Privacy Policy

Effective date: July 20, 2015

The Blake School ("Blake," "we," "us," and "our") owns and operates this website. This Online Privacy Policy (this "Policy") describes our commitment to privacy and reflects the importance we place on earning and keeping your trust.

Table of Contents

To jump to a particular section, click on the relevant link. Otherwise, scroll down to read the entire Policy.

Scope of This Policy

This Policy applies to the information we collect from or about individuals through the publicly available portions of this website (this "Site"). It does not apply to information we collect through the password-protection portions of this website (such as enrollment information or information submitted for the purpose of fulfilling a class assignment). It also does not apply to information we collect offline, such as over the phone or in person. If you have questions about our use of data collected other than through the publicly available portions of this website, please see our student handbook or contact us using the information provided below.

Some of the information Blake collects through this Site may be "personal information"—information that identifies you (or someone else, such as your student) personally, alone or in combination with other information available to us. Other information may be nonpersonally identifiable, such as your IP address.

Blake has provided this Policy so that you will know what information Blake collects, how Blake uses this information, the types of third parties with whom Blake may share this information, and some of the choices that are available to you.

This Policy may be supplemented or amended from time to time by additional privacy notices ("Privacy Notices"), provided at the time we collect your information. For example, certain pages of this Site may contain Privacy Notices providing more details about the information we collect on those particular pages, why we need that information, and choices you may have about the ways we use that information.

Your Consent

By using this Site, you are consenting to the collection, use, disclosure, and transfer of the information you provide as described in this Policy (and any Privacy Notices that apply to you). If you do not consent to the collection, use, disclosure and transfer of information as described in this Policy (and any Privacy Notices that apply to you), you may not use this Site. If you have questions about this Policy, or any Privacy Notice, please contact us using the information provided below.

Our Terms of Use

This Policy is part of the Terms of Use that govern your use of this Site. A link to our Terms of Use is provided at the bottom of each page of this Site.

Your Choices

In General. We respect your right to make choices about the ways we collect, use, and disclose the information you provide on or through this Site. This Policy describes some of your choices, such as your choice to opt out of receiving "cookies." We may ask you to indicate your choices at the time and on the page where you provide information.

Do Not Track Mechanisms. Your browser may deliver a "Do-Not-Track ('DNT') signal" to this Site. Because of the changing state of technology and indecision within the industry regarding the meaning of DNT signals, we currently do not make any guarantee that we will honor DNT signals.

Previously Expressed Preferences. You may change previously expressed preferences regarding how we use information you provide on or through this Site. You may be able to change preferences through your account. Otherwise, please contact us using the information provided below. You may opt out of promotional emails by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any promotional email we send you.

This Policy May Change

Blake reserves the right to update or modify this Policy and any Privacy Notice, at any time and without prior notice, by posting the revised version of the Policy or Privacy Notice on this Site. These changes will only apply to the information we collect after we have posted the revised Policy or Privacy Notice on this Site.

Your use of this Site following any such change constitutes your agreement that all information collected from or about you after the revised Policy is posted will be subject to the terms of the revised Policy. You may access the current version of this Policy at any time by clicking on the link marked "Privacy" at the bottom of each page of the public areas of this Site.

Information We Collect

Information You Manually Provide. Blake collects the information you manually provide (using your keyboard, mouse, or touchpad) when you use this Site. For example, we collect the information you provide when you seek financial assistance, sign up for an alumni event, send us a question, or otherwise interact with this Site. Some of the information you manually provide may be personal information, such as your name and contact information (or the name and contact information of your student).

Information from your browser or device. Blake collects information that is sent to us automatically by your web browser or mobile device. This information typically includes your IP address, the name of your operating system, the name and version of your browser, the date and time of your visit, and the pages you visit. The information we receive may depend on your browser or device settings.

The information we receive from your web browser and device is not, in and of itself, personally identifiable. Generally, we use this information in the aggregate to help us improve this Site and make it more compatible with the technology used by our visitors. However, we may combine it with other information in an attempt to identify you or we may combine it with information that does identify you. We may also review our server logs for security purposes—for example, to detect intrusions into our network—and we might share our server logs, which contain visitors' IP addresses, with the appropriate investigative authorities who could use that information to trace and identify you.

Information Collected by Cookies and Other Technologies. We use "cookies" and other technologies to collect information and support certain features of this Site. For example, we may use these technologies to:

  • collect information about the ways visitors use this Site—which pages they visit, which links they use, and how long they stay on each page;
  • support the features and functionality of this Site—for example, to save you the trouble of reentering information already in our database or to prompt the settings you established on previous visits;
  • personalize your experience when you use this Site; and
  • improve our marketing efforts, including through use of targeted advertising.

The information we collect using cookies and similar technologies is not, in and of itself, personally identifiable, but we may link it to personal information that you provide. If you do not wish to receive cookies, you may set your browser to reject cookies or to alert you when a cookie is placed on your computer. Although you are not required to accept cookies when you visit this Site, you may be unable to use all of the functionality of this Site if your browser rejects our cookies.

Information About Third-Party Cookies

In addition to the cookies Blake delivers to your computer or mobile device through this Site, certain third parties may deliver cookies to you for a variety of reasons. For example, we use Google Analytics, a web analytics tool that helps us understand how visitors engage with our Sites. To learn more about Google Analytics, click here.

Other third parties may deliver cookies to your computer or mobile device for the purpose of tracking your online behaviors over time and across nonaffiliated websites and/or delivering targeted advertisements either on this Site or on other websites.

You have choices about the collection of information by third parties on our Sites. For example, if you don't want information about your visit to this Site sent to Google Analytics, you may download an Opt-out Browser Add-on by clicking here. Please note that the Add-on does not prevent information from being sent to Blake.

In addition, if you would like to opt-out of having interest-based information collected by certain entities during your visits to this Site or other websites, please click here. You will be directed to an industry-developed website that contains mechanisms for choosing whether each listed entity may collect and use data for online behavioral advertising purposes. It may be that some of the third parties that collect interest-based information on this Site do not participate in the industry-developed opt-out website, in which case the best way to avoid third-party tracking of your online behaviors may be through your browser settings and deletion of cookies.

How We Use Your Information

Generally, we use the information we collect through this Site:

  • to provide the information, products and services you request;
  • to provide you with effective service;
  • to provide you with a personalized experience when you use this Site;
  • to contact you with information and notices related to your use of this Site;
  • to contact you with information we believe will be of interest to you (in accordance with any privacy preferences you have expressed to us);
  • to invite you to participate in surveys and provide Feedback to us (in accordance with any privacy preferences you have expressed to us);
  • to improve the content, functionality and usability of this Site;
  • to better understand your needs and interests;
  • to improve our products and services;
  • to improve our marketing and promotional efforts;
  • for security, credit or fraud prevention purposes; and
  • for any other purpose identified in an applicable Privacy Notice, click-through agreement or other agreement between you and us.

How We Share Your Information

With Third–Party Vendors. Blake shares information collected through this Site with third-party vendors who act for us or on our behalf. For example, we may use third-party vendors to design and operate this Site; to conduct surveys; and to help us with our promotional efforts. These third-party vendors may need information about you to perform their functions.

With Other Users of this Site. You may be able to submit User-Generated Content on or through this Site. In this Policy, "User-Generated Content" or "UGC" refers to content that you post using the social networking tools we make available to you and that does not constitute "Feedback" (as that term is defined in our Terms of Use). Any personal information contained in UGC can be read, collected, or used by others. In addition, we may use UGC you submit for advertising campaigns and other promotions. We may or may not use your name in connection with such use, and we may or may not seek your consent before using the content for such purposes. Therefore, you should have no expectation of privacy with respect to UGC you submit on or through this Site.

With Other, Carefully Selected Business Partners. From time to time, we may share your information with selected third parties for their own marketing purposes. For example, we may partner with third parties to sponsor contests or other promotions, and we may share with these third parties the information you submit to us to participate in the contest or take advantage of the promotion. Before doing so, however, we may offer you the opportunity to "opt out" or "opt in," as required by applicable law.

In Aggregate or De-identified Form. We use information collected through this Site to create a compiled, aggregate view of usage patterns. We may share aggregate information with third parties so they can better understand our user base. We may also share with third parties information about how particular individuals use this Site, but only on a de-identified basis ("Individualized Data"). Individualized Data is not personally identifiable, but it does reflect the usage patterns of a particular Site user, as opposed to Site users collectively. We may provide basic demographic information (gender and age) in conjunction with providing Individualized Data. Third parties typically use this information for analytical purposes and to market their own products and services. It is possible that third parties will attempt to "re-identify" de-identified data, and you should know that this is possible using external points of reference.

As Part of a Business Transfer.Your information may be transferred to successor organization if, for example, we transfer the ownership or operation of this Site to another organization or if we merge with another organization. If such a transfer occurs, the successor organization's use of your information will still be subject to this Policy and the privacy preferences you have expressed to us.

To Comply with Laws and Protect Our Rights and the Rights of Others. We may disclose your information when we, in good faith, believe disclosure is appropriate to comply with the law, a court order or a subpoena. We may also disclose your information to prevent or investigate a possible crime, such as fraud or identity theft; to protect the security of this Site; to enforce or apply our online Terms of Use or other agreements; or to protect our own rights or property or the rights, property or safety of our users or others.

As Described in a Privacy Notice or Click-Through Agreement. We reserve the right to disclose your information as described in any Privacy Notice posted on a page of this Site where you provide that information. By providing your information on that page you will be consenting to the disclosure of your information as described in that privacy notice. We also reserve the right to disclose your information as described in any click–through agreement to which you have agreed.

How We Protect Your Information

Blake takes reasonable precautions to provide a level of security appropriate to the sensitivity of the information we collect. Although we use reasonable measures to help protect your information against unauthorized use or disclosure, we cannot guarantee the security of information provided over the Internet or stored in our databases and will not be responsible for breaches of security beyond our reasonable control.

A Note About Children's Privacy

You must be at least 13 years old to have our permission to use this Site. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 years of age on this Site. If you are under the age of 13, you may not use this Site.

Links to Other Websites

This Policy applies only to the publicly available portions of this website. Blake may operate other websites for different purposes. If you visit another Blake website, please take a moment to review the privacy policy posted on that site to learn what information may be collected through that site and how it is processed.

This Site may also contain links to websites that are not operated by Blake. For example, if you wish to apply for admission online, you will be directed to a website owned and operated by one of our vendors. There may also be links to websites owned by third parties with which Blake has no relationship at all. Links to these third-party websites are provided for your reference and convenience only and do not necessarily imply any endorsement of the products, services, or content found on these websites, nor any association with their operators. Blake does not control these websites and is not responsible for their data practices. Any information you provide to third parties on their websites is covered under their privacy and data collection policies and is not covered by this Policy. We urge you to review the privacy policy posted on any site you visit before using the site or providing any personal information.

Access to Your Information

If you would like to review, correct and update the personal information you have provided to us through this Site, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within the time limit set out by the applicable privacy legislation. We will use reasonable efforts to comply with your request as required by applicable law.

Retention of Personal Information

Blake retains the personal information collected on this Site as long as necessary to provide the services, products and information you request or as permitted by applicable law.

This Site Is Hosted on Servers Located in the United States

Blake is located in the United States and the information it collects through this Site may be stored in the United States or elsewhere. Data protection laws vary by country and U.S. data protection laws may not provide as much protection as the data protection laws in force in some other countries. However, we will process your information in accordance with this Policy no matter where our data is stored. If you are located in a country outside the United States, by using this Site you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

Governing Law

This Policy shall be governed under the laws of the State of Minnesota, United States of America, without regard to its conflicts of law provisions.

Questions About This Policy or Blake's Data Practices

If you have questions or concerns about this Policy, any Privacy Notice, or Blake's data practices, please contact us by email at communications@blakeschool.org. You may also contact us at:

The Blake School
110 Blake Road South
Hopkins, MN 55343
952.988.3600