Elementary Online Guidelines

In today’s digital world, we understand that students now have easy access to the internet. In an effort to help our students be safe and responsible online, we have outlined the following guidelines. Please take time to read through this list with your child.

Personal Phone Use

• Cell phones or other personal electronic devices (including the Apple Watch, personal computers, or similar communication devices or game devices) may not be used on campus during school hours by elementary students. (“School hours” begin when a student passes through the gate.)
• If a student needs to call to let parents know they have arrived at school, they should call from in front of the gate or by the gym.
• Students must keep personal devices in their backpacks or cell phone holder in the classroom during school hours, not in their pockets or around their necks.
• Students should not be playing on the playground with their phones on a strap around their necks before or after school.
• After the dismissal bell, students may use their devices outside of the academic building.
• Parents, please don’t call your child at 3:30 pm as they generally have not left the building yet.
• If a student needs to use their phone during the day, they need to have permission from their teacher or the principal.
• Personal electronic devices may not be used in the library.

• Consequences- The device will be taken and given to the principal and picked up from the principal at the end of the day.

*First offense - warning/reminder from the principal
*Second offense - parents notified
*Third offense - parents notified and the device must be given to the principal at the beginning of each day and picked up at the end of the day
*Fourth offense - parents will be called in for a conference with the student and the principal

Internet

We ask that elementary students refrain from using the internet on their phone while on school campus. We encourage parents to regularly check your child’s browsing history to make sure they are only on age appropriate websites. If you would like more information on how to do this, contact Miss May (amay@caj.ac.jp).

Texting

Students should not be texting during the day. Please regularly review your child’s text messages.

App Usage

As well as monitoring texts and internet usage, please make sure that apps your child is using are age appropriate. Each app has a rating, we suggest that you check CommonSense app reviews for more information. If you would like more information on how to monitor your child’s apps, please contact Miss May (amay@caj.ac.jp)

Social Media

Many social media sites require children to be at least 13 years of age [Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Snapchat]. Since all CAJ elementary students are under the age of 13, we ask that you ensure that your child has not created any social media accounts. Many social media policies have been created for a reason and many scammers are very active on social media. Unfortunately, many people who are on social media are not who they say they are, and can very easily find personal information on your child. If your child already has any of these social media accounts, we strongly advise you to delete or suspend the accounts until they have reached the appropriate age.

Photos

CAJ’s policy says that we cannot control pictures that students take together. However, we ask that parents play an active role in checking their child’s phone, and their photos to make sure they are never used in a harmful way.

Email

CAJ provides each student with an email address beginning in 4th grade. Before that, we recommend that students do not have their own email address. If they already have an e-mail address, please be checking their email weekly.

If you want more information about the Technology Guide for Parents or Computer and Technology Acceptable Use Policy please read the links.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Miss May (amay@caj.ac.jp), in our technology department.