNS web pages.
The Christ the King GNS will avoid publishing the first name and last name of pupils in video or photograph captions published online.
Permission Form I agree to follow the school’s Acceptable Use Policy on the use of the Internet. I will use the Internet in a responsible way and obey all the rules explained to me by the school.
As the parent or legal guardian of the above student, I have read the Acceptable Use Policy and grant permission for my daughter or the child in my care to access the Internet. I understand that Internet access is intended for educational purposes. I also understand that every reasonable precaution has been taken by the school to provide for online safety but the school cannot be held responsible if students access unsuitable websites. In relation to the school website, I accept that, if the school considers it appropriate, my child’s schoolwork may be chosen for inclusion on the website. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy relating to publishing students’ work on the school website.
Please review the attached school Internet Acceptable Use Policy, and sign and return this permission form to the Principal. School Name: Name of Student:______________________ Class/Year:______________________ Student:_____________________