Acceptable Usage Policy
General Approach
The aim of this Internet Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) is to ensure that pupils will benefit from the learning opportunities offered by the school’s internet resources in a safe and effective manner.
Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege. If the school AUP is not adhered to this privilege may be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions will be imposed.
When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected:
● To treat others with respect at all times.
● Not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
● Respect the right to privacy of all other members of the school community.
● Respect copyright and acknowledge creators when using online content and resources.
This Acceptable Use Policy applies to pupils who have access to and are users of the internet in St. Matthew’s NS. It also applies to members of staff, volunteers, parents, carers and others who access the internet in St. Matthew’s.
St. Matthew’s implements the following strategies on promoting safer use of the internet:
● Pupils will be provided with education in the area of internet safety as part of our implementation of the SPHE curriculum.
● Teachers will be provided with continuing professional development opportunities in the area of internet safety.
● Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
● Pupils will seek permission before entering any Internet site, unless previously approved by a teacher.
● Filtering software will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
Resources that may be used to promote internet safety include:
● Internet Safety Awareness Videos
● Internet safety workshops
● Use of the ‘Kids’ section on the www.webwise.ie website or Digi ducks
The school will monitor the impact of the policy using:
● Supervision of internet activity
● Surveys and/or questionnaires of pupils.
● Surveys and/or questionnaires of pupils, parents, and teaching staff.
Should serious online safety incidents take place, the Principal should be informed. In turn the Gardaí or Tusla may be informed. The implementation of this Internet Acceptable Usage policy will be monitored by the Principal.
Content Filtering
- Filtering software will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material
- St. Matthew’s encourages use of child friendly search engines such as Kiddle or Kidrex
St. Matthew’s NS has chosen to implement the following level on content filtering on the Schools Broadband Network:
- Level 5: This level allows access to millions of websites including games and YouTube and allows access to personal websites category, and other similar types of websites, such as blogs but blocks access to websites belonging to the personal websites category and websites such as Facebook belonging to the Social Networking category.
Pupils taking steps to by-pass the content filter by using proxy sites or other means may be subject to disciplinary action, including written warnings, withdrawal of access privileges, detention and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.
Web Browsing and Downloading
- Pupils will not intentionally visit internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or otherwise objectionable materials.
- Pupils will report accidental accessing of inappropriate materials in the classroom to their teacher.
- Pupils and staff will not copy information from the internet without acknowledging the creator and referencing the source of the content.
- Pupils and staff will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons.
- Pupils will use the school’s internet connection only for educational activities.
- Pupils will not upload or download files without teacher permission
- Pupils will not download or view any material that is illegal, obscene, and defamatory or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
- Downloading by pupils of materials or images not relevant to their studies is not allowed.
Email and Messaging
- Email accounts for senior class pupils are created for the function of google classroom. Messaging options are disabled by administrators.
- Staff members are responsible for password protecting their school email accounts. Staff must ensure that their school email address is used for professional purposes only. Staff must not use school email addresses to set up personal/social media accounts.
Social Media
- Staff and pupils and parents and carers must not use social media and the internet in any way to harass, insult, abuse or defame pupils, their family members, staff, other members of the St. Matthew’s community
- Staff and pupils must not discuss personal information about pupils, staff and other members of the St. Matthew’s community on social media.
- Staff must not use school email addresses for setting up personal social media accounts or to communicate through such media.
- Staff and pupils must not engage in activities involving social media which might bring St. Matthew’s into disrepute.
- Staff and pupils must not represent personal views as those of St. Matthew’s on any social medium.
Digital Learning Platforms (including video conferencing)
In relation to Digital Learning Platforms, it is envisaged that pupils from Junior Infants to 2nd Class would use SeeSaw and pupils from 3rd to 6th Class will use Google Classroom. Staff will use Google Workspace and Aladdin.
- Students must only use their school email for accessing school digital learning platforms
- Only school devices should be used for the purposes of capturing and storing media on the school’s Google Drive
- All school-related media and data should be stored on the St Matthew’s Google Drive.
- The use of digital platforms should be used in line with considerations set out in the school’s data protection policy
- Each staff user of the platform will be provided with their own unique login credentials.
- Passwords for digital platforms and accounts should not be shared.
- Personal email addresses should not be used when creating accounts for pupils on school digital platforms.
Seesaw
Seesaw is used as a secure digital portfolio and learning platform to share students’ work, support learning, provide feedback, and engage families.
● Students will access Seesaw using school-provided or parent-approved accounts.
● Login credentials must not be shared.
● Students may post schoolwork (photos, videos, drawings, text) only.
● All posts are subject to teacher approval before being shared.
● Students must behave respectfully, avoiding inappropriate or personal content.
● Parents may view their child’s Seesaw journal where permitted.
● Parents should not post content on behalf of students without teacher approval.
● Seesaw complies with GDPR; personal data is protected and used only for educational purposes.
● Students and parents must follow safeguarding rules, including not sharing private information.
● Teachers will monitor activity. Misuse may result in restricted access or other consequences.
Personal Devices
Pupils are not allowed to bring personal internet-enabled devices into St. Matthew’s NS. This includes (but not restricted to) iPads, iPods, smart watches, tablets, laptops, cameras, etc.
Mobile phones:
St. Matthew’s supports the Parent’s Associations ‘Smart phone free voluntary code of practice’ and discourages the ownership of smartphones by pupils. When a pupil brings a mobile phone to school or smart watch with the intent to communicate with parents after school, the device must be switched off within the school grounds during the school day and for after school activities. The device must be handed into the teacher on arrival to school and stored in a box. It is handed back at the end of the day. Alternatively, smart watches must be set to ‘school’ mode and used only for time telling. Smart devices must not be used for any purpose on school premises, grounds of off sight school activities (such as extracurricular activities or school trips).
Children who need to contact home during school hours may do so through the school secretary. Parents can contact their child through the school secretary or through Seesaw messages.
Images and Video
- Pupils must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of others without their permission in the context of an educational lesson.
- Taking photos or videos on school grounds or when participating in school activities is only allowed with teacher permission and teacher supervision using school ipads or digital cameras.
- Written permission from parents will be obtained before photographs of pupils are published on the school website when pupils first enroll.
- Pupils must not share images, videos or other content online with the intention to harm another member of the school community regardless of whether this happens in school or outside.
- Sharing explicit images and in particular explicit images of pupils and/or minors is an unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved. Sharing explicit images of other pupils automatically incurs suspension as a sanction. Tusla and Gardaí will also be informed.
- Parents/Guardians or other visitors to the school should not upload images or videos featuring pupils or staff of St. Matthew’s to any social media platform. This includes images from in- school concerts, events etc. Parents/Guardians must not take, use, share, publish or distribute images of any member of the St. Matthew’s community without their expressed permission.
Cyberbullying
When using the internet pupils, parents and staff are expected to treat others with respect at all times.
Engaging in online activities with the intention to harm, harass, or embarrass another pupil or member of staff is an unacceptable and absolutely prohibited behaviour, with serious consequences and sanctions for those involved.
As per our Bí Cinealta Policy, bully behaviour is defined as ‘Targeted behaviour, online or offline that causes harm. The harm caused can be physical, social and/or emotional in nature. Bullying behaviour is repeated over time and involves an imbalance of power in relationships between two people or groups of people in society.’
A one-off instance of negative behaviour towards a student is not bullying behaviour. However, a single hurtful message posted on social media can be considered bullying behaviour as it may be visible to a wide audience and has a high likelihood of being shared multiple times and so becomes a repeated behaviour.
When cyberbullying occurs outside of school, the school plays a supportive role as per our Bí Cinealta Procedures. The policy outlines preventative supports for cyber bullying.
School Website
- Personal pupil information will not be published on the school website
- Class lists will not be published
- Pupils’ full names will not be published beside their photograph
- Digital photographs, video clips and audio clips will focus on groups and group activities rather than on individual pupils
- Permission to publish a student’s work will be sought from pupils/ parents/ guardians on entrance to the school. This permission may be withdrawn at any time.
Guidelines/Rules for participation in Google Meet Meetings hosted by St. Matthew’s NS
1. Joining the Meet
● Use your school Google account to access the meeting.
● Join the Meet a few minutes early to ensure audio, camera, and internet are working.
● Use your full name when joining so the teacher can identify you.
2. Environment and Equipment
● Join from a quiet, distraction-free space where possible.
● Ensure your device is charged or plugged in.
● Keep your camera on unless the teacher instructs otherwise.
● Have headphones available to minimise background noise.
3. Behaviour and Participation
● Punctuality is important.
● Use the mute button when you are not speaking.
● Use the chat feature only for school-related questions.
● Be respectful—no inappropriate language, gestures, or behaviour.
4. Privacy and Safety
● It is not appropriate to record the meeting, take screenshots, or share any part of the session.
● Do not share the meeting link with anyone.
● Keep your background appropriate (virtual or real).
● Parents may support young children but should avoid being on camera or participating unless invited.
5. Attendance and Engagement
● Attendance on Google Meet is treated the same as in-class learning.
● Students are expected to engage fully, respond when called on, and complete tasks.
6. Technical Issues
● If you get disconnected, rejoin immediately using the same link.
● If technical problems continue, inform the teacher via email or Google Classroom as soon as possible.
Photos, screenshots or recordings of any kind must not be taken of the screen during the call. The code of behaviour still applies and must be adhered to. Any breaking of rules will result in sanctions as outlined in our code of behaviour and affect the future of these sessions being held for all.