LAUREL SCHOOL RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES Always remember that you are a Laurel girl twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, in school, out of school, and on the Internet. At Laurel, we are fortunate to have many technology resources available for students. Girls in Grades 7-10 are provided a
Laurel-owned laptop and girls in Grades 5 and 6 are provided a Laurel-owned Chromebook for academic use. All Girls in
Grades 5-12 are provided school-based email accounts for school-related and appropriate interpersonal communication. And
the school’s information technology resources, including computers in the labs, printers and printing materials, Internet access,
and our network storage, are provided for educational purposes - to provide access to information, to improve
communication, and to promote innovation and creativity. It is important that you and your parents understand your
responsibilities around technology at Laurel. With privilege comes responsibility. Laurel School views online publishing and social media as powerful and meaningful personal and educational tools. Be
particularly mindful, therefore, of your membership in the Laurel community (and the broader community) in your
communication; on social networking sites, while texting, and elsewhere. Members of the Laurel School Community will not
use the School name or symbols in any way that is in conflict with the Honor Code or accepted standards for responsible
behavior. Additionally, it is easy with a single click to share more information in a public and permanent way regardless of your
privacy settings. Please be cautious about what information you decide to share. Never feel pressured to offer information you
do not wish to share. The ways in which you use technology, both your own and that which the school provides, must comply with the Honor Code
as published in the Student Handbook. The ways in which you use technology must also honor the mission of the school: “To
inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world.” Finally, the ways in which you use technology must also reflect
the core values of the school as set forth in our core values statement: “In a community of learners, Laurel girls are courageous,
ethical, and compassionate.” Faculty and staff monitor the use of information technology resources to help ensure that uses are secure and reflect school
policy. Faculty reserve the right to examine, use, and disclose any data found on the school’s information networks in order to
further the health, safety, discipline, or security of any student or other person, and to protect property. Additionally, Faculty
may use this information in school disciplinary proceedings and may also furnish evidence of any suspected crime to law
enforcement officials. In other words, there can be very serious consequences for misbehavior involving technology. The
responsible use policy and rules detailed below will guide your successful use of technology as a member of the Laurel
community. Accordingly, you are required to follow the rules set forth below. AS A LAUREL STUDENT, I UNDERSTAND THAT I MUST:
1. Respect and agree to live by the principles of the Honor Code - Integrity, Respect and Responsibility, the mission of the
school and the core values statement. ● I will be responsible, balanced, and healthy in my use of technology at school and at home. ● I will take care of my Laurel-provided device, protect it from damage or theft, and have it ready to use at school each
day. ● I will communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful. ● I will report any threatening or inappropriate communications or other materials to a teacher. ● I will not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that violates the school’s mission, core values
statement or Honor Code (such as messages that are rude, threatening, harassing, bullying, discriminatory,
inappropriate or pornographic). ● I will not intentionally access, transmit, copy, or create material that is illegal (such as stolen materials, or illegal copies
of copyrighted works). ● I will not send spam, chain letters, or other mass unsolicited mailings from my Laurel email account. ● I will not buy, sell, advertise, or otherwise conduct business from my Laurel email account, unless approved in
advance by my division head as a school project. 1
I will not access social networking sites while in class. I will use my time at school wisely and refrain from using
technology for entertainment during school hours. Appropriate cell phone use is determined by grade level. ● I will not waste or abuse school provided computer, network, or printer materials (for example, I will not print
unnecessary copies). ● I will not waste or abuse school provided Internet access (for example, I will not stream video for entertainment
purposes). 2. Respect and protect the privacy of others. ● I will use only my assigned accounts. ● I will not view, use, share, or copy passwords, data, or networks for which I am not authorized. ● I will not distribute private information about others. This includes passwords and personal information such as
addresses and telephone numbers. If I believe someone else knows or has shared private information, I will report
that to a faculty or staff member immediately. 3. Respect and protect the integrity, availability, and security of all electronic resources. ● I will report security risks and any misuse of computers or computer resources to a faculty member or the
Information Resources Department. Misuse would include (but is not limited to) unauthorized access to other
individuals’ files or passwords, theft of data, passwords or equipment, vandalism, or spreading of viruses. ● I will not destroy, damage or modify data, networks, or other resources that do not belong to me. 4. Respect and protect the intellectual property of others. ● I will not infringe on copyrights (for example, making illegal copies of music, games, or movies). ● I will attribute sources appropriately. ●
The above guidelines are not intended to be an exhaustive list. Students will exercise good judgment when faced with
technological and other challenges. CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATIONS. Violations of these rules will result in disciplinary action, which may include the
loss of privileges to use the school’s information technology resources. Further, if I access, transmit, copy, or create material
that violates the school’s mission, core values statement, or Honor Code, such as messages that are rude, threatening,
harassing, bullying, discriminatory, inappropriate, or pornographic, I will be subject to disciplinary action that may result in
suspension or expulsion as well as civil and criminal legal action. I ACKNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTAND MY OBLIGATIONS: ___________________________________________________ _____________________ STUDENT SIGNATURE
DATE ___________________________________________________ PRINTED NAME As parent or legal guardian of the student signing above, I have read this Technology Responsible Use Policy and have
discussed it with my daughter. I grant permission for my daughter to use her personal computing device and/or her Schoolprovided network, devices, email account, and other technology-related resources while at Laurel School. I further understand
that, although there are filters in place, it is impossible for Laurel School to restrict access to all controversial materials and will
not hold the School responsible for materials acquired on the Internet. I understand that my daughter will face disciplinary
action if she violates this Responsible Use Policy, whether that misuse happens on campus or off, and on School-provided or
personal devices.
___________________________________________________ _____________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE
DATE ___________________________________________________ PRINTED NAME
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