RATIONALE

Danebank is committed to the provision of information communication technology to enhance student learning and recognise the need for the development of electronic and digital literacy and communication. The school supports access to the widest range of available resources and the development of skills to use these resources, which are available for educational use only. Ethical behaviour is expected at all times. It is an expectation that all communication will be respectful and use appropriate language. Access is a privilege and not a right and carries the responsibility of acceptable use.

ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT

• Students must read and sign this policy, have it co-signed by a parent/guardian and hand it in to the Resources Centre before access to computers is permitted.
• Students will abide by staff directives regarding use of computers, the network, iDaneNet and the Internet.
• All users must login under their own name and password and logout at the end of each session. Individual passwords are NOT to be disclosed to others.
• Computer equipment must not be damaged or misused.
• NO FOOD or drink is to be consumed or placed near any computer.
• Users must NOT intentionally interfere with or disrupt the operation of the network or alter existing computer settings without permission of a teacher.
• Users must not gain or try to gain access to the files of others or vandalise the work of others.

iDaneNet Use (Email, Messaging, Chat, Forums, Blogs, Wikis etc)

• Only the school provided Email program should be used in all communication including sending work from home. Other programs such as Yahoo, Hotmail, Bigpond, etc, are not to be used at school.
• Use your email privileges only for learning and research purposes.
• Students are not to email staff or attach assignments to emails unless specifically requested by their teacher.
• External Chat or messenger sites are NOT to be accessed.
• iDaneNet Chat is not to be used during lesson times unless requested by the teacher.

Internet Use (In and Out of School Hours)

• Students are not to deliberately access inappropriate websites.

If this should happen by accident, the following procedure MUST be followed immediately:
1. Minimise the site immediately – without communicating to other students.
2. Inform the nearest teacher. (The site will then be blocked)

• Students must not post photographs, personal information or refer in any way to members of the Danebank community (staff, students and parents) on the Internet without the permission of the school. This includes personal ‘blogs’ as well as websites.
• Students must not refer to the school in any way, nor post images of themselves or others in school uniform on the Internet unless on a school sanctioned website or with the permission of the school.

STUDENTS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT STAFF MAY ACCESS ANY STUDENT FILES STORED, EMAILS, CHATS OR MESSAGES ON THE SCHOOL’S COMPUTING FACILITIES AND THAT A SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM IS IN OPERATION ON THE NETWORK.

IF A STUDENT BELIEVES THEY HAVE RECEIVED INAPPROPRIATE COMMUNICATION THEY ARE TO REPORT IT TO A TEACHER.

SANCTIONS

Any breach of the above terms may result in temporary loss of computer access, or for more serious offences, suspension and/or involvement of law enforcement agencies.

**All students (k-6 co-signed by parents) are required to sign the following Contract upon enrolment as a condition of their use of the Danebank Information Technology facilities. Access will not be granted until the contract is signed and returned to the Resources Centre. At the start of each school year, every student is asked to renew this contract by signing the copy of this policy that is included in the Student Diary.