Rationale
It is the intent of Sir William Mulock Secondary School to provide electronic educational resources and services, including access to the Internet, to all students and staff. The following rules and procedures will ensure that network security and integrity are maintained and that all users understand the responsibility that accompanies the privilege of computer use.
The policy is designed to allow users to explore and utilize our school network and the Internet without adversely affecting other people or implicating themselves or the school in any illegal or socially unacceptable activities.
At times, students will be accessing our computer network and Internet services with minimal supervision by teachers and staff.
Each user has a personal responsibility to adhere to the intent, spirit, and rules as set out in this policy.
Contravening this policy may result in penalties that include, but are not restricted to: marks deducted on an assignment, withdrawal, temporarily or permanently, of access to or privileges relating to school computer facilities, loss of credit and withdrawal from certain courses mandating the use of computers, suspension or criminal prosecution.
It must be made clear that all use of the Internet and computer resources be for educational use only.
Specific Rules of Conduct
1. All rules and expectations of the school’s Code of Behaviour are considered to be appropriate and in effect when using the computers at Sir William Mulock Secondary School.
2. All use of the Internet and the school's computer network must be in support of curriculum based research and consistent with the educational purposes of Sir William Mulock Secondary School.
Ø Frivolous use of the network is not permitted. This includes but is not limited to: game playing, streamed audio/video, web based E-Mail for non curriculum related items. Facebook or other social restricting sites. such as sending greeting cards, checking sports scores and/or sports pools, is prohibited.
Ø The user will not use the school’s computers for product advertisement, personal or private business, commercial or for-profit purposes.
3. The user is responsible for his/her school network account and Internet account.
Ø The user must not allow another person to use his/her computer account under any circumstances. The sharing of accounts is strictly prohibited.
Ø The user must keep his/her password confidential and shall immediately report to the Site Administrator or School Principal if s/he suspect that another person has access to his/her account.
Ø The user’s workspace is for school related files only. No programs or personal files such as personal MP3s are allowed.
Ø Files from outside sources (home, Internet, etc.) MUST be virus scanned before being used on the network. It is the user’s responsibility to keep files of a viral nature off any school computers.
Ø Sir William Mulock staff have the right to view any material stored in a student’s personal directory.
Ø Since the school may periodically clean out students’ personal directories without notice, the student should maintain a backup copy of any important files s/he wishes to retain.
4. The user shall not interfere with the functioning of Sir William Mulock Secondary School’s network, or any other network.
Ø The user will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to or cause a disruption in service to any computer system.
Ø The user will not use the school's computer network to develop programs that harass others or infiltrate a computer system and/or cause damage.
Ø The user will not intentionally seek information about, browse or obtain copies of or modify files, passwords or data belonging to other people.
Ø The user will not attempt to find or exploit any gaps in system security on the Sir William Mulock Secondary School network or any other system. If the user notices any security weaknesses or suspects anyone of tampering with system security, s/he MUST notify the Site Administrator immediately.
5. The user is responsible for the content of messages sent from their account.
Ø There is no such thing as “private” email: compose all email as if it could and will be read by the entire world.
Ø Sending messages over the network and the use of Internet Chat programs or accessing social network websites is prohibited.
6. The user shall not use his/her account to access, create or distribute any material, which may be considered as obscene, pornographic, harassing, racist, inflammatory, malicious, fraudulent, or libelous.
Ø YRDSB or the principal of the school and/or the access provider shall be the arbiters in the determination of what materials or activity may fall into these categories.
7. The user shall respect the intellectual and property rights and laws, including copyright, of others.
Ø The user is responsible for assessing whether or not the file (text, sound and/or image) has copyright on it and must properly reference (cite/footnote) any materials to be used in student work.
Ø Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Ignorance will not be accepted as a defence.
8. The user will not download or upload any executable (program), MP3, audio or video files from the Internet, without the express permission of the Site Administrator. The Site Administrator may choose to bestow such authority upon other computer teachers.
Ø Installing programs onto the network or on workstations is NOT allowed without permission from the Site Administrator.
Ø No programs on the school’s computers shall be copied without the express permission of the Site Administrator.
9. Treat all computer equipment with care and respect. Hardware or software shall not be destroyed, modified, or abused in any way.
Ø Hardware, software and network configurations are never to be changed.
Ø Report any damage to the supervising teacher immediately. Do not attempt to repair the damage.
Ø Use only floppy disks that have no visible sign of damage and are dirt/dust free.
Ø Students are not to move, disconnect or remove any computer or any of its components from its original location without express permission from the Site Administrator.
Ø No food, drink, or snacks are to be consumed anywhere near a computer.
Ø Damaged hardware, the cost of any damage to computer hardware will be the responsibility of the student.
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