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.

Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh School will employ a number of strategies to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet.

These strategies are as follows:

Acceptable Usage Policy (AUP)
Education
Filtering/Monitoring

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.

Internet

Internet will be used for educational purposes only
Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher
Pupils will seek permission before entering any Internet site, unless previously approved by a teacher
Filtering software will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material
The school will regularly monitor pupils’ internet usage
Pupils will receive training in the area of internet safety
Pupils will be taught to evaluate the content of internet sites
Teachers will be made aware of internet safety issues
Uploading and downloading of non-approved material is banned
Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis
The use of external storage devices or CD-ROMS in school requires a teacher’s permission
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
Websites can be accessed only under the supervision and direction of the teacher.

Email

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

Email will be used for educational purposes only
Students 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, defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person
Pupils will not send text messages to or from school email
Pupils will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details e.g. addresses, telephone numbers, or pictures via school email
Pupils will never arrange to meet someone via school email
Sending or receiving email attachments is subject to teacher permission.

Internet Chat

Students are not permitted to use internet chat rooms.

School Website/Facebook Page

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

Personal pupil information, home addresses and contact details will not be published on the school website
Class lists will not be published
Pupils’ full names will not be published beside their photograph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

Direct Communication using Internet

Teachers in the school may choose to use a number of tools for classroom communication. Examples include Google Classroom, Webex, Zoom, SeeSaw, 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. The following are ground rules for synchronous lessons online.

All meetings will use a waiting room for security and may be password protected.
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 “remove” 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 must 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.

Education

Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh will undertake an education programme to educate children on the safe, responsible use of the Internet.

21^st 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
Safer Internet Day/Week

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.

Scoil Uí Cheithearnaigh has filtering software. We use the Department of Education filtering software. We currently use the safest level of filtering provided by the Department of Education. 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.

Page down for a sample of the following:

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

Sample Letter to Parents

Insert 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.

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.

Mise le meas,

____________________

Ruairí Ó hAnnluain

Príomhoide

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/Facebook Page

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 GuardiansDate: ___________________