Computer Use

Students are provided access to computers and the internet to assist them in researching assignments and using software programs that enable them to demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways at the discretion of the teacher.  Citizenship at our school extends to the digital world. Students are expected to adhere to the basic guidelines of citizenship when they are using electronic resources such as computers, the internet, CBE networks, digital photography or video equipment and also their personal devices. Each student will complete a Digital citizenship course at the beginning of each year to discuss appropriate use of electronic resources and digital citizenship.

In alignment with our school expectations for behaviour, students will:

Respect yourself by

• keeping your personal information such as, but not limited to, your name, gender, age and passwords private. 
• representing yourself with appropriate language and images at all times
• not visiting inappropriate sites or trying to bypass our filters to view inappropriate material

Respect others by

• maintaining the privacy of other people’s information secure. 
• referencing all sources, images or information properly
• presenting opinions, photographs or videos of others in a positive and respectful manner

Respect our place by

• not engaging in activities that willingly waste electronic resources or impede other’s access to them
• using and returning electronic resources in a way that leaves them ready for the next user

Posting images, opinions or activities on sites such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram should not be done during school hours or using school electronic resources. Failure to follow these guidelines so may result in a loss of privileges. 

Responsible / Respectable Use of Personal Electronic Devices

We recognize that cell phones are important to students and that parents often make use of them to communicate with their child. However, irresponsible use of cell phones can cause disruptions during instructional time and, due to camera and video phones, have the potential to invade the privacy of students and staff. As such, we have attempted to develop a policy which takes this into consideration:

• Cell phones are not to be used for personal communication or entertainment (phone, text, internet, photos, videos) during instructional time - regardless of the location (library, classroom, computer lab, washrooms, locker rooms, field trips, etc.).
• All cell phones and other personal electronic devices are not permitted in the classroom during instructional time. All electronic devices should be locked in lockers or be put away in backpacks during this time unless permission is given by the supervising teacher.
• Responsible cell phone use is allowed before school, at lunch, and after school.
• Cell phones or other personal electronic devices (other than calculators) are not permitted as calculators on assessments.

Students who do not follow our cell phone guidelines and repeatedly use their phone in inappropriate manners or at inappropriate times may find themselves in these escalating levels of discipline:

• Request to turn cell phone off and put phone away in students locker or backpack
• Confiscation by teacher to be returned by teacher at the end of the day
• Confiscation by teacher and submission to the office and returned by admin at the end of the day
• Cell phone kept in the office until picked up by a parent or guardian
• Daily submission of cell phone upon entering HDC

We respectfully request that, should parents need to contact their child, we ask that they contact the office and leave a message. The office will get the message to the student without interrupting instructional time. Should students need to contact their parents at any time during the day, they can arrange to do so through the office as well.