Use of Technology Policies
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TECHNOLOGY POLICIES
GLOBAL LEARNING IN THE DIGITAL AGE
St. Joseph High School provides all students an innovative education to prepare them with skills for a digital world. Students use technology to solve problems, complete projects, and creatively extend their abilities. St. Joseph’s Technology Standards for Students help students prepare to work and live in, as well as contribute to a changing world.
These standards identify several higher-order thinking skills and digital citizenship as critical for students to learn effectively for a lifetime and live productively in our emerging global society.
The student technology standards of St. Joseph High School include the building of skills in the following areas:
Creativity and Innovation
Communication and Collaboration
Research and Information Fluency
Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
Digital Citizenship
Technology Operations and Concepts
STUDENT INFORMATION
Student laptops are equipped with 8-hour batteries to enable use throughout the school day. It is the responsibility of each student to bring their laptop to school fully charged.
Each laptop and case is marked with the student name and ID number, which may NOT be removed.
LAPTOP MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
St. Joseph High School is a Lenova approved self-maintenance site. The laptop help center is located in room 111. It is open from 7:30 am-3:00pm during school days.
If you have problems with your laptop, stop by before or after school or during lunch.
If you need to come during the day, please check with your teacher first, and let your teacher decide if the laptop is needed that period and whether you need to miss class to have your laptop repaired after school.
HELP CENTER PROCESS TO HANDLE REPAIRS
Depending on the issue, most repairs can be completed in one day. Machines are repaired on a first come first served basis.
A loaner machine may be assigned to a student during the repair process. Loaner machines are NOT given to students who have abused or damaged their machines unnecessarily: cracked screens, cracked/damaged hinges or damage to the physical casing.
Every attempt is made to complete repairs as quickly as possible. Students should check on the status of their laptop on a regular basis.
WARRANTY VS. STUDENT COST
If manufacturer defect or normal wear and tear causes a problem, then most items will be covered under the warranty during the four years at St. Joseph. Batteries are covered for one year. This is consistent with the industry standard for rechargeable batteries. Replacement of batteries after one year is the responsibility of the parent(s).
However, if the laptop is abused or not taken care of in the proper fashion, the manufacturer may not give warranty coverage. At that point, any expenses incurred will be charged to the student account.
Examples of non-warranty damage:
Dog chewed through AC Adaptor cord. Excessive damage due to improper care, negligence, misuse and/or spill damage will void the warranty
Lost parts including CD rom drive, hard drive, ac adapter, battery are not covered under the warranty and must be purchased by the student.
SECURITY OF LAPTOPS AND DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Students must take responsibility for the safety and security of their laptops. Laptops should never be left unattended. If not in use, a student’s laptop should be locked in his/her locker. Do not leave laptops in an athletic locker. St. Joseph High School is not responsible for lost or stolen laptops whether on or off school grounds.
Each laptop has an embedded serial number on the outside of the system, which is connected to the same serial number embedded on internal parts. If a system is stolen it may be traced by this serial number.
A student suspected or found to have stolen a laptop will be immediately expelled from St. Joseph High School.
Students must adhere to the Internet User policy. Students who use their laptops in violation of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action. St. Joseph is not responsible for lost or stolen laptops whether on or off the premises.
LOST OR STOLEN LAPTOPS
Families are expected to insure their students’ laptops for loss or theft through their homeowner’s, renters or separate rider coverage. In the event of a loss or theft, the family will be required to reimburse the school for the loss of the laptop before a replacement laptop is provided under the on-going lease. (A copy of the LOST LAPTOP POLICY can be obtained from the Business Office.)
INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
All use of the Internet shall be consistent with St. Joseph’s goal of promoting educational excellence by facilitating responsible, respectful sharing of resources, innovation and communication. Guidance and instruction will be provided and required for each individual granted Internet access through the school.
This policy does not attempt to state all required and/or unacceptable behaviors by users. However, some specific examples are provided. The failure of any user to follow the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy for Internet Access will result in the loss of privileges, disciplinary action and/or appropriate legal action. The signature(s) on the Parental Permissions/Approval form is legally binding and indicates the party who signed has read the terms and conditions carefully and understands their significance.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Acceptable Use - Access to the Internet at St. Joseph High School must be for the purpose of education or research and be consistent with the educational objectives of the school.
- Privileges - The use of the Internet at St. Joseph High School is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The Technology Director will make all decisions regarding whether or not a use has violated this policy and may deny, revoke or suspend a student’s privileges at any time. The decision of the Technology Director is final.
- Unacceptable Use - You are responsible for your actions and activities involving the network. Some examples of unacceptable use are:
Using another student’s laptop, removing items from another student’s laptop case, or otherwise mistreating equipment assigned to another student.
Using the network or Laptop for illegal, inappropriate, or obscene purposes or in support of such activities.
Using the Network or Laptop for any illegal activity, including violating such matters as institutional or third party copyright, license agreements, and other contracts.
Sharing a password with anyone. If a password has been compromised or lost, immediately notify the Technology Director, teacher, or school administrator.
Unauthorized downloading of software.
Playing games in class.
Accessing your home account during class time.
Forging electronic mail messages, or using an account owned by another student.
Uploading or creating computer viruses or malicious software.
Using the St. Joseph High School network for private or commercial gain, or fraud.
Accessing or attempting to access any network device other than those explicitly provided for student use.
Degrading, damaging, or disrupting technology equipment or system performance.
Invading the privacy of individuals.
Posting material authored or created by another without his/her consent.
Posting anonymous messages.
Using the network for commercial or private advertising.
Accessing, submitting, posting, publishing or displaying defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, racially offensive, harassing or illegal material
Using the network while access privileges are suspended or revoked
Lending his/her laptop to another student for use. Students must use only the specific laptop assigned to each of them.
Using any other electronic devices to gain access to the internet which is NOT connected to the school network.
Network users at St. Joseph High School are provided an E-mail account. Messages are retained in the recipient’s E-mail folder until the recipient deletes them. Users are expected to remain within allocated disk space and delete E-mail or other material that takes up excessive space. The Technology Director may remove messages if the need arises. Electronic communications are not private, and the Technology Director is authorized to investigate individual E-mail and/or network user folders.
The following E-mail practices are specifically prohibited, although this list is not exhaustive:
- Sending a “flame”-verbal attack in electronic form.
- Sending “spam”-unsolicited E-mail message sent to a large number of recipients.
- Sending “junk” E-mail-an unsolicited commercial electronic E-mail.
- Sending an electronic chain letter.
- Using an anonymous re-mailer.
Mass emails to students/faculty must be pre-approved by the Dean, and authorization by the Dean must be on the email.
- Network Etiquette - You are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Be polite.
- Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language.
- Do not reveal the addresses or telephone numbers of students or colleagues.
- Recognize that electronic mail (e-mail) is not private. Messages relating to or in support of illegal activities may be reported to the authorities.
- Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt its use by other users.
- Consider all communications and information accessible via the network to be the property of St. Joseph High School.
- Your signature tag should contain your name only.
- Personal Safety - For your own benefit, observe the following precautions:
- Do not post personal contact information about yourself or other people. This information includes, but is not limited to, your address, telephone number, work address, etc.
- Information placed on sites such as “myspace.com” is public knowledge. Students with information, pictures or language contrary to SJHS policy on such a site is subject to disciplinary action.
- Do not agree to meet with someone you have met on-line.
- Disclose to your teacher, counselor or classroom supervisor any message you receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Security - Network security is a high priority. If you can identify a security problem on the Internet, you must notify the Technology Director or Principal. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Attempts to log-on as someone other than you will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user identified as a security risk may be denied address to the network.
- Vandalism/Harassment - Vandalism and/or harassment will result in cancellation of privileges and disciplinary action will be taken. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet or any other network. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses. Harassment is defined as the persistent annoyance of another user or the interference in another’s work. This includes, but is not limited to, the sending of unwanted e-mail.
- Social Network Use - .St. Joseph High School students who display illegal, harassing, or other inappropriate messages on any social networking site are subject to disciplinary consequences, which may include suspension, probation, loss of use of technology at school, expulsion, or other consequences including legal action.
- The student and parent(s)/guardian(s) needs to sign the Authorization for Internet Access each year while at St. Joseph High School. Forgeries are subject to disciplinary procedures. All parents and students are bound to these guidelines.
Consequences of Violations
Suspension of network access
Laptop probation
Suspension of laptop rights
Detention and/or Saturday school
School suspension
Referral to the Discipline Board; and/or legal action and prosecution by local, state, or federal authorities.
Other consequences may be determined if action is warranted.
St. Joseph High School has the right to restrict or terminate network access at any time for any reason. St. Joseph High School further has the right to monitor network activity in any form it sees fit to maintain the integrity of the network.
The Principal reserves the right to amend this policy as needed.