HKIS Middle School values the social-emotional well-being of our community. We believe that technology should be used in balance, and that making the time for personal interactions without devices is important for building community and relationships, strengthening interpersonal skills, and making friends.
It is a requirement for students at HKIS to use and maintain their own Macbook. We believe digital devices can be transformative educational tools, and we promote responsible use (as outlined in our planner according to our Responsible Use Agreement). The purpose of these guidelines is to cultivate a relationship-centered community based on face-to-face interactions.
Guidelines
As a Middle School, we agree to the following guidelines:
- Bring your Macbook fully charged and operational to school every day.
- When you arrive at school, please place all digital devices in lockers (or bags prior to going to a locker).
- Mobile devices are to remain in your locker throughout the school day unless a teacher provides permission for their use.
- Transport your Macbook in a safe and secure manner with the lid closed.
- Devices such as Macbooks and iPads may only be used for educational purposes in classrooms.
- All common areas of the school are expected to be device-free unless you have specific teacher permission.
- You may only use your Macbook or iPad in classrooms for educational purposes.
- Change, update or remove school-provided software from your Macbook only when notified to do by HKIS.
After dismissal, you may use your devices in accordance with our HKIS Educational Technology Responsible Use Agreement
Social Media Policy
Please refer to HKIS's Social Media Policy (Policy 3180, available on DragonNet) for rules and guidelines on using social media responsibly.
Guidelines for Students
(from HKIS's Social Media Policy 3180)
Students should remember that the Internet is permanent and public. They should take care with their activities and identities on social media, including by following the guidelines below:
All school-related digital communication, including public and private group chats, must not include conversations that would be unacceptable in the classroom.
- Avoid posting offensive or inappropriate language, pictures, videos or comments about classmates, teachers, or other members of the school community.
- Ensure that content posted on social media websites does not depict or involve inappropriate or illegal activities.
- Don’t post anything you would not say in a public forum when representing HKIS.
- Be selective of individuals befriended on social media. There are many false identities out the
- Check your privacy settings. We recommend the strongest security settings be used on all platforms where only approved followers can view your content.
- Never post your home address, phone numbers, birth date, or other personal
- information on social media. Do not include your location on social media posts.
- Understand that anything you post online is available to anyone in the world and out of your control thereafter. The information you post is no longer your property but that of the social media website.
- Students are encouraged to comment or post appropriately about the school. Criticism or suggestions for improvement should be done with positive intent. Any offensive or inappropriate comments will be resolved by the use of the school’s behavior policy.
- Anonymous posts are discouraged in relation to school activity.
- If a conversation turns and becomes offensive or unacceptable, students should block, report and/or delete other users or their comments/posts. If possible, it is useful to take a screenshot of the conversation for your records before taking these actions.
- If you feel that you or someone else is subject to abuse by any community member through use of a social networking site, then this abuse should be reported to the most appropriate school faculty or administrator.
Social Media During School Travel
- If photos are taken during a field trip or overseas trip, they must not be shared until after students have returned to school or home. This is to avoid sharing information about a student’s location.
- Anyone taking photos must seek permission to use any photos or video recordings on social media. If anyone asks not to be filmed or photographed, his/her wishes must be respected. This applies to individuals and partner organizations (e.g.: during PEAK, sports, AMIS, ISTA).