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Policy Statement

 

It is the policy of Ontario International School to endorse the use of existing and emerging technologies to promote educational excellence and that the Internet and the School’s Information Technology are used to support learning in a manner that is consistent with the School’s philosophy and values. 

 

Purpose

 

Ontario International School supports the benefits technology provides to the overall learning environment for students in both academic achievement and well-being. This policy provides all users with the required information to ensure that resources are being used in a safe and responsible manner. This policy applies both at school and during remote learning.

 

Guidelines for Student Responsible Use of Technology

 

1. Purpose of the Network

  • Use of information technologies owned or operated by the School must be used for the purpose of enhancing education and instruction and to conduct School business.

  • Use of the School’s Wide Area Network and its connection to the internet for advertisement or monetary profit must have written approval from the School.

  • The School may, from time to time and without prior notice to the student, access and/or monitor the use of the Electronic Information Systems.

 

2. Network Etiquette or “Netiquette”

  • The School provides access to the internet for educational activities defined in the teacher instructional plans.

  • Users will not post, publish, or display any defamatory, abusive, threatening, sexually, racially offensive, profane, obscene, discriminatory based on sexual orientation, illegal and other material found to be offensive.

  • The sending or storage of offensive messages from any source is prohibited.

  • Student browsing is monitored. Any questionable browsing (i.e. violence, suicide, self-harm) is flagged and reported to IT.

  • Users shall not copy information or software in violation of copyright laws.

  • Software and resources downloaded will be used only under the terms and conditions specified by the owner or creator of those resources.

  • Only when authorized by the teacher(s) through the principal may there be downloading of software, applications (“apps”) or executable (.exe) programs.

  • It is prohibited for a user to post messages and attribute them to another user.

  • Users will not plagiarize information that they find on the internet. Plagiarism is taking the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were original to the user.

 

3. Vandalism

  • Transmission of any software having the purpose of damaging computer systems and files (i.e. computer viruses) is prohibited.

  • Any malicious attempt to harm or destroy the data of any person, computer or network linked to the School’s Network is prohibited and will result in financial compensation to the school and/or the pursuance of criminal charges and/or other disciplinary action consistent with the School Code of Conduct, school policy and/or legal authorities.

  • Users will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the School's system or to any other computer system through the School's system, or go beyond their authorized access. This includes attempting to log in through another person's account or accessing another person's files. These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of browsing.

 

4. Security and Personal Safety

  • Users may not share their passwords or accounts with others and must make all efforts to safeguard this information from unauthorized users.

  • Users are advised to refrain from giving out personal information, such as their family name, email address, home address, school name, city, country or other information that could help someone locate or contact them in person.

  • Users will not post identifying photos, videos, or recordings. Any capture of photo, video or audio recording through the use of any device or sharing/posting of such will only be done with the expressed authorized permission of those involved.

  • The School reserves the right to block access to sites and to conduct regular checks of the system as deemed appropriate.

  • Email for students is in a “Walled Garden” environment where students are only able to email classmates and teachers, within Ontario International School. Emails are monitored and flagged for inappropriate language.

  • An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable cause to suspect that a user has violated the law, the School code of conduct, and/or the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy.

  • Personal files are discoverable under public records law.

 

5. Inappropriate Material

  • Unauthorized interactive gaming will not be accessed through the School Network.

  • Upon access to or receipt of material that is educationally inappropriate and contrary to the School’s philosophy and values, the user shall immediately turn off the display and report the incident to the classroom teacher,  or other staff.

 

6. Personal Mobile Device

  • A personal mobile device refers to any personal electronic device that can be used to communicate or access the internet, such as a cell phone or tablet. It is expected that the use of personal mobile devices at school are:

    • for educational purposes as directed by the educator in the classroom

    • for health and medical purposes in consultation with school administration and parents/guardians

    • to support special education needs as directed by the educator in the classroom/school

 

7. Violations

  • The Principal of the School will deal with violations regarding the Responsible Use of Technology. Students found in violation may face disciplinary action, consistent with the School’s policies related to Code of Conduct which may include, but are not limited to, the following, either singularly or in combination depending on the individual circumstances:

    • Suspension from the network;

    • Revoking access to electronic devices and the internet on the School’s network;

    • Suspension/expulsion from school;

    • Paying the cost of any damages/losses resulting from the student’s inappropriate use of the references;

    • Referral to the police.

 

  • Staff who do not comply with this policy will be subject to appropriate consequences as determined through consultation between the School principal and the School’s ownership/management.

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