Mater Dei Catholic High School allows for and provides students with a wide range of information technology for educational purposes, including but not limited to the network, lab computers, peripheral devices, and printers. The use of these, any other technologies, and personal electronic devices, including cellular data, is a privilege, not a right, and students are responsible for using them legally, appropriately, responsibly, and kindly (LARK).  The school sets terms and conditions upon technology use, and students should have no expectation of privacy or anonymity while using equipment or software provided or established by the school.

Use of information technology is governed by the same honor code that applies to all other aspects of life within the Mater Dei Catholic High School community.  Honesty, integrity, respect for others’ privacy, and compliance with the behavioral expectations set forth in this handbook are expected at all times.

• Remember that there is no privacy online.  Do not send things that you would not be happy to see posted in the hallway. Things posted online stay there in archives—at Mater Dei Catholic High School and in the outside world—even after you think they have been deleted.  Do not post anything that you would not want future college administrators or employers to see. Mater Dei Catholic High School cannot protect students from all inappropriate or illegal materials.  If you are sent anything inappropriate, offensive, or illegal, it is your responsibility to report it to a teacher or administrator.
• When using sites that may be viewed by people outside the Mater Dei Catholic High School community, such as Facebook/Instagram/Twitter, avoid communicating your full name, age, phone number, or other personal information and do not provide such information about other people.  A non-Mater Dei Catholic High School email address is recommended for all non-school use.
• Talk to your parents or guardians before agreeing to meet in person with someone you met online.

The following apply to all students at all times.  In the classroom, personal computing and other electronic devices may be used as permitted by the instructor:

Keep your passwords private.  Maintain and safeguard password-protected access to both personal and confidential Mater Dei Catholic High School files and folders and all electronic resources provided by the school.

Always obtain permission from those being photographed or recorded before taking their photographs, before recording them, or before posting or transmitting their pictures or recordings. Leave other people’s files and personal electronic devices alone.  Removing, examining, copying, altering, or forging the files of another is no different from stealing, reading a personal letter, or destroying someone’s personal property.  Likewise, using another’s phone, computer, or device without permission is unacceptable.

Use your real identity when using any Mater Dei Catholic High School online resource.  Never use another person’s account or password.

• Be respectful of electronic equipment; take care to ensure that it is not damaged, stolen, or misused.
• Support computer and network security by not interfering with the operation of any computer or network or bypassing restrictions regarding technology use.
• Use school internet bandwidth wisely.  Excessive use hurts everyone by slowing down the network.  The use of bandwidth for non-academic purposes is discouraged.

• Ensure that ownership rights and license agreements are acquired and updated for all of your software and digital media.
• Obtain the owner’s permission before transmitting copyright protected materials.  Any material protected by trade secret or any other proprietary information should not be posted or transmitted.  When in doubt, assume that all digital material is copyrighted.
• Obtain permission from school administration before copying or reposting material from the Mater Dei Catholic High School intranet or from the school’s official website www.materdeicatholic.org
• Obtain permission from school administration before creating a link to the Mater Dei Catholic High School intranet or to the school’s official website to an external site.    
• Obtain permission from the author before copying or reposting messages or emails.
• If you intend to create an online presence for a school-related organization, you must obtain permission from the school administration before you publish.
• Obtain permission from the school administration before using the school’s logo, mascot, or photographs in any publication, electronic or otherwise.

• Each student is responsible for appropriate online behavior, both on and off campus, any time the student represents him/herself as a member of the Mater Dei Catholic High School community, either as an individual or as a member of a school club or organization.
• Follow the Mater Dei Catholic High School honor code at all times.
• Appropriate language, manners, and ethics are required. Ask yourself, “Will my actions reflect well on me?” and “Will my actions reflect well on the Mater Dei Catholic High School community?”
• Communicate only in ways that are kind and respectful. Inappropriate, unkind, offensive online behavior is not acceptable and may lead to disciplinary action.
• The posting or transmitting of any inappropriate or offensive words, images, or videos is prohibited.
• The posting or transmitting of false, harmful, or defamatory information is prohibited.
• Engaging in commercial activities while using Mater Dei Catholic High School’s technology is not permitted.  Gambling, political lobbying, and the sending of advertisements, spam, chain letters, or other mass mailings are also prohibited. Requests for potential exceptions to this rule should be proposed in advance for consideration by school administration.

• Any and all illegal purposes;
• Any and all obscene or pornographic purposes, including, but not limited to, retrieving or viewing sexually          explicit material;
• Any and all discriminatory purposes, including harassment and bullying of individuals based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability, among others;
• Any and all purposes that would violate state, federal or international law, including:

• • Copyright laws;
  • Cyberbullying laws; and
  • Sexting laws.
• Any use of profanity, obscenity, or language that is offensive or threatening;
• Reposting or forwarding personal communications without the author's prior consent;
• Reposting or forwarding of junk mail, chain letters, or inappropriate or offensive jokes;
• Destruction, alteration, disfigurement or unauthorized access of hardware, software, or firmware;
• Obtaining financial gain or transacting any business or commercial activities;
• Plagiarizing (claiming another person's writings as your own);
• Political advocacy;
• Disrupting the use of others to any process, program or tool, including downloading or otherwise spreading computer viruses;
• Engaging in hacking of any kind, including, but not limited to, the illegal or unauthorized access;
• Allowing others to use school-issued hardware/software without authorization, including students whose access privileges have been suspended or revoked;
• Soliciting or distributing information with the intent to incite violence, cause personal harm, damage a person’s character, or to harass another individual.

• Mater Dei Catholic High School makes no guarantee of any kind to provide information technology. The school is not responsible for damages suffered by users, including loss of data, delays, or other problems resulting from use of its technology. Use of any information obtained via such technology is at the user’s risk; its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
• Mater Dei Catholic High School reserves the right to access school email and student accounts for any reason at any time.
• Mater Dei Catholic High School may delete anything at any time from a school forum or website and may restrict students’ use of school technology.
• Any information contained on any Mater Dei Catholic High School computer’s hard drive or information storage solutions that were purchased by Mater Dei Catholic High School are considered property of Mater Dei Catholic High School.

Any inappropriate use of technology or behavior that does not follow the above rules may result in disciplinary action.  Students may lose their access to the school’s information resources as well as be subject to standard disciplinary procedures.  Additionally, students may be billed if hardware and/or software needs to be repaired, restored, or replaced.  

Mater Dei Catholic High School will investigate incidents involving violations and may involve and will cooperate with law enforcement if a criminal violation is suspected.

Abuse and/or questionable behavior should be reported to a teacher or dean.   Reports can be made electronically by sending an email to techabuse@materdeicatholic.org.  Messages sent to this email address are forwarded by the Information Technology Department to the Dean of School.

The Equipment subject to this Agreement ("Contract") includes the laptop, computer accessories, and related software in the following list:

• One (1) Lenovo Yoga S1 or Yoga 260 or Microsoft Surface Pro 4
• One (1) AC Adapter (with power cord)
• One (1) Stylus
• One (1) Outer Shell Cover/Case (Microsoft Surface Pro 4 only)
• One (1) Detachable Keyboard Cover (Microsoft Surface Pro 4 only)

Mater Dei Catholic High School will provide loaner laptops ONLY if the student-owned laptop is damaged and is in the process of being replaced or repaired.  In the event that a loaner laptop is issued to a student, the student will have 2 weeks to utilize the loaner laptop. If the student needs more time, a written request will have to be submitted by the Parent/Guardian to IT.  Students who forget their laptops on exam days will need written approval from their teachers before the exam begins. If a loaner laptop is issued for an exam, it MUST be returned at the end of the day. Failure to do so will result in disciplinary action. 

At the time of the loaner laptop checkout, the student will be required to fill out a "Loaner Laptop Checkout Form". If the student who checked out a loaner laptop, damages or loses the loaner laptop, the student will be subject to fees upon review of the damage. (Cost of hardware and labor)

Mater Dei Catholic High School shall be deemed to have retained title to the equipment at all times, unless the school transfers the title.  The student shall hold no security or ownership interest in the equipment.  Likewise, the student shall hold no security or ownership interest neither in the licenses to the installed software included with the equipment nor in the licenses to any other software that the school may from time to time install on the laptop computer used by the Student. 

The student shall return all equipment itemized above in good operating condition to the Mater Dei Digital Lounge HelpDesk IT Technician of the school if the student is not enrolled in the current school year (unless the school transfers the title).  The school may require the student to return the equipment at any time and for any reason.

The equipment must be on the school’s premises during each of the student’s normal school days. During the school’s normal business hours or after school, when the student is not in the immediate presence of the equipment, the equipment must be secured in a locked locker or other secure, approved location.

The primary use of the equipment by the student is for the student’s educational programs.  The student may use the equipment for other purposes only to the extent that such uses do not interfere with these primary uses.  The student shall abide by the school’s Responsible Use Policies.  

The student shall not make copies of software licensed to the school. The student is responsible for compliance with the license terms of any licensed software, and the student agrees to hold the school harmless for any violations of such license terms.

The student may store documents or other files on the equipment, and the student is responsible for making back-up copies of such documents or other files.  In the event of loss of such documents or other files, the school’s responsibility is limited to reloading the school’s standard software suite on the equipment.  It is the responsibility of the student to save school-related files to Microsoft OneDrive.  For other personal files (such as music files, pictures, or videos), it is the responsibility of the student to save such files to Google Drive, iCloud, and/or DropBox, and purchase additional storage capacity as needed.

Mater Dei Catholic High School has installed all the required academic software on your laptop.  This software is not to be removed/altered/modified, which includes the operating system (Windows OS) and the school administrative account (admin account).  If additional pieces of software are needed, please visit the Mater Dei Crusader Digital Lounge Help Desk, and a technician will assist you.  Please note that the Mater Dei Crusader Digital Lounge Help Desk may not be able install the software due to known conflicts, issues, or the software requires a higher level of approval from the school's administration and/or your parents/guardians. 

The equipment may only be used in a careful and proper manner. 
The student shall keep the equipment in good operating condition, allowing for reasonable wear and tear. 
The student shall immediately notify the school’s Mater Dei Digital Lounge HelpDesk IT Technician if the equipment is not in good operating condition or is in need of repair. 
The school maintains an insurance contract with Absolute DDS/Microsoft covering the equipment. 

The student shall make the equipment available to the school’s Mater Dei Digital Lounge HelpDesk IT Technician as necessary for purposes of inspection, maintenance, repair, upgrading, and/or software installation during the school’s normal business hours.

The student assumes all risks of loss of the equipment and agrees to return it to the school in the condition received from the school, with the exception of normal wear and tear.