Acceptable Use Policy

Ranelagh Multi-Denominational School

Introduction

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by our internet resources in a safe and effective manner. Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. Therefore, the school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the internet. These strategies are as follows:

General

Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
Filtering software and/or equivalent systems, as advised by the Department of Education and Skills, will be used in order to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
The school will regularly monitor pupils’ internet usage.
Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.
Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.
Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
The use of personal USB pen drives in school requires a teacher’s permission.
Students will observe good “netiquette” (i.e. etiquette on the Internet) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

All adults on the school premises will also be bound by the guidelines in the acceptable use policy. They will use the internet legally and responsibly, primarily for the benefit of the school, and do nothing to bring the school into disrepute or to compromise the safety and privacy of pupils and other members of the school community.

World Wide Web

Students will not visit internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
Students will use the internet for educational purposes only.
Students will observe copyright restrictions on online learning and entertainment material.
Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons.

Email

Students may use approved class email accounts under supervision by or permission from a teacher. These email accounts may be used to access online learning platforms such as Google Classroom or Seesaw.
Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.
Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they only know through emails or the internet.
Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to permission from their teacher.

Direct Communication using Internet (Remote Learning)

Teachers in the school may choose to use a number of tools for classroom communication. Examples include Aladdin, Seesaw, Google Classroom, Google Meet and email. Some of these tools provide ‘synchronous video opportunities’ whereby a staff member directly speaks to the children live - e.g. through a webinar/online classroom or online meeting. The staff member invites pupils and their families to these meetings using a code.

The following are ground rules for online lessons:

All meetings will be password protected
All people involved in the online lessons will conduct themselves in a similar manner as though they were in a classroom having a face-to-face meeting. These will be different for the various age-groups within our school and teachers will inform the children of what etiquette is expected from them.
For the benefit of all participants, any people not complying with the agreed online will be muted from the online lesson until they are prepared to and ready to re-join.
If teachers are using Google Meet, teachers will send an email to parents informing them of the date/time their child is invited to partake. Parental permission for the child is implied, as the links for lessons are being communicated through parents. If you do not consent to your child taking part please let the class teacher know.
Parents/guardians must also agree to monitor their child’s participation in any such lessons conducted on the Online Platforms.
At no time is it acceptable to record or screen-shot any part of any online lesson.

Legislation

The school is bound by the following legislation, amongst others, relating to use of the internet:

General Data Protection Regulation (2018)
Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003
Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998
Interception Act 1993
Video Recordings Act 1989
The Data Protection Act 1988

Sanctions

Misuse of the internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour. The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

Ratification and Review

This policy will be regularly reviewed.

This policy was ratified at the RMDS Board of Management of 8th June 2020.

Signed: Date: 8th June 2020

William Connor

William Connor

Chairperson

(Board of Management, RMDS)

Appendix B – AUP Form for all new parents

Re: Internet Access

As part of the school’s education programme we offer pupils supervised access to the Internet. This allows students’ access to a large array of online educational resources that we believe can greatly enhance students’ learning experience.

However, access to and use of the internet requires responsibility on the part of the user and the school. These responsibilities are outlined in the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (enclosed). It is important that this enclosed document is read carefully, signed by a parent or guardian and returned to the school.

Although the school takes active steps to promote safe use of the internet, it recognises the possibility that students may accidentally or deliberately access inappropriate or objectionable material.

Having read our Acceptable Use Policy, you may like to take a moment to consider how the internet is used in your own home, and see if there is any way you could make it safer for your own family. The website www.webwise.ie. contains some helpful tips. The school policy on e-learning is available on the school website www.rmds.ie .

Yours sincerely

Will Connor

Chairperson,

Board of Management