The community of Scoil Bhríde, Milltown recognises the internet as a valuable teaching and learning tool. The purpose of this Acceptable Use Policy 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.
The AUP was created in June 2018 by the Principal and Staff, in line with the recent review of the school’s ICT policy, also reviewed in June 2018. This policy will be subsequently reviewed as issues and matters arise relating to the acceptable use of IT in our school. The AUP should be read in conjunction with the school’s Code of Discipline, Anti-bullying policy and Cyberbullying policy.
It is envisaged that the AUP should be regularly reviewed in line with developing technological issues. Before signing, the AUP should be read carefully by all parents/ guardians and pupils to ensure that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.
Scoil Bhríde’s Strategy:
Scoil Bhríde employs a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet. These strategies are as follows:
General:
- Parents/ Guardians and pupils in 1st to 6th Class are requested to agree in writing with the school’s AUP.
- Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
- Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
- The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
- Pupils and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety and Internet safety will be discussed with pupils through the SPHE curriculum during the school year.
- 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 memory sticks, CD-ROMs or other digital storage media in school requires a teacher’s permission.
- Pupils will treat others with respect at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school or themselves into disrepute.
World Wide Web:
- Pupils will not intentionally visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
- Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials to the class teacher.
- Pupils will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
- Pupils will not copy information into assignments without acknowledging the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
- Pupils will never disclose or publicise personal information.
- Downloading materials or images not relevant to their studies, is in direct breach of the school’s acceptable use policy.
- Pupils 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:
- Pupils will only use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher.
- Pupils will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
- Pupils will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses, telephone numbers or pictures.
- Pupils will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the internet.
- Pupils will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.
- Parents and staff should only communicate through the official school email address (scoilbhridemilltown@gmail.com) rather than teachers’ personal email addresses.
Internet Chat:
- Students will only have access to communication applications that have been approved by the school. E.g. Skype
- Use of communication applications will be strictly monitored and supervised by the class teacher.
- Pupils will not have access to chat rooms, discussion rooms or messaging.
School Website (www.scoilbhridemilltown.ie) and Email Newsletters (Mail Chimp):
- Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web or in email newsletters in accordance with clear policies and approval processes regarding the content that can be loaded to the school’s website or email newsletters.
- The website will be regularly checked to ensure that there is no content that compromises the safety of pupils or staff.
- Notice boards or web blogs on the school’s website will be checked frequently to ensure that they do not contain personal details.
- The publication of student work on the school website and in email newsletters will be co-ordinated by a member of staff.
- Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context.
- The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual pupils will not be published on the school website or in email newsletters without parental permission.
- Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from the school website and email newsletters.
- The school website and email newsletters will avoid publishing the first name and last name of individuals in a photograph.
- Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.
Scoil Bhríde’s Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/scoilbhridemilltown.newbridge/
The purpose having of a Scoil Bhríde Facebook page is to provide:
- Communication with parents regarding specific events & activities.
- Communication with new or prospective parents.
- Communication with the wider school community regarding positive advertisement and promotion of our school.
- Communication with the wider school community of school life E.g. photos of school tours, pupil’s projects, photos of school events, current news etc.
- Continued advancement of our school’s communication system with information shared via paper notes, text-a-parent, email, website and Facebook.
Terms of use:
- The page is a public page.
- Users cannot advertise products or services on our school Facebook page.
- Users should not post anything on the page that could be deemed as offensive – inappropriate or harmful. Comments/ content will be removed immediately if deemed to be in breach of the Terms of Use. Any messages written on social media are treated in the same way as written messages to the school.
- The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual pupils will not be published on the school’s Facebook page.
- Users cannot tag or post photographs of children on the page and should not add comments that can identify children.
- Users should not mention individual pupils or staff members on the school Facebook page.
- Users should not request staff members as Facebook friends, as failure to respond may cause offence.
- To use Facebook, one must be 13 years of age or older. The school advises parents not to allow their children to have personal accounts on Facebook until they are the appropriate age.
Failure to keep the above rules will result in an automatic removal from our Facebook page.
Personal Devices:
Please see Mobile Device Policy for further information.
Legislation:
The school will provide information on the following legislation relating to use of the Internet which teachers, pupils and parents should familiarise themselves with:
- Data protection (Amendment) Act 2003
- Child trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
- Interception Act 1993
- Video Recordings Act 1998
- The Data Protection Act 1998
Support Structures:
The school will inform pupils and parents of key support organisations who deal with illegal material or harmful use of the Internet. This information will be available during Internet Safety talks and as requested.
Sanctions:
In accordance with the school’s Code of Discipline, misuse of the Internet may result in disciplinary action. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.
This current policy was reviewed in June 2018 and as previously stated should be regularly reviewed in line with developing technological issues.
Ratified by: Gavin O’Connor, Chairperson of the BoM Date: 30/06/2018