Privacy Policy

Mackenzie High School ("MHS," "we," "us," or "our") operates the MHS Alumni website to celebrate and preserve the achievements of our graduates. This policy explains what personal data we collect through the site, why we collect it, how it is used and protected, and the rights you have over it.

This policy is written to comply with Guyana's Data Protection Act 2023 (Act No. 18 of 2023). If you have questions about this policy or your data, contact us using the details at the end of this page.

1. Who we are

Mackenzie High School, located on Purpleheart Street, Mackenzie, Linden, Guyana, is the data controller responsible for the personal data collected through this website. We decide what data is collected and why.

2. What personal data we collect

When you submit an alumni profile, we collect the information you choose to provide, which may include:

• Your full name, graduation year, house, and years attended
• A profile photograph
• A biography and details of achievements, including any supporting images or documents you upload
• Your current occupation, employer, city, and country
• Social media links (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and a WhatsApp number, if provided
• A private email address, used only for internal verification and communication
• An optional public email address, only if you choose to share one for your public profile

We do not knowingly collect any data beyond what is submitted through the registration form, and we do not use tracking cookies or third-party advertising trackers on this site.

3. What is public and what stays private

This distinction is central to how we handle your data:

No submission appears on the public site until it has been reviewed and approved by a school administrator. Achievement documents and images you upload are stored privately and are only reviewed as part of that approval process.

4. Why we process your data

We process your personal data on the basis of your consent, given when you submit the registration form and confirm the consent statements it contains. We use your data to:

• Review and verify your submission before it is published
• Display your approved profile on the public alumni directory
• Contact you about your submission, including approval or denial decisions
• Feature select alumni in the Hall of Fame, at our discretion, based on the achievements you share

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us to request removal of your profile. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of any processing carried out before the withdrawal.

5. Who we share your data with

We do not sell or rent your personal data. Limited data is shared only as necessary to operate the site:

• Your private email address is used to send you automated notifications (such as approval or denial of your submission) through our email delivery provider
• Our website hosting provider stores the data submitted through the site on our behalf

These providers process data only on our instructions and are not permitted to use it for their own purposes. Where any service provider is located outside Guyana, we take reasonable steps to ensure your data continues to receive an appropriate standard of protection.

6. How long we keep your data

We retain your personal data for as long as your profile remains part of the alumni directory, or until you request its removal. If a submission is denied, we retain the submitted data only long enough to notify you of the decision, after which it is deleted unless you resubmit.

7. How we protect your data

We apply reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss. This includes restricting private data (such as your email address) to authorized administrators only, requiring secure authentication for all administrative accounts, and storing uploaded documents on access-controlled storage.

No method of storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. If we become aware of a data breach affecting your personal data, we will take appropriate steps in line with our obligations under the Data Protection Act 2023.

8. Your rights

Under the Data Protection Act 2023, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
• Erase your data, including removal of your public profile
• Restrict how your data is processed in certain circumstances
• Object to processing of your data
• Withdraw consent at any time

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe in accordance with the Act.

9. Data relating to minors

This site is intended for alumni who have completed their studies at Mackenzie High School. If we become aware that personal data has been submitted about, or by, a minor without appropriate parental or guardian consent, we will take steps to remove that data promptly.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. How to file a complaint

If you believe we have not handled your personal data in accordance with this policy or the law, you may contact us directly to resolve the issue. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with Guyana's Data Protection Commission.