Acceptable Use Policy

Scoil Chros tSeáin

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 Therefore, if the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions – as outlined in the AUP – will be imposed.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.
This version of the AUP was created in 2020 and endorsed by the Board of Management.

 

School Strategies

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

 

General

• Access to the Internet 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 Internet is protected by the firewall provided by the PDSTTiE.
•  The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
•  Pupils 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 memory sticks and other digital media in school requires a teacher’s permission.
•  Pupils 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

• 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 accordance with school procedures.
• Pupils will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
• Pupils will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• Downloading by pupils of 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 / Internet Chat

• Pupils will not be given access to email. However, they may be provided with Google credentials for accessing other communication tools such as Google Classroom.
• Pupils will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, 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 passwords, addresses, telephone numbers or pictures.
• Pupils will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know online.
• Pupils will note that sending and receiving files is subject to permission from their teacher.
• Pupils will not have access to email, social media, chat rooms, discussion forums, messaging or other electronic communication fora.

 

 

School Website

Please note that the following points apply to the school’s website and social media profiles, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube

• Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the World Wide Web 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 of pupils or staff.
• The publication of student work will be coordinated by a teacher.
• Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on web pages and the school’s social media.
• The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities.
• Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.
• The school website will avoid publishing the full name of individuals in a photograph.
• Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.

 

School App

Our School App is Crosshaven BNS App.

 

The purpose of having a School App is to provide:

• Communication with parents regarding school related news, specific events & activities
• Communication with new or prospective parents.
• Parents informing school of child’s absence through the absence notification function.
• Continued advancement of our school communication system with information shared via paper notes, email, website, push notifications on the app and social media.
• The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on mainly group activity.
• Our school app feeds are connected to the school homepage on our website.

 

Official School Facebook / Twitter

Our school Facebook account is Crosshaven Boys’ National School

Our school Twitter account is Crosshaven Boys’ National School @CrosshavenBNS

 

The purpose of having school Facebook and Twitter pages is to provide:

• Communication with parents regarding school related news, specific events & activities
• Communication with new or prospective parents
• Communication with wider audience regarding positive advertisement of school
• Continued advancement of our school communication system with information shared via paper-notes, email, website, Facebook & Twitter.

 

Those using our social networking sites must abide by the following:

• Users cannot advertise products or services on our school social media pages
• Users should not post anything on the page that could be deemed as offensive – inappropriate or harmful comments/content will be removed immediately
• Users should not ask to become “friends” with individual staff members.
• Users cannot tag or post photographs of children on the page without the permission of the school authority.
• Users should not add comments that can identify children

 

The sanction for breaking these rules is automatic blockage from our social media pages.

 

School iPads and other digital devices

• Photographs – camera and audio recording functions may only be used under the direction of the teacher.
• iPads / digital devices must be handled with care at all times – protective cases are to be used at all times.
• iPads / digital devices remain the property of the school.
• Loss/damage to iPad / digital device must be reported to the teacher as soon as possible.
• Responsibility for the iPad / digital device is with the pupil and when not in use must be given to the teacher or locked in a secure place.
• The iPad / digital device to be monitored on a regular basis
• Access to inappropriate material is prohibited
• Screensaver – pupils are prohibited from installing a personal screensaver on school iPads / digital devices

 

Direct Communication using Internet

Teachers in the school may choose to use a number of tools for classroom communication. Examples include Seesaw, Webex, Zoom, Google Classroom, and ClassDojo. Some of these tools provide synchronous video opportunities whereby a staff member directly speaks to the children live – e.g. through a webinar or online meeting. The staff member invites pupils and their families to these meetings using a code.  (Please refer to our Guidelines for Distance Learning Policy)

 

Personal Electronic Devices (including mobile phones, iPads, iPods, Kindles etc)

• The school acknowledges that some pupils may need to bring a personal device with them to school from time to time, however we encourage children to bring these only when required or deemed necessary by a parent or teacher. Example: For safety when a pupil may be taking the bus home.
• Where a pupil brings a mobile phone to school, the phone must be switched off during the school day and may not be used for any purpose on school premises or grounds. No pupil may have a mobile phone on his person.
• All devices must be handed up to the class teacher and will be kept in locked storage until home time.
• The school accepts no responsibility for replacing lost, stolen or damaged mobile phones / personal devices in the pupil’s or school’s possession.
• The safety and security of mobile phones / personal devices in the pupil’s possession is wholly a matter for pupils/parents.
• Phones may not be turned on until pupils have left the school grounds.
• Pupils using their own technology in school, such as leaving a mobile phone turned on or using it in class, sending nuisance text messages, or the unauthorised taking of still or moving images with a mobile phone camera, are in direct breach of the school’s Acceptable Use Policy.
• Pupils found in contravention will have phones / personal devices confiscated to the office and their parent/guardian will have to collect it in person on their behalf.
• Pupils may not take photographs or make recordings, video or audio with mobile phones / personal devices.
• Using phones / personal devices in such a way can seriously infringe on pupils’ rights and appropriate sanctions may be imposed.
• Allegations of incidents where pupils use mobile phones / personal devices to bully other pupils or send offensive messages or calls will be investigated under the schools Anti-Bullying policy.
• It should be noted that it is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend another person. As such, the school may consider it appropriate to involve the Gardaí.

 

Legislation

 

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

 

• Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003
• Children First 2018 We will be undertaking a full review of the policy during the school year 2021-2022
• Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
• Interception Act 1993
• Video Recordings Act 1989
• The Data Protection Act 1988

 

Support Structures
The school will inform pupils and parents of key support structures and organisations that deal with illegal material or harmful use of the Internet. Teachers will give instruction on appropriate use of the internet and how to use it safely. We also provide workshops/informative meetings on internet safety for pupils and their parents. We use the services of the PDST and www.webwise.ie

 

Sanctions
Misuse of the Internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

 

Review
This policy was developed in 2020 and updated regularly as developments in technology continue to impact on education in particular. . This review will involve input from teachers, parents, pupils and Board of Management.