Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),

As part of the school’s education programme we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet.  This allows students access to a large array of online educational resources that we believe can greatly enhance students’ learning experience.

However, access to and use of the Internet requires responsibility on the part of the user and the school.  These responsibilities are outlined in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (enclosed).  It is important that this enclosed document is read carefully as you will be requested at interview to sign a form confirming this.

Although the school takes active steps to promote safe use of the Internet, it recognises the possibility that students may accidentally or deliberately access inappropriate or objectionable material.

The school respects each family’s right to decide whether or not to allow their children access to the Internet as defined by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.

Having read the terms of our school’s Acceptable Use Policy, you may like to take a moment to consider how the Internet is used in your own home, and see if there is any way you could make it safer for your own family.

John Cronin,

Principal.

Acceptable Use Policy

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from 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. Therefore, if the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions – as outlined in the AUP – will be imposed.

It is envisaged that school and parent representatives will revise the AUP annually. Before signing, the AUP should be read carefully to indicate that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.

School’s Strategy

The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet.  These strategies are as follows:

General

Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.

Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used in order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.

The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.

Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.

Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.

Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.

The use of personal floppy disks or CD-ROMs in school requires a teacher’s permission.

Students will observe good “netiquette” (i.e., etiquette on the Internet) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

World Wide Web Students will not visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.

Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.

Students will be familiar with copyright issues relating to online learning.

Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.

Students 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.

Email

Students will use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher.

Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene,   defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.

Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.

Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know   through emails or the internet.

Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.

Internet Chat

Students will only have access to chat rooms, discussion forums or other electronic communication forums that have been approved by the school.

Chat rooms, discussion forums and other electronic communication forums will only be used for educational purposes and will always be supervised.

Usernames will be used to avoid disclosure of identity.

Face-to-face meetings with someone organised via Internet chat will be forbidden.

School Website

Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web.

The publication of student work will be co-ordinated by a teacher.

Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright notice prohibiting the copying of such work without express written permission.

Digital photographs, audio or video clips of individual students will not be published on the school website. Instead photographs, audio and video clips will focus on group activities. Video clips may be password protected.

Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.

Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

Legislation

The school will provide information on the following legislation relating to use of the Internet which teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with:

Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003

Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998

Interception Act 1993

Video Recordings Act 1989

The Data Protection Act 1988

Support Structures

The school will inform students and parents of key support structures and organisations that deal with illegal material or harmful use of the Internet.

Sanctions

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.