Renbrook School places great responsibility in students when its technology facilities are used. Just as Renbrook School considers it a serious breach of trust when a student goes into someone else’s belongings without permission, it holds the same regard for inappropriate use of technology. Renbrook School views its technology and computer resources as tools to be used by students to help them with teacher-directed assignments. Students are expected to use these tools in appropriate ways.

Internet access is provided to all students, and Upper School students are required to sign an Acceptable Use Policy Agreement.    This ensures that the Internet will be used as an appropriate educational tool. Renbrook reserves the right to monitor and/or restrict student use of e-mail and Internet sites in accordance with the policies outlined by the school administration. These policies are subject to review and users will be notified about any changes to these agreements. Any violators of the policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Students who must use their own personal laptop computers for school work purposes must have the school’s security software installed into their laptops.

Students involved in any of the following activities, or who violate any policy listed below, are subject to revocation of computer privileges and may be disciplined, up to and including suspension or removal from school.

Violations of the Technology Policy include the following:

• Using a Renbrook employee’s “Password,” or another student’s “Password.”

• Electronic plagiarism. Renbrook’s definition of electronic plagiarism is using computer technology in order to pass off someone else’s work as one’s own or who fails to credit/cite the source. In addition, e-mail messages and attachments may not include plagiarized material and must abide by copyright laws. Upper School students involved in electronic plagiarism may receive a zero for the assignment and, depending on each situation, an after-school detention or suspension.

• Possessing any software or program that can defeat or disable any security-related program. Possession will be interpreted as intent to use it on Renbrook’s system.

• Tampering with, damaging, or stealing computer hardware or software. Being in unauthorized “places” in the computer such as, but not limited to, changing the computer’s control panels, set-ups, or licensed software. Students may not intentionally introduce a computer virus, or other software, or engage in an activity which would result in damage to files, disks, or other storage medium. Students may not tamper with components of computers or networks, blocking communication, or interfering with the operational readiness of a computer.

• Failing to honor software licensing and copyright laws. Students should use recognized bibliographical standards when making references to copyrighted material. For information on how to cite online resources, check the bulletin boards in the homerooms or the school’s website: fcis.renbrook.org/cite_sources.htm

• Copying or possessing software without permission regardless if it belongs to a student, teacher, or Renbrook School.

• Misusing Internet access. Students and adults must follow the accepted rules of network etiquette and conduct themselves in a responsible, ethical, and polite manner. Students may not transmit, receive, submit, or publish any defamatory, abusive, obscene, threatening, or potentially dangerous material. Any user encountering such material, whether intentionally or not, must notify a teacher immediately. If no one is available at the time, the user is obligated to sign off the Internet.

• Failing to comply with state and federal laws with respect to intellectual property laws. For example, do not download software or music unless you have express permission from your teacher.

All students agree to use the Internet with teacher permission and only for school-directed educational and research assignments.

     Students agree to use the school’s e-mail for school-directed educational and research assignments.An adult proctor should be present in the room when students use computers. Students should not use computers when there is no adult proctor.

 
For safety reasons,
• Do NOT send or post your complete name or any images that identify yourself as a member of Renbrook School on any Internet-based website.

• Do NOT send or post any communications (text-based, photos, or both) on any Internet-based website that identifies or makes reference to Renbrook School, or identifies any person (a current student or employee) as being part of the Renbrook community.

• Attaching any type of file server or network device to the Renbrook network is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, FTP, IRC, Napster, WWW, Novell, Windows, Mac OS X Server, or any other type of gaming server, as well as any Wireless Access Points or wired hubs or routers. Any such device not approved by Renbrook School will be promptly disconnected and confiscated. For example, you may not use Renbrook’s network to gain remote access to an off-campus computer or to bypass Renbrook’s firewall.

In addition to the on-campus rules, Renbrook School has the following jurisdiction over the off-campus electronic communication: the school’s jurisdiction to deal with discipline problems covers not only activities on campus, but also any and all activities by students off campus that have, or may have, an adverse affect on the school or its employees, including violating safety and privacy etiquette.

Students are prohibited from establishing an official online representation of Renbrook School or its employees (i.e. any web site, MySpace.com, Facebook.com, etc. account which mentions the School’s name or its employees) without obtaining the prior approval of the school administration.