Highlights from the
Acceptable Use Policy for Elementary Students

SEE ALSO:  Entire AUP | Middle/High School Highlights

Limited Purpose of Educational Mission

PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS provides access to its computer system, including access to the Internet, as a privilege, and not as a right, to its students and staff.  PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS has a limited educational purpose which includes the use of its system for classroom activities, professional or career development, and limited high-quality, self-discovery activities.  Users are expected to use Internet access through the computer system to advance educational and personal goals consistent with the mission of PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS and its policies. 

Uses which may be acceptable on a user’s private personal account on another system may not be acceptable on this limited purpose system which PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS provides.

Use our computers for educational purposes only.

• Follow your teacher’s instructions, using only the web sites or programs he or she has given you permission to use at that time.

• Educational games may be played with your teacher’s permission

• Students are not permitted to enter computer labs, server rooms, wiring closets, or classrooms without the permission of a teacher or other PCS employee.
   

• Students may only use the computers under the supervision of a PCS employee.

   

• Our Internet computers keep track of everything we do.  There are no secrets from the computer.  It knows exactly what you and I typed, when we typed it, and at what computer we were sitting.   The computer looks at everything you see before you see it.  Sometimes, the computer decides it is not something we should have in our classrooms, and the computer will stop it.  We call this "blocking" or “filtering.”  You are not allowed to try to access sites that are blocked.
   

• We have tried to make the Internet safe for students. You are expected to follow your teacher’s directions at all times. Searching for just anything (It’s called “free surfing.”) without your teacher’s guidance is not permitted at any time.
   

• Keep yourself safe while you are online. Never type your name, age, address, or telephone number, or other personal information into the computer without your teacher’s permission.  Not everyone in the world is nice, and the Internet is part of the bigger world outside your classroom. For this reason, students are not permitted to communicate with other Internet users unless the communication is approved and monitored by their teacher.  This includes all use of blogs, forums, chats, e-mail, and other forms of online communication during the school day.
   

• You may not send or receive email without your teacher’s permission. If you are permitted by your teacher to use email to communicate with someone, remember that you are representing yourself, your class, your school, and your family. Be polite, and always put your name on it.
   

• Our filtering software stops most of the bad things before you see them. If you do see anything on your computer that makes you feel uncomfortable, click the “home” button and immediately report the site to your teacher.  It is your responsibility not to try to find information, web sites, or pictures you shouldn't see.

Do not use the computer to cheat or to steal someone else’s work.

• Never copy work that you find on the computer, even if you can see and open it.

• Follow the rules your teacher gives you for using information and pictures that you find on the Internet.

Take proper care of all equipment.

• Do not damage the computer or any wires or cables connected to it by hitting, breaking, or writing on it.
   

• Keep your personal diskettes, CDs, DVDs, and jump drives (memory sticks, flash drives, etc.) at home. You may give our computers a virus.
   

• Never change the appearance of the screen by adjusting the controls or by moving or hiding icons, menu bars, or toolbars. This affects the ability of the person who follows you to use that station and is not permitted.
   

• Our computers have special software that prevents users from making changes to the computer and from getting to inappropriate sites on the Internet. The computers should not be used if this software is not working properly. If you think this software is not working, immediately report this to your teacher, and do not use that computer.

Breaking the rules of the AUP will get you in trouble,
and you may lose the privilege to use the computers!