Quick Facts:
- Chromebooks are to be utilized only for accessing content related to school assignments, and the
misuse of Chromebooks may result in serious consequences for violations of the
Acceptable Use Policy in accordance with the
Code of Student Conduct.
- A new tool (Securly Classroom) will allow HCPS teachers to guide, monitor, and communicate with students on their Chromebooks to help ensure that students are engaged and focused on learning during instructional time.
- Please discuss the importance of responsible Chromebook usage with your student(s) prior to the first day of school.
All HCPS back-to-school messages can be found
on the HCPS website.
Full Message/Details:
Dear Families,
We hope you are well. We are writing today with important information regarding student Chromebook usage during the upcoming school year.
As part of ongoing efforts in close collaboration with the Hanover County School Board to limit distractions in our schools,
we are excited to share with you that we are launching an additional tool (Securly Classroom) this school year to enhance the classroom environment. This new tool will allow our teachers to guide, monitor, and communicate with students on their HCPS-owned and managed Chromebook devices.
Specifically, your student may notice a new icon in their extensions on Google Chrome.
This extension, which cannot be disabled and will be used only during the instructional day, allows the teacher to see students’ screens during that instructional block, helping to ensure that students are engaged and focused on learning. Additionally, teachers will be able to quickly share their screens and send students specific websites that are relevant to the lesson.
Again, this new tool furthers our efforts to maximize instructional time and promote appropriate Chromebook use. As
we reminded you in April,
efforts by our students to bypass the Hanover Academic Network (our school-sponsored and maintained Internet network) to access games, movies, and other content that is not appropriate or relevant to our students’ educational experience is a violation of the Acceptable Use Policy and misuse of the Hanover Academic Network will result in consequences, such as the loss of computer privileges or other disciplinary measures in accordance with the Code of Student Conduct.
Our Technology Services Department, which has advanced filters in place to block these attempts to access games and other irrelevant content, will continue to conduct periodic reviews of student attempts to bypass the network to ensure compliance with the Acceptable Use Policy. These reviews will continue to provide information designed to identify the details of each attempt, as well as the individual device associated with the attempt.
Both with the new tool (Securly Classroom) and with adherence to the Acceptable Use Policy,
you are an important partner in our efforts. Please discuss this topic with your student in advance of the first day of school and remind them that Chromebooks are to be utilized only for accessing content related to school assignments, and the misuse of Chromebooks may result in serious consequences for violations of the Acceptable Use Policy in accordance with
the Code of Student Conduct.
We appreciate your partnership in emphasizing responsible Chromebook usage, including the potential consequences, with your student and for your broader support of our commitment to high-quality learning environments.
Thank you.
Hanover County Public Schools