Technology Policy
Objective: To facilitate safe, ethical and innovative ways to communicate and share
Scope: All students in grades K through 12
GUIDELINES
Students are discouraged from bringing electronics or other valuable personal property to school. The school is not responsible for any lost or stolen personal property.
SCHOOL PHONES
1. Students are required to make all personal phone calls in the school office with the permission and presence of a staff member.
2. Students will not be allowed to use the office phone without giving an appropriate reason.
3. Phone calls should be made before or after school or during passing time.
4. Personal phone calls made during passing time do not justify tardiness.
MESSAGES
Only when there is an emergency requiring the immediate attention of a student will messages be accepted and delivered to the student by the office.
Classes will not be interrupted (other than lunch or between classes) to deliver messages regarding transportation, personal appointments, work schedules, family errands, etc.
CELL PHONES & SMARTWATCHES
Cell phones and smartwatches are to be in a student’s backpack and must remain off during the entirety of the school day, including prior to the first period (from 7:50-8:05 am), during passing time and in the bathroom. If a student is found using his/her cellphone during the school day, or if it is found on a student’s body, staff and faculty will take the cellphone/smartwatch from the student, and it may only be picked up by the student’s parent during school office hours, or released to the student for a payment of $25 charged to the FACTS account, or released following a 48-hour hold.
COMPUTER USE
Computers must be used for academic purposes only.
Any student found to be using their personal computer for nonacademic purposes will have the computer confiscated and brought to the office for pickup by a parent only. A correction slip will also be issued.
Any student found to be using a school computer for nonacademic purposes will lose the privilege of school computer usage and will be issued a correction slip.
a. Students will be given access to computers to learn basic applications and keyboarding.
b. Students may only use computers when a teacher is present.
c. Preschool through 8th grade students are not allowed to bring laptops, iPads or other tablets from home.
d. Middle School students are allowed to use school computers for keyboarding class only, unless with the teacher during class research.
e. Upper School students must obtain computer lab permission from a teacher in order to use a school computer for research purposes.
f. Any inappropriate use of computers will result in disciplinary action against the student.
g. Earbuds/headphones are not allowed during the school day for students in grades K-8.
h. Earbuds/headphones are allowed for students in grades 9-12 during work time at the discretion of the classroom teacher, with the following limitations:
i. Headphones/earbuds are not allowed in the hallways.
ii. Headphones/earbuds may not be used with cell phones or smartwatches
iii. Computers/earbuds may not be used during lunch or recess time.
INTERNET USE
Transmission of any material in violation of any national or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to copyrighted, threatening or obscene material.
Students who are suspected of plagiarism must meet with the Assistant Headmaster as per the discipline policy. Disciplinary measures may include termination of internet use.
Vandalism will result in the cancellation of privileges. Vandalism is any deliberate attempt to harm or destroy data or hard ware through the downloading, uploading, creation and/or modification of computer viruses.
Remote access of any personal computer is prohibited without prior consent from the IT department.
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Use of cell phones, radios, gaming devices, smart device (including smartwatches), MP3 players (iPods), iPads, Nooks, Kindles, headphones, etc. is prohibited during regular school hours, including lunch. Any of these items found in school without proper authorization will be confiscated and may only be picked up by the parent during school office hours.
Revised Date: August 2, 2023