Internet Acceptable Usage Policy

Educationalists believe in the benefits of curriculum-based internet use. The purpose of the Internet Acceptable Usage Policy is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s internet resources, and will be protected from harmful and illegal use of the Internet.

St. Columb’s N.S. will employ a number of strategies to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet.

These strategies are as follows:

1. Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)
2. Education
3. Filtering/Monitoring

Internet

Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher

Filtering software will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material

1. The school will regularly monitor pupils’ internet usage
2. Pupils will receive training in the area of internet safety
3. Pupils will be taught to evaluate the content of internet sites
4. Teachers will be made aware of internet safety issues
5. Uploading and downloading of non-approved material is banned
6. Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis
7. The use of personal pen drives, external storage devices or CD-ROMS in school requires a teacher’s permission
8. Pupils will observe good “netiquette” (etiquette on the internet) at all times and will not undertake any action that may bring a school into disrepute.
9. ‘YouTube’ (and similar sites) can be accessed only under the supervision and direction of the teacher.

Internet and communication with home

The Internet has become a two-way communication system for the school and the wider community. Services such as SeeSaw, emails, the school website are being used by the school to communicate with parents and also for parents to communicate with the school. These services, although not owned by St. Columb’s N.S., form part of our web services and all content that is placed on these services falls under this policy. Please refer to the school’s Data Protection Policy for further information on how the school utilises third party services.

The safety of our children on the web is of utmost importance so the following rules apply to the school and parents. The Internet is open to potential dangers when used inappropriately.  

The school asks:

• Many social media sites have minimum age requirements. While the school will not monitor this, we would advise parents to not allow their children to have personal accounts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. until they are the appropriate age. Children will not be allowed to use their own personal accounts for social media.
• Please ensure that online messages and comments about the school are respectful. Any messages written on social media are treated in the same way as written messages to the school.
• Avoid any negative conversations about children, staff or parents on social media accounts. If you have an issue with something in the school, social media is not the place to raise it.

Teachers in the school may choose to use a number of tools for classroom communication. Examples include SeeSaw and Mathletics. Our S.E.T. may need to ring or video call a student if he/she is unable to attend school for an extended period of time and the following etiquette will apply:

• All people involved in the meeting will conduct themselves in a similar manner that would be expected in a regular class. 
• The staff member has the right to “kick out” any person being disruptive from a synchronous lesson. 
• A family member is expected to be close by when a pupil is engaging in a meeting. They should monitor all online interactions from the pupil.
• Staff will not meet any child alone using an online meeting. If there is a need for a meeting between a child with a staff member, another adult must be present at the meeting and/or the meeting may be recorded. 
• While chat may be available in an online meeting, it is the responsibility of the child’s family to ensure that any interaction is appropriate. Any interaction from a pupil that could be deemed as inappropriate may result in the child’s removal from the lesson or, where appropriate, a referral to Child Protection services.

Email

If pupils are allowed to use email, the following rules will apply:

1. Email will be used for educational purposes only
2. Students will only use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher
3. Pupils will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person
4. Pupils will not send text messages to or from school email
5. Pupils will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details e.g. addresses, telephone numbers, or pictures via school email
6. Pupils will never arrange to meet someone via school email
7. Sending or receiving email attachments is subject to teacher permission.

Internet Chat

Students are not permitted to use internet chat rooms.

School Website

Designated teachers will manage the publication of material on the school website.

1. Personal pupil information, home addresses and contact details will not be published on the school website
2. Class lists will not be published
3. Pupils’ full names will not be published beside their photograph
4. Digital photographs, video clips and audio clips will focus on groups and group activities rather than on individual pupils
5. Pupils will be given an opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the school website
6. Teachers will select work to be published and decide on the appropriateness of such
7. Permission to publish a student’s work will be sought from pupils/ parents/ guardians. This permission may be withdrawn at any time.
8. Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

Education

St. Columb’s N.S. will undertake an education programme to educate children on the safe, responsible use of the Internet.

21st century life presents dangers including violence, racism and exploitation from which children and young people need to be protected. At the same time they need to learn to recognise and avoid these risks – to become internet wise.

Resources that may be used to implement this programme include

• NCTE Internet Safety Awareness Video
• Use of the ‘Kids’ section on the www.webwise.ie website
• SAFT Internet Safety Awareness Education Programme and exemplars

Filtering

‘Filtering’ is a term used to describe a way of limiting the content of web pages, emails, chat rooms and other electronic data to which users may be exposed. No filter is 100% accurate. The most effective filtering tool is adult vigilance.

Many browsers have their own built in filtering tool e.g. Google. Google’s search engine has a built-in “Safe Search”. This filter eliminates sites that contain pornography and explicit sexual content from search results. It is easily applied by clicking on the Preferences link on any Google page. Unfortunately, it is also easily removed.

St. Columb’s N.S. has filtering software. The access to websites from all school computers is monitored and regularly reviewed by the NCCA. Websites are only allowed through following a verification of their suitability.

 Firewalls 

Windows X, 7, 8 or 10 have a built-in firewall. Firewall software can be purchased or downloaded free from the Internet. St. Columb’s N.S. has installed firewall software.

Page down for a sample of the following:

• Letter to Parents
• Responsible Internet Use Pupil Undertaking Form
• Internet Permission Form
• School Website Permission Form

Personal Devices

Please see mobile device policy for further information.

Sanctions

If a pupil deliberately misuses the internet or email, this will result in disciplinary action, including the withdrawal of access privileges. Parents/guardians will receive written notification of misuse by a pupil and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

 Review and Evaluation

This policy has been read and ratified by the staff and all members of the Board of management. Review of this will take place every three years or earlier if necessary.

Signed: _________________________

              (Principal)

         __________________________

            (Chairperson, Board of Management

Date:   _______________

Sample Letter to Parents

Date:

Dear Parent/Guardian,

As part of the school’s education programme we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet. This will allow pupils vast educational opportunities by helping them for example, locate material for projects, communicate with students from different cultures, become independent in controlling their own research and become independent learners.

While we as educationalists recognise the value of the Internet as a resource, we must also acknowledge the potential risks to students. We feel that the answer is not to ban the use of the Internet in school but to teach pupils to recognise the risks and to become Internet Wise. We also allow limited access to ‘YouTube’ on a strictly supervised basis. This is to allow access to a huge range of educational material. The filter to prevent access to unsuitable material on YouTube is also in operation.

This process is the responsibility of the school and the parent/guardian.

For this reason, we have compiled a school policy on Internet safety. Parents must also set and convey standards of usage to their children.

It is important that you read the school’s Internet Policy and sign the attached document.

There is also a document for pupils to sign. Parents should discuss this document with their children to ensure that they clearly understand the school rules with regard to Internet usage. 

____________________

Principal

Responsible Internet Use

Pupil Undertaking

We use the School computers and Internet connection for learning. 

These rules will help us to be fair to others and keep everyone safe.

• I will ask permission before entering any website, unless my teacher has already approved that site

• I will not bring external storage devices such as pen drives (or memory sticks/USB keys etc.) into school without permission

• I will not use email for personal reasons

• I will only use email for school projects and with my teacher’s permission

• The messages I send will be polite and sensible

• When sending e-mail, I will not give my home address or phone number or arrange to meet anyone

• I will ask for permission before opening an e-mail or an e-mail attachment

• I will not use internet chat rooms

• If I see anything, I am unhappy with or if I receive a message I do not like, I will tell a teacher immediately

• I know that the school may check my computer files and may monitor the sites I visit

• I understand that if I deliberately break these rules, I could be stopped from using the Internet and computers and my parents will be informed.

Signed: _________________________________________________________Pupil(s)        

Signed: _________________________ Parent/Guardian

Date: _______________                  

Internet Permission Form

Name of Pupil(s):  _____________________________________________

Class(es):              _____________________________________

As the parent or legal guardian of the above child, I have read the Internet Acceptable Use Policy and grant permission for ______________________________________

(name(s): son/daughter) to access the Internet. I understand that school internet usage is for educational purposes only and that every reasonable precaution will be taken by the school to provide for online safety.

I accept my own responsibility for the education of my child(ren) on issues of Internet Responsibility and Safety.

I understand that having adhered to all the enclosed precautions the school cannot be held responsible if my child tries to access unsuitable material.

Signature:    1. _____________________ 2. _____________________

                        Parents / Legal Guardians 

                     Date: ___________________

School Website

I understand that, if the school considers it appropriate, my child’s schoolwork may be chosen for inclusion on the school’s website. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Usage Policy in relation to publishing pupils’ work and photographs of school activities on the website.

Signature:    1. ____________________ 2. _____________________

                        Parents / Legal Guardians

Date:               ___________________