Technology Policies

Overview

Valorous Academy recognizes the important role technology plays in modern life and education. We also recognize that technology can create distractions, privacy concerns, and disruptions in a school setting. For this reason, electronic devices may be used for academic purposes only and at the discretion of the teacher or school administration.

Parents who need to reach a student during the school day should contact the teacher or the school office. This helps minimize distractions and protects instructional time. School staff will deliver important messages to students and will allow students to call a parent from the school office when necessary.

Cell Phones

Valorous Academy recommends that students leave cell phones at home. If a student brings a cell phone to school, the phone must be turned completely off at the beginning of the school day and remain off until dismissal, unless otherwise permitted by school staff.

High school students may use cell phones during lunch, provided the phone is used appropriately, maturely, and in keeping with school expectations. This privilege may be limited or revoked if a student does not use the phone responsibly.

Students may not use cell phones during class, transitions, restroom breaks, chapel, assemblies, extracurricular activities, or other school activities unless specifically permitted by a teacher, coach, or staff member.

If a student has a cell phone out at an inappropriate time, or if a cell phone is used inappropriately, the student may be subject to disciplinary action. The phone may be confiscated and held in the school office. A parent or guardian may be required to collect the phone on behalf of the student.

Laptops and Tablets 

High school, middle school, and some upper elementary classes require a personal electronic device to be brought to class each day. These may be brought out only when the teacher requires or allows the use of the student’s laptop or tablet. Students are responsible for bringing a charger and headphones. These devices must only be used for the assigned academic purpose.

Students are responsible for bringing any required chargers, headphones, cases, or accessories needed for class. Dead batteries, forgotten chargers, or device issues do not excuse a student from completing assigned work.

Students may not use academic devices for games, videos, messaging, browsing, social media, shopping, or other non-academic purposes during school hours.

Smartwatches, Smart Glasses, and Wearable Devices

Smartwatches, smart glasses, and similar devices are not permitted to be worn or used during the school day. If a student brings a smartwatch, smart glasses, or similar device to school, it must be turned completely off and kept in the student’s backpack or locker.

Wearable devices that can send or receive messages, take pictures, record audio or video, access the internet, or create distractions are subject to the same expectations as cell phones and other electronic devices.

Photos, Videos, Recordings, and Privacy

Students may not take pictures or record video or audio during the school day without permission from a teacher or staff member.

Students may not take pictures, videos, or audio recordings of students, staff members, volunteers, guests, or school activities without permission from the teacher or staff member supervising the activity.

Students are strictly prohibited from taking pictures, videos, or audio recordings in bathrooms, changing areas, or any other space where there is an expectation of privacy.

Students may not text, post, share, upload, distribute, or otherwise publish images, videos, or audio recordings of any member of the school community without permission. This includes sharing through text messages, social media, group chats, email, cloud storage, or other digital platforms.

Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action and may require parent involvement.

Responsibility for Personal Devices

All personal electronic devices and accessories are brought to school at the student’s own risk. Valorous Academy is not responsible for broken, lost, damaged, or stolen devices, chargers, headphones, cases, or accessories. The school is also not responsible for dead batteries, lack of internet access, device malfunction, or other technology-related issues involving personal devices.

Administration reserves the right to determine whether a device or use of technology is appropriate in the school setting.

Responsibility for School Devices

Valorous Academy may allow students to borrow a school-owned device when a device is needed for academic purposes and a school device is available. Borrowing a school device is a privilege and is subject to teacher or administrative approval and device availability.

School devices may only be used for the assigned academic purpose and must be used according to the teacher’s instructions. Students may not use school devices for games, videos, messaging, social media, personal browsing, shopping, or other non-academic purposes.

Students are expected to handle school devices carefully and responsibly. Students may not change device settings, download apps or programs, remove protective cases, access another student’s account, or attempt to bypass school filters, restrictions, or supervision.

School devices must be returned when requested and in the same condition in which they were provided. If a device is damaged, lost, or not returned, the student’s family may be responsible for repair or replacement costs.

The school reserves the right to inspect, monitor, or review the use of any school-owned device at any time. Students should not expect privacy when using school-owned technology.