Safety Letter

Dear Parents,

        Technology is an important part of instruction at Redland Middle School and integrated into the curriculum.  The school system tries to provide your student with safe access to the internet by following these measures:

• Each student is assigned a personal log in name and password to provide a system for monitoring students.
• The school system provides a filtering system.  The filtering device examines the content of websites and blocks any inappropriate sites.  Also, they filtering system allows inappropriate sites to be listed and blocked.
• Both locally and through the central office, students educational use of the computer can be monitored through our network.  Technology support specialists have the ability to monitor and track where students have been and what they are viewing on the internet.

    As part of my teaching practices, there are several measures that I take to ensure students safety while using the internet:

• I set clear expectations and standards for using the computer and internet (See checklist below that is reviewed with students prior to using the computer)
• I supervise all students while they are using the computers in the lab or media center.
• I preview and screen websites used for instruction prior to student use.
• I restrict or prohibit students from using computers of Internet access for improper use.

    While no system if full proof, we hope that the safety precautions that we take, will make the internet a safe place for your child to learn

                                                                                                        Sincerely,

                                                                                                        Pam Bailey
 

Inappropriate use of computers can cause you to be restricted or prohibited from using the computer.
The following items would be considered as inappropriate:
 

• Sharing one's id and/or password.
• Changing assigned passwords.
• Attempting to decrypt passwords.
• Using anther's log in and password.
• Deliberately interfering with another users' operation of a computer (coaching another student to violate a computer rule)
• Accessing e-mail for reasons other than educational purposes.
• Harassment of other users. (e.g. verbal or written abuse that threatens, libels, slanders or is of a sexual nature)
• Any possession OR attempt to use unauthorized software.
• Any attempt to remove school software or hardware.
• Accessing/downloading materials from web sites that are not school appropriate.  These include, but are not limited to,  those using obscene, vulgar, abusive or inappropriate language, pictures or sounds.  (e.g. printing of song lyrics containing inappropriate language, nude pictures)
• Vandalism (includes network drops, cables, mouse, keyboard, monitors, CPU's, printers, mouse pads, software, scanners, digital cameras, etc.)
• System tampering
• Unauthorized alteration of operating system, individual accounts, software, and/or networking facilities.

• Unauthorized Use

• Use of the school name or any reference to the school community in venues via the World Wide Web or the Internet that threatens, libels, slanders, or defames a person or school.