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Oakwood School

Technology and Social Media Acceptable Use Policy

At Oakwood School, access to technology resources is a privilege grounded in the principles of responsibility and ethical usage. This policy outlines the guidelines for the appropriate usage of our technology resources to ensure all community actions support our educational mission and support a positive school environment.

Online Conduct (Inside and Outside of School)

All Oakwood School students agree to engage online with respect, integrity, and kindness, whether on or off school premises. Online interactions should reflect the values of respect and integrity expected at Oakwood School. Such interactions include, but are not limited to, electronic messaging, texting, and social media use.

  • Digital Citizenship: Maintain a respectful digital presence, carefully manage social media privacy settings, and acquire parental consent where necessary. Refrain from doing or saying things online which you would not do in person.

  • Prohibited Behaviors: Offensive language, personal attacks, harassment, and the spreading of false or misleading information are strictly prohibited.

  • Cyberbullying: Report offensive language, personal attacks, harassment, the spreading of false or misleading information, uncomfortable encounters, or any other type of cyberbullying to a parent, teacher, Advisor, principal, or a trusted adult. 

As you engage online, it’s crucial to actively manage your digital presence. Colleges and potential employers often review social media profiles before making decisions on admissions and hiring. Adjust your privacy settings to protect your information, obtain parental consent when necessary, and directly address any cyberbullying incidents by reporting them to a parent, teacher, Advisor, principal, or a trusted adult.

Educational Technology

Technology in school is provided to promote and support the pursuit of educational excellence. The use of school provided technology is a privilege, not a right and students have no right to privacy in their school email accounts or when using school technology resources. The school may monitor, search, or read any messages, electronic mail, or internet activity without prior notice. However, the school is not obliged to monitor any communications.

  • Security and Privacy: Responsibly handle all personal and school data by setting strong passwords, not sharing passwords with others, closing the lid, or locking the screen when leaving your laptop. Report any suspicious activity or uncomfortable encounters to a parent, teacher, Advisor, principal, or a trusted adult. The school encourages installing appropriate security software on student devices to help protect against viruses and malware.

  • Acceptable Use: The use of school provided technology resources is for educational use only. Engaging in non-educational activities such as viewing memes, using photo editing software for non-academic purposes, or online chatting during school hours is restricted. Games, gambling, social media, and downloading software without faculty permission are prohibited.

  • Community-Appropriate Content: Only access content that is appropriate, respectful, and aligned with Oakwood School values; avoid obscene or offensive material.

Students should not open emails or download files from unknown sources. Families are encouraged to install security software on personal devices. Using or accessing someone else's computer or accounts is prohibited; sharing or guessing passwords is not allowed. Additionally, circumventing school security measures, including the use of VPNs or proxies, is prohibited.

Students are responsible for securing their own electronic devices, including laptops, cell phones, and tablets. Oakwood is not liable for any loss or damage that occurs on campus. If a student believes a personal device has been lost or stolen, they should immediately inform the Principal. 

Use of Online Resources to Complete School Assignments

  • Authorized Activities: Students should engage in games or digital activities only when they are authorized by faculty as part of the classroom curriculum in alignment with educational objectives.

  • Media Compliance: Comply with copyright laws by not accessing or distributing pirated materials. Ensure all used materials are appropriate and relevant to the assigned work.

  • Intellectual integrity: Students are expected to produce original work and properly cite all external sources. Only use outside resources as permitted by your instructor. Using anyone else’s work, including resources found on the internet, without crediting the author is plagiarism.

If students encounter inappropriate material or deviations from these guidelines, they should report such incidents to faculty immediately.