Lake Macquarie High School

Quality Education in a Caring Environment

Internet Policy

Rationale:

Discriminate and effective use of the internet provides students with unprecedented opportunities to obtain information, engage in discussion, and liaise with individuals, organisations and groups world-wide so as to increase skills, knowledge and abilities.

Aims:

• To improve student learning outcomes by increasing access to world-wide information.
• To develop skills in discrimination and appropriate internet and computer usage.

Implementation:

• Out school actively supports access by students to the widest variety of information
• resources available, accompanied by the development of the skills necessary to filter, analyse, interpret and evaluate information encountered.
• All students and staff at our school have censorship filtered internet and email access.  All students and staff will have their own password protected internet account and log on.  Such access is a privilege that infers responsibility, and not simply a right to be expected.
• Student behaviour when using school computers and networks, when using the internet and email, and when engaging in an activity with school computers must be consistent with the school's Student Code of Conduct.
• Our internet co-ordinator Mr Ryan will manage all e-mail access, maintenance of the school's web site, web filters, and all other issues related to internet access by students.
• The school undertakes to ensure that information published on the Internet by students or the school is of a high standard, and meets legal requirements and standards of general practice within the community in relation to copyright, safety ad decency.
• Guidelines on access rights will be defined for different user levels.  Restricted access shall be available to guest users for specific purposes only.
• Consequences of publishing, accessing or failing to notify the co-ordinator of inappropriate material shall include the removal of access rights.
• Signed parent and student consent (see below) is required to be completed in order to gain access to the internet, or to publish work, photos or videos on the internet.
• Privacy of students, parents, staff and other users must be recognised and respected at all times.  Student's will only identify themselves on the internet by their first name and last initial.
• Staff are expected to utilise and integrate technologies, including on-line learning opportunities, into their programs for all students.