Cyber Safety & Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

Technology plays an important role in helping us create a learning environment that empowers all of PNGISD. As a district, we value privacy, security and transparency. We are dedicated to ensuring that digital citizenship and internet safety skills are part of classroom culture at every grade level. We hope you will continue these conversations at home. We have a shared responsibility to speak with our students about how they interact online and to encourage healthy and safe digital habits. PNGISD relies on support resources from Common Sense Media which revolve around the following topics:

• Media Balance & Well-Being
• Privacy & Security
• Digital Footprint & Identity
• Relationships & Communication
• Cyberbullying, Digital Drama & Hate Speech
• News & Media Literacy

Social Media

On PNGISD’s wifi network, student access to many social media services is blocked. However, students with smartphones can use cellular networks to access all internet content and apps.  PNGISD continues to evaluate how social media can be used as an instructional tool.

Internet resources:

• Common Sense Media
• Child Internet Protection Act

Email Safety

Don’t let hackers compromise your account and steal your information.  Did you know that email is the most dangerous source of IT breaches in almost every organization?  IT security (and your bank account) depends on us!  Follow the tips below to safely read your email:

• Beware of suspicious links and emails.  Always check the sender’s email address--not just the name shown!
• Don’t automatically reply to emails that appear urgent, especially if it’s to change passwords or buy something.  Double check to verify who is sending it!
• PNGISD will NEVER ask for your personal information or passwords via email!
• Remember that internet links are based from the last word before “.com”, so google.hacker.com is not from Google, It’s part of Hacker.com!

Technology today is within all of our reach through mobile phones, tablets and other devices. In addition to being safe in our physical world, we also need to be concerned about cyber safety or digital safety.

PNGISD's Technology Policies and Procedures

Port Neches-Groves ISD has several policies in place regarding the use of technology in the district--Board Policies CQ, CQB, and FFI. 

All staff sign the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) at the beginning of the year, with which they promise to adhere to PNGISD's rules on appropriate use of technology. Because the safety of your student comes first, the PNGISD Technology Department is not only training all staff on Cyber Safety Awareness and Response, but your student will also receive a lesson. Along with other topics, Cyberbullying and Predators will be addressed.

You and your family can also be proactive by talking to each other about these topics. 

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Digital Citizenship

The term digital citizenship implies that just as we are expected to be good citizens in the real world, we need to adhere to certain unwritten rules online. We need to recognize right from wrong and treat others with respect. Cyberbullying is addressed in several ways in Port Neches-Groves ISD classrooms.   Visit Common Sense Media's Digital Citizenship Resources for more information.

Cyber Safety

Cyber Safety is the practice of safe and responsible use on the internet and online. It is one of our primary concerns as we integrate technology in Port Neches-Groves ISD classrooms. It covers things such as not talking to strangers on the internet, not opening emails from people you don't know and not sharing personal information. Submitting any personal information online is subject to an undesirable invasion of privacy. With the explosion of Social Media, communication rules have changed. Cyberbullying or online bullying is a concern. It is important for our kids to understand how to behave appropriately online, what type of information to share online, and how to keep themselves and others safe online. Staff are trained to be aware and respond to any suspicious behavior that might be an indication of bullying.

Social Media

Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram are just a few social media applications that today's students frequently use. Student access to these services are blocked on the PNGISD network. 

Resources

Visit the Google Be Internet Awesome website for tools to help students understand how to make smart decisions using the Internet. 

Visit the Common Sense Media website for a lot of interesting information, including Parent Guides, App Reviews, and Game Reviews.

In today's day and age, you have access to a lot of technology, including mobile devices and the internet. You have access to computers at school as well. Whether you realize it or not, there are dangers attached to moving around in cyberspace. Cyberbullying, online predators and identity theft are just a few of these dangers.

Below is some information that might help you understand how to protect yourself and others. Talk to your parents or another trusted adult if you ever have a concern, or use share a concern with PNGISD by reporting a concern anonymously.

Please select one of the dropdowns below to learn more.