An American School Serving the International Community

CDS encourages the use of technology throughout the school. The school’s view is that the availability of technology resources enhances and deepens the learning experience. The focus of the CDS acceptable use policy (AUP) is on the responsible use of the computer networks within the CDS school community. These networks include both the Internet and any intranets.

CDS has established a wireless network.  Students, staff, and administrators may access resources regardless of their location on campus.   Resources include files, programs, the Internet, printers, and e-mail.  Users may be granted varying levels of access to the network, including the Internet and computer use.

The Internet provides the CDS community members with limitless educational and professional opportunities.  Computers provide access to unique resources; they support research, communication and enhanced education.  Our goal is to maintain a working and educationally-centered network of resources. Users must adhere to guidelines that require ethical, efficient, and legal utilization of the network of resources.

In order to ensure the acknowledgement and adherence of all staff and students to the AUP, users are required to sign the Technology AUP Use Agreement. The signatures indicate that the users have agreed to adhere to the guidelines and rules of use. Students, as well as their parents, and all staff members are required to sign the agreement.

The following uses of computers at school, including personal laptops, are considered and defined as violations of the Acceptable Use Policy, and they are therefore prohibited:

• accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing profane, pornographic, obscene, sexually explicit, or illegal material;
• transmitting profane, obscene, abusive, sexually explicit, or threatening language
• menacing, insulting, harassing others
• using the system for political lobbying
• sharing passwords with others, circumventing the password and/or Internet filtering software installed on school computers
• violating copyright or otherwise use of intellectual property of another individual or organization without permission
• accessing inappropriate sites such as those that are militant/extremist, racist, or gambling-related;
• Intimidating or harassing other students by email
• sending out bulk e-mail, including chain letters, advertisements. Students and staff must obtain prior approval before sending out email to the entire school or class
• using technology to make sound recordings without the consent of all of those who are being recorded
• downloading and/or installing software on the school’s computers
• using technology to make or distribute inappropriate photos of persons
• downloading music and/or large files;
• downloading copyrighted MP3’s or non-shareware programs.
• Use of virus programs or other intentionally harmful programs

Users should expect that files stored on school-based computers will NOT be private. Electronic message and files stored on school-based computers may be reviewed by authorized administrators and faculty at any time in order to maintain system integrity and to determine that users are acting responsibly.

Students must realize that the access to the Internet in the school is a privilege, not a right, and that to remain eligible as users, students’ use must support and abide by the regulations set forth.

The use of email for outside business concerns must be approved by the Director of the school.

Users should be extremely careful in divulging personal information (name, address, telephone number, credit card information, age, etc.) to online sources.

Posting of pictures on any Internet site that contain the school’s logo is prohibited without the consent of the Director of the school.

Laptops are an important tool in many high school classes, and students are encouraged to bring them to school.  The expectations for students who bring laptops to school are listed below:

The Bandwidth (“flow” of information)
As the whole school shares the network, all persons need to have access to the resources they need. The use of such programs as Kazaa, Morpheus, and other peer-to-peer file sharing programs is prohibited, due to the fact that they slow the flow of information.

Virus Protection
All laptops must have approved virus scan software. Antivirus software must be kept turned on when a student is using the laptop. If a laptop has been infected and cannot be cleaned, the school may require that the specific laptop may not be brought to school or used.

Power
Students should bring their laptops to school fully charged.

Network security
Students establish and maintain secure pass-phrases, which protect the privacy of their information on their computers and the network. Students are responsible for all activity on their account/folders.
Students may not loan their laptops to any other student.
Students may not use their laptops as servers in any way.
The school reserves the right to inspect a student’s laptop if deemed necessary.

E-mail – Additional Guidelines for Laptops
Students are never to access someone else’s email account.
Students will not share an e-mail message with a wide audience unless the author has agreed.
There should be no derogatory or otherwise inappropriate exchanges on the e-mail system, whether it is the school’s system or any other system.
The school reserves the right to examine e-mail accounts in certain circumstances.

During school
Laptops may not be left unattended in hallways, classrooms, the forum, or other school spaces. This practice applies to after-school during sports practices, music rehearsals, or other after school activities.
During the school day, students must have their laptops with them, or the laptops must be placed in their lockers. Lockers must have a lock on them.
Laptops must always be transported in either a book bag or computer case while on campus. They are not to be transported around during the day out of such cases.
When student go to classes such as P.E. or band, they must store their laptops in their lockers and proceed to class.

After school
Students who take their laptops to after school events (such as sports) should arrange with the coach/sponsor to put their laptop in a secure place.