Archmere Academy “One to One” Program and Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
To help our students get a head start in the competitive academic world, Archmere Academy has implemented a campuswide network of personal Mac laptops for every student and teacher, a network that will transform learning experiences, allowing students to become even more active and powerful participants in their own educations. The “one-to-one” laptop program provides our students with an opportunity to utilize the virtually unlimited resources and information available to the global internet community and to interpret the classroom experience in whole new ways while maintaining the strong academic and moral standards of our community. Archmere expects students to take advantage of the many positive aspects of this program and to use the laptop in a safe and respectful manner, as they continue to uphold the values inherent in an Archmere education: community, wisdom, reverence, respect, and zeal.
The Archmere Academy Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is intended to define the spirit and expectations of the responsible use of network resources in accordance with mission of the school. All rules regarding student behavior apply to the use of the laptops and Archmere Academy network resources. Students must understand—and agree to adhere to—the Archmere Academy AUP and to demonstrate this understanding prior to gaining access to a laptop or the network.
Students will work within defined boundaries for laptop use to ensure a positive and powerful experience for all. To ensure proper use of the laptop and network resources students may not:
1. Take possession of or use another’s laptop. Nor may students access another student’s or faculty member’s files or email at anytime. Students may not share passwords or accounts. A student who finds or sees a laptop left alone must take the laptop to the Tech Center or give it to a faculty member.
2. Use the laptop for unethical purposes, ones which are deemed contrary to or detrimental to the common good or which violate the Archmere Academy Code of Conduct. Nor may students use the laptop for illegal purposes. Should a crime be suspected the proper authorities will be notified.
3. Use the laptop to share academic work in a manner that violates the Academic Honesty Code.
4. Use the laptop to insult, harass, bully, discriminate, or denigrate another member of the Archmere Academy community.
5. Interfere with the proper functioning of the network or another’s laptop in anyway whatsoever.
6. Access, transmit, download, or share offensive material. This includes pornographic, lewd, violent, or hateful language or images.
Should a student violate these principles, he or she will meet with the Disciplinary Committee to discuss the incident and its consequences. A violation of these rules would constitute a violation of the Archmere Academy Student Code of Conduct. The Discipline Committee will determine the consequences for violations based on the language of the Student Code of Conduct and the severity of the violation. A minor violation would result in one or two points. A major violation will result in a minimum of one demerit and may result in suspension or dismissal from the school.
Technical Limitations
Students will be in possession of their laptops while enrolled at Archmere Academy. They may add programs and install software that Archmere considers acceptable. The laptop remains the property of Archmere Academy; therefore, there are certain technical aspects that may not be altered by the students for any reason. The following are examples of prohibited actions and will be considered a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy though Archmere reserves the right to add/remove actions from this list:
1. Creating accounts other than your own and which bears your name
2. Deleting the Archmere tech.admin account.
3. Creating or using of proxy servers
4. Changing the following System Preferences:
• Sharing ---> Computer Name
• Sharing ---> Remote Login
• Sharing ---> Remote Management
• Network Settings --> Archmere location (all settings)
• Security ---> FileVault
• Security ---> Firewall
• Print & Fax - do not delete the canonsecure printer.
5. Installing additional Operating Systems either via BootCamp or virtualization software (e.g. Parallels).
6. Installing any software that is in violation of the AUP or contradicts the values of Archmere Academy.
7. Removing any pre-installed (e.g. iMovie) or Archmere-installed software (e.g. Microsoft Word).
8. Attempting in any way to modify the hardware including adding additional RAM. This may void the AppleCare warranty.
9. Using file sharing or peer-to-peer software while in school or on its network.
10. Tethering your laptop to another device to access the web while at school.
All student computers can be accessed via Apple Remote Desktop. The purpose of this application is to enable teachers to share materials and screens during class. It will also be used on a limited basis to monitor use. An icon appears in the menu bar when the computer is being observed. This monitoring software can only be used while the computers are on campus.
Excessive gaming, streaming (e.g. Netflix), and the use of social media (e.g iMessage) is discouraged. If it is evident that a student’s classroom performance is hindered by these activities then the student’s counselor will work to create a plan to help the student re-prioritize school work over these technology distractions.
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Daily Use of the Laptops
Do I need my laptop every day? Yes. Though the laptop may not be used every period, it is the responsibility of the students to have their laptops with them at all times. Students will be limited in their participation of Archmere’s academic life without a laptop; therefore, it is a necessary tool to have each day.
Can I personalize the appearance of my laptop? No. Decals, stickers, etc. must not be placed on the laptops. The Personal Identity Sticker & Asset Tag must remain on the laptop.
Can I charge my laptop at school? Yes, but this will take time and charging stations will be limited to the library and Tech Center. The laptop should be fully charged prior to the beginning of school each day. Should a laptop need charging, students will use the properly designated charging stations on campus. This will only be permitted during free periods, and students must remain with the laptop while it is charging.
Do I have to use my laptop in class? The use of the laptop in the classroom is at the discretion of the teacher on a daily basis. The necessary elements of a high school class may sometimes prevent the use of laptops, and at other times it may be essential. Students may not use the laptop in class for any purpose other than that stated by the teacher at the time. Teachers will clearly define what students may be doing on their laptops during academic periods.
What do I do if my laptop does not function properly? Should a laptop stop functioning properly, it is the student’s responsibility to take the laptop to the Tech Center for service during a free period or lunch. Students should always back-up content on the laptop to protect against data lost – especially in the event of a needed re-imaging or replacement. On weekends students should email Mr. Campion (campion@archmereacademy.com) for help with their laptop.
Can I borrow another student’s laptop? No. The laptops are leased to individual students for individual use. Students who forget their laptops or do not charge them properly are responsible for those decisions. If a laptop is not functioning properly, the Tech Center will be able to loan another machine to the student for a temporary time. Students who loan their laptops to others will be found in violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and will face sanctions. It is imperative that students have their laptops each day. Students who do not have their laptops will face academic sanctions in classes (as determined by the teacher based on the necessity of the laptop for that lesson). Should a student forget a laptop more than three times in any one class, no matter the reason, a meeting with the Director of Student Life will be mandated. Students may not share passwords that are used with the laptops or with Archmere Email. This is also considered a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy.
What are the guidelines for downloading materials onto my laptop? The guidelines listed above define the limits. Students who wish to download programs on to the laptops for personal use should first check with the Tech Center to make sure the programs are safe. Students who are found to have materials that violate the Acceptable Use Policy on their laptops will meet with the Discipline Committee to examine the materials and may face sanctions. It is the role of the Disciplinary Committee to determine the sanctions for violations of this policy: violations of the Student Code of Conduct will be classified as “minor violations” or “major violations.”
Am I able to access social media, gaming, and other entertainment sites while at school? Students may access any sites that are not restricted by the school’s filter. Accessing social media and gaming sites are not considered a valid use of student’s time during the school day and therefore are blocked by the school’s filter. The primary purpose for the use of the laptops during the day must remain academic and for this reason these sites are deemed a distraction. It is the responsibility of the students to use their laptops in an ethical and respectful manner. The history of laptop use may be checked by Guidance or Discipline randomly or if a student’s behavior or performance falters. All policies of student conduct apply.
Where can I use my laptop while on campus? Students may use the laptops only in the properly designated areas. These include the Student Lounges, the Student Life Center (with the exception of fourth period), the Library, and the Quad Area. The use of laptops in the classroom is at the discretion of the teacher. No laptops may be used in the hallways of any building, nor may students operate the laptops while walking. Laptop usage is not permitted in the Student Life Center during fourth period, the lunch period. To best protect their laptops, it is highly recommended that students secure them in their lockers during the lunch period. During assemblies, teachers will secure laptops in the classrooms by locking classroom doors.
Where can I leave my laptop when I do not want to carry it around? Students must take responsibility for the laptop at all times. Laptops should be secured when students are not using them. Every student has a locker with a school-issued lock. Students are required to secure the laptop in their locker when it is not in use. Students who are participating in extra-curricular contests or activities must not leave laptops unattended. It is the responsibility of all coaches and moderators to ensure that participants have a secure option for their laptops and other belongings during these times, though it remains the responsibility of the student to secure the laptop while at a practice, game, or competition. During morning assemblies, it is the responsibility of teachers to secure the laptops in their classroom.
What do I do if my laptop is stolen or missing? Report a missing or stolen laptop immediately to the Director of Student Life or a faculty member. Faculty members will immediately report the incident to the Director of Student Life. Theft of personal belongings violates the faith and trust of the Archmere Academy community and will not be tolerated. In cases of theft Archmere Academy will notify the Delaware State Police to ensure that justice is best served and all students are treated equally. Students who hide laptops of others as a joke will be found in violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and will face sanctions determined by the Disciplinary Committee.
If I know someone is using a laptop for unethical or malicious purposes, what should I do? Students who witness this type of behaviors should approach the student who committed the act(s), or speak to a teacher, guidance counselor, or administrator. Students who let these types of behavior occur (bullying, harassment, theft, etc.) without taking proper action are accepting, condoning, and perpetuating the behavior, behavior which Archmere Academy does not tolerate. How we handle these situations defines who we are as a school. Our goal is to create a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for every student. We have a wonderful student body; one that we believe shares this goal.