Scoil Náisiunta Mhuire

Acceptable Use Policy

(Updated and ratified by the Board of Management on June 9th, 2014)

Rationale and Aims

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy (A.U.P.) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered via the school’s Internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. Therefore, if a pupil does not adhere to the responsibilities associated with the use of our school’s internet resources, this privilege may be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions – as outlined in this AUP – may be imposed.

The Board of Management will review the AUP annually or sooner if it is necessary to do so.

Before signing the accompanying consent form, the AUP should be read carefully in its totality to ensure that the conditions of internet use are accepted and clearly understood.

The AUP was initially adopted by our school Board of Management at its meeting in May 2009. It was updated in May 2014. This update was discussed, approved and ratified by the Board of Management at its meeting of June 9th, 2014.

School’s Strategy
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
Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
Filtering software and/or equivalent systems are used in order to eliminate the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
Pupils and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.
Staff will educate pupils about the risks associated with the taking, using, sharing and publication of images and personal information.
Guidelines for staying safe online will be published in the school journal.
Uploading and downloading of approved software is done by the school staff only.
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 will require a teacher’s permission in all circumstances.
Pupils will treat others with respect at all times when online and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
Internet
Pupils will not intentionally visit Internet sites other than those approved by the supervising teacher or Special Needs Assistant.
Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in accordance with school procedures.
Pupils will use the Internet at school for educational purposes only.
Pupils will not copy information into assignments and fail to acknowledge the source (plagiarism and copyright infringement).
Pupils will never disclose or publicise personal information.
Downloading materials or images not relevant to their studies, is a direct breach of this school’s acceptable use policy.
Pupils will be made 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 must only use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher.
Sending or receiving any inappropriate material is forbidden.
Pupils must not use the school’s internet resources to reveal their own or other pupil’s personal details at any time.
Pupils must never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the internet.
Sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from a teacher in every circumstance.
Internet Chat
Pupils will only have access to chat rooms, discussion forums, messaging or other electronic communication fora that have been approved by the supervising school teacher.
Chat rooms, discussion fora and other electronic communication fora 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 is forbidden.
Cyber-bullying via the internet is dealt with under the Code of Behaviour and the Anti-Bullying Policies

School Website / Blog
Staff are permitted to take digital/video images for the school website but must follow this policy with regard to the uploading of such images onto the school website.
Staff will ensure that when taking digital/video images that pupils are appropriately dressed and are not participating in activities that might bring the individuals or the school into disrepute.
Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work on the internet in accordance with clear policies and approval processes regarding the content that can be loaded to the school’s website
The publication of pupils’ work will be co-ordinated/supervised by a teacher.
Images to be published on the website will be selected carefully and will comply with good practice on image use.
Staff will ensure that there is no content uploaded that compromises the safety of pupils, families or staff.
School website user facilities such as the “comment” section will be checked frequently to ensure that they do not contain personal details. Comments will only be uploaded when approved by the teachers who coordinate the website.
Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on web pages.
The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities only.
Content focusing on individual students will not be published on the school website without written parental permission.
Pupils’ full names will not be used anywhere on the website, particularly in association with photographs.
A pupil’s first name may be used.
Video clips of school activities are embedded onto the school website via YouTube. These clips, however, are “unlisted” on the YouTube website.
Pupils will continue, where relevant, to own the copyright on any work published.
Written permission will be obtained from parents/guardians (on the attached Permission Form) on enrolment to Scoil Náisiúnta Mhuire before any images of pupils or their work are published on the school website.

Media
The school will make every reasonable effort to ensure that photographs or videos taken by parents on school property or of school events will be for personal use only and not for social websites (e.g. Facebook) or other public media of any description.
The school will make every reasonable effort to ensure that content recorded by pre-arranged / approved outside agencies (e.g. television companies, newspaper photographers) will only involve groups of children. Where individual / single children are photographed or recorded, we will always seek parental permission.
This policy will be made very clear to any individuals/companies who wish to use school photographs/recordings.

Personal Devices
Pupils are forbidden to use their own technology (mobile phones, game consoles, tablets etc) in school. Bringing such devices to school and engaging in activities such as leaving a mobile phone turned on or using it in school, sending text messages, or the unauthorized taking of images (still or moving) with a mobile phone camera or other device, is in every circumstance a serious direct breach of the school’s Acceptable Use Policy, Code of Behaviour and Anti Bullying Policy.

Sanctions
Misuse of this Acceptable Use Policy may result in disciplinary action under our Code of Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policies. These may include 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.

Legislation
The school will, where requested, provide information on the following and relevant legislation (as amended) relating to the use of its Internet resources:
Education Act 1998
Child Care Act 1991
Child Protection (Amendment) Act 2000
Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003
Interception Act 1993
Video Recordings Act 1989

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.
Guidelines for Safe Internet Use and Safe Mobile phone use are be published in the school journal and displayed in the school.
Parents and school staff will be invited to information meetings regarding Internet Safety.

Ratification
The A.U.P. was updated, ratified and adopted at its meeting of March 23rd, 2014 and further updated and ratified at its meeting of June 9th, 2014. It will be reviewed every two years or sooner if deemed necessary.

Signed: Frank Maguire
Chairperson on behalf of the Board of Management.

Acceptable Use Policy Permission/Consent Form.

Pupil’s Name: _____________________________
Declaration of Pupil
I agree to follow my school’s Acceptable Use Policy on the use of the Internet. I will use the Internet in a responsible way and obey all the rules explained to me by the school.

Pupil’s Signature: ____________________ Date: ___________
(Parent/Guardian can sign on behalf of a Junior Infant Pupil.)
Declarations of Parent/Guardian

1.Internet Access
As the parent or legal guardian of the above pupil, I/we have read the Acceptable Use Policy and now grant permission for my son/daughter or the child/children (as above named) in my care to access the Internet at school. I understand that Internet access is intended for educational purposes only. I also understand that every reasonable and prudent precaution has been undertaken by the school to ensure online safety.

I accept the above paragraph I do not accept the above paragraph
(Please tick as appropriate)

Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________
(Parent/Guardian)

2. School Website: Section 1. Pupils’ Schoolwork

In relation to the school’s website, I accept that, if the school considers it appropriate, my child’s schoolwork may be chosen for inclusion thereon. I understand and accept the terms of the Acceptable Use Policy relating to publishing children’s work on the school’s proposed website.

I accept the above paragraph I do not accept the above paragraph
(Please tick as appropriate)

Signature: _____________________________ Date: _________
(Parent/Guardian)

3. School Website: Section 2. Photos/Videos of Pupils on the School Website

I understand and accept that, if the school considers it appropriate, group photographs and videos that include my child may be chosen for inclusion on the school website.

I understand and accept that the school will seek my written permission before any individual photographs or videos of my child are uploaded onto the school website.

I accept the above paragraph I do not accept the above paragraph
(Please tick as appropriate)

Signature: _____________________________ Date: ________
(Parent/Guardian)

Note: If you do not accept this policy or any part of it, please contact the Principal.(021-4394265)