C20 CYBERSAFETY
Guidelines for St Patrick's Catholic School cybersafety practices
1. The school's cybersafety practices are to be based on information contained in the latest version of the NetSafe® Kit for Schools, which is endorsed by the New Zealand Ministry of Education as best practice for New Zealand schools.
2. No individual may use the school Internet facilities and school-owned/leased ICT devices/equipment in any circumstances unless the appropriate 'user agreement' has been signed and returned to the school. The school is progressively rolling out 'BYOD' (Bring you own device) and there are 'user agreements' that also apply to these privately-owned/leased ICT devices/equipment on the school site, or at/for any school-related activity, regardless of its location. This includes off-site access to the school network from school or privately-owned/leased equipment. Check with your child's teacher in regards to BYOD being available in your child's class.
3. St Patrick's Catholic School user agreements will cover all board employees, all students (including adult and community), and any other individuals authorised to make use of the school Internet facilities and ICT devices/equipment, such as teacher trainees, external tutors and providers, contractors, and other special visitors to the school.
4. The user agreements are also an educative tool and should be used as a resource for the professional development of staff.
5. Use of the Internet and the ICT devices/equipment by staff, students and other approved users at St Patrick's Catholic School is to be limited to educational, professional development, and personal usage appropriate in the school environment, as defined in individual user agreements.
6. Signed user agreements will be filed in a secure place, and an appropriate system devised which facilitates confirmation that particular individuals are authorised to make use of the Internet and ICT devices/equipment.
7. The school has the right to monitor, access and review all use. This includes personal emails sent and received on the schools computer/s and/or network facilities at all times.
8. The school has the right to audit at anytime any material on equipment that is owned or leased by the school. The school may also request permission to audit privately owned ICT devices/equipment used on the school site or at any school related activity.
9. Issues relating to confidentiality, such as sighting student or staff information, reasons for collecting data and the secure storage of personal details and information (including images) will be subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act 1993.
10. The safety of children is of paramount concern. Any apparent breach of cybersafety will be taken seriously. The response to individual incidents will follow the procedures developed as part of the school's cybersafety practices. In serious incidents, advice will be sought from an appropriate source, such NetSafe, the New Zealand School Trustees Association and/or a lawyer with specialist knowledge in this area. There will be special attention paid to the need for specific procedures regarding the gathering of evidence in potentially serious cases. If illegal material or activities are suspected, the matter may need to be reported to the relevant law enforcement agency.
11. Students (parents where students are under 10 years) will annually sign a cybersafety agreement and Parents will also sign a declaration.
Please follow the link to see an example of these : RUP student update Feb14.pdf