Every student has signed an ICT agreement that states:

I will not:

1. Install any software without direct permission from the Coordinator of Information Services or School Administration,
2. Be involved with the physical tampering or vandalism of the computer system or network,
3. Reveal my user name or password to others, nor access the system via another’s user name and password,
4. Access, modify or delete files or data not belonging to them,
5. Use any other web based messaging services other than the school email system,
6. Use school email to communicate inappropriate or offensive material,
7. Use the Internet for purposes that are other than educational and relating directly to the subject area being taught,
8. Attempt to bypass system restrictions or security measures,
9. Use ICT resources to access, store or distribute any material that is defamatory, discriminatory, racist, offensive or illegal. This includes material which is protected by copyright,
10. Utilise software applications (including games and unauthorised music) via USB Drive or CD-ROM on a computer system without permission from the supervising teacher.

All students, by the signing of this agreement, recognises that accessing any unauthorised section or attempting to bypass system restrictions or security mechanisms of our computer system is illegal.

Consequences for Breaching the ICT agreement

The school always takes into account the nature of the offence and previous history of network infringements of that student.

As per our Responsible Behaviour Plan, consistent steps are applied for students repeatedly infringing our rules.

A typical response to repeated infringements would include immediate:

• 1st Offence - Warning + Loss of Network access for two weeks
• 2nd Offence - 3 Day Suspension
• 3rd Offence - 5 Day Suspension
• 4th Offence - 20 Day Suspension
• 5th Offence - Recommendation for Exclusion

It must be understood that the financial investment made by Aspley SHS for their ICT resources is enormous. The vandalism of a network affects all students and can cost large amounts of money to fix. Therefore the protection and integrity of our computer system against students and viruses is considered very serious.

Many behaviours do not warrant a warning as they constitute an illegal act. Therefore several behaviours will result in steps 1, 2 or 3 being skipped.

Inappropriate use of email for non-educational purposes

Students found misusing the EQ emailing system for non-educational purposes will lose their email privileges for two weeks. Any second offence will initiate the steps outlined on the previous page of this policy.

Specific Behaviours that will result in an immediate suspension from school:

Security Protection

1. Installation of software on our network to illegally copy network data
2. Allowing your password to be used by another student who then breaks the ICT agreement using that password. (Students are advised to report any possibility of their password being compromised. Failure to report would constitute a breach of security.)

Sexual and Verbal Harassment

1. Accessing of pornographic material on the internet.
2. The sending of defamatory, discriminatory, racist, offensive or illegal material via email.
3. The use of foul language on an email sent across our network. (Words that have been mispelt to avoid word-scan will not be tolerated.)

Any of the above infringements will result in a 3 or 5 day suspension.

The following behaviours could result in a 20 day suspension.

1. The intentional accessing of staff-only areas of our computer network.
2. The bullying, abuse or threatening of a staff member via email.

These behaviours are intentional. The level of knowledge and steps to make them occur are not accidental.