Photography & Identification Guidelines

In partnership with students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff, the School has established the following guidelines regarding photographs and identification thereof for internal and external communication programs. The guidelines are intended to protect the privacy and security of all School community members as well as ensure the integrity of the School's image and positioning in the community. The communication programs referred to include:

• Internal/current community - Yearbook(s), Memory book, class videos, class Web pages, etc.
• Internal/total community - the Bulletin, Parent News, Annual Giving Report, Virtual Blake, etc.
• External - PR/Media, advertising, Virtual Blake/the Web site, Summer Programs, etc.

Photography & Identification Guidelines:

Photographs of The Blake School community members -- including students, parents, alumni/ae, faculty, staff -- are used in School internal and external communication programs. Identification of photographs may or may not include first and/or last name unless specifically requested by parent, guardian or the individual. See exception/Note #1 below.

Note #1 - Web site: Existing divisional guidelines regarding identification of students on the Blake Web site remains unchanged, specifically, first names ONLY are used when referring to Lower or Middle School students' work or images; Upper School mentions may include first and/or last names (e.g. athletic references).

Note #2 - PR: All external PR efforts are managed through the office of Communications, safeguarding the privacy of the School community as well as the integrity of the School image overall. All visiting media personnel MUST be approved and accompanied by authorized School personnel. See attached Media guidelines for reference.

Note #3 - Family/Friends photography: The Blake School cannot be held responsible for materials (still and/or video) placed without its knowledge or permission online or in external media. As such, we ask all community members to respect the privacy of others and, unless specific permission is provided, request NO IDENTIFICATION (or first names only), be included in this use.

Example: Digital video taken at a School performance and e-mailed to out of town relatives, or downloaded onto family Web sites or provided to local cable stations.

Note #4 - Visitors/non-Blake students: The Blake School has many visitors during the course of the school year, and students from other schools participate in many of its events and activities. Photography of these events will be used both internally and externally, and with appropriate identification, as feasible.

Example: Visiting Artist, Symposium speakers, athletic teams

If you have a special request, any questions or concerns regarding these guidelines please contact Cathy McLane, Director of Marketing & Communication at (952) 988-3434.

Please note: Any information you can provide the School, specifically your child(ren)'s teachers, regarding your identification concerns will be greatly appreciated and held in strict confidence. Understanding your concerns helps us better plan for the students, and react appropriately in all situations.