HINCKLEY-FINLAYSON SCHOOL DISTRICT
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT PARTICIPANTS/ PARENTS
#536
Playing and competing for Hinckley-Finlayson Schools is a privilege. Student-participants are held in the highest regard and are seen as role models in our communities. As leaders you have the responsibility to portray your team, your group, your coaches, your directors, our school, and yourselves in a positive manner at all times. Our school district heavily subsidizes arts, activities, and sports programs. All participants are consuming tax payer funds provided by our community. This opportunity comes with the responsibility of living up to community standards.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media sites have increased in popularity globally, and are used by the majority of student-participants in one form or another. Student-participants should be aware that third parties, including the media, faculty, future employers, and college officials, could easily access your profiles and view all personal information. This includes pictures, videos, comments, and posters. Inappropriate material found by third parties affects the perception of the student participant, our programs, teams, and our school district. This can also be detrimental to a student-participant’s future options (i.e. college admission, military eligibility, or job placement).
Examples of inappropriate and offensive behaviors concerning participation in online communities may include depictions of the following, though this list is not meant to be all inclusive: Photos, videos, tweets, retweets, comments, or posters showing the personal use or possession of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Photos, videos, tweets, retweets, comments, or posters that are of a sexual nature. This includes links to websites of a pornographic nature and other inappropriate material. Photos, videos, tweets, retweets, comments, or posters that condone drug-related activity. This includes, but is not limited to, images that portray the personal use of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Content online that is unsportsmanlike, derogatory, demeaning, or threatening toward any individual or entity (examples: derogatory comments regarding our school, another school, coaches, or teammates; taunting comments aimed at a student-participant, coach, or team at another school and derogatory comments against race and/or gender). No posts should depict or encourage unacceptable, violent, or illegal activities (examples: hazing, sexual harassment/assault, full or partial nudity, inappropriate gestures, stalking, gambling, discrimination, fighting, vandalism, academic dishonesty, underage drinking, and illegal drug use).
Everything you post is public information – any text or photo placed online is completely out of your control the moment it is placed online – even if you limit access to your site. Information (including photos, videos, and comments) may be accessible even after you remove it. Once you post a photo or comment on a social networking site, that photo or comment becomes the property of the site and may be searchable even after you remove it. If you are ever in doubt of the appropriateness of your online public material, consider whether it upholds and positively reflects your own values and ethics as well as those of District #2165. Remember, always present a positive image and do not do anything to embarrass yourself, the team, your family, or Hinckley-Finlayson Schools.
In short, do not have a false sense of security about your rights to freedom of speech. Understand that freedom of speech is not unlimited and does not equal freedom from consequences. The online social network sites are NOT a place where you can say and do whatever you want without repercussions. The information you post on a social networking site is considered public information. Protect yourself by maintaining a self image of which you can be proud for years to come.
By signing below you affirm that you understand the Hinckley-Finlayson Schools Social Media Guidelines for student-participants and all other parts of the activities handbook and the requirements that you must adhere to as an H-F Schools student-participant. Also, you affirm that failure to adhere to these social media guidelines and expectations outlined in the handbook will result in consequences that will follow those of our student code of conduct policy.
Parents are also required to sign and expected to follow the same guidelines. Parents who are demeaning of players, coaches, programs, or opponents will not be allowed to attend activities or sports at Hinckley-Finlayson Schools.
PRINTED NAME_______________________________
STUDENT-PARTICIPANTS SIGNATURE_____________________________________
DATE_________________
PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE____________________________________
DATE____________________
Approved 2/9/2015
Re-Approved 12/12/2017