Web Resources / Internet Safety

What Parents Should Know About Child Safety and the Internet

Please note: The links on these pages are hosted outside of the Grosse Pointe Public School System's web space and provided as a convenience to students, staff and the community. Each link has been previewed for appropriateness and relevance of content; however, changes may occur after a site is linked. The GPPSS is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any change or updates to such sites. The GPPSS is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement of the site by any school nor the District.

Michigan: Office of the Attorney General: Cyber Safety Initiative

The district complies with:

The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998

              Resources on Privacy Protection:
              Students Adults Teachers More Resources

The Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), a federal law enacted by Congress in December 2000 to address concerns about access to offensive content over the Internet on school and library computers.

CIPA: No filtering system or software can guarantee 100% blocking of inappropriate Internet sites. However, these are the steps the Grosse Pointe Public School System has taken:

The district uses a content filter on all computers in the district. The software is installed on our proxy servers through which all Internet traffic travels. The software blocks Instant Messages (IMs), blogs, and chat rooms. The content filter also blocks many other content categories such as violence, adult content, and gambling.
Access to IMs and peer-to-peer file sharing (illegal music and video sharing) are blocked by the firewall, which works in conjunction with the proxies and content filter to keep our network environment safe.
In addition, students are blocked from searching for images via Google and similar search engines. The district subscribes to NetTrekker DI, a "trusted" search engine that is accessible from home or school along with a virtual library of online subscriptions for students and faculty.
Middle and high school students sign AUP (Acceptable Use Policy) agreements at the start of each school year. Students who violate the AUP are disciplined by school administrators and may lose computer privileges.
All elementary students view and discuss an "acceptable use" slideshow at the beginning of each school year.
Middle and high school students obtain email accounts after signing their AUP. Elementary students do not use email accounts.
To ensure privacy, students' full names or first names with pictures cannot be posted on any district web or page. Students' first names OR pictures may be posted with permission from parents. Parent permission forms are included in the informational packets distributed each school year.

Web Wise Kids printable resources (PDF documents)

Michigan Technology Standards Grades PK-12

Chat Rooms and Other Internet Risks	FaIdentity Theft: What to Do(Wayne Co. Sheriff) NetSafe Kids - A Guide for Parents-protecting Children from pornography and sexual predators on the Internet. What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Child Is Communicating With A Sexual Predator On-line? (Wayne Co. Sheriff)

Filtering and Blocking Links and Tools	If you're still actually using AOL: AOL Parental Controls;How to Set AOL Controls, Including the Blocking of IMs Comcast Internet Safety CyberPatrol: Records where kids are going online, when they are there, and how long they stay. Chats and games can be blocked. Cybersitter Monitoring Software Net Nanny Filtering Software Sentry Parental Controls and Monitoring Software Specter Pro Monitoring Software (Keylogging software that records e-mails, instant messages, and site activity, then reports back to parents.) Software Packages for Keeping Kids Safe Tools for Families: There are many tools available that parents can employ to guide their children to safe and rewarding online experiences. This site includes some tips for choosing the tool or tools that are right for your family.

Lesson Plans and Materials on Internet Safety	Lesson Plans for Internet Safety at ISafe Information on Internet Safety from CyberSmart

Safe Searching	Kid Safe Search Engines

Safety Activities, Guides and Tips	CyberAngels:Our mission is to function as a "virtual 411" safety destination, and to address the concerns of parents, the needs of children, on-line abuse and cyber crime, while supporting the right of free speech. CyberTipline (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children): Resources to help teens protect themselves online and information for parents and guardians. 4SafetyToday:features tutorials, safety guides, and information about Internet crimes FBI Parent's Guide to Internet Safety Get NetWise: Find out how to identify online trouble and who to contact for help. This site is organized into four sections: Learn about the risks kids face online, Search or browse for Internet safety products, browse great sites families can visit together, and Learn how to identify online trouble and get law enforcement contact information. Net Cetera, from the FTC and the FCC (onguardonline.gov) In Net Cetera: Chatting With Kids About Being Online, OnGuard Online gives adults practical tips to help kids navigate the online world. Stopping Unwanted E-mail and Spam Learn how to prevent unwanted email from flooding your inbox and how to report the spammers. Protecting Your Computer From Hackers and Viruses Learn about the risks that hackers and viruses pose to your computer files and software. Take steps to prevent viruses from infecting your software and to keep hackers from compromising your computer. Keeping Your Personal Info Private Learn about tools and techniques to better control how much personal information you share with online stores, Web sites, e-mailers and other people who may use your computer Keeping Kids Safe Online: The Police Notebook Kids' Rules for Online Safety Internet Safety for Kids - Michigan State Police SafeTeens: Advice for teens and parents about using the Internet safely. Social Networking Terms Social Networking Sites: Safety Tips for Tweens and Teens: Social networking safety tips from the Federal Trade Commission. Stop Cyberbullying: Find out what cyberbullying is, why it happens, and how to prevent it from happening. Wired Safety.org: WiredSafety provides help, information and education to Internet and mobile device users of all ages. We also help parents with issues, such as MySpace and cyberbullying. The NetLingo Top 50 Internet Acronyms Every Parent Needs to Know

Web Safety Activities	Disney's Surf Swell Island Internet Safety Quiz for Kids

Web Resources

Stopping Unwanted E-mail and Spam Learn how to prevent unwanted email from flooding your inbox and how to report the spammers.

Protecting Your Computer From Hackers and Viruses Learn about the risks that hackers and viruses pose to your computer files and software. Take steps to prevent viruses from infecting your software and to keep hackers from compromising your computer.

Keeping Your Personal Info Private Learn about tools and techniques to better control how much personal information you share with online stores, Web sites, e-mailers and other people who may use your computer