General User Policy

The following has been created by the Education Department and reviewed by Diocesan attorneys for use in the Catholic Schools on Long Island; however, the Diocese of Rockville Centre does not maintain a Diocesan wide acceptable use policy. The following should in no way be construed as an official policy of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, but shall be the policy of any individual school which chooses to adopt it.

ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY

Student Use Policy

Our Lady of Lourdes School

West Islip, New York

Our Lady of Lourdes School has recently established a computer network with access to the Internet for its students. This network has been established for limited educational purposes only. By agreeing to this policy the student and the parents and/or caregivers of the students fully agree to the following.

There is NO RIGHT TO PRIVACY when using the schools computer resources. Administration, faculty, and other authorized persons will have the right to review any and all material saved, transmitted, accessed, or momentarily in use by the student in accord with the policy set by the schools administration. This right is extended to the student’s parents and/or legal caregivers in accordance with the schools policy for the review of student records and/or work.

There is NO ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH when using the schools computer resources, which is viewed by the administration as a limited educational forum.

All access to the schools network resources will be permitted only under the supervision of a member of the school staff. The student agrees that all information transmitted through the use of the schools computer resources (e-mail, web page publication, or other Internet postings) will be sent or received only under the direct, immediate supervision of a member of staff or other authorized person.

The student agrees never to transmit the personal information (name, age, gender, address, phone number, e-mail address and the like) of himself or herself as well as that of any other person. The student agrees never to arrange for a meeting with any person at any time using the schools computer resources.

The student agrees to notify a staff member immediately if he or she is asked for personal information, view inappropriate materials, or in any other way feels violated, harassed, uncomfortable, or accosted through the schools computer resources.

The student agrees never to access, transmit, or retransmit material which promotes violence or advocates destruction of property, including, but not limited to, access to information concerning the manufacture of destructive devices, such as explosives, fireworks, smoke bombs, incendiary devices, and the like.

The student agrees never to access, transmit, or retransmit any information containing sexually oriented material, which means any pictures or writings that are intended to stimulate erotic feelings by the description or portrayal of sexual activity or nude human form.

The student agrees never to use the schools computer resources for commercial purposes. The student will never buy nor sell anything using the schools computer resources.

The schools system will never be used for political lobbying, although it may be used to communicate with elected representatives to express opinions on political issues.

The student agrees never to tamper with any software and/or hardware including software or hardware that guard the schools network from unmanaged Internet use. The student agrees never to tamper with any security system that protects the schools computer resources.

The student agrees to use only the software and/or hardware permitted by a member of staff for express educational purposes.

The student agrees never to use the schools computer resources to gain unauthorized access to another computer network (hacking).

The student agrees never to transmit (download or upload) any computer file, application or other computer resource to or from the schools computer network. This included the unauthorized installation of software from a floppy disk, CD-ROM, or other media.

The student agrees never to use inappropriate, obscene, profane, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful language. The student agrees never to post false information or engage in personal, prejudicial, or discriminatory attacks.

The student agrees never to harass another person by use of any of the schools resources. Harassment is defined as any action that distresses or annoys another person. The student agrees to stop immediately any and all behavior that is construed by another as unwelcome.

The student agrees never to plagiarize. Plagiarism is defined as taking the idea or writing of others and presenting them as ones own.

The student agrees to respect the right of intellectual property of other people and to respect all copyright laws. The student agrees that if he or she is unsure whether copyright law is being respected, he or she will bring this question immediately to the attention of a staff member.

The student agrees never to participate in illegal activity using the schools computer resources. The school will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to any illegal activities conducted through the schools resources.

Our Lady of Lourdes School will not be held responsible for the actions of a student who is in violation of any of the terms of this policy. This responsibility is extended to, but not limited to: loss of data or interruptions of service, the accuracy or quality of information through the schools system, or any financial obligations arising through the unauthorized use of the schools computer resources.

Our Lady of Lourdes School reserves the right to establish rules and regulations regarding the use of the system.

A STUDENT FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THIS POLICY WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINE INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TEMPORARY REMOVAL FROM THE SCHOOLS SYSTEM, PERMANENT REMOVAL FROM THE SYSTEM, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ACCORD WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE SCHOOL, INCLUDING SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION.

I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO THE TERMS OF THIS ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY, AND I HAVE EXPLAINED IT TO MY CHILD.

Parent or Caregiver Signature                                                                           Date:               

Printed Name of Parent or Caregiver                                                               

Please fill out for each student you have in the school: (if they are too young to sign please sign for them)

Student Signature____________________________________________________________

Printed Name of Student                                                                                              

Student Signature____________________________________________________________

Printed Name of Student                                                                                              

Student Signature____________________________________________________________

Printed Name of Student