Expectations for Use of Electronic Devices

Parents are the owners of their child’s technology and are responsible for monitoring use.

Students are expected to keep their mobile devices in their locker during class time.

Washrooms and locker rooms are no-phone zones. Students may not bring their devices into washrooms or change rooms.

Vanier is an ‘Away for the Day’ School. This means that students do not carry phones with them to classes. They should be silenced and left secured in lockers during class time. These devices may be used during the lunch period.

Teachers may determine if students will access personal technology during class time. In these instances, the teacher will bring the student to their locker to retrieve their device and will bring them back to their locker, before the end of the period, to return the device. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to bring their devices to class without the direct invitation and supervision of a teacher.

Students may not use cell phones/smart phones during a test or exam; students doing so risk receiving a mark of zero and will have their phones confiscated.

There are trip-specific criteria for bringing phones on off-campus events – students and parents must agree to specific policies for trips where phones are permitted.

Students must ensure their cell phone/smart phone is shut off during a lockdown situation.

Mobile Device Problems – Cell Phones are owned by Parents

1st Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the day.

2nd Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the day and the parents/guardians will be notified.

3rd Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. It will be stored securely in the school office. The Parent/Guardian must come and retrieve the mobile device from the school office.

4th Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. It will be stored securely in the school office. The Parent/Guardian will meet with the principal to discuss appropriate Calgary Board of Education progressive discipline measures.

Assistive Technologies

Assistive technologies will not be permitted for personal entertainment, recreation or communication during class time. Inappropriate use of assistive technologies may result in confiscation of the device or student suspension. A contract and a detailed document (Electronic Networkable Devices and Network User Agreement) will be sent home to provide you with all the information needed.

Students are often given the opportunity to demonstrate their learning using technology tools. In order to ensure proper use of assistive technologies and safety for all students, the below guidelines have been established:

Unauthorized acts include but are not limited to:

• Listening to music/videos during instruction
• Texting, messaging, and gaming during class
• Sharing of usernames and passwords
• Plagiarism of on-line content
• Use of someone else’s CBE account or access to network
• Recording, sending, sharing, posting, or displaying offensive messages or pictures
• Use of obscene language
• Cyberbullying, harassment, insults or attacks on another person or their reputation
• Trespassing in other peoples’ folders, work or files
• Intentional accessing, recording, posting, sending, sharing, or downloading of inappropriate material
• Assuming the identity of another person to gain information
• Viewing webpages through a proxy server (using any method of viewing a webpage which is blocked by the CBE.)
• Running an application/program from a memory stick/jump drive
• In any way moving, opening hardware or computer accessories
• Any attempt and/or threats to harm a person
• Downloading copyrighted material or unlicensed software
• Posting or publishing of personal information about oneself or others without the supervision and consent of a staff member
• Use of technology or the network to access sites / software not approved by staff
• Using technology during exams

Prohibited Sites/Apps include and are not limited to:

• Vulgar or lewd depictions of the human body
• Any adult content
• Violent acts
• On-line gambling
• Social networking sites (such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.)
• Sites that encourage the use of illicit or illegal substances
• Sites that advocate hatred or violence against an identifiable group
• Sites promoting criminal activity
• And many more, see the link below for the complete list

This is in coordination with CBE Admistrative Regulation 1062 Responsible Use of Electronic Information Resources.

Violation of the CBE and Georges P. Vanier Digital Policy

Our expectation is that our students will become educated and responsible digital citizens. If, however, students breach any of the above, each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis and may result in:

• Restriction or loss of technology privileges
• Restriction of use or confiscation of personal device
• School-based disciplinary consequences; and/ or
• Police intervention and/or legal action

We also expect students to demonstrate respectful and appropriate digital citizenship when they are not at school. We ask students to be respectful to others in all activities, in or out of school, online and in person.
If you need to contact your child during class time (even in the case of an emergency), please direct your call through our main office at 403-777-7460.

Away for the Day 

As many of you are aware we are an Away for the Day school, which means students will not have access to their digital devices during class time. Devices are to be in their lockers during class time unless previous arrangements have been made. If you need to contact your child(ren) during the day, please contact the main office and we will pass along the message or call them down to speak with you. 

We have spoken to all students about this during the first few days of school about this policy and the reasoning behind it. I encourage parents to visit the Away for the Day website to familiarize themselves with some of the research around mobile phone use and schools. 

We will be sharing some of this research with students throughout the year. 

If a student is caught using their technology inappropriately: 

• 1st Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the day. 
• 2nd Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. The device will be returned to the student at the end of the day. 
• 3rd Infraction: The teacher will send the student to the office to turn in their phone. It will be stored securely in the school office. Administration will contact parents to set up a support plan around further phone use.