The address for this web page is: fishcaro.crosswinds.net/acceptable_use_policy.htm
MISS HALL'S SCHOOL
INTERNET, EMAIL, and NETWORK
ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Internet access is available to all members of the MHS community via a T1 line. Individual email and network accounts are available
via First Class and the MHS Library server. Internet and network use at MHS are privileges and entail certain expectations
and responsibilities. Failure to observe the following guidelines may result in loss of Internet privileges and possible
disciplinary measures.
PRIMARY USE: The primary use of the Internet and the Network is for academic work. Although this may extend
beyond classroom assignments, actual school work has priority. Be respectful of the needs of others in the use of this
valuable resource.
APPROPRIATE AND SAFE USE: The Internet is a public forum and you should conduct yourself appropriately. There is
no such thing as being totally anonymous on the Internet. While using the Miss Hall's connection, you are a representative
of MHS. It is not permissible to post harassing messages or to pretend to be someone else while on line. You are expected
to employ non-offensive language and images in your communications. For your safety and the safety of the MHS
community, do not give out personal information about yourself or other members of the MHS community over chat lines
or other systems. We recommend that you not give out credit card numbers over the School Internet connection. Miss Hall's
School assumes no legal or fiscal responsibility for student activity conducted on the School's Internet connection.
INAPPROPRIATE SITES: The Internet is largely unregulated and not all of the information it carries is suitable
in a school setting. Miss Hall's does not condone accessing or the use of inappropriate information on the Internet.
Without deliberate intent, it is possible to encounter places on the Internet which contain items that are inaccurate,
illegal, pornographic, or otherwise offensive. Sites containing sexually explicit language or pictures, or otherwise
obscene materials, should not be accessed, displayed, collected, or distributed using the MHS Internet connection.
It is your responsibility not to pursue inappropriate information. If you feel there is a problem or that you are not
comfortable with the information someone is presenting to you, please discuss the situation with a teacher or administrator
immediately.
PLAGIARISM: Be very careful that you do not commit plagiarism when using information you find on the
Internet. You must give credit to the author, just as you would with a work you found in print. You must cite the
electronic source of information. (See the MHS Style Manual for the proper format and the Student-Parent Handbook for a
description of the School's policy on Academic Honesty.) Confer with your teacher if you have specific questions.
EMAIL: See Appropriate and Safe Use above for guidelines concerning responsible email behavior.
These guidelines apply whether you use your misshalls.org account or an online email provider. You are
responsible for all material sent from your email address. Anonymous and pseudonymous messages are prohibited.
PASSWORDS and ACCOUNT INFORMATION: Do not share your account numbers or passwords with others. Do not access
the accounts of others. If another user inadvertently leaves a computer on without properly logging off, log off for
that person before accessing the Internet or any School server.
EXCESSIVE USE: Students whose use of the Internet appears to be excessive may be asked to reduce their online
time, particularly if it seems to be jeopardizing their academics or other areas of their school life.
UNAUTHORIZED SOFTWARE AND DOWNLOADS: The School's computers are configured in such a way as to support the
academic program. MHS is committed to using only legal software. With this in mind, please do not add applications
or download any programs to any School-owned desktop without the permission of the Director of Technology.
PRIVACY POLICY: In using the School's email and network systems, students are ensured a reasonable
expectation of privacy. Neither private nor school-related communications will be randomly monitored or accessed.
Nevertheless, given the nature of electronic documents, the School cannot guarantee that absolute privacy is ensured;
therefore, students should be thoughtful about what they transmit electronically both within and beyond the School
and recognize that during routine system maintenance, the School's Systems Administrator may need to review account
activity. Such a review may include checking printing queues or identifying the location of excessive file downloads
that may be overloading the system. Should the Systems Administrator find it necessary in the normal course of
system maintenance to open a specific email account or personal directory, every attempt would be made to involve
the student in the process. In the event that a student is suspected of violating the School's Acceptable Use Policy
or commonwealth or federal laws, the Head of School will determine the appropriate course of action.
NOTA BENE: Because the Internet and other electronic systems are ever changing, we realize that these policies
cannot be all encompassing and timeless. Over the course of any year, the School reserves the right to issue
further guidelines and updates (see below) for the use of computers and the Internet.
Each girl at Miss Hall's School must sign the following agreement before she is allowed to use the computer facilities at MHS:
I have read and understand the Miss Hall's Internet, Email, and Network Acceptable Use Policy. I understand that
failure to observe the above guidelines may result in loss of Internet privileges and possible disciplinary measures.