Policies

List of 4 items.

• Privacy Policy

  Sewickley Academy is strongly committed to protecting and respecting the privacy of all visitors to our website. This statement of privacy explains data collection and use of website user information. This Privacy Policy describes the information that Sewickley Academy collects through our website, what is done with the information collected, and to whom the information may be disseminated.
  
  

  Sewickley Academy collects the data that your web browser passes on, such as generic connection information, Internet IP address, cookies and web-browser name and version. These items are recorded in our web server's log files, which is common practice with all websites. We use the information contained within these logs to track the number of visitors to the website, analyze the performance of the website, and to track user preferences to ensure that we are publishing content that people need and want. Please note that our website hosting company, Active Internet Technologies, LLC, also has access to this data that your web browser passes on.
  
  

  Any such data and any additional information that we gather via online forms, like contact information (i.e. email and/or mailing address), is only used internally. We may use such contact information to communicate with you, but we will not sell, rent or otherwise give any personal information you share with us to any third parties, except service providers who assist Sewickley Academy in communicating with you. We may be required by applicable law, subpoena, court order or other legal process to disclose the personal information you provide us or that we gather from your use of our website, and it is our policy to comply with any such requirements.
  
  

  All highly sensitive information, like credit card numbers, is encrypted through a secure connection (SSL/TLS). Independent external and internal audits are conducted from time to time to review our privacy and security settings, how we process your information on our website and to ensure we remain compliant with PCI-DSS standards (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards). Sewickley Academy processes transactions immediately and does not store any credit card information at any time. Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee the security of your personal information transmitted to our website. Any transmission of personal information is at your own risk. Sewickley Academy is not responsible for the circumvention of any privacy settings or security measures contained on its website.
  
  

  Members of the Sewickley Academy community have access to additional information through the website portals. Sewickley Academy will provide you with the means to ensure that your personal information contained in these portals is correct and current. You may review and update this information at any time via your portal page and subscribe or unsubscribe to e-mail newsletters. Only you and key members of Sewickley Academy’s staff can edit your personal information. Do not share your portal Username and Password with anyone. If you believe your portal account has been compromised, please contact the Technology HelpDesk at 412-741-2236 for assistance.    
  
  

  Sewickley Academy’s website contains links to other websites. Sewickley Academy is not responsible for the privacy practices or anything else having to do with sites that link to or from our site, and we encourage you to read the privacy policies on linked sites as their standards may be different from ours.
  
  

  The content, including the images, of our website, especially in those sections which are password-protected, are intended for specific individuals, groups or members of our school community. Users are strictly prohibited from using any information from Sewickley Academy for commercial, public, or political purposes of any nature whatsoever. We urge you to be careful about giving information in public areas of the website like message boards. The information you share in public areas may be viewed by any user of the website, and any information you share in a public area is done so at your own risk.
  
  

  Sewickley Academy reserves the right to update and change this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes to this policy will be posted in our Privacy Policy page to reflect the date of modification. It is your responsibility to be familiar with the contents of this Privacy Policy.
  
  

  If you have any questions or concerns about the Privacy Policy, please contact us at webmaster@sewickley.org.
  
  

  Updated as of May 14, 2012

   

   

• Community of Respect

  All members of the Sewickley Academy community - students, parents, faculty and staff - are expected to be familiar with, and adhere to, the following basic guidelines of behavior at school.
  
  

  The most essential standard of appropriate behavior is that all members of the community will treat one another with kindness, honor, and respect in all situations. In everything we do, we will:
  
  

  Demonstrate Self-Respect by:

  • Striving to reach our potential in all areas including academics, extracurricular activities, and citizenship.
  • Taking pride in our behavior and appearance.
  • Focusing on our health and safety when making choices.

  Respect Others by:

  • Helping to create an environment of encouragement and support within the school community.
  • Listening with consideration to the opinions and ideas of others in the community even when they are different from our own.
  • Respecting the privacy and property of others in the community.

  Respect Sewickley Academy by:

  • Adhering to the rules of the Academy at all times.
  • Maintaining the grounds and facilities by cleaning up after others and ourselves when necessary.
  • Being a positive, honorable representative for the Academy in all endeavors and at all times.  

• Social Media and Responsible Computer Use Policy

  At Sewickley Academy, teachers, students, staff, and other school community members use social networking/media (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc.) as a way to connect with others, share educational resources, log Global Studies travel experiences, create educational content, enhance the classroom experience, and network within and outside of the school community. While social networking is fun and valuable, there are some risks we need to keep in mind when using these tools. In the social media world, the lines are often blurred between what is public or private, personal or professional.
  
  

  Social media refers to online tools and services that allow any Internet user to create and publish content. Many of these sites use personal profiles where users post information about themselves. Social media allows those with common interests to share content easily, expanding the reach of their ideas and work. Popular social media tools include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, YouTube and Flickr to name a few.
  
  

  Below are guidelines to follow when members of the school community (students, faculty, administrators, and staff) are representing Sewickley Academy in social media spaces, regardless of whether these are considered professional or personal spaces.
  
  

  Use good judgment

  • We expect good judgment in all situations. Behave in a way that will make you and others proud and reflect well on the school.
  • Know and follow the school’s Community of Respect and Responsible Computer Use Policy (noted at the end of this page under Additional Resources).
  • Regardless of your privacy settings, assume that all of the information you have shared on your social network is public information.

  Be respectful

  • Always treat others in a respectful, positive, and considerate manner.

  Be responsible and ethical

  • Because you represent the school, please stick to discussing only those school-related matters that are within your area of responsibility.
  • Adults should be open about their affiliation with the school and the role/position they hold.
  • If you are someone’s peer, interact with them online if you are so inclined. If you are an employee thinking about interacting with a student, consider the following questions before proceeding. What is the purpose of my interaction with a student? (If it is not related to your classroom activities, reconsider using a social network.) What is the social network in which I propose to interact with a student? (If the social network in question has limited professional applications – Facebook, for instance – reconsider using that social network.) If you are uncertain how to proceed, consult your division head.
  • Share and interact in a way that will enhance your reputation, the reputation of others, and the reputation of the school, rather than damage them.

  Be a good listener

  • Keep in mind that one of the biggest benefits of social media is that it gives others another way to talk to you, ask questions directly, and share feedback.
  • Be responsive to others when conversing online. Provide answers, thank people for their comments, and ask for further feedback, etc.

  Be accurate and appropriate

  • Check all work for correct use of grammar and spelling before posting.
  • A significant part of the interaction on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks involves passing on interesting content or sharing links to helpful resources. However, never blindly repost a link without looking at the content first.

              And if you don’t get it right ...

  • Be sure to correct any mistake you make immediately, and make it clear what you’ve done to fix the mistake.
  • Apologize for the mistake if the situation warrants it.
  • If it’s a major mistake (e.g., exposing private information or reporting confidential information), please let your division head or supervisor know immediately so the school can take the proper steps to help minimize the impact it may have.

  Be confidential

  • Do not publish, post, or release information that is considered confidential or private. Online “conversations” are never private.
  • Use caution if asked to share your birth date, address, and cell phone number on any website.

  Respect private and personal information

  • To ensure your safety, be careful about the type and amount of personal information you provide.
  • Avoid talking about personal schedules or situations.
  • Never share or transmit personal information of students, parents, faculty, staff, or colleagues online.
  • While taking care when posting to safeguard people’s privacy, be sure – as necessary and appropriate – to give proper credit to sources. In cases of doubt, privacy should be the default.
  • Generally use only first names of students. There may be special circumstances where a student is widely known for a particular achievement, in which case the use of the full name may be appropriate. If there is any doubt, use only first names or ask the Director of Public Relations for guidance.
  • Always respect the privacy of school community members.

  Post images with care

  • Respect brand, trademark, copyright information and/or images of the school.
  • Do not caption photos with the names of current students.
  • Do not post photos of students who are on the “Do Not Photo” list. (Ask your teacher or see the Director of Community and Media Relations for details.)

  Be aware of site-specific guidelines (Global Studies Blog, for example)

  Guidelines for the Global Studies (GS) Blog should be followed in addition to the guidelines above. Sewickley Academy’s Global Studies Blog is hosted at http://globalstudies.sewickley.org/. It is a public (not password-protected) site. It will be linked from the public side of the website as well as the portal pages.

  • Sewickley Academy faculty chaperones and students on the trips are approved to post on the Global Studies blog.
  • All posts must follow the Social Media Responsible Use Guidelines and the Community of Respect.
  • Do not post details (exact time and exact locations) of travel itineraries.
  • Post about the day’s activities after the fact ... avoid saying what you “will be” doing the next day.

• Honor Code & Council

  Sewickley Academy's Honor Code serves to define a high standard of integrity, respect, and honesty in an effort to promote the greater good. In signing the honor pledge, students pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal and to adhere to the principles set forth in A Community of Respect. Violations of the Honor Code are referred to the Honor Council for review. The Honor Code applies to all academic, social, and extracurricular areas of the Sewickley Academy community.

  Honor Council

  The Honor Council maintains and enforces the Honor Code through investigative procedures and education of the Sewickley Academy community. The Honor Council consists of four seniors, three juniors, and two full-time Senior School faculty members. The Honor Prefect is chosen by the seven student members after they have been elected in the fall. The Honor Prefect presides over all proceedings of the Honor Council.