Acceptable Use Policy
St. Matthias is now offering Internet access for student (K - 8th Grade) use.
This document contains St. Matthias' Acceptable Use Policy for the use of the Internet.
- Educational Purpose
- The Internet has been established for a limited educational purpose. The term
"educational purpose" includes classroom activities, career development, and
high-quality self-discovery activities.
- The Internet has not been established as a public access service or a public forum.
St. Matthias has the right to place reasonable restrictions on the material you access
or post through the system. You are also expected to follow the rules set forth in the
Acceptable Use Policy and the law in your use of the Internet.
- Student Internet Access
- All students will have access to the Internet World Wide Web information resources
through their classroom, library, or school computer lab.
- Students will have e-mail access only under their teacher's direct supervision using
a classroom account.
- Unacceptable Uses
The following uses of the Internet are considered unacceptable:
- Illegal Activities
- You will not attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Internet or to any other
computer system through the Internet or go beyond your authorized access. This includes
attempting to log in through another person's account or access another person's files.
These actions are illegal, even if only for the purposes of "browsing".
- You will not use the Internet to engage in any other illegal act, such as arranging
for a drug sale or the purchase of alcohol, engaging in criminal gang activity,
threatening the safety of person, etc.
- Inappropriate Access to Material
- You will not use the Internet to access material that is profane or obscene
(pornography), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or discrimination
towards other people (hate literature).
- If you mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell your
teacher or another St. Matthias employee. This will protect you against a claim that you
have intentionally violated this Policy.
- Your parents should instruct you if there is additional material that they
think would be inappropriate for you to access. St. Matthias fully expects that you will
follow your parent's instructions in this matter.
- Inappropriate Sites
- You will avoid any site that promotes pornography, hate, discrimination,
offensiveness to our Christian faith, etc.
- IMMEDIATELY inform the teacher or any St. Matthias employee if you
mistakenly visit an inappropriate site. This will protect you against a claim that you
have intentionally violated this Policy.
- System Security
- You will immediately notify a teacher or the system administrator if you have
identified a possible security problem. Do not go looking for security problems, because
this may be construed as an illegal attempt to gain access.
- You will avoid the inadvertent spread of computer viruses by following St. Matthias
virus protection procedures if you download software such as, scanning the diskette for
viruses before loading into the system.
- You will not make deliberate attempts to disrupt the computer system or destroy data
by spreading computer viruses or by any other means. These actions are illegal.
- Respect for Privacy
- You will not re-post a message that was sent to you privately without permission of
the person who sent you the message.
- You will not post private information about another person.
- Personal Safety
- You will not agree to meet with someone you have met online without your
parent's approval. Your parent should accompany you to this meeting.
- You will promptly disclose to your teacher or other school employee any message you
receive that is inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
- Inappropriate Language
- Restrictions against Inappropriate Language apply to public messages, private messages,
and material posted on Web pages.
- You will not use obscene, profane, lewd, vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or
disrespectful language.
- You will not post information that could cause damage or a danger of disruption.
- You will not engage in personal attacks, including prejudicial or discriminatory
attacks.
- You will not harass another person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner
that distresses or annoys another person. If you are told by a person to stop sending
them messages, you must stop.
- You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory information about a
person or organization.
- Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
- You will not plagiarize works that you find on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking
the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as if they were yours.
- You will respect the rights of copyright owners. Copyright infringement occurs when
you inappropriately reproduce a work that is protected by a copyright. If a work
contains language that specifies appropriate use of that work, you should follow the
expressed requirements. If you are unsure whether or not you can use a work, you should
request permission from the copyright owner. Copyright law can be very confusing. If you
have questions ask a teacher.
- Respecting Resource Limits
- You will not download large files unless requested by a teacher for a class project
or report. If necessary, you will download the file at a time when the system is not
being heavily used and immediately remove the file from the system computer to your
personal computer and/or diskette.
- You will not post chain letters or engage in "spamming". Spamming is
sending an annoying or unnecessary message to a large number of people.
- You will not remove hardware or software from the school without permission.
- You will not use the Internet for the purpose of purchasing any type of products or
services.
Violation of St. Matthias' Acceptable Use Policy will result in one
or more of the following:
- Suspension and/or loss of Internet privileges;
- Suspension and/or loss of all computer privileges; and
- Additional disciplinary actions as warranted, determined by the nature of the violation.
St. Matthias reserves the right to examine all Internet logs and trails
which clearly document each student's use.