Acceptable Use Policy - Senior School Students
The purpose of the school computer network is to facilitate educational use of the Internet, software applications and the school Intranet through the provision of: units of work, access to resources, collaborative learning and expert guidance in study topics.
This policy refers to all electronic devices. A "device" means any device including by not limited to computers, laptops, mobile phones and tablets regardless of whom they belong, that are part of the school's property, brought onto school property or to school activities, or that are connected to the school's network or facilities.
Students must use all electronic devices carefully and follow all teacher instructions about how and when to use them and how to take care of them.
It is the responsibility of all students to maintain the security of access codes and passwords. Your user name and password are your responsibility. You must change your password from the default and do this regularly.
Any attempted or actual corruption of school network files will result in cancellation of privileges and potential further action, including suspension. Harassment of other members of the school community or vandalism of equipment or files will result in cancellation of privileges.
All Masada College units of work and other Masada College material published on the Internet are copyrighted. Normal copyright laws apply to any sites accessed through internet links or as a result of research for school units of work.
Users will not communicate in a manner inappropriate to a public forum nor knowingly seek out offensive material.
The School has an expectation that students are responsible users who will:
- Be polite.
- Respect the values of our College.
- Knowingly view and use only what the College community considers appropriate and acceptable material.
- Will never include any sexually explicit or sexually suggestive material or correspondence.
- Accept the limits the College places on the type of internet sites and security structures which may be used.
- Only use the computer network for curriculum purposes, unless specific permission has been granted.
- Follow all legal and copyright regulations relating to software and intellectual property right.
- Not download data, other than in the ordinary course of learning.
- Not download or install software (licensed, shareware, freeware, evaluation or otherwise) other than as directed by the school.
- Not engage in threatening, cyber bullying, make unreasonable demands, or use harassing materials or any other behaviour which is abusive or otherwise offensive.
- Not be rude, vulgar or insulting.
- Note that electronic communications are not guaranteed to be private but will respect the privacy of other users' communications.
- Not use the network in a way that will disrupt its use by others.
- Not trespass or interfere with or change computer files or documents belonging to other users.
- Acknowledge the use of material from the Internet in line with accepted referencing practices.
- Not attempt to bypass the firewall or internet protocols set by the school.
- Not take photos or video of others especially staff without their consent.
- Not use the school name or crest without the permission of the principal.
- Not appear in school uniform or use the School Crest on any social network site (such as but not limited to ''TikTok", "Instagram", "Facebook")
- Not post (or engage in) any false or defamatory information about the school or any member of the school community.
Mobile Phones & Devices
- Students are permitted to have mobile phones and other at school but it is not recommended. Mobile devices must be “off and away” and have their passcodes set at all times during the school day although may be accessed briefly at recess or lunch time at the lockers. They may not be taken into the school grounds at recess or lunch time.
- This extends to technological device use (laptops, tablets) at recess and lunch. Students in Year 7-8 will not be able to use their devices at recess and lunch - either outside in the playground or in the school library. Year 9-10 students will be permitted to use a laptop or tablet for school purposes in the Senior School library only at lunch. Year 11-12 students will be permitted to use a laptop or tablet for school purposes in any venue around the school at recess and lunch.
- Student mobile phones and other devices should not be left in school bags. The school does not accept responsibility for expensive equipment that students bring to school and leave in unattended school bags.
A series of consequences will be applied for infringements of this policy
- first infringement: students may collect their phone at the end of the school day.
- second infringement: Year Patrons will have a conversation with the student and will call/email parent/s.
- third infringement: the student’s parent/s will need to come in and meet with the Year Patron, after which the phone will be returned to the student. An after school detention will be issued.
- fourth infringement: will be considered defiance of School Policy and the student’s parent/s will need to come in and meet with the Head of Senior School, after which the phone will be returned to the student. An after-school detention will be issued.
** A further infringement will be considered ongoing defiance of the School Policy and will result in a meeting with the College Principal to discuss the student’s enrolment.
- Mobile phones and/or other devices are not permitted to be with a student during any formal exam or assessment task. Having a device during a formal examination is a serious misdemeanour.
- Headphones are permitted when directed or permitted to use them. Common courtesies must always apply. When a member of staff or the public speaks to a student, the student should remove the headphones to listen and speak. Music should not be turned up so loud that it disturbs others.
The College does not take any responsibility for lost or damaged devices.
Encountering of inappropriate or offensive material
- Users may inadvertently encounter material which users, parents or teachers consider inappropriate or offensive. In such a case they should immediately use the back button to back out of the site or the home button to return to their home page and notify their supervising teacher or parent.
- Students are reminded that their computer and the school network keep records of sites accessed.
- Deliberate accessing of inappropriate or offensive material is not acceptable behaviour and will result in cancellation of privileges and parental contact and possible further disciplinary action.
Can my device or files be taken and/or accessed?
The College has the right to check all written, graphic, audio and other materials created, produced, communicated, stored or accessed on School or privately owned devices by students. Devices and or files may be taken and accessed if it is believed that:
- there has been or may be a breach of the school rules or a school policy; and/or
- there may be a threat of harm to a student, another/others or system security.
If unacceptable files and/or content is found those files/content may be deleted, and disciplinary action may be taken. If the circumstances warrant, the school may also pass the material to authorities.
Agreement
Participation in the Masada College network environment is subject to agreement of compliance with these guidelines for participation and Internet usage. Violation of these guidelines will result in cancellation of privileges and further discplinary action.
Masada College will afford a high level of privacy protection to individual electronic communications as it does to comparable methods of communications. Exceptions to this would be cooperation with State and Federal authorities investigating violations of law, and the investigation of legitimate complaints.