Electronic Policies (Cell Phones and Elecronic
Communication Devices)
General Electronic Communication Devices
1. Students assume full responsibility for using all Board on-line
systems in ethical and appropriate educational manner. All
educational on-line systems and resources must comply with the
Mission, Beliefs, Gospel, Values and policies of the Niagara Catholic
District School Board.
2. Students are to obtain permission from a teacher to use Board
computer systems and access to the Internet.
3. Students vandalizing, modifying or causing damage to electronic
communication systems, including software, will be responsible for the
full cost to repair or replace hardware or software.
4. Students are prohibited from removing any computer hardware from its
location.
5. Students are prohibited from attempting to gain unauthorized access
to Board electronic communication systems or data.
6. Students must not access any e-mail or download any material that
knowingly contains a virus.
7. Students are to adhere to and respect all copyright laws.
8. Students who have permission to post information to the Internet are
to have the classroom teacher review the work to ensure that it is
consistent with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of
Privacy Act.
9. Students are to report to their Principal any abuse of electronic
communications systems.
10. The use of Board computers and Internet access is a privilege and
any breach may result in the closure of user accounts, cancellation of
computer and Internet privileges and disciplinary action in accordance
with Board Policy and the Code of Conduct.
11. All electronic communications systems, its data and messages
generated on or handled by Niagara Catholic equipment are the sole
property of the Board and can be traced, viewed and stored.
12. Niagara Catholic staff will notify and fully cooperate with
authorities in any investigation relating to activities conducted
through the Board’s electronic communications systems.
Personal Electronic Devices
Cell phones, digital assistants (PDA), audio or video recorders and
players or other personal electronic devices are prohibited for use by
students in all Niagara Catholic elementary and secondary schools
unless specifically approved by staff for instructional or
co-instructional purposes. Staff members will confiscate items from
students who are using these in the building. Students are expected to
comply with these requests. Items will be turned in at the Main Office
and put in storage until a parent comes to retrieve them. Additional
breaches of this policy will result in consequences ranging from
detentions and additional parental contact to suspension for opposition
to authority. The school/board assumes no responsibility for the safety
and security, loss, recovery, repair or replacement of a personal
electronic device when carried on to Board premises. The secure storage
of these devices is the sole responsibility of the owner / user.
Sound Producing Equipment
Sound producing equipment may distract the learning environment of
other students. Therefore, the use of radios, cassette recorders,
walkmans, MP3 players, etc. or any other sound producing equipment
deemed disruptive is not permitted in the school and will be
confiscated. This also applies to students’ cars – please
keep music volume at a reasonable level.
Computer Use
It is an expectation that students will use Niagara Catholic District
School Board electronic communications systems for educational purposes
to enhance learning through responsible access to global information
and communication. Students are expected to exercise common sense and
decency with regard to the school’s computing resources.
Students are prohibited from:
* hacking into any program, site or personal account;
* manipulating files that are not on a personal
account;
* using obscene, harassing, racial or other
inappropriate language;
* erasing, damaging, copying files of another user;
* tampering with computer settings, network
configurations or desktop settings;
* knowingly downloading viruses;
* copying licensed material or software;
* installing any software not approved by the
Niagara Catholic District School Board;
* using any program to circumvent security features
which include firewalls, filters, virus protection, etc;
* using email unless it is used for school related
purposes with permission;
* any messenger service;
* using any other person’s account on the
system;
* attaching unauthorized devices to a computer or
network;
* using external storage devices (i.e. USB) without
permission;
* any other activity deemed inappropriate.
Internet Use
It is an expectation that students will use Niagara Catholic District
School Board electronic communications systems for educational purposes
to enhance learning through responsible internet access to global
information and communication. Students are prohibited from:
* accessing, participating, transmitting or saving
illegal, commercial, gambling, racist, abusive, profane, pornographic,
violent, discriminatory material;
* accessing and participating in on-line harassing
systems or sites;
* accessing, participating, transmitting or saving
material that does not comply with the Mission, Beliefs, Gospel Values
and policies of the Niagara Catholic District School Board;
* accessing e-mail or Hotmail accounts. (E-mailing
of homework or Board approved e-learning courses is permitted with
permission of school staff);
* cyber-stalking or spamming;
* accessing chat rooms or discussion forums that are
not approved by school staff;
* transmitting information in violation of Canadian,
Ontario or municipal laws;
* duplicating, plagiarizing, storing or transmitting
copyrighted material that violates copyright law;
* downloading large files that will take up system
file space without permission of school staff;
* any other activity deemed inappropriate.
Consequences may range from a warning to removal of computer use
privileges to suspension and/or police contact.