BACKGROUND 

Fettes College Guangzhou has purchased additional online resources to support quality student learning for Primary School, Middle School and Senior School. Students will have access to the following additional websites and introduced several websites and online resources over the last few months; examples include: IXL.org for Mathematics and English, Quizlet, Accelerated Reader, etc.  

 

In addition, all our students will have access to the Office365 suite including Microsoft Word, Excel, PPT, and OneNote which students use to produce high-quality documents, spreadsheets for analyzing data, and presentations. This will allow them to keep quality and organized notes. This is an integral component of our approach to develop our students as effective digital citizens and have strong technology skills ready for when they enter university and the workplace. In EY4 and Primary Students are provided with a School iPad for learning when needed. In addition, students have access to a computer lab. In Secondary students have access to an iMac hub in their classroom. In addition, there is a computer lab with Windows computers available for students to use. However students will need access to their devices during lessons, students must bring their laptops to school and must have it available in all lessons that don’t have a iMac Hub (Performance Art Centre/Sports Centre/Science Labs, etc). Laptops are kept in the student lockers and are only to be used on request of the teacher. However, to ensure we have a balanced approach to using technology, that includes the wellbeing of our students, we have decided to adjust the BYOD policy of FCG.

 

CONNECTING DEVICES TO SCHOOL SYSTEMS

 

FCG offers filtered wireless access at school. Students in Grades 6 -12 may bring a laptop or iPad (see equipment recommendations below) to school for educational purposes with teacher approval. While at school, students are required to connect to FCG’ filtered Wi-Fi connection to ensure access to the best online resources. 

 

MONITORING

The school reserves the right to monitor, intercept, review and erase, without further notice, content on the device that is deemed to be in breach of this policy. Monitoring, intercepting, reviewing or erasing of content will only be carried out in order to:

prevent misuse of the device; ensure compliance with our rules, standards of conduct and policies in force from time to time (including this policy). By signing the declaration at the end of this policy, you confirm your agreement (without further notice or permission) to such monitoring. You also agree that you use the device at your own risk and that the school will not be responsible for any losses, damages or liability arising out of its use, including any loss, corruption or misuse of any content or loss of access to or misuse of any device, its software or its functionality.

SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

 

You must comply with our Student Acceptable and Safe Use of ICT Agreement when using your device to connect to school system. See Appendix1. The school reserves the right, without further notice or permission, to inspect your device and access data and applications on it, and remotely review, copy, disclose or wipe, enabling us to: 

inspect the device for use of unauthorized applications or software;

investigate or resolve any security incident or unauthorized use of school systems;

ensure compliance with our rules, standards of conduct and policies in force from time to time (including this policy). 

Students must co-operate with the school to enable such inspection, access and review, including providing any passwords or pin numbers necessary to access the device or relevant applications. 

If the school discovers or reasonably suspects that there has been a breach of this policy, including any of the security requirements listed above, students‘ access to school systems will be immediately removed.

 

The BYOD violation policy is as follows: 

1st offense: Verbal warning. 

 

2nd offense: Written reminder with Laptop confiscation during free time. 

 

3rd offense:

 

 

2 days Campus Service;

2 days Laptop or iPad confiscation during break times, including Boarding break times;

Parents are asked to not allow access for games at home. 

 

4th offense:

 

3 days Self-reflection room during break times;

3 days Laptop confiscation during break times, including Free Time in Boarding break;

Friday parent-meeting with school personnel;

Parents are asked to not allow access for games at home. 

 

5th offense:

 

One week of Campus Service;

One week Laptop confiscation during break times, including Boarding break times;

Friday parent-meeting with Head of School and relevant teachers and/or Boarding staff;

Parents are asked to not allow access for games at home. 

 

6th offense:

 

Laptop is kept with Homeroom Tutor and tracking form used to monitor usage for educational purposes only;

Student only can use it with subject teacher’s permission but must report to the Homeroom teacher to obtain the laptop or iPad. 

 

Fettes College Guangzhou

Appendix 1

 

Student Acceptable and Safe Use of ICT Agreement 

This document is explained to students at three points in their school career and they are required to sign it on each occasion: when they join the Primary School, when they join the Middle School and when they join the Senior School. Anyone who joins the school at a different time signs at that point.

 

It is important that you realise that the power of the online world brings certain responsibilities to yourself and towards others. You must not misuse the network to hurt others or put yourself in danger. Breaching these requirements will result in appropriate sanctions in order to encourage safer behaviour in future.

 

 

 

Using the Network 

 

I will not attempt to log on as someone else or to access folders and files I do not have permission to use.

I will not share my login details with others.

I will not install software, including screen savers, on the School machines.

 

Communication (email, etc.)

 

I will not send offensive messages or pictures, use obscene language or use email to bully fellow students, harass, insult or otherwise annoy others.

I will only access or use my email in lessons if I have specifically been asked to do so by my teacher.

I should not tolerate receiving offensive messages and can report any problems to my home teacher, tutor, my Houseparent, the Online Safety Officer, a member of the Safeguarding team or anyone else with whom I feel comfortable. 

 

The Internet

 

I will not try to enter websites that obviously contain forbidden* material (see definition below).

I will not attempt to by-pass the school's internet filtering systems.

I will not download files containing forbidden material unless my teacher specifically arranges for access to the material as part of my studies.

I will not pass off material downloaded from the internet as my own as this is plagiarism.

I will only access the internet in lessons if I have specifically been asked to by my teacher.

I will not type in bad or sexually inappropriate language. 

I understand that all web access is logged automatically and inspected daily and that inappropriate use of the internet will result in a sanction.

 

Social Networking (WeChat, QQ, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc.)

I will ensure that social networking apps or software are not used in the teaching buildings

I will ensure that notification alerts are turned off during school events.

I will not post offensive comments on any social network or website as this is illegal.

I will not post images or videos of people on social networks without their permission.

I will only upload content concerning the school, or using its name, after gaining permission from the Heads of Schools or the Heads of College.

 

Mobile Devices

 

I understand that all of the above rules apply equally to the use of mobile devices including tablets, hand-held gaming devices and laptops.

Mobile phones or Smart Watches that have the same functions as a Mobile Phone are not allowed in school. See Appendix 2 ‘Use of Mobile Policy’.

I will not use earphones or headset without teachers’ permission.

I will not hide or bring additional devices to school.

I will not use a Smart Watch at School that has similar capabilities as mobile phone.

 

Taking images or videos in House and around school

 

I am aware that taking images (which includes videos as well as still pictures) needs to be carefully managed and that in terms of taking images:

Changing times and areas are off limits.

Showers/toilets are off limits.

Images must not be taken of students in towels, swimsuits or inappropriate clothing.

Images must not be taken of students who are naked.

I should get permission from others to take images of them and make clear what I intend to do with the image.

I need to be aware that people might be accidentally caught in the background of a shot – if this happens I will delete the picture/video unless those caught give permission to use the image.

I should not have to tolerate others taking images of me without my permission. I have the right to ask that images of me are deleted and not posted online.  

 

Saved work

 

I will not save anything to my area on the network that breaks the above rules. 

I understand that to protect all students, particularly when investigating misuse of ICT and certainly where the personal security of students is involved, the school can have access to student files and emails.  

 

 

*Forbidden and Inappropriate Material

Examples of forbidden or inappropriate material include: pornographic material, material promoting the use of drugs, harmful behaviours, politically extremist and violent material, racist material and the use of bad, sexually inappropriate or explicit language. Generally, it is material that you would not wish parents or teachers to see. 

The School's filtering systems protect access to forbidden material; however, you must be on guard in case a site is allowed through the filter by mistake. Such sites should be reported immediately to a member of staff.

 

 

Consequences

I am aware that if I break this agreement, sanctions will apply.

 

 

I will always check with a member of staff if I am unsure whether certain uses of ICT are appropriate or not.

 

 

 

Name of Student …………………………………………………………………………………

 

Name of Homeroom Tutor …………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

I have read the Acceptable ICT Use notes and agree to abide by the points mentioned. I will use the facilities in a responsible way and observe all the restrictions.

 

 

Student signature ………………………………………………………………………

 

Parent signature …………………………………………………………………………

 

Date ……………………………………………………………………………………………

 

Appendix 2

Use of Mobile Phone Policy

Mobile Phones Are Not Allowed On The Campus

 

Issued on August 26, 2022 

 

In the digital network era, the use of smartphones has brought a lot of convenience to our lives, and at the same time, over-reliance on mobile phones has also had a noticeable negative impact on our lives. For minors, distracted attention, impaired normal social skills, addiction to the internet, child safety and other issues caused by excessive use of mobile phones has become global topics of concern. In January 2021, the Ministry of Education of China has issued a clear notice that, in principle, students are not allowed to bring personal mobile phones into campuses for all primary and secondary schools. Please kindly note that our school is completely prohibiting students from carrying, using mobile phones and smartwatches with mobile phone functions on campus. If a student needs to bring a mobile phone or smartwatch into the campus, he/she must obtain the consent of the student’s parents and submit a written application. After entering the school, the mobile phone or smartwatch should be kept by the school.

 

Specific requirements are as follows:

If there is a special reason to bring a mobile phone or smartwatch to school, parents need to send a written application with the parent’s signature before the day of bringing the mobile phone or smartwatch. In the application, please clearly specify the start date and the end date for using the personal mobile phone or smartwatch. After obtaining the confirmation and permission, the student needs to hand in the mobile phone or smartwatch after coming to school. It will be kept by the form tutors/co-teachers until school is over. 

In the event that a student uses a personal mobile phone or smartwatch in the school, the mobile phone or smartwatch will be confiscated by the school for temporary custody, and the parents will be notified until the parent/guardian comes to the school, to pick up the mobile phone or smartwatch. If boarding students need to bring their personal mobile phones or smartwatches, they will be kept by the boarding staff after the parent's written application is confirmed by the school. If a student participates in overnight field trip activities organised by the school, upon the application of the parents, the student can bring the personal mobile phone or smartwatch to participate in the activity.

 

Please send an email to school office school.office@fettes.cn for application form.

 

We hope that you can work with us to reduce the negative impact of mobile phones on your children’s development. We hope that you could have enough time to discuss with your children how to reduce their dependence on mobile phones in daily life and start trying out new methods. We believe that these ways could facilitate the healthy growth of students and the positive impact of the campus ethos, are worthy of us to overcome the slight inconvenience caused by this. We also hope that parents would collect and keep your children’s mobile phone during a certain period of time, to reduce all kinds of harm, caused by mobile phone addiction. Before going to school, please make sure to keep their mobile phones. Also, encourage your children to read books, participate in outdoor activities and practical family activities to replace the time originally occupied by mobile phones. Finally, we once again call on all FCG community members to face up to the harm caused by improper use of mobile phones to minors and take actions to protect the healthy growth of our students.

 

Appendix 3

 

BYOD in Boarding 

In addition to the whole school MS/SS BYOD policy, the following details further illustrate BYOD Policy in Boarding:

Mobile Phones/Phone Watches

 

Mobile Phones are not permitted in school. This includes Phone Watches. However, we need to make arrangements for boarders that may travel to school with a mobile phone or phone watch. 

Mobile Phone/Phone Watch Collection and Return:

When a boarder returns to school on a Sunday their phone will be collected by Boarding Staff. For boarders returning to school on a Monday morning, HRT will collect the phone and a Boarding Carer will collect the phones from HRTs. HRTs will receive a register list of those boarders that did NOT return on Sunday evening. Phones will be stored securely until the weekend when they will be returned to students at the end of school commitments on a Friday. Students that are unable to phone home using their device can use the Boarding House Land-lines or the Boarding Duty Phone.

 

Devices (Laptops/iPads)

 

The aim of this policy is to support students’ learning and to promote a mature, healthy and positive mindset towards using devices such as Laptops and iPads. Students are encouraged to use their devices to support their learning and to act as a communication device with family. Usage will be monitored through the software monitoring system and Boarding staff will ensure that only those devices with the monitoring software will be brought into the boarding house. 

 

Devices Collection and Return:

All devices are to be handed in to Boarding Staff every day at 9:30pm. They are to be stored in the designated rooms on 3^rd Floor of College West and 3^rd Floor of Carrington. Boarding staff will check that all devices are handed in and the room is locked.  At wake-up time (7:00am) the room will be unlocked to allow students to collect their devices to use in school.