Acceptable Use Guidelines
Completion requirements
Acceptable Use Policy
Vista Virtual School Computer Network
The Vista Virtual School computer network is established for the educational and professional use of Vista Virtual School students and staff. The use of the network is a privilege and not a right. Vista Virtual School regulates access to and use of its network by principles consistent with its educational mission, including its rules and expectations.
Vista Virtual School network users are expected to conduct themselves appropriately on the network. The rules conform to the broader rules and expectations of Vista Virtual School. In general, users are expected and required to avoid actions that are illegal (such as libel, slander, vandalism, sexual harassment, theft, inappropriate access, and the like), or unkind (such as personal attacks, invasion of privacy, "flames", and the like). Users found in willful and/or persistent violation of these guidelines will have their network privileges revoked and may face further disciplinary action.
Illegal Actions
1. Slander and Libel
These terms are defined specifically in law. Slander is "oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation". Libel is "a false publication in writing, printing, or typewriting or in signs or pictures that maliciously damages a person's reputation or the act or an instance of presenting such a statement to the public". In effect, users must remember that material distributed through the Internet is public to a degree that no other school publication or utterance is. Any such remark may be seen by millions of people, and harmful and false statements will be viewed in that light.
2. Vandalism
In this case, vandalism refers to deliberate attempts to damage the hardware, software, or information residing on any computer system attached through the Internet. Attempts to violate the integrity of private accounts, files, or programs, the deliberate infecting of the network with a computer virus, attempts at hacking into any of the computers using any method, or other such actions are not tolerated.
3. Invasion of Privacy
Users are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy for their files and e-mail. No user may have access to another's private files. The system(s) administrators will access the private files of users only to purge them or in the event of a suspected or proven violation of school and district rules or expectations.
4. Theft
The Internet is the repository of incredible amounts of information. Much of that information has been placed there for free use. Nevertheless, law, ethics, and common courtesy require proper acknowledgment of the use of intellectual property of others. Users should treat information that is found electronically in the same way they treat information found in printed sources. Rules against plagiarism are enforced. Many programs reside on the Internet. Each user is responsible to comply with the requirements of the owners of the software regarding its acquisition and use. Vista Virtual School does not tolerate the use of our system for the illegal copying or storing of illegally acquired software and other inappropriate material as outlined in this document. Theft of our hardware or software will be persecuted to the full extent of the law.
5. Harassment
Students or other users may not use computers for purposes of harassment of others, either within the Vista Virtual School Network community or in the broader Internet. Foul and abusive language, attempts to fill electronic mailboxes, the posting of obscene images or texts and flames waste bandwidth, reflect poorly on the user and the school, and will not be tolerated. Users should ask themselves if the information they are posting or sending is acceptable if displayed or stated in school meetings or published on the school website.
6. Inappropriate Access
Users may not use the Vista Virtual School Network or individual accounts provided to access inappropriate or adult materials found on the Internet. Users not exercising responsibility by accessing such materials will be denied all Vista Virtual School network access.
7. Chain Letters and Other Spreading Schemes
Whether in e-mail or in Usenet newsgroups, chain letters, pyramid schemes, forwarding or replying to contests, fast cash schemes, mass cross-postings, and uninvited mass mailings are highly wasteful of network resources and totally forbidden on the Internet and on the Vista Virtual School Network. Users participating in such activities may have their e-mail addresses revoked permanently in accordance with the Internet standards on this matter.
8. Multiple Users of the Same Account
Vista Virtual School considers an individual account to be used by the designated student and parent only. Any other use by either family members and/or others is considered an abuse and warrants revoking network and account privileges.
9. Duplicating
To make copies of any software that is provided to the Vista Virtual School students is illegal.
10. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of stealing, except that it involves stealing words or ideas instead of money or things. Courts have fined people for plagiarizing. More commonly, students have been expelled or received failing grades because of plagiarism. When you use someone else's words or ideas, you must give credit for them. If you do not, readers assume you the words or ideas are yours.
Appeal Procedure
To ensure that student procedures are fair and just, a student shall have the right to appeal the loss of network access to the Vista Virtual School Principal and, ultimately, to the Assistant Superintendent of Alberta Distance Learning Centre. If satisfaction is not received at this level, a group consisting of the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Senior Computer Technician, and a member of the District Technology Management Committee of Pembina Hills Regional Division No. 7 will hear the appeal. The parent or the guardian acting on the student's behalf may exercise the right of appeal.
Vista Virtual School Computer Network
The Vista Virtual School computer network is established for the educational and professional use of Vista Virtual School students and staff. The use of the network is a privilege and not a right. Vista Virtual School regulates access to and use of its network by principles consistent with its educational mission, including its rules and expectations.
Vista Virtual School network users are expected to conduct themselves appropriately on the network. The rules conform to the broader rules and expectations of Vista Virtual School. In general, users are expected and required to avoid actions that are illegal (such as libel, slander, vandalism, sexual harassment, theft, inappropriate access, and the like), or unkind (such as personal attacks, invasion of privacy, "flames", and the like). Users found in willful and/or persistent violation of these guidelines will have their network privileges revoked and may face further disciplinary action.
Illegal Actions
1. Slander and Libel
These terms are defined specifically in law. Slander is "oral communication of false statements injurious to a person's reputation". Libel is "a false publication in writing, printing, or typewriting or in signs or pictures that maliciously damages a person's reputation or the act or an instance of presenting such a statement to the public". In effect, users must remember that material distributed through the Internet is public to a degree that no other school publication or utterance is. Any such remark may be seen by millions of people, and harmful and false statements will be viewed in that light.
2. Vandalism
In this case, vandalism refers to deliberate attempts to damage the hardware, software, or information residing on any computer system attached through the Internet. Attempts to violate the integrity of private accounts, files, or programs, the deliberate infecting of the network with a computer virus, attempts at hacking into any of the computers using any method, or other such actions are not tolerated.
3. Invasion of Privacy
Users are entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy for their files and e-mail. No user may have access to another's private files. The system(s) administrators will access the private files of users only to purge them or in the event of a suspected or proven violation of school and district rules or expectations.
4. Theft
The Internet is the repository of incredible amounts of information. Much of that information has been placed there for free use. Nevertheless, law, ethics, and common courtesy require proper acknowledgment of the use of intellectual property of others. Users should treat information that is found electronically in the same way they treat information found in printed sources. Rules against plagiarism are enforced. Many programs reside on the Internet. Each user is responsible to comply with the requirements of the owners of the software regarding its acquisition and use. Vista Virtual School does not tolerate the use of our system for the illegal copying or storing of illegally acquired software and other inappropriate material as outlined in this document. Theft of our hardware or software will be persecuted to the full extent of the law.
5. Harassment
Students or other users may not use computers for purposes of harassment of others, either within the Vista Virtual School Network community or in the broader Internet. Foul and abusive language, attempts to fill electronic mailboxes, the posting of obscene images or texts and flames waste bandwidth, reflect poorly on the user and the school, and will not be tolerated. Users should ask themselves if the information they are posting or sending is acceptable if displayed or stated in school meetings or published on the school website.
6. Inappropriate Access
Users may not use the Vista Virtual School Network or individual accounts provided to access inappropriate or adult materials found on the Internet. Users not exercising responsibility by accessing such materials will be denied all Vista Virtual School network access.
7. Chain Letters and Other Spreading Schemes
Whether in e-mail or in Usenet newsgroups, chain letters, pyramid schemes, forwarding or replying to contests, fast cash schemes, mass cross-postings, and uninvited mass mailings are highly wasteful of network resources and totally forbidden on the Internet and on the Vista Virtual School Network. Users participating in such activities may have their e-mail addresses revoked permanently in accordance with the Internet standards on this matter.
8. Multiple Users of the Same Account
Vista Virtual School considers an individual account to be used by the designated student and parent only. Any other use by either family members and/or others is considered an abuse and warrants revoking network and account privileges.
9. Duplicating
To make copies of any software that is provided to the Vista Virtual School students is illegal.
10. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of stealing, except that it involves stealing words or ideas instead of money or things. Courts have fined people for plagiarizing. More commonly, students have been expelled or received failing grades because of plagiarism. When you use someone else's words or ideas, you must give credit for them. If you do not, readers assume you the words or ideas are yours.
Appeal Procedure
To ensure that student procedures are fair and just, a student shall have the right to appeal the loss of network access to the Vista Virtual School Principal and, ultimately, to the Assistant Superintendent of Alberta Distance Learning Centre. If satisfaction is not received at this level, a group consisting of the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Senior Computer Technician, and a member of the District Technology Management Committee of Pembina Hills Regional Division No. 7 will hear the appeal. The parent or the guardian acting on the student's behalf may exercise the right of appeal.