TECHNOLOGY & ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Beacon Academy makes technology resources available to students to enhance their educational work at school. While the range of computer, telecommunication, and other technologies allows access to vast resources and information, it also places enormous responsibility on each student to use these systems in a considerate, ethical, and lawful manner. The use of these technologies is a privilege, not a right, and is subject to terms and conditions. Any user must adhere to the same code of ethics that governs all other aspects of life within the Beacon Academy community. Actions performed or initiated through the use of technology must reflect honesty, integrity, and compliance with the rules of conduct set forth in the Beacon Academy school handbook.
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY USE:
1. Technology use must be for educational endeavors only, in accordance with the principles of Adventist education. Personal use is permitted only with special permission. For example, students should not use the Internet for e-mailing or entering chat rooms unless it is part of an academic activity being used and monitored by an instructor.
2. The use of technology at Beacon Academy is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use will result in loss of the privilege.
3. Recordings and files belonging to others should not be accessed or used without permission.
4. Be polite. In all communication, use language appropriate for a positive school environment.
5. Users are responsible for reporting problems, abuses, or misuses of technology resources to a faculty member in a timely manner.
6. Students will be issued a Beaconacademy.us G Suite for Education email account to use for school purposes eg Google Classroom.
ACCEPTABLE INTERNET USE POLICY:
1. Do not share anyone’s personal information, such as pictures, name, address, phone number or email address, including your own.
2. Never email someone for the first time without your teacher’s permission.
3. Do not tamper with system security or interfere with another individual’s account.
4. Do not disrupt network use for others. This includes sending chain letters or any other type of communication that might cause a congestion of the Internet.
5. Vandalism of any sort will result in loss of privileges. This includes, but is not limited to, uploading, downloading, or creating a virus.
6. All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be private property. Copyrighted materials may not be used without the permission of the author. Do not plagiarize; when using ideas or words that are not your own, cite the source of the information appropriately.
WARNING:
When using the system, you may feel you can easily break a rule and not get caught. This is not true. Electronic footprints are imprinted on the system whenever an action is performed. Therefore, you are likely to be caught if you break the rules.
GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING COMPUTER USE:
1. The Internet is considered a limited forum, and therefore the school may restrict students’ right to free speech for valid educational reasons.
2. Privacy is not guaranteed for the contents of personal files on the school computers or Internet system. Routine maintenance and monitoring of the system may lead to discovery that this policy, the school code, or the law has been violated. An individual search will be conducted if there is reasonable suspicion that such a violation has occurred. The investigation will be reasonable and related to the suspected violation. Furthermore, teachers and parents have the right at any time to see the contents of a student’s computer-related files.
3. Beacon Academy will cooperate fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation related to illegal activities conducted through the system. In the event of a claim that a student has violated this policy, the school code, or the law in the use of the system, the student will be given written notice of suspected violations and an opportunity to present an explanation according to school code and/or state and federal law. Additional restrictions may be placed on computer and/or Internet use.
4. Beacon Academy makes no guarantee that the functions or the services provided by or through the system will be error-free or without defect. The school will not be responsible for any damage suffered including, but not limited to, loss of data or interruptions of service. The school is not responsible for the accuracy or quality of the information attained through or stored on the system. The school will not be responsible for financial obligations arising from unauthorized use of the system.