Technology & BYOD Policy: Pages 51-56 Student Handbook

Good digital citizenship is good citizenship. Good citizenship is expected everywhere, all the time, in  person or online, whether in the hallway or using a digital device.  The following rules of good  citizenship should guide all of our actions, even in the use of technology and connectivity at MHCS.   Good behavior is expected of all students and staff:  

• Respect and Protect Yourself  
• Respect and Protect Others 
• Respect and Protect Property  

The use of Internet and related technologies must be in support of education and research and  consistent with the educational objectives of the school.  Use of other organizations’ networks or  computing resources must comply with the rules appropriate for those networks.  Students must have a  teacher’s permission before using any computer for any reason and must be under supervision. 

 Students guilty of misusing technology will receive consequences according to the nature and severity  of the misuse. Consequences will be similar to the consequences for violating other school rules and  may include being given limited or no access to technology for a specified amount of time.  The use of  the Internet and related technologies is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use may result in  cancellation of those privileges. 

 The educational programs governed by the school make no warranties of any kind, whether expressed  or implied, for the service it is providing and will not be responsible for any damages users suffer.  This includes loss of data resulting from delays, no deliveries, mid deliveries, or service interruption.  Use of any information obtained via the Internet and related technologies are at the user’s own risk.   The student or parent/guardian will be responsible for any financial obligation incurred through the use of the Internet and related technologies that are not previously approved as part of the school  budget.  

 Students have the privilege of using electronic devices at the discretion of the teacher. The usage of all  devices remain at the discretion of MHCS and student usage privileges may be revoked if misused. All  students must have a signed copy of the technology usage and monitoring policy on file.  

Any damages resulting from student misuse will lead to parents being billed for the expense of fixing  or replacing the technology.   

Mary Help of Christians School is committed to creating a safe and educational online environment  for all students. To support this commitment, the school uses Deledao, a CIPA-compliant (Children’s  Internet Protection Act) web filtering, student wellness, and classroom management tool. This  software helps safeguard students from inappropriate content and allows teachers to monitor online  activities in real-time while on campus. 

• Deledao provides web filtering to block harmful or inappropriate content while students are  connected to the school’s network. It also monitors wellness indicators like cyberbullying or  accessing harmful material, allowing the school to intervene when necessary for student safety. 

• Deledao blocks the following categories for the protection of students: 

1. Abortion
2. Drugs
3. Games
4. Self-harm 
5. Social networking 
6. Adult content 
7. Sexuality 
8. Alcohol and tobacco  
9. Intimate apparel and swimsuit  
10. Sex education  
11. Dating  
12. Gambling
13. Proxy and VPN services 
14. Violence  

• Deledao uses real-time analysis and real-time video and image analysis to continuously  assess and block inappropriate content as it appears. However, Deledao is not 100% accurate,  and parental monitoring is advised to ensure students remain safe outside of school hours.  

• Teachers use Deledao’s classroom management feature to monitor and view students’  screens in real-time while they are using their school account profiles during class. This tool allows teachers to: 

1. Be proactive in preventing distractions by monitoring what students are viewing or  working on during class time. 
2. Assist students in real-time by offering support or guidance based on what they are  working on. 

Control student activity by:  

• Blocking or allowing websites as needed. 
• Closing tabs that may be distracting or off-task.  
• Sending direct messages to students through the platform for guidance or redirection.  
• Taking screenshots of student screens to document behavior or issues.  
• Blocking access to certain sites or apps when necessary to keep students on task. 

Additionally, teachers may create groups for specific classroom policies or rules using  Deledao’s site banks feature. This allows teachers to customize access and restrictions for different groups of students, ensuring that each group is subject to the appropriate policies or content restrictions based on the activity or lesson plan. 

•  Parents are encouraged to participate in their child's digital wellbeing by registering for a  parental Deledao account through the school’s technology department. This account allows  parents to:  

1. Monitor their child’s internet usage outside of school hours, including weekends,  holidays, and during the summer.
2. Set screen time limits and restrict access to certain websites or apps. 
3. Receive real-time alerts for concerning online behavior that occurs after school hours. 
4. Add or block internet access on their child’s device as needed. 

This service is offered at no additional cost to parents, as it has been covered by the school’s  prior payment. 

• Students must use their school-issued accounts when using Chromebooks at school.  Personal accounts are not allowed during school hours. 
• Logging into personal accounts on Chromebooks while at school will result in: 

1. A warning for the first offense. 
2. A write-up for the second offense, documented in the student's school record.  o 
3. Continued non-compliance will lead to further disciplinary actions as determined by the  school administration.

• Students with parental controls enabled on their devices must ensure that their school  account is added as a separate profile, rather than as a secondary account within their  personal profile.  

• The school only monitors activities on school accounts and while students are connected to  the school’s network. We do not track devices or monitor screens outside of school, nor do  we track students' personal accounts, devices, or networks used at home. 

• Parents are responsible for monitoring their child’s online activities when they are at home or  not on the school network. Deledao is a tool we use at school, and parental involvement is  essential to ensure students are being monitored outside school hours as well. 

• To maintain a uniform and secure system, students are required to bring Chromebooks  only. No other device types are permitted, including but not limited to: 
•    Chromebooks  
•    X Apple MacBook
•    X iPads 
•    X Amazon tablets 
•    X Android tablets
•    X Windows computers 
•    X Linux computers 

•  If a student is found circumventing the monitoring system or logging in with personal accounts  during school, they will face disciplinary measures including: 

1. Warnings 
2. Write-ups 
3. Suspension of network privileges or Chromebook use at school 
4. Further disciplinary action based on the severity of the offense 

• While Deledao is a powerful tool that helps to monitor and filter internet activity in real-time,  it is important to acknowledge that no system is 100% foolproof. There may be instances  where inappropriate content or activity slips through despite Deledao’s best efforts.  
• In the event that Deledao fails to block inappropriate content or activity, the school will take  immediate steps to address the situation and adjust settings as necessary. However, it is also the  responsibility of the students and parents to adhere to the school's acceptable use policies and  to report any concerns or issues they encounter while using the school’s devices or network. 
• Parental oversight is critical. We encourage parents to use their parental Deledao accounts  to monitor their child’s activities outside of school hours, including after-school time,  weekends, holidays, and summer breaks. Parents can:  o Set additional filters or block websites.  o Monitor internet activity in real-time.  o Receive alerts and manage screen time.  
• This dual monitoring—by the school during school hours and parents outside of school—  provides a layered approach to ensure the safest possible internet experience for students. 

• Students are expected to use technology responsibly and to follow the guidelines set forth in  this policy. If a student encounters any inappropriate content, it is their responsibility to report  it immediately to their teacher or the school administration. 
• Failure to report inappropriate content or attempting to bypass the web filtering system may  result in disciplinary action as outlined in the Consequences of Non-Compliance section.  

Parents who wish to monitor their child’s internet activity outside of school hours can sign up for a  Parental Deledao Account. This service is provided at no extra cost. To get started, follow these  steps: 

1. Contact the Technology Department: 

• Parents should send an email or call the school's Technology Department at  support@mhcslaredo.org, requesting access to the Parental Deledao account.  

2. Submit Required Information:   

• You will need to provide your name, your child’s name, and your child’s school issued email account.  

3. Receive Login Information:

• After your request is processed, you will receive an email with instructions to log into  the Deledao Parent Portal. This will include your unique login credentials and a  guide to setting up your account.  

4. Configure Monitoring Settings: 

• Once logged in, you can configure your parental controls by: 

1.    Setting screen time limits.  
2.    Blocking or allowing specific websites or categories. 
3.    Setting up real-time alerts for any concerning activity.  

5. Ongoing Support: 

• If you need assistance with setup or troubleshooting, the Technology Department is  available for support. 

 With a Parental Deledao Account, parents can take an active role in managing and monitoring their  child’s internet usage outside of school hours. The features available to parents include:  

1. Screen Time Limits:   

• Parents can set daily or weekly limits on how much time their child can spend online.  This helps manage overall screen time, ensuring students balance school work, leisure,  and rest.  

2. Website and App Blocking: 

• Parents can block specific websites, categories of websites (e.g., social media, gaming),  or apps that they deem inappropriate or distracting for their child outside of school  hours.  

3. Custom Schedules:  

• Parents can establish custom schedules to control when the internet is accessible on  their child’s device. For example, internet access can be blocked during certain hours  like bedtime or family time. 

4. Real-Time Alerts:  

• Parents receive alerts when their child attempts to access blocked or inappropriate  content. These alerts are sent in real-time, allowing parents to respond immediately if  necessary.  

5. Activity Reports: 

• Deledao offers detailed activity reports that show which websites or apps were accessed  and when. This allows parents to monitor their child’s browsing habits and adjust limits  accordingly.