Responsible Use of Digital Technologies
Internet Access
Sacred Heart College applies the following principles as a guide for Internet website access and site filtering.
Cyber Safety
Technology is a very powerful and positive tool when used responsibly. Just like in real life, it is important to exercise good decision-making when online, and to treat others with respect. Cyber safety guidelines should be followed at all times. Remembering these key tips will help you keep control online, both now and into the future.
• Remember to keep your personal details private. Don’t post information about yourself that strangers might read and don’t share your password with anyone at all. Be careful who you trust online and don’t accept friend requests if the person is not a real life friend.
• Remember to think twice about what you say and post. Don’t post anything you don’t want others to see or know about or anything that you wouldn’t be prepared to say face to face or in front of other people (the potential online audience is huge).
• Remember – it’s forever. Be aware of your ‘digital footprint’. Posts on the internet can remain there for a long time and might be read by future employers, parents and in time even your own children.
• Remember to respect other people. Treat others as you would like to be treated. Never post pictures or images of others that may cause them harm or embarrassment. Once they are uploaded, it’s almost impossible to remove them completely. Due to the Privacy Act you may well be in copyright breach or breaking the law by sharing property (namely an image) that is not yours.
• Remember if someone writes something rude or offensive, do not respond. Block this person immediately and speak to a trusted adult about the situation. The opportunities provided by technology are endless. Our aim is to encourage students to use technology sensibly and safely through self-imposed boundaries and self-regulation, together with formal regulations at school and with guidance at home. Sacred Heart College has policies in place to protect students. Students are reminded of these policies throughout the year and guest speakers are regularly invited to speak to students to remind them about being safe online. We are however unable to monitor events that happen after school hours. Often incidents of misuse of social media sites happen at home, after school hours when students have access to web sites that are blocked at school. This is where we need help from parents. Collaboration between School and Home: Through lessons provided at school, assemblies, guest speakers and consistent messages we do our best to provide students with the awareness and knowledge they need in order to recognise and avoid dangerous, or unlawful behaviour and to respond appropriately. To support these efforts, we encourage conversations at home about safe and appropriate online behaviour, about not sharing personal information and the long term impact of messaging inappropriate messages or photos.
Use of Smart Phones
Includes all phones/smart watches/music devices/accessories
The smart phone/watch(device) is an effective and quick means of communication. Where unforeseen events occur, smart devices provide students and their families with a ready means of communication. Smart devices can also be tools for teaching and learning purposes. There is a need, however, to set clear guidelines and limit their use during the school day, in particular, to avoid unnecessary interference or distraction from teaching and learning, and to discourage anti-social behaviour especially at break times.
All mobile phones should be off and away, and smart watches should be in time display mode only, between first bell and last bell.
If parents need to contact children during the school day, please contact the school office and the message will be passed on to student.
If students need to make contact with family, employers, coaches and so forth then they should present to the office or to a teacher where they will be permitted under supervision, to make that communication on their device or by using a school phone. • Teachers will give explicit instructions if and when the smart phone/watch can be used as a tool for teaching and learning purposes.
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in the smart phone/watch being confiscated, retained and secured in the Office.
In the first instance confiscated smart phones/watches may be collected from the Office by students at 3pm.
For repeat instances, where students continue to ignore the mobile phone/watch policy, parents will be alerted and consulted. If required the student may be asked to log the phone/watch in to the Office each morning for an extended period.
Ultimately, we aim to encourage young people to be responsible users of technology.
Access to inappropriate material
The College endeavours to restrict access to inappropriate material available via the Internet but does not accept responsibility for any illegal, offensive, indecent or otherwise harmful material accessed on the Internet, nor for any loss however arising from use of, or reliance on, information obtained through its internet service or in relation to the reliability or quality of that service. The College has taken all reasonable steps to ensure its Duty of Care policy extends to Internet access.