Watsonia North Primary School Internet Usage 
Dear Parents, 

The Internet is a collection of thousands of interconnected computer data bases on a worldwide network, accessed already by more than thirty million users around the world each day. 

Data and information can be shared almost instantly anywhere in the world, and the significance of Internet for the educational process is immense. 

Students will be able to: 
•	swap ideas and communicate directly with, for example, researchers, scientists, mathematicians, educators, fellow students and authors.

•	work in groups with students from other schools around the world. 

Watsonia North Primary School believes that it is important that your child has access to the potential of the Internet. 

With the Watsonia North's computer network system, each computer in the school has a fast entry to the Internet. Students will be offered free access to the massive resources of the Internet at school. 

Students will be specially educated in the ethical issues dealing with this information, and it is important that families are also aware of and involved in discussion about these issues with their children. 

Whilst allowing students to roam through this massive databank, the Internet does allow access to some undesirable information. The Internet is an adult, worldwide network that is subject to virtually no controls over the information available. 

There is also a great temptation to regard all information on the Internet, simply because it is available on a worldwide network, as valuable and valid: it is not. Some of it is of little intrinsic value or even misleading, yet much of it is extremely valuable. This method of accessing information is undoubtedly the way of the future and our challenge is to ensure that our students have appropriate exposure to it. 

When your child accesses the Internet, it is with the supervision of a teacher. The students are permitted to access specific sites and may do so only with their teacher’s permission. 

A Copyright notice is attached to the bottom of the Watsonia North Web page stating your child’s work cannot be reproduced without your child’s permission.

Learning Technologies Support Group 2001

Some Guidelines for Parents at Home

Whilst we have taken steps at Watsonia North to enhance student learning through use of the Internet, and have a number of safety measures in place to filter out inappropriate sites, your Internet Service Provider at home will not afford the same level of protection. By taking responsibility for your children’s online computer use, parents can greatly minimise the potential risks of being online. Make it a family rule to:

•	Never give out identifying information, home address, school name, or telephone number, in a public message such as chat or bulletin boards, and be sure you are dealing with someone that both you and your child know and trust before giving it out via E-mail. Think carefully before revealing any personal information such as age, marital status, or financial information. 

•	Get to know the services your child uses. If you don't know how to log on, get your child to show you. Find out what types of information it offers and whether there are ways for parents to block out objectionable material.

•	Never allow a child to arrange a face-to-face meeting with another computer user without parental permission. If a meeting is arranged, make the first one in a public spot, and be sure to accompany your child. 

•	Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your children to tell you if they encounter such messages. If you or your child receives a message that is harassing, of a sexual nature, or threatening, forward a copy of the message to your service provider and ask for their assistance. 

•	Remember that people online may not be who they seem. Because you can't see or even hear the person it would be easy for someone to misrepresent him or herself. Thus, someone indicating that "she" is a " 12-year-old girl" could in reality be a 40-year-old man. 

•	Remember that everything you read online may not be true. Any offer that's "too good to be true" probably is. Be very careful about any offers that involve your coming to a meeting or having someone visit your house. 

•	Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your children. Discuss these rules and post them near the computer as a reminder. Remember to monitor their compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time your children spend on the computer. A child's excessive use of online services or bulletin boards, especially late at night, may be a clue that there is a potential problem. Remember that personal computers and online services should not be used as electronic babysitters. 

•	Be sure to make this a family activity. Consider keeping the computer in a family room rather than the child's bedroom. Get to know their "online friends" just as you get to know all of their other friends. 

Watsonia North Primary School

•	I will notify the teacher immediately if I have a technical problem or if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable
•	My behaviour when using the internet, intranet and email will be responsible and appropriate
•	I will always have my work checked by a teacher before it is published on the web
•	When using the Internet or when I am using email, I will access information only from sites which are relevant to my work and which have been specified by the teacher.
•	I will not reveal personal information such as my surname, address, telephone number, photograph, parents’ work address/telephone number, the name and location of my school, or personal details of another person without my teacher’s permission.
•	I will respect the privacy of others and never read their email without their permission
•	I will never use the internet to arrange a meeting with someone
•	I will be a good online citizen and will abide by the above guidelines

Student Internet Code of Behaviour

STUDENT
I have discussed these rules with my parents/guardians and agree to follow them. I understand that breaking them will result in the loss of my right to use the computers for a period of time set by the teacher.

Student’s Name  ……………………………………………………….

Student’s Signature ……………………………………………………

PARENT/GUARDIAN

Yes	 No 	(please tick)
		I have discussed this Code of Behaviour with my child. 
		I consent to my child using the Internet and email at school
		I consent to my child’s first name being published on the Internet with where relevant

Note: The Parent/Guardian section has been slightly modified with permission from Watsonia North PS.

Parent/Guardian’s Name …………………………………………..

Parent/Guardian’s Signature ………………………………………

Date …………………..

© State of Victoria 2003   
This work has been created by the teachers listed below as employees of the Department of Education and Training, Victoria and copyright is owned by the Crown in right of the State of Victoria.  It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and no commercial usage or sale.  Reproduction for the purposes other than those indicated above requires the written permission of the Department of Education and Training. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and copyright should be addressed to the Liability Management Manager, Department of Education and Training, 2 Treasury Place, Melbourne, VIC, 3002
The State of Victoria accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of any part of this material and bears no responsibility for any modifications made.
Developed by Watsonia North Primary School.