Dear Elementary Families,
We want to take a moment to share an important reminder about student Chromebook use and internet safety at school and at home, particularly as new AI-powered websites and chatbots continue to grow rapidly online.
The Orchard Park Central School District uses one of the highest-grade internet filtering systems available for schools. Websites are filtered by topic and category & content (such as education, video, social media, gaming, and adult content), and our Technology Department actively monitors and updates these filters to block inappropriate or unsafe sites. In addition, staff use classroom monitoring tools to supervise student activity during instructional time.
That said, no filtering system is fail-safe. The pace of change with AI chatbots and new websites makes this work increasingly complex. New platforms are created every day, and some are designed to appear harmless while allowing inappropriate conversations, images, or content. In some cases, websites change their content or structure faster than filters can automatically respond. Unfortunately, there are also bad actors online who intentionally attempt to bypass school filtering systems.
We share this information with students and families at the start of each school year, but this is an important reminder as technology continues to evolve. Our Technology Department continuously reviews, blocks, and updates access to emerging sites as they are identified, and we work closely with our filtering partners to strengthen protections for students.
In addition to filtering and monitoring systems, students are expected to follow the District Acceptable Use Policy and use Chromebooks appropriately for educational purposes both during and outside of the school day. Key expectations include
Using district devices for learning-related purposes
Not attempting to bypass filters or access inappropriate content
Demonstrating responsible digital behavior at all times
It truly takes a village to help children develop safe and responsible digital habits. While the district has strong protections in place, families play an important role in reinforcing expectations at home. We encourage you to:
Talk with your child about appropriate online behavior and searches
Remind students that school devices are for school purposes
Supervise device use at home when possible
Report any concerning websites or content to your school so we can respond quickly
We remain committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and supportive digital learning environment for all students. Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to protect students while leveraging technology to enhance learning.
