Internet Usage Policy

This internet usage policy applies to all students of Christian Life School who have access to computers and the Internet. The use of the internet by students is permitted and encouraged when such use supports the school's goals and objectives. However, access to the internet through Christian Life School is a privilege, and all students must adhere to the policies concerning computer, email, and internet usage. Violation of these policies could result in disciplinary action. Students may also be held personally liable for damages caused by any violations of this policy. All students are required to acknowledge receipt and confirm that they have understood and agree to abide by the rules hereunder. 

With access to computers and people all over the world also comes the availability of material that may not be considered to be of educational value in the context of the school setting. Christian Life School has taken precautions to restrict access to materials that may be considered controversial. However, on a global network, it is impossible to control all materials, and an industrious user may discover controversial information. We (CLS) firmly believe that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweigh the possibility that the users may procure material that is not consistent with the educational goals of CLS. At CLS, we have implemented WebBlocker, a filtering software, to filter out most content that is not suitable for our environment. 

The smooth operation of the network relies upon the proper conduct of the end-users, who must adhere to strict guidelines. These guidelines are provided here so that you are aware of the responsibilities you are about to acquire. In general, this requires efficient, ethical, and legal utilization of network resources. If a CLS user violates any of these provisions, his/her account will be temporarily disabled pending investigation, and future access may be permanently revoked.

Acceptable Use 

The purpose of using the Internet in our school is to support research and education by providing access to unique resources and facilitating collaborative work. The use of your account must be in support of education and research consistent with the educational objectives of CLS. Transmission of any material in violation of school policy or of any United States or state regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, copyrighted materials, threatening or obscene material, or material protected by trade secrets. 

Privileges

The use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of those privileges. The School Administrator will deem what is an inappropriate use, and their decision is final. Also, the Network Administrator may close an account at any time as required. The administration, faculty, and staff of CLS may request the Network Administrator to deny, revoke, or suspend specific user accounts. 

Security

Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system involves many users. If you feel you can identify a security problem on the Internet, you must notify the Network Administrator or your teacher. Do not demonstrate the problem to other users. Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of problems with other computer systems may be denied access to the Internet. 

Chromebooks

Christian Life School is a Bring Your Own Chromebook (BYOC) school, which means that every 7th-12th grade student is required to bring their own, personally owned and maintained Chromebook to school each day.  Students are responsible for the care and maintenance of these individually owned Chromebooks and must keep them in proper working condition for use in each classroom.

Chromebook Requirements and Specifications

When purchasing a new Chromebook for your student, please be aware of the following:

• The Device must be a Chromebook.  which allows the school to monitor students' internet safety and securely administer digital exams. If your student brings a device other than a Chromebook to school, they will not be permitted to use it in class.

• Any brand or model of Chromebook is acceptable; however, we strongly recommend the Dell 3100, 3110, or 3120.  These models are recommended for their quality, longevity, customer service, and compatibility with CLS systems.  Students using any other Chromebook make/model will be charged a $50 licensing fee through Smart Tuition to cover the additional Google license that must be purchased for the device.

• Every Chromebook MUST be enrolled in the CLS GAFE portal before use at school.  Please bring new Chromebooks to Back to School Night when possible.  To enroll the Chromebook, it requires a reset to factory settings for the enrollment screen to appear.   We suggest that students refrain from downloading any apps prior to Chromebook enrollment, as these apps will be automatically removed and lost when restoring factory settings.  Student email and drive data will still be available in the cloud.  After enrollment, the Chromebook will only be usable with a CLS email account, and the content will be filtered.  We will unenroll the device when your student graduates or withdraws from the school.  

• Since parents will be responsible for Chromebook repairs and replacements, we recommend purchasing an extended warranty. 

• It is recommended that parents purchase a protective sleeve for the Chromebook and label both the device and charger with the student's name.

• The Chromebook must have a keyboard, 4GB of RAM, Wi-Fi, a working battery that will last most of the school day, a minimum 11-inch screen, and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 with a color depth of 32-bit recommended (minimum 16-bit).

Forgotten, Damaged, or Uncharged Chromebooks

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their Chromebook is well-maintained and brought to school fully charged each day. The CLS Middle/High School Office will have a limited number of Chromebooks and chargers available for rent at $5 per day when student Chromebooks or chargers are left at home or are unusable due to damage or a dead battery.  Students will have access to the temporary replacement Chromebook for a maximum of 3 weeks.  Parents will be notified and billed through their Smart Tuition accounts for the rental fee.  If a student is unable to locate or repair their Chromebook within this time frame, the family will be required to purchase a replacement.  CLS has a list of vendors and repair shops in the area on the Resource Board of MyCLS.  

Inspection by School Officials

Every student Chromebook will be enrolled in the CLS GAFE portal and regularly monitored for safe and appropriate use by school software and staff.  The student's Chromebook and all files are subject to monitoring and inspection by school staff when deemed necessary.  This includes providing access to all messages sent or received through any internet service provider.

Loss of Privileges and Vandalism

If any school policies or responsibilities are not adhered to, including the CLS Internet Usage Policy, the student’s device privileges and internet access may be suspended until it is deemed appropriate for reinstatement.  Acts of vandalism may also result in the loss of privileges. Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user, the Internet, or other networks that are connected to the Internet. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading or creation of computer viruses, attempts at gaining unauthorized access, or changing online materials without permission.  Consequences and disciplinary action will be at the discretion of the school administration in collaboration with classroom teachers.

Cell Phones and Other Personal Devices

Students who bring personal devices to school for use, both on and off the school's wired and wireless networks, are expected to follow the same internet usage policies detailed in this document.  While classroom teachers have the authority to determine individual cell phone policies, most teachers ask students to use a "Cell Hotel," where cell phones are silenced and placed in a designated location to prevent distractions while learning.

Statement of Acknowledgement

As the parent or guardian of the students enrolled at Christian Life School, I have read and agree to the Internet Use Agreement. I understand that this access is designed for educational purposes. However, I also recognize it is impossible for CLS to restrict access to all controversial materials, and I would not hold them responsible for material acquired on the network. Further, I accept full responsibility for supervision if and when my child’s use is not in a school setting.