WCGS NETWORK AND INTERNET ACCESS POLICY
The computer network at Wallington County Grammar School is made available as an educational resource. The WCGS Network and Internet Access Policy has been drawn up to protect all parties – the students, staff and the School.
The School reserves the right to examine or delete any files that may be held on its computer systems and to monitor, view and examine any usage of the network. All Internet sites visited and all computer usage is recorded and screenshots of violations or potential violations of this policy may be recorded. The School reserves the right to view or delete any emails sent or received within the School or sent or received outside of the School but using webmail services provided by the School. Any external data storage device including but not limited to CD’s, MP3 players, external HDD’s, memory sticks etc that are brought into the School will be subject to the same policy as if such devices were part of the School network.
• Students and staff must only access the WCGS network using their own authorised user account. Each user is responsible for the content of their user account which must NOT be made available to any other person. Each user has their own personal login name and password for this purpose. For security reasons, users must not make their password known to any other person. Anyone who believes that the security of their account may have been compromised in any way must contact the IT Support Department immediately. Any misuse of this account will result in it being terminated without warning.
• All WCGS network and Internet use should be appropriate to the student’s education. The School reserves the right to make the reasonable judgement that students will recognise materials that are inappropriate.
• Any activity that threatens the integrity of the School IT systems, or that attacks or corrupts other systems, is strictly forbidden. If any such activity is detected or suspected then the IT Support Department will, without notice, suspend all accounts for that person indefinitely.
• The use of the network to access inappropriate material, such as pornographic, racist or other offensive material is strictly forbidden and will result in disciplinary action.
• Each student will be provided with an email account with their own login name and password. No other email system is permitted for use on the WCGS network, including web-based accounts. Access to students’ email accounts is provided through the School’s Internet site, which can be accessed both in School and externally. Any misuse of this account will result in it being terminated without warning.
• Students are responsible for the emails they send and for the contacts they make. All data traffic will be monitored through the School’s network. The same standards of language and content should be applied to emails as to letters or other written media.
• The posting of anonymous messages, participation in ‘chat rooms’, usage of instant messaging services such as MSN or AIM and forwarding of chain letters is strictly forbidden.
• Copyright of materials, the work of other students and all intellectual property rights must be respected.
• In compliance with the School’s software licensing agreements, students are permitted to send and receive email attachments that are part of the Microsoft Office suite: MS Word, MS Excel, MS Publisher, MS Powerpoint, MS Access and MS Works. Students are also permitted to send and receive Acrobat Reader documents (.pdf) as well as graphic file formats, under the strict provision that their content is work related. Any such attachments must be compressed (zipped) and must be less than 2mb in size. Under no circumstances may any other file format be sent and received as an email attachment unless prior written permission from the IT Department is obtained. The sending and receiving of executable files, music or video files or games is not permitted.
• The downloading, installation and execution of games, messenger programmes, screensavers, wallpapers, or any application which alters the appearance of the WCGS desktop is forbidden. No downloads are acceptable of any kind, without gaining prior written permission from the IT Support Department.
• It is explicitly forbidden for anyone to download, send or store any music or video files. The following file types are also forbidden: mp3, mp4, mpg, mpeg, mp2, aac, ra, rm, ram, aaf, 3gp, wmv, avi, mov, bmp, tif, iso, gba, swv, exe, bat. Any files of these types will be automatically deleted without warning. This list may be updated at any time.
• In using the Internet, students may follow their legitimate private interests, providing School use is not compromised. Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is forbidden.
• No unauthorised hardware may be connected to any School equipment. External storage devices that do not require the installation of specific drivers are permitted but will be subject to the same conditions as if such devices were part of the School network. Any devices which require power from the mains are strictly forbidden.
• It is the responsibility of any pupil engaged in adding material to any School systems to ensure that the content is appropriate and accurate. Disciplinary action will be taken against any person adding offensive or unauthorised content.
• The WCGS Network and Internet Access Policy may be updated in the future. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that they conform to the updated policy.