Responsible Use Policy
Governance for email, instant messaging, social networking, software, and internet usage on the Cardinal Gibbons High School network and school-issued laptops.
The Gibbons 1:1 laptop program is designed to support student growth and provide an outstanding education, including the development of skills students will need in the future. This Responsible Use Policy ensures students uphold the school's mission through ethical digital citizenship, both online and offline. Students who make technology-related choices that conflict with the school's mission and vision will face disciplinary action.
Section One: Responsible Use of Technology
The Gibbons Responsible Use Policy applies to all technology resources and establishes guidelines for using school technology or personally owned devices on campus. It also applies to school-issued devices used off-campus and to school accounts on any device. Use of personal mobile devices during school hours is governed separately by the Cardinal Gibbons Cell Phone Policy. All Gibbons students are expected to use technology in a considerate, ethical, moral, and legal manner.
Usage
All students and educators receive a school email account, which must be used professionally and responsibly in support of the school's Academic Philosophy and mission.
- All email communications are official institutional records and are maintained as such.
- Data created and stored on Gibbons systems is school property and must serve a legitimate academic or business purpose.
- Students may not use school or personal accounts to speak on the school's behalf without authorization from school administration.
Responsibility
Gibbons reserves the right to monitor, inspect, access, retrieve, delete, and/or disclose any content created, transmitted, received, stored, or accessed through a Gibbons-issued account, at any time and without prior notice. In certain situations, Gibbons may be legally required to access and disclose information stored in its systems.
School monitoring may include accessing, recording, disclosing, inspecting, reviewing, retrieving, and printing communications, login activity, and other system use, as well as keystroke logging and other network monitoring technologies. Reasons for such access include, but are not limited to: maintaining school systems; preventing or investigating alleged misuse; ensuring compliance with software copyright law; monitoring productivity and workflow; responding to legal and regulatory requests; and ensuring continuity of school operations during a community member's absence.
Because the school monitors its systems, community members should have no expectation of privacy regarding any data or communications created, transmitted, or stored on those systems. By using Gibbons systems, all community members agree to waive any claims related to personal privacy rights.
School software systems are the property of Gibbons and are provided for school-related use. All communications and information created, transmitted, received, stored, or accessed through these systems are considered school property.
Deleting an email or file does not guarantee its permanent removal from the system. Deleted content may still be retrievable, readable, and subject to disclosure.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is not tolerated. It includes, but is not limited to, harassment, dissing, flaming, denigrating, impersonating, outing, tricking, excluding, and cyberstalking. Students must not send messages or post content intended to frighten, hurt, or intimidate others. These behaviors, or any online activity intended to cause physical or emotional harm, will result in severe disciplinary action. In some cases, cyberbullying may also constitute a crime.
Internet Access
Cardinal Gibbons provides users with access to the internet, including websites, resources, content, and online tools. That access is restricted in accordance with school policies. Web browsing may be monitored, and web activity records may be retained indefinitely. Users are expected to respect the web filter as a necessary safety measure and must not attempt to bypass it. If a site is blocked and a user believes it should not be, they should notify an IT staff member or submit the site for review. Internet bandwidth is prioritized for educational resources such as learning management systems, online textbooks, and academic websites.
Prohibited Uses
The following restrictions on the use of Gibbons hardware and software promote a productive and safe environment, enforce school policies, protect the school's reputation, and limit potential liability.
Hacking & Circumvention of Security Measures
Gibbons maintains content filters, monitoring tools, and other security measures on its devices and network. Attempting to hack or bypass these measures is a serious violation that will result in disciplinary action. Researching methods to defeat security controls or sharing such information with other students will also result in consequences.
Illegal Content
Community members may not use Gibbons systems for unlawful purposes. Gibbons reserves the right to monitor, investigate, terminate access, and report to appropriate authorities any suspected unlawful use of school systems, including the creation, transmission, receipt, storage, or viewing of pornographic material. Suspected unlawful use must be reported to the Deans of Students.
Community members may not use Gibbons systems to transmit or store copyrighted material without authorization, in violation of copyright law.
Community members may not use Gibbons systems to send or store content that is defamatory, false, obscene, abusive, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, or discriminatory on the basis of race, gender, age, disability, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Deep Fakes
The creation, distribution, or threatened distribution of real or AI-generated, digitally altered, or synthetic media — including deepfake non-consensual intimate images depicting any community member — is strictly prohibited.
This includes:
- Any violation of the federal TAKE IT DOWN ACT.
- The generation of media that falsely depicts campus events, emergencies, or activities in ways that could endanger the safety of students, educators, or the broader campus community.
- Content intended to bully or disrupt school life, which will also be treated as a violation of the Student Code of Conduct.
Creators and distributors of such content bear equal responsibility.
Downloads & Installations
School-issued laptops are provided to support student learning. Students may not download or install software that interferes with learning or device functionality. Only Gibbons-approved software may be installed on student computers. Students who install software intended to circumvent security controls will face disciplinary consequences.
School-Issued Laptop
Students should take care to protect their laptops from theft or damage. Any computer problems or issues must be reported to the IT department immediately. Students are responsible for charging their devices and maintaining sufficient battery life for daily school use. Power cords should be kept readily accessible.
As part of the shared stewardship 1:1 laptop program, Gibbons provides a warranty for all defective parts. Students are expected to report device malfunctions to the STARS helpdesk for repair.
The school also maintains an insurance policy covering accidental damage that may occur during a student's time at Gibbons. Families are responsible for the lesser of the repair cost or the insurance deductible of $300.
Section Two: Use of Instructional Technology Platforms
Students will receive access to software licenses and websites selected to align with Gibbons' Academic Philosophy.
As part of its instructional mission, Cardinal Gibbons provides access to a range of Microsoft, Google, and Adobe educational tools to enhance student learning. By signing the Responsible Use Policy and participating in the 1:1 laptop program, students and families consent to the school enabling access to these tools. Even when tools are optional or in beta, they are subject to the same safeguards and oversight as all other approved platforms.
Data Protection and Security
The Gibbons academic team carefully reviews all instructional resources to ensure they are developmentally appropriate and include reasonable safeguards to protect student privacy. These assessments support compliance with federal children's privacy legislation, including the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Acceptance of the Responsible Use Policy is required annually.
Educational Software
The Gibbons software library is accessible through the Classlink Launchpad for web-based tools and the company portal for software requiring installation. Every effort is made to provide a consistent login experience.
Approved Platforms
- Adobe Creative Suite [ToS]
- Classlink [ToS]
- DuoLingo [ToS]
- EdPuzzle [ToS]
- Follett Destiny [ToS]
- Formative [ToS]
- Gimkit [ToS]
- Google Workspace [ToS]
- Kahoot [ToS]
- Khan Academy [ToS]
- Membean [ToS]
- Mentimeter [ToS]
- Microsoft Office 365 [ToS]
- Noodle Tools [ToS]
- Padlet [ToS]
- Problem Attic [ToS]
- Quia [ToS]
- Quill [ToS]
- Quizizz [ToS]
- Quizlet [ToS]
- Schoology [ToS]
- Screencastify [ToS]
- Sora [ToS]
- Thinglink [ToS]
- Turnitin [ToS]
- Zoom [ToS]
Section Three: Academic Integrity
Cheating — the use of unauthorized assistance on academic assignments including tests, classwork, homework, essays, and group projects — is a violation of Cardinal Gibbons High School's Academic Integrity Policy. Violations may result in both disciplinary consequences and restorative learning opportunities.
Plagiarism — representing another person's work as one's own without proper attribution — will not be tolerated. Students who share their work with others who then present it as their own original work are considered accomplices to plagiarism.
Cardinal Gibbons permits the use of AI and generative AI tools in schoolwork at the educator's discretion. Students must follow their classroom's expectations for AI use. Unauthorized use of AI tools, or failure to cite AI assistance, constitutes a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.
Section Four: Liability and Consequences
Limitation of Liability
Gibbons is not responsible for damage or harm to persons, files, data, or hardware. While the school employs filtering and other security mechanisms and works to ensure their proper function, it does not guarantee their effectiveness. Gibbons is not financially or otherwise responsible for unauthorized transactions conducted over the school network.
Access to technology expands opportunities for students and educators to learn, communicate, and develop skills for work, life, and citizenship. Cardinal Gibbons is committed to helping students build 21st-century technology and communication skills.
Violations of the Responsible Use Policy
Violations of this policy may result in the following disciplinary action:
- Notification to parents/guardians
- Denial of privileges, probation, detention, suspension, or expulsion (see the Parent Student Handbook for more information)
- Legal action and/or prosecution
Statement of Transparency on Policy Revisions
Any major revisions or additions to this policy will be communicated to the community, with changes highlighted, at the time they take effect.
This document was last edited on August 1, 2025.