Our school community recognizes the importance of the digital world in our children's lives. The internet offers many wonderful resources and learning opportunities. However, at District 181 we share your concerns about the online safety of your children. Teachers and parents should work together to empower students to make good choices and exhibit appropriate, responsible behavior with regard to technology. Lessons and activities about digital citizenship are taught in the library as well as in the classroom.
Students in grades k-5 have iPads and Google Apps for Education accounts, which includes Gmail. Students should keep in mind that these accounts are owned and maintained by the District. The email addresses are part of the @d181students.org domain and emails they send and receive can be accessed by their teacher, teacher-librarian, and the technology department. Email should be used solely for educational purposes. The District restricts use of this domain in that students may not send or receive email messages from anyone outside the @d181students.org or @d181.org domains. Email messages from any external account do not reach the student. Email messages from a student account to an external address (outside @d181students.org and @d181.org) are not sent.
The district’s Acceptable Use Agreement covers not only student use of student iPads and the network while at school, but also governs their usage outside of school.
You may want to read more about District 181's Digital Learning Plan, including links to a Guide for Parents and Students, and our Acceptable Use Agreement on the District website.
Looking for information about using the Securly web filter on your child's district iPad at home? See this document.
Additionally, here are some more digital citizenship resources for parents:
A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety from the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Media Smarts (This site is Canadian but has good information)