COMPUTER NETWORK ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

St. Joseph School is pleased to offer its students access to our computer network, which includes the ability to use the Internet and electronic mail. Our goal in providing this service to teachers and students is to promote educational excellence in our school by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication.

While the purposes of this school are to use Internet resources for constructive educational goals, students may find ways to access other materials. St. Joseph School has taken precautions to restrict access to controversial web sites. However, on a global network, complete control is impossible. We believe that the benefits to students from access to the Internet in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration far exceed the disadvantages. Therefore, it is expected that students will comply with school standards and the specific rules listed below.

RULES:

1. Students shall exercise good judgment in visiting Internet web sites. Visit only those sites which are relevant to the topic you are researching. Some sites contain objectionable material. DO NOT VISIT THEM. If you have any questions about the appropriate nature of a site, ask a teacher for permission to visit the site.

2. Students shall be polite and use appropriate language in on-line communications. Profanity or abusive language will not be tolerated.

3. Students shall not reveal their last name, home address, or phone number, nor those of others over the Internet.

4. Students shall respect the property of others. Never change or access a file belonging to another person.

5. Students shall report any misuse of the Internet or computer equipment to a teacher immediately.

6. Students shall handle all computer hardware and software in a responsible manner.

7. Students shall not bring disks from home or download a file of any type without the express permission of a teacher. This will minimize the chances of a virus infecting the network.

8. Students shall not plagiarize works that are found on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas, writings, or works of others and presenting them as if they were your own.

9. Students shall never access, keep, or send anything that they would not want their parents or teachers to see.

The Computer Network Contract must be signed by each student in St. Joseph School, as well as by his/her parent or guardian. This contract will be kept on file in the school office.