Gaggle

Posted on

English

Team Chesterfield families,

Our work to create safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments is an ongoing partnership with students and parents. The work includes building trusting relationships, sharing concerns and monitoring student behaviors while they are operating online through our computer network, even as school buildings are closed due to COVID-19.

Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Acceptable Use Policy outlines expectations for appropriate behavior while students are accessing the school division’s technology network and/or provided device. As part of our efforts to maintain a safe, secure online experience for students, Chesterfield County Public Schools uses a technology tool known as Gaggle at the elementary, middle and high school levels. This scanning program reviews student Google files for inappropriate images and/or content identified by keywords that might signal concern. Gaggle representatives review Google files throughout the day and send alerts to schools and the school division for investigation and response as necessary.

Gaggle alerts support student development in the appropriate use of educational technology and Chromebooks. If we call, we ask for your partnership in this development.

  • Alerts concerning threats of self-harm will be reported to school administrative or central office team members, who will contact parents directly. If a parent cannot be reached, local law enforcement will be requested to perform a well-check on the student. Information will be shared with the school’s threat assessment team for action upon the student’s return to school. Alerts about threats of violence against others also will be shared with the appropriate authorities.
  • Alerts concerning sexual images or video of minors will be reported by Gaggle to school administrators and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The school division will also contact the school SRO for investigation.

All school rules apply to the content on a student’s Google Drive. Students are encouraged to review what pictures and movies are stored. If a student connects a cell phone to the Chromebook and allows the phone to upload pictures and movies, they can be held accountable for inappropriate material.

Our school division has a moral, ethical and legal imperative to involve parents as soon as concerning information is found on our network. (Parents have access to these files through their children’s Chromebook, and are encouraged to monitor their children’s behavior while online.) During the two years it has been in place, Gaggle helped the school division connect families with mental health-related supports. It also has allowed the school division to intervene in potential conflicts between students.

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with families to support and meet our students’ needs and to protect them while they are in our care. If you have questions about Gaggle, please contact [email protected].

Sincerely,

Dr. Merv Daugherty
Superintendent

Spanish

Familias del equipo de Chesterfield: 

Nuestro trabajo para crear ambientes de aprendizaje seguros, afectivos y acogedores es una asociación continua con los estudiantes y los padres. El trabajo incluye construir relaciones de confianza, compartir inquietudes y monitorear el comportamiento de los estudiantes mientras están operando en línea a través de nuestra red de computadoras, incluso cuando los establecimientos escolares están cerrados debido a COVID-19.

La Política de Uso Aceptable de las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Chesterfield describe las expectativas de un comportamiento apropiado mientras los estudiantes acceden a la red de tecnología de la división escolar y/o al dispositivo proporcionado. Como parte de nuestros esfuerzos para mantener una experiencia en línea segura y protegida para los estudiantes, las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Chesterfield utilizan una herramienta de tecnología conocida como Gaggle en los niveles de la escuela primaria, media y secundaria. Este programa de escaneo revisa los archivos de Google de los estudiantes en busca de imágenes y/o contenidos inapropiados identificados por palabras clave que puedan indicar preocupación. Los representantes de Gaggle revisan los archivos de Google durante el día y envían alertas a las escuelas y a la división escolar para que se investigue y se responda según sea necesario.

Las alertas de Gaggle apoyan el desarrollo de los estudiantes en el uso apropiado de la tecnología educativa y los Chromebooks. Si llamamos, pedimos su colaboración en este desarrollo.

  • Las alertas concernientes a las amenazas de autolesión serán reportadas a la administración de la escuela o a los miembros del equipo de la oficina central, quienes contactarán a los padres directamente. Si no se puede contactar a los padres, se pedirá a los agentes locales de seguridad que realicen un control de rutina al estudiante. La información se compartirá con el equipo de evaluación de amenazas de la escuela para tomar medidas cuando el estudiante regrese a la escuela. Las alertas sobre amenazas de violencia contra otros también serán compartidas con las autoridades correspondientes.
  • Las alertas sobre imágenes o videos sexuales de menores serán reportadas por Gaggle a los administradores de la escuela y al Centro Nacional de Niños Desaparecidos y Explotados. La división escolar también contactará al SRO de la escuela para la investigación. 

Todas las normas escolares se aplican al contenido de Google Drive de un estudiante. Se sugiere a los estudiantes que revisen qué fotos y películas son guardadas. Si un estudiante conecta un teléfono celular al Chromebook y permite que el teléfono suba fotos y películas, puede ser considerado responsable de material inapropiado.

Nuestra división escolar tiene el imperativo moral, ético y legal de involucrar a los padres tan pronto como la información concerniente se encuentre en nuestra red. (Los padres tienen acceso a estos archivos a través del Chromebook de sus hijos, y se les sugiere que controlen el comportamiento de sus hijos mientras están en línea). Durante los dos años que lleva funcionando, Gaggle ayudó a la división escolar a conectar a las familias con apoyos relacionados con la salud mental. También ha permitido a la división escolar intervenir en conflictos potenciales entre estudiantes. 

Esperamos seguir colaborando con las familias para apoyar y satisfacer las necesidades de nuestros estudiantes y protegerlos mientras están bajo nuestro cuidado. Si tiene preguntas sobre Gaggle, comuníquese con [email protected]. 

Cordialmente,

Dr. Merv Daugherty
Superintendente

Gaggle

Posted on

Sept. 23, 2019

Team Chesterfield families,

Our work to create safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments is an ongoing partnership with students and parents. The work includes building trusting relationships, sharing concerns and monitoring student behaviors at home, in school and online.

Chesterfield County Public Schools’ Acceptable Use Policy outlines expectations for appropriate behavior while students are accessing the school division’s technology network and/or provided device. As part of our efforts to maintain a safe, secure online experience for students, Chesterfield County Public Schools uses a technology tool known as Gaggle at the middle and high school level. This scanning program reviews student Google files for inappropriate images and/or content identified by keywords that might signal concern. Gaggle representatives review Google files throughout the day, and send alerts to schools and the school division for investigation and response as necessary.

As they receive alerts regarding threats of self-harm, school administrative teams will contact parents directly. If a parent cannot be reached, local law enforcement will be requested to perform a well-check on the student. Information will be shared with the school’s threat assessment team for action upon the student’s return to school.

Alerts concerning sexual images or video of minors will be reported by Gaggle to school administrators and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The school division will also contact the school SRO for investigation. Alerts about threats of violence against others also will be shared with the appropriate authorities.

All school rules apply to the content on a student’s Google Drive. Students are encouraged to review what pictures and movies are stored. If a student connects a cell phone to the Chromebook and allows the phone to upload pictures and movies, they can be held accountable for inappropriate material.

Our school division has a moral, ethical and legal imperative to involve parents as soon as concerning information is found on our network. (Parents have access to these files through their children’s Chromebook, and are encouraged to monitor their children’s behavior while online.) Last year, Gaggle helped the school division connect families with mental health-related supports. It also has allowed the school division to intervene in potential conflicts between students.

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with families to support and meet our students’ needs and to protect them while they are in our care. If you have questions about Gaggle, please contact [email protected] If you have questions about the student support services available to support our students, please contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,
Dr. Merv Daugherty Superintendent

Gaggle Letter to Parents