Policy for the Acceptable Use of Computers and the Internet               [2009 – 2010]

A user is defined as anyone who has a username and password for the C2k and/or the legacy network in the College.

Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College Knock is pleased to be able to offer Internet and e-mail access to all students and staff of the College through the C2k Wide Area Service. (http://www.c2kni.org.uk/)

The Internet is an electronic highway connecting thousands of computers together around the world.   Our goal in providing this service is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Staff and students have access to a wide variety of educational resources including access to universities, news agencies, companies and governments. This is of immense benefit to users’ personal and academic development and all users can enhance the life skills they have acquired through information handling skills courses. 

Whilst there is much that is beneficial on the Internet it is also possible to gain access to material that would not be appropriate.

• Users are advised to inform the Systems Administrator (P.Ashe) immediately if they see or receive any material that is inappropriate or makes him/her feel uncomfortable. 
• In addition, P.Ashe should be notified if users are aware of any other users seeing or receiving any material that is inappropriate.

The College has taken all necessary steps to provide a “safe environment” in accordance with the guidance provided by C2k. It is impossible to filter out all inappropriate materials on the Internet but the College firmly believes that the valuable information available vastly outweighs any shortcomings.

The Computer Networks and Internet Access are to be used in a manner consistent with the rules of the College and in pursuit of the aims of the College for the personal and educational development of the staff and students.

Access to these facilities is a privilege and not a right.

Inappropriate use will result in access being withdrawn, in addition to any other disciplinary sanctions deemed appropriate.

Rules Governing Computer Networks and Use of the Internet - All Users

All users are expected to use the Internet to research topics consistent with the aims of the college. Such research might be connected to individual subjects, careers or work on an approved extra curricular activity.

1. Users may only access the Internet through the C2k facility. They are not permitted to use other technologies such as iphones to access the Internet.
2. Users may not log on using another person’s username.
3. Computer usage will be regularly monitored to detect any inappropriate use. If unsuitable material is encountered it will be referred to the Head of School and/or the Vice-Principal (Pastoral).
4. If unsuitable material is encountered by a user, he/she must inform the teacher/systems administrator immediately.  A user must never feel uncomfortable when viewing any resources on the computer networks.
5. Users are not permitted to access Chat sites or play or download music. They may only play games subject to the rules of the College’s Computer Games Club.
6. The College’s C2k e-mail facility is available to all users who have usernames for the C2k network. E-mail addresses for individuals are based on the C2k active directory username. Operation of this service is the responsibility of the College and the Principal will have the option of accessing any e-mail either sent or received by staff or students of the College. There is automatic filtering of all C2k mail for unsuitable content and for size. Mail, which is blocked, will be viewed by 2 designated members of the Central Management Team (VP Pastoral and Head of Upper School) who can then make a decision whether to allow the mail through the system and/or whether to take appropriate action within the terms of the acceptable use policy.
7. Users are not permitted to tamper with the net filtering software.
8. Users may not execute any program received in e-mail or found on a web page except as directed by the Systems Administrator (P.Ashe).
9. Users may not install or download any program/file except as directed by P.Ashe.
10. Users may not engage in any illegal activity, use obscene or racist language or retrieve, send, copy or display offensive messages or pictures.
11. Users may use portable storage devices such as memory sticks/CDs etc. to transfer only schoolwork files between home and school. It is the sole responsibility of the owner to ensure that the content on these devices does not contain obscene or racist language, offensive messages or pictures or information of a confidential or private nature. Devices brought into school must only contain work files and no software programs or games. Devices containing programs or games may be confiscated. All portable storage devices should be regularly virus scanned.
12. The Internet may not be used for unauthorized commercial purposes.
13.  Users may not attempt to break passwords of other students or staff, or access any area on the computers apart from their home directory.
14. Users may not intentionally damage or modify computer hardware, software or networks or use any software that can damage or override security.

Rules Governing Computer Networks & Use of the Internet (Additional Student Rules)

1. Students must sign in and state the purpose for which they are using the Computer Network and/or Internet in the signing-in book.
2. Access to Hotmail, Yahoo Mail etc. is not permitted for students.
3. Students must have the permission of a teacher or the systems administrator before using the computers.
4. No eating or drinking is permitted in the Computer Rooms.
5. Students must be careful with the computers and furniture.
6. Students completing coursework will have priority in using the computers.
7. Students are not permitted access to the server room (between rooms 10 & 12).

 Rules for Internet and Computer use may be changed at any time.

Health and Safety Guidelines

• Always listen to and obey the teacher/systems administrator.
• Any breakage or accident shall be reported immediately to the teacher/systems administrator.
• Users should not tamper with or insert any object into the CD drive, floppy drive or any other piece of hardware.
• Users should not work at any of the cabling on the computers or other peripherals, or turn them on or off at the mains power supply.
• Always be careful of loose cables on the floor or under chairs and report it to the teacher or systems administrator immediately.
• Users should sit in the chairs in proper posture when using the computers. Take care if moving the chairs. Chairs or desks should not be stood upon.
• Users should not use a VDU for more than 55 minutes without a break.

When using projection equipment such as interactive whiteboards and data projectors in the classroom:

Do not stare directly into the beam of the projector.

When entering the beam, users should not look towards the audience for more than a few seconds.

Keep your back to the projector beam when standing in it.

Parental Responsibility

Parents are advised that they are responsible for their children’s out-of-school online use of the C2k services including the My Documents area, e-mail and Learning NI.  http://www.c2kni.org.uk/learningninews/lnihome.html

Our Lady and St. Patrick’s College Knock makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. The College will not be responsible for any damages, including the loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries, mis-deliveries, or service interruptions caused by its own negligence or your errors or omissions. The College specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through its services.