Support & Policies

Acceptable Use of Computer and Network Services Policy

Kennedy Catholic High School requires computer use and provides computer network services to its on-campus community (administration, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers) to support the school’s mission. Computer network services are individual network accounts, which provide email, local area network, and Internet access. Kennedy Catholic, in accordance with the Goals and Criteria of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department, believes that these tools and services, when used in “an atmosphere of wise freedom,” significantly enrich and transform teaching and learning experiences at Kennedy Catholic, and further “deepen respect for intellectual values.”

Kennedy Catholic High School recognizes that access to these diverse electronic tools and resources comes with occasional risks that are inconsistent with the values and educational goals of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department. To promote and protect these values and goals, Kennedy Catholic actively limits access to network services, resources, and uses that are inappropriate for the school’s educational purposes. These limits will be applied and monitored across the Kennedy Catholic on-campus community as the school deems appropriate and necessary. These include, but

are not restricted to, network level software/hardware filtering, network monitoring, and classroom observation.

Integral to the Kennedy Catholic curriculum is the responsible use of these electronic resources by all members of the community. Since computer use is required and network services are provided by the school for its educational mission, Kennedy Catholic will take swift and appropriate disciplinary actions for any violations of the school’s Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct

All users of computer/laptops and network resources at Kennedy Catholic must always act in accordance with the Goals and Criteria of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department. Users must always make a conscious effort to be of service to others and to the community, and always agree to follow these basic rules in their use of these electronic resources: Users must not harm themselves, others, or the school; must not damage, steal, or plagiarize intellectual property; must not allow other people or their property to be harmed.

This Kennedy Catholic Code of Conduct applies to all members of the Kennedy Catholic on-campus community (administration, faculty, staff, students, and volunteers) in their use of network services and/or affiliated laptop/computers (student laptops, school owned or leased computers). Unacceptable use will result in disciplinary action. Some examples of unacceptable use are:

• Illegal activity, including violation of copyright, other contracts or plagiarism

• Harassing, intimidating, or threatening others

• Financial or commercial gain without the approval of the school administration

• Intentionally degrading or disrupting network performance

• Attempting to access unauthorized resources

• Invading the privacy of individuals

• Providing information that places the user, other community members, or the school itself in possible harm

• Using the account of another user

• Using a proxy to access filtered sites

• Vandalism: Any attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or student will result in the loss of computer services and disciplinary action.

Kennedy Catholic network services are a shared resource. They are the property of the school, and as such, will be subject to on-going monitoring to ensure their integrity is in compliance with the Goals and Criteria of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department as well as in compliance with Kennedy Catholic policies, rules, and state and federal laws. All software installed by Kennedy Catholic on its affiliated computers (student computers, school owned or leased computers) is appropriately licensed by the school. Users agree that other software installed by individual users on affiliated laptops is appropriately licensed by the user for that installation. Kennedy Catholic reserves the right to remove any software from affiliated laptops that conflicts with the school’s educational mission. Finally, when a student upgrades to a new Kennedy Catholic laptop, or leaves the school, all school licensed software must be removed from the formerly affiliated laptop.

If there are any questions, please call the Director of Educational Technology at 206.957.9732.

User Agreement

Kennedy Catholic network services are connected to other networks, such as the Internet. In accordance with the Goals and Criteria of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department, Kennedy Catholic permits its staff, students, faculty, and others collaborating with the school access to

these network services.

Prior to receiving an account, an individual must read, understand, and consent to the following conditions. Kennedy Catholic is conscious of security concerns and attempts to make the network services reasonably secure. However:

1. Kennedy Catholic network services and its access to the Internet may contain information or materials which may be offensive or unsuitable for minors and adults. While Kennedy Catholic attempts to control and monitor electronic resources, the undersigned agrees to discharge and hold harmless the school, its officers, trustees and employees from all claims, liabilities, demands, causes of actions, costs, expenses or obligations of any kind, known or unknown, arising out of or in any way relating to his or her own or his or her child’s access to the Kennedy Catholic network services.

2. The undersigned acknowledges that the Goals and Criteria of the Seattle Archdiocese Catholic Schools Department applies to the use of Kennedy Catholic network services, and that any usage of these networks in violation of these goals or the Kennedy Catholic policy or procedures regarding usage of networks will be subject to potential loss of the ability to use this educational tool, and other disciplinary actions as deemed necessary.

3. The Internet and other networks accessed through Kennedy Catholic network services are open systems. This means that another individual within or outside the Kennedy Catholic community might access the files of a Kennedy Catholic user without the user’s prior knowledge or consent. Therefore, Kennedy Catholic’s advice to all network service users is, “Don’t put anything in writing that you wouldn’t want other people to read.”

4. As it is impossible to guarantee complete security, Kennedy Catholic accepts no responsibility for any consequences of unauthorized entry, even if such entry could have been prevented by procedures known to Kennedy Catholic, but not adopted.

5. Kennedy Catholic will make reasonable efforts to protect the electronic files of every account holder. However, an account holder’s files may be reviewed, collected and or used by Kennedy Catholic:

a. as required by law

b. as part of system maintenance activities

c. when there is reason to believe an account is being used for improper or illegal use

d. with the permission of the account holder.

6. Kennedy Catholic recognizes that it is unable, and not responsible, to control or monitor use of electronic resources by members of the school community off school property that are not connected to the Kennedy Catholic system, even if that use happens through an affiliated laptop. However, use of off-campus electronic resources by a member of the Kennedy Catholic community to defame or denigrate another member of the Kennedy Catholic community, or the school itself, will not be tolerated. Other inappropriate use includes harassment, use of school name, remarks directed to or about teachers, offensive communications and safety threats. When the school becomes aware of such off-campus abuse, it will be investigated and actions will be taken.