Acceptable Network Use Policy

Enrollment in Notre Dame Preparatory is acknowledgement by students and their parents that they agree to the Notre Dame Acceptable Use Policy.

Notre Dame Preparatory’s Acceptable Use Policy (“AUP”) is designed to prevent unauthorized access and other unlawful or inappropriate activities by users online, prevent unauthorized disclosure of or access to sensitive information, and to comply with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (“CIPA”). As used in this policy, “user” includes anyone using the computers, Internet, email, chat rooms, instant messaging (IM), peer-to-peer P2P and other forms of direct electronic communications or equipment provided by NDP (the “network”). It also includes outside equipment that uses NDP’s network to access the Internet.

Disclaimer: NDP makes no guarantees about the quality of the services provided and is not responsible for any claims, losses, damages, costs or other obligations arising from the use of the network or accounts. Any additional charges a user accrues due to the use of NDP’s network are to be borne by the user. NDP also denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of the information obtained through user access. Any statement, accessible on the computer network or the Internet, is understood to be the author’s individual point of view and not that of NDP, its affiliates or employees.

Student Internet Safety:

• Students under the age of eighteen should only access NDP accounts outside of school if a parent or legal guardian supervises their usage at all times. The student’s parent or guardian is responsible for monitoring the minor’s use.

• Students shall not reveal on the Internet personal information about themselves or other persons. For example, students should not reveal their name, home address, telephone number or display photographs of themselves or others.

• Students shall not meet in person anyone they have met over the Internet.

• Students must abide by all laws, this Acceptable Use Policy and all NDP security policies.

NDP will use technology protection measures to block or filter, to the extent possible, access of visual depictions or information that are obscene, pornographic and harmful to minors over the network. NDP reserves the right to monitor users’ online activities and to access, review, copy, and store or delete any electronic communication or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary. Users should have no expectation of privacy regarding their use of NDP property, network and/or Internet access or files, including email.

Any attempt to bypass campus or network security is not allowed. This includes the use of tor, VPNs, and mobile hotspots to gain access to sites or services that are blocked on the NDP network. Additionally, students are REQUIRED to install a web proxy certificate on their device (school owned, or personal) to access the network at NDP.

Unacceptable Uses of Electronic Devices, the Computer Network or Internet:

NDP reserves the right to take immediate action regarding activities (1) that create security and/or safety issues for the school, students, employees, network or computer resources, or (2) that expend NDP resources on content the school in its sole discretion determines lacks legitimate educational content/purpose, or (3) other activities as determined by NDP as inappropriate. Some examples of inappropriate activity on NDP’s network include, but are not limited to:

• Violating any state or federal law or municipal ordinance, such as accessing or transmitting pornography of any kind, obscene de­pictions, harmful materials, materials that encourage others to violate the law, confidential information or copyrighted materials;

• Performing criminal activities that can be punished under law;

• Selling or purchasing illegal items or substances;

• Obtaining and/or using anonymous email sites; spamming; spreading viruses.

• Causing harm to others or damage to their property, such as:

  • • Using profane, abusive, or impolite language; threatening, harassing, or making damaging or false statements about others or accessing, transmitting or downloading offensive, harassing or disparaging materials;

    • Deleting, copying, modifying, or forging other users’ names, emails, files, or data; disguising one’s identity, impersonating other users, or sending anonymous email;

    • Damaging computer equipment, files, data or the network in any way, including intentionally accessing, transmitting or downloading computer viruses or other harmful files or programs, or disrupting any computer system performance;

    • Using an NDP computer or the NDP network to pursue “hacking,” internal or external to NDP, or attempting to access information protected by privacy laws;

    • Accessing, transmitting or downloading large files not related to educational purposes, including, but not limited to media, chain letters or any type of pyramid schemes.

• Engaging in uses that jeopardize access or lead to unauthorized access into others’ accounts or other computer networks, such as:

  • • Using another’s account password(s) or identifier(s);

    • Interfering with other users’ ability to access their account(s);

    • Disclosing anyone’s password to others or allowing them to use another’s account(s).

• Using the network or Internet for commercial purposes:

  • • Using the Internet for personal financial gain;

    • Using the Internet for personal advertising, promotion or financial gain;

    • Conducting for-profit business activities and/or engaging in non-government related fundraising or public relations activities, such as solicitation for religious purposes, lobbying for personal political purposes.

Students will not make and/or post photo, audio, or video recordings of another student or NDP employee/volunteer without specific permission from the individual being recorded and the supervising teacher.

Any use of any device to record sound, pictures or video in restrooms or the locker room, regardless of intent, will be treated as a serious violation and will lead to disciplinary and/or legal action.

Scope of Email Use:

Only current students or employees are authorized to use NDP email. NDP email accounts exist to conduct NDP business. NDP reserves the right to monitor users’ email activities and to access, review, copy and store or delete any electronic communication or files and disclose them to others as it deems necessary. Users should have no expectation of privacy regarding their use of NDP email.

Authorized Personal Use of Email:

Users have no expectation of privacy when transmitting or receiving any electronic information on the NDP network. NDP reserves the right to monitor all data transmitted via the NDP network whether it is an NDP account or a personal account. Users have no reasonable expectation of privacy when it comes to NDP, school and personal use of NDP’s email system, or network.

NDP Email is NDP Property:

Because any email communication executed using NDP computer systems is the property of NDP, NDP reserves the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store at any time and without notice any and all usage of email, and any and all files, information, software, and other content created, sent, received, downloaded, uploaded, accessed, or stored in connection with network usage. The Company reserves the right to disclose email text and images to regulators, the courts, law enforcement, and other third parties without the user’s consent.

Unacceptable Uses of NDP Email:

The following are examples of inappropriate use of NDP Email, but NDP also reserves the right to take immediate action regarding activities (1) that create security and/or safety issues for students, employees, school, network or computer resources, or (2) that expend NDP resources on email that NDP in its sole discretion determines lacks legitimate educational content/purpose, or (3) other activities as determined by NDP as inappropriate.

• Violating any state or federal law or municipal ordinance, such as: Transmitting pornography of any kind, obscene depictions, harm­ful materials, materials that encourage others to violate the law, confidential information or copyrighted materials

• Criminal activities that can be punished under law

• Offering any illegal items or substances via email

Engaging in uses that jeopardize access or lead to unauthorized access into others’ Email accounts such as:

• Using another’s account password(s) or identifier(s);

• Interfering with other users’ ability to access their account(s); or

• Disclosing anyone’s password to others or allowing them to use another’s account(s)

Using NDP Email for Commercial purposes:

• Using NDP email for personal financial gain

• Using NDP email for personal advertising, promotion, or financial gain; or

• Conducting for-profit business activities and/or engaging in non-government related fundraising or public relations activities such as solicitation for religious purposes, lobbying for personal political purposes

Obtaining and/or using anonymous email sites; spamming; spreading viruses; causing harm to others or damage to their property, such as:

• Using profane, abusive, or impolite language; threatening, harassing, or making damaging or false statements about others or accessing, or transmitting offensive, harassing, or disparaging materials

• Deleting, copying, modifying, or forging other users’ names, emails, files, or data; disguising one’s identity, impersonating other users, or sending anonymous email, accessing, transmitting or downloading large files, including “chain letters” or any type of “pyramid schemes”

Penalties for Improper Use:

The use of an NDP email account is a privilege, not a right, and misuse may result in the restriction or cancellation of the account. Misuse may also lead to disciplinary and/or legal action for students and/or employees, including suspension, expulsion, dismissal from NDP or criminal prosecution.

Social Media and Internet Expectations:

Students are not permitted to use their electronic devices to record or take pictures of NDP students, administration, faculty or staff without permission. Any student who posts video or pictures of NDP administrators, faculty or staff to social media or any other website(s) without the expressed permission of those NDP employees will be subject to disciplinary consequences up to dismissal. Parents are also not permitted to use their electronic devices to record or take pictures of NDP administration, faculty or staff without permission.

Students are reminded that they represent the Notre Dame community at all times. As such students are held accountable for any actions, communications, postings, or behaviors on social media and through electronic communications that may be in violation of the expectations set forth in the student Code of Conduct. Students that have been found to be in violation of such conduct will be subject to disciplinary consequences up to dismissal.

Student Technology:

Starting in the 2018-2019 school year, Notre Dame High School’s policy for student technology requires students to provide their own laptop as their primary education device. A full-featured laptop in the classroom environment has shown distinct advantages over the use of tablets and provides students with a greater degree of academic opportunity and productivity. The Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program requires new students to have either an Apple MacBook or Windows 10 laptop which meets or exceeds the minimum specifications described below. Students are required to have devices on the first day of classes, and must bring their laptops to school each day. For the full Student Technology User Agreement, please visit the school website under the Parents > Technology Fee link for more details on the campus BYOD program. Enrollment in Notre Dame Preparatory is acknowledgment of agreement to this policy.