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Online Learning

Policies for Online Learning
Norms and Expectations
While classes are online, students are still expected to behave as students, especially as Mount Carmel School Knights. This means that students should attend all their classes in uniform and complete all classwork. Above all, remember to live up to our school’s mission to educate the whole person to see with Christ’s eyes.

In addition, students are expected to follow the following online learning guidelines from Common Sense Education:
- Keep private things private. Don't share personal information, including passwords, your home address, inappropriate images, and gossip.
- Use strict privacy settings in apps and on websites. When you get a new device or sign up for a new website or app, establish your privacy preferences. Follow the directions during initial set-up, or go to the section marked "privacy" or "settings" and opt out of things such as location sharing and the ability for the app or website to post to social media sites.
- Don't lie, steal, or cheat. Don't try to deceive others. Remember to give credit where credit is due and avoid plagiarism. And, although it's easy to copy others' work, download things without permission, or use game cheat codes, don't do it. Your actions might have a severe consequence.
- Think before you post, text, or share. Consider how you and others might feel after you've posted something. It's not always easy to take back what you've said online, and your online behavior can create a lasting footprint.
- Respect others. Treat everyone with respect and dignity, remembering our school’s mission to “see with Christ’s eyes”, even if those eyes see through a screen.
- Be an “upstander” instead of a bystander. If someone you know is being targeted by a bully, stand up for that person. You would want him or her to do the same for you. 
- Report misbehavior. Report misbehavior, especially cyberbullying, privately to your teacher or to a school administrator. We will do our best to respond to the situation while keeping your identity confidential.
The “ABCs” Of Netiquette
Netiquette means the correct or acceptable way of communicating on the internet. Dan Reiner from Pearson Learning has come up with a simple and easy way for students to behave online called the “ABCs of Online Etiquette”.

A is for Avoid Acronyms: Students should be aware that while they may be comfortable with using and reading common acronyms such as LOL (laugh out loud) and TTYL (talk to you later), not all users are as familiar with these abbreviations. Spelling things out will help them avoid confusion and misunderstandings with their teacher and classmates.

B is for Brevity: Brevity means concise and exact use of words in writing or speech. While participating in virtual classroom discussions, students should keep their answers short and on topic. Students can also note their opinions and answers by using the status indicators found in most virtual classroom platforms. Clicking the “I agree” button can get a point across just as well as typing a message in the chat box.

C is for Courtesy: Courtesy goes a long way in any setting, including online school classrooms. Good manners should carry over to online meetings too.

Students should use their real names.

Students should raise their “virtual hands” and wait to be recognized when responding to a question or comment.

Even when online, students should say “please” and “thank you.”

Remember to address the teacher and other virtual school students in a respectful manner, even when disagreeing.

Avoid using all uppercase letters; this is often considered the equivalent of shouting.

D is for Ditching Distractions: Before an online school session begins, students should eliminate environmental distractions that may divert their attention away from distance learning.

Clear the room of playful pets or noisy siblings.

Minimize background noise by turning off the TV and radio.

Turn off cell phones. (No multitasking during class!)

Do not leave the microphone broadcast on unless they are asked to speak.

E is for Early: Attending online involves the same need to be on time as you are for in-person classes. It’s also important that virtual school students be prepared before class. They should download any necessary software and connect and test devices like microphones or video cameras before the lesson begins. Students should also exit other applications on their computers prior to launching the classroom software.

F is for Focus: Even if the teacher may not be able to see them, we expect them to pay close attention. Students should:

Focus on the classroom conversation and activities.

Take notes on the information presented.

Ask relevant questions to clarify the material covered or assignments given.

Not join sideline chats with classmates when the teacher is speaking.

G is for Good Intentions: Students should read and interpret virtual classroom messages with the assumption that teachers and classmates have good intentions. Students should also develop good online communication skills by considering misunderstandings and problems that can arise in an online setting.

Without seeing their facial expressions, other people may not know when they are kidding or being sarcastic.

Students should reread their own messages for friendliness and respect before sending.

Note that what seems like a short or abrupt answer from a classmate (or teacher) probably doesn’t mean anger—the other person might just be busy.

Students should not act “anonymous” online by slipping into a mean or mocking tone—or revealing much–too personal information.

Security and Access
While Mount Carmel School will provide approved online learning tools and resources to all stakeholders, users of designated accounts agree to the following security and access policies.

The assigned user represents, warrants, and agrees that they will not contribute any Content or User Submission or otherwise use the Services or interact with the Services in a manner that:

Infringes or violates the intellectual property rights or any other rights of anyone else (including MCS approved learning platforms);

Violates any law or regulation;

Is harmful, fraudulent, deceptive, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, or otherwise objectionable;

Jeopardizes the security of their online learning account or anyone else’s (such as allowing someone else to log on as you on the Services);

Attempts, in any manner, to obtain the password, account, or other security information from any other user;

Violates the security of any computer network, or cracks any passwords or security encryption codes;

Runs Maillist, Listserv, any form of auto-responder or “spam” on the Services, or any processes that run or are activated while you are not logged into the Services,

or that otherwise interfere with the proper working of the Services (including by placing an unreasonable load on the Services’ infrastructure)

“Crawls,” “scrapes,” or “spiders” any page or portion of the Services (through use of manual or automated means);

Copies or stores any significant portion of the Content;

Decompiles, reverse engineers, or otherwise attempts to obtain the source code of the Services.

The assigned user will not use an Access Code that they are not authorized to use. For example, no user will use any Access Code that was not directly given to them by their teacher. Parents or guardians can only use their child’s Access Codes.

For every used education online resource, the user will keep their Access Code private and will not disclose any Access Code to any individual not authorized to receive that Access Code, and the user will at all times use their best efforts to protect the security of their education accounts. Accounts will not be used in any public way (including on any widely-accessible internet page or in hard copy on a bulletin board, etc). For security purposes, teachers are also permitted to lock learning portals to ensure only related stakeholders are permitted access.

A user will not register for the Services as any category of user that you do not legitimately qualify for. For example, students are not permitted to register as a teacher, parent, administrator, Publisher, or any other category the related online learning platform offers now or in the future.
Notice to Persons with Disabilities
Mount Carmel School (MCS) is committed to ensuring that all persons have equal access to its programs, opportunities, and information resources, including those on its institutional website in accordance to the requirements of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

We apologize for any inconvenience as we work on bringing Mount Carmel School’s website into full compliance. For immediate assistance, please contact school counselor Ms. Tobed Smith by email at tobed.smith@mcsknights.com or by calling (670) 234-6184.

If you wish to report an issue related to the accessibility of any content on MCS’s website, including a complaint about the accessibility of a document, form, or statement, you may do so by contacting mcs.secretary@mcsknights.com. In your email please include the following information:
1. The URL you are having accessibility issues with;
2. The accessibility issue you are experiencing;
3. Your name, phone number, and email address.
If you would like to file a formal grievance against the Mount Carmel School pursuant to the requirements of Section 504 and Title II, you may submit such grievance to Mount Carmel acting president Frances Taimanao, P.O. Box 500006, Saipan MP 96950 or email f rances.taimanao@mcsknights.com.

You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) Office for Civil Rights. More information about filing a complaint with USDOE can be found at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html.

Online Learning

The “ABCs” Of Netiquette

Security and Access