Introduction
This acceptable use agreement defines the responsibilities
that each member of the community must accept in order to
use the School’s technology resources. All members of the Georgetown Day School community
agree to follow school rules and commit to the School’s values.
These values include:
- a commitment to integrity
- a love of learning and diversity
- a respect for the rights and feelings of others and
- a respect for one's self
To maintain these values we all agree to support the needs of the school community, even if they may conflict with our personal desires. You can read a detailed summary of your responsibilities below.
Georgetown Day School owns all systems, software, and other
material stored on the network including applications such as:
- word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation, security, and
database programs
- Hopper (Blackboard), network folders, images, video, and
files stored on servers
- research tools, library catalogs, and associated memberships
in online resources
- e-mail, web pages, server logs, cache files, and filtered files
Tampering with GDS technology tools or another person’s
work is unacceptable, and could result in the loss of all rights
to use computers at GDS, including any user account and network
access. Violations of the GDS policy are also subject to
disciplinary action up to and including suspension and/or expulsion.
As the line between the actual world and the virtual world
of the Internet grows increasingly blurry, students should take
care to conduct themselves in both realms in accord with the
community standards outlined in these pages. This caution
particularly applies to online social sites such as Facebook, My
Space, and Second Life. Users of these sites must be 13 years or
older, and be officially in High School.
Back to the top
Acceptable Use Responsibilities for GDS Community
I understand the following:
- I continuously represent Georgetown Day School whenever
and wherever I use e-mail and Internet resources, even if I
am using these resources away from or outside of the School’s
network.
- Any violation of the rules can result in loss of my privileges
to use computers at GDS in addition to possible disciplinary
action up to and including suspension and/or expulsion.
- If I knowingly enable others to violate these rules, I may be
held accountable as if I broke the rule myself.
Use of School Virtual Resources
I will:
- Respect the work and privacy of others throughout the
GDS Network.
- Use my applications, e-mail accounts, and GDS Network
space appropriately, for school-related activities.
- Store my documents and files in places that are assigned to me.
I will not:
- Save or install files and/or software on equipment without
the authorization of a teacher or the Network Administrators.
- Use GDS technology resources for commercial activity or
to seek monetary gain.
- Intentionally introduce a virus or other harmful code
anywhere on the GDS Network, and I will make an effort
to keep my home computer free from viruses and other
destructive materials. I will report any virus detections to
a member of the Technology Staff.
Privacy
I will not attempt to discover or use another user’s login
name or password, nor will I share my passwords. If I
become aware of another individual’s password, I will
inform that person or a member of the technology staff.
• The Georgetown Day School respects the importance
of online student-profile sites like MySpace, Facebook,
Xanga, Bebo, and others to students who use these sites
as a means of communicating with friends. Students
must understand the public nature of these sites and the
risks, responsibility, and accountability that they, as site
manager, must assume if they participate. They also must
understand that their names and sites are linked with the
Georgetown Day School, and as a result, the School may
monitor the content of these sites because of the impact
such sites can have on school accountability, public image,
and student safety. Anything posted on a website by
a student constitutes public speech and will be held to
the all the standards and expectations expressed in this
handbook.
- I will not attempt to discover or use another user’s login
name or password, nor will I share my passwords. If I
become aware of another individual’s password, I will
inform that person or a member of the technology staff.
- The Georgetown Day School respects the importance
of online student-profile sites like MySpace, Facebook,
Xanga, Bebo, and others to students who use these sites
as a means of communicating with friends. Students
must understand the public nature of these sites and the
risks, responsibility, and accountability that they, as site
manager, must assume if they participate. They also must
understand that their names and sites are linked with the
Georgetown Day School, and as a result, the School may
monitor the content of these sites because of the impact
such sites can have on school accountability, public image,
and student safety. Anything posted on a website by
a student constitutes public speech and will be held to
the all the standards and expectations expressed in this
handbook.
Fair Use of Virtual Materials
- I will not copy or transfer any copyrighted software to or
from computers on the GDS Network without the permission
of the technology staff in my building.
- I will attempt to avoid the misuses of virtual materials at
school and at home.
- I will properly cite all online, web, wikki, and similar materials
that I transfer and use in my work.
Fair Use of Virtual Materials
I will not use any of my e-mail or web page accounts to:
- Forward chain letters, joke collections, Internet urban
legends, and other materials that clutter and slow down the
GDS Network.
- Use GDS technology resources to store or to transfer
software used primarily for hacking, eavesdropping, or network administration.
- Send personal political messages or represent GDS in any
political arena.
- Annoy, hinder, or harass others with offensive, obscene,
abusive, embarrassing, or threatening language or images.
- Communicate with inappropriate or abusive language.
- Assume a fictitious identify.
- Access, download, store, or print obscene or pornographic
material.
Back to the top
Content and Other Materials Created and Saved at GDS
Network or Web Site Materials
- Content created with and saved on GDS network and technology tools is the property of the School.
- If I leave the school community, I may take copies of anything I have written, but the content that I created at GDS can continue to be used by the School for educational purposes such as publications and presentations.
Guidelines for All Content Saved on the Network or Posted on School Websites
- When I create content I will be considerate and respect the privacy of others.
- I will identify myself as the author of all content.
- I will clearly indicate when the content was written.
- I will give credit to others for their ideas. I know that I can consult the GDS library pages for information on how to do this.
My Use of GDS Content or School Information on Non-GDS Websites
- Content about GDS anywhere on the World Wide Web should observe all aspects of the School's Acceptable Use Policy.
- Official School files or documents are not to be posted on non-GDS sites.
- Individuals who post content on World Wide Web sites away from GDS should not present content as if it represents any official views of Georgetown Day School.
- I understand that the official GDS website represents the School. No representation of GDS should be made on any website, newsgroup, bulletin board, through e-mail or through any other means without the permission of the School's administration.
Getting My Content Approved for the GDS Website
- Any individual or organization wishing to post content on
the GDS website should e-mail preliminary information to
webmaster@gds.org, who will make an initial judgment of the
appropriateness of the posting and other technical issues. Advance
notice for special projects is imperative. Head of School
Peter Branch has the final say regarding all website postings.
Back to the top
Student E-mail
Lower/Middle School
Lower and Middle School students do not have GDS e-mail accounts.
L/MS students may not check or use personal or web-based e-mail at school without the permission of a teacher or technology staff member.
L/MS students may, with the permission of a teacher, use their e-mail to transfer an assignment, but all are strongly encouraged to learn how to use the the Digital Drop Box in the GDS Online Hopper.
With the permission of your teacher or a technology staff memeber, you may use personal e-mail to attach a file to send home or get an attached file that you uploaded from home. However, the preferred file transfer method is to use the Digital Drop Box provided in each of your GDS Online Hopperclasses.
High School
Each High School student has the privilege of a GDS e-mail account, beginning on entry to the High School.
GDS student e-mail accounts are not active during the summer break but can be used during all other school breaks, so students should take care to save any important e-mail documents.
Students are encouraged to transfer files with the Digital Drop Box in each Online Hopper class section.
Use attachments as sparingly as possible. The easiest way to avoid e-mail viruses is to cut and paste content into the body of your e-mail message. GDS limits the size of incoming e-mail attachments and scans them for viruses.
E-mail from any account, whether at GDS or at another Internet Service Provider, must not be used to annoy or harass any student or teacher. See the GDS Harassment Policy.
GDS students who use e-mail accounts should be familiar with all GDS Acceptable Use Policies.
All students are encouraged to read the Ten Commandmandments of E-mail, written for Harvard University's Business School.
Back to the top
Georgetown Day School Harassment Policy
Bullying/Harassment
Georgetown Day School is committed to having a community
in which every student and staff member can work, learn
and participate in an atmosphere free from all forms of bullying
and harassment.
Any form of harassment, including sexual harassment,
whether written or oral, physical, visual, or virtual (e-mail, textmessaging,
voice mail, or website), is strictly prohibited and subject
to disciplinary consequences. Also see Sexual Harassment,
Technology (Acceptable Use Policy), and Community Standards
for each Division.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment does not refer to occasional compliments
or other generally acceptable social behavior. Sexual harassment
refers to behavior that is not welcome, is personally offensive,
undermines or weakens morale and, therefore, interferes
with the work effectiveness and/or learning environment of its
victims and their co-workers and/or fellow students. By way
of example, sexual harassment may include such conduct as
subtle pressure for sexual activities; offensive, unwanted physical
contact such as patting, pinching, or constant brushing
against another’s body; or offensive sex-oriented verbal teasing,
kidding, jokes or abuse, or the unwelcome display of pictures,
cartoons, or drawings which are sexual in nature. Sexual activity
between staff and students is strictly prohibited, regardless
of whether the activity is consensual. Violation of this rule will
result in serious disciplinary consequences and may also violate
criminal laws.
A student who believes he or she has been the subject of
sexual harassment should immediately bring the matter to the
attention of a teacher, advisor, or administrator who must refer
the complaint to the Head of School. An investigating administrator
appointed by the Head of School will consider all the
circumstances in determining whether the alleged improper
conduct occurred and whether that conduct constitutes sexual
harassment. The School will make every reasonable effort to
maintain confidentiality and protect the privacy of the parties
involved during and after the investigation. Any attempt to
interfere with or influence the investigation of a sexual harassment
complaint is strictly prohibited.
The investigating administrator will prepare for the Head
of School a written report which contains a synopsis of the allegations,
the results of the investigation, and a recommended
disposition of the complaint. The Head of School or his designee
will then take appropriate action.
Any staff member or student who is found to have committed
an act of sexual harassment will be subject to remedial
action including, but not limited to, reprimand, counseling,
suspension, expulsion, or dismissal. Retaliation against a person
who properly reports, complains about or participates in
the investigation of sexual harassment, is also prohibited.
Back to the top
Voicemail and E-mail Guidelines at GDS
To facilitate communication between school and home, each
member of the faculty and staff has an e-mail address and a voice
mailbox.
Voice mail may be accessed through the School’s main
phone lines or through individual numbers listed in the Parent/
Student Directory and on the School's website Online Staff Directory.
E-mail addresses are usually accessed by using
the individual’s first initial and last name plus @gds.org. For
example, Peter Branch’s e-mail address is pbranch@gds.org. For
exceptions, please see the Parent/Student Directory or the Online Staff Directory.
It should be noted that expectations of civility in communications
at GDS are the same for e-mail and voice mail as for
face-to-face communication.
Respect for one another should be
evident in tone and language as well as content.
Unfortunately, e-mail does not convey tone and affect and may cause the message
to seem abrupt or confrontational when used in haste or
anger.
Moreover, e-mail can be printed or re-circulated and
does not ensure confidentiality. Issues of significant concern are
best left to a personal meeting, which the use of e-mail or voice
mail can facilitate.
Forwarding any personal e-mail notes to public forums is prohibited. This includes forwarding a personal and signed message that you received to an e-mail or chat forum without the expressed permission of the original sender.
Avoid using purely anonymous screen names or or other that may convey misinformation about your intentions. Instead choosing names that your friends and aquaintances might recognize, even if they do not know your exact screen name. Moreover, if you accidentally send a message that someone misunderstands, they will be in touch with you rather than sending the messages to one of the ISP bad message notification services.
Turn off instant messengers or other chat forums when you are working on homework, office work, or other significant tasks.
Check out the Ten Commandmandments of E-mail, developed at the Harvard Business School and published in PC Magazine.
Spam or junk e-mail that is inappropriate or that makes you feel uncomfortable can be forwarded to specific e-mail addresses at each Internet Service Provider. We have provided a basic list below. Feel free to contact us with other addresses for this list.
Report problem e-mails to the following addresses:
Earthlink: junkmail@earthlink.net
AOL: notify@aol.com
Hotmail: abuse@hotmail.com
Yahoo: abuse@yahoo.com
Back to the top
|
