PRIVACY POLICY: THE SAMS SALMON
Effective Date: February 3, 2026
At The SAMS Salmon, accessible from our Shaler Area Middle School digital platform, one of our main priorities is the privacy of our visitors. This Privacy Policy document contains types of information that is collected and recorded by The SAMS Salmon and how we use it.
1. GENERAL DATA COLLECTION
If you contact us directly, we may receive additional information about you such as your name, email address, the contents of the message and/or attachments you may send us, and any other information you may choose to provide.
2. GOOGLE ANALYTICS & COOKIES
The SAMS Salmon uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC. Google Analytics uses “cookies,” which are text files placed on your computer, to help the website analyze how users use the site. To learn how Google uses data when you use our site, please visit www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/
- Log Files: Like most websites, we follow a standard procedure of using log files. These files log visitors when they visit websites. The information collected includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date and time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks.
- Purpose: The purpose of the information is for analyzing trends, administering the site, tracking users’ movement on the website, and gathering demographic information.
- Data Retention: We have configured our Google Analytics settings to the minimum data retention periods to protect user privacy.
- IP Anonymization: We utilize IP Anonymization (or IP masking) in Google Analytics so that your full IP address is never written to disk.
3. THIRD-PARTY PRIVACY POLICIES
The SAMS Salmon’s Privacy Policy does not apply to other advertisers or websites. We are advising you to consult the respective Privacy Policies of these third-party servers for more detailed information. It may include their practices and instructions about how to opt-out of certain options.
You can choose to disable cookies through your individual browser options. To know more detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers, it can be found at the browsers’ respective websites.
4. CHILDREN’S ONLINE PRIVACY PROTECTION (COPPA)
As a middle school publication, we take the protection of children’s privacy very seriously.
- No Under-13 Data: The SAMS Salmon does not knowingly collect any Personal Identifiable Information from children under the age of 13.
- Parental Rights: If you think that your child provided this kind of information on our website, we strongly encourage you to contact us immediately and we will do our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.
5. FERPA COMPLIANCE
In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA):
- Student journalists’ names and work are published as “Directory Information” or with specific educational consent.
- We do not publish sensitive student records, home addresses, or private contact information.
6. DATA SECURITY
We use reputable hosting platforms to ensure the security of our site. However, remember that no method of transmission over the internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
7. YOUR DATA RIGHTS (CCPA/GDPR)
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:
- The right to access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data.
- The right to rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate.
- The right to erasure: You have the right to request that we erase your personal data, under certain conditions.
8. CONSENT
By using our website, you hereby consent to our Privacy Policy and agree to its terms.
If have any questions regarding our Privacy Policy, please contact The SAMS Salmon Faculty through the “About The SAMS Salmon” page.
