The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) strives to achieve educational excellence, and to enhance the educational experience through the sharing of resources, access to information, innovation, communication and collaboration. Consequently, a Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting all sites has been designed, developed and installed. This network also allows access to the world wide network known as the Internet. This network will enhance the ability of our educators and students to meet the challenges of the future by extending education beyond the classroom.
It must be noted, however, that school boards do not have control over the information that is accessible on the other networks, nor can they erect barriers which completely block access to inappropriate information. Since rules governing information on these networks vary from country to country, network to network, and computer to computer, it is an impossible task to develop and enforce regulations which are global.
The benefits to educators and students far exceed any disadvantages of access. Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors, supported by the boards and their staff, are responsible for setting and conveying the standards of access that their child/ward should follow.
The network has been developed and designed to allow access to, and promote the use of, the vast information resources that are available both within our organization and on the Internet. This access can be obtained from any appropriately configured computer in the board. Students and staff are encouraged to seek out and utilize resources on the network that may be of benefit to their education or professional development. Staff and students of the DPCDSB and St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School are required at all times to abide by the rules of this document as well as the existing rules and regulations, such as the Student Code of Behaviour, when using network resources.
It should be understood that it is the policy of the board to make every reasonable effort to ensure that access to the negative aspects of the Internet are limited, and to that end, the following regulations have been developed.
REGULATIONS
The following activities are prohibited on the DPCDSB and St. Aloysius Gonzaga computer networks regardless of the method being employed to gain access to the network. Users are forbidden from:
- Engaging in illegal, unethical, or malicious acts;
- Intentionally sending files or messages containing programs designed to disrupt or infiltrate other systems (commonly known as viruses and packet sniffers);
- Accessing any resource without explicit authorization inside or outside of the board network (commonly known as hacking). This includes dropping to DOS without permission of the supervisor;
- Possessing, using or transmitting unauthorized material (i.e. copyright protected);
- Creating, possessing or distributing unlawful information on any computer system accessed through the DPCDSB and/or St. Aloysius Gonzaga networks. This includes pornographic, obscene or other unacceptable material;
- Sending threatening or otherwise offensive messages that include profanity, sexual, racial, religious or ethnic slurs or other abuse;
- Revealing of personal information contrary to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
- Using the network for commercial objectives.
Contravening any of the above regulations will be dealt with in the same manner as any other breach of board policy or code of behaviour.
CONDITIONS OF USE:
Access to the DPCDSB and St. Aloysius Gonzaga networks is at the user’s own risk and must be with the supervision St. Aloysius Gonzaga. DPCDSB make no warranties, whether expressed or implied, with respect to network services, and specifically assume no responsibilities for:
- the accuracy or quality of any advice or information obtained by or from any source accessed via the network;
- any costs, liability or damages caused by the use of the network;
- any consequences of service interruptions or changes in services. This includes loss of data resulting from delays, non-deliveries or mis-deliveries, even if these disruptions arise from circumstances under the control of the board or school. It should be noted that electronic communication via the DPCDSB and St. Aloysius Gonzaga networks is not guaranteed to be private. System administrators do have the ability to intercept electronic communications, and although communications are not regularly monitored, there is to be no reasonable expectation of privacy when using the network.
It is critical to the security of the DPCDSB and St. Aloysius Gonzaga networks that all users do their part to safeguard the security precautions in place. If any users should feel that they can identify a security problem on the network, they must notify a System Administrator. Users are prohibited from:
- demonstrating a security problem to other users;
- using another user’s account;
- sharing accounts and passwords.
In addition to the aforementioned items, access to the St. Aloysius Gonzaga Local Area Network (LAN) is subject to the following conditions:
- no food, candy, gum or drink are permitted in the labs at any time;
- no microfloppy diskettes are permitted for use in the labs at any time unless approved by the supervisor and scanned for viruses before being inserted in the computers;
- all printing is to be authorized by the supervising teacher;
- always demonstrate a respect for the rights of all other individuals using the lab.
Any violation of the above may mean the immediate withdrawal of access to the network (which could mean the loss of a related course credit) and appropriate action will be taken either legally or within the bounds of school board policies.
