iPad

At Saint Mary's High School, we are dedicated to academic excellence as we prepare our students for college. Students are communicating more and more through technological sources, and the need to adapt to their learning curve is more crucial than ever. The iPad supports essential skill areas, and while it is undoubtedly a dynamic teaching tool, it will not replace the special teacher-student relationship at the heart of a Saint Mary's classroom.

We at Saint Mary's thank the parents and caregivers for their support as our school community continues to evolve in how we deliver the highest quality academic experience for our young people.

SMHS - 1:1 iPads

We are excited to harness our students' energy and enthusiasm for technology and direct it toward learning to thrive as 21st-century communicators, thinkers, and problem-solvers. The iPad supports essential skill areas - complex communication, new media literacy, collaboration, creativity, and self-directed learning.

IMPORTANT: iPads MUST support the current iPadOS(17) as of July 1, 2024. All devices must have a minimum of 64GB of memory

Strongly Recommended:

Protective Case or Cover
AppleCare or Mobile Device Insurance

A primary requirement for continued use of the iPad is labeling the iPad with the student's first and last name. A label should be on the iPad AND the case for easy identification.

FAQs

Who will pay for the device?
Families purchase iPads as they do textbooks. The iPad is required for all students.

Who needs to have an iPad?
All students attending SMHS must have an iPad on the first day of school and complete the required school registration of their iPad to access the school network.

Will my student be able to bring a comparable tablet, PC or e-reader?
No. The Apple iOS operating system is significantly different than other operating systems.

Will I spend less on books?
We expect there to be a savings on e-books as opposed to text books. We are working with textbook publishers to continue to identify appropriate e-books as well as availing ourselves of other classroom resources available through thousands of educational apps that have already been developed. Some classes will still utilize textbooks.

How much memory capacity should I purchase?
Due to increasing availability of e-books and educational apps, students will need a minimum of 32GB of memory. Students wishing to load additional apps, videos or music may want to investigate purchasing an iPad with additional memory.

Where should we purchase the device?
Families may purchase the device from the retailer of their choice, but may want to consider purchasing from Apple online as they provide:

• Free shipping
• Free engraving (student’s name or personal message)

Will the iPad be restricted from students installing their own apps?
No, we believe students should have the right to install apps that will enhance their learning style and educational experience. This allows the iPad to individualize each student’s instructional needs as well as allow creativity to explore new learning applications.

What happens if the iPad is lost or stolen?
All iPads should enable the Find My iPad option on the device. This is a free service that will enable the GPS tracking device embedded on all iPads. Once the beacon is activated and the iPad is turned on, the location will become available through the iCloud website. Responsibility for replacing the iPad rests with the student and his or her family. Families may want to consider purchasing insurance.

Will cellular iPads be allowed?
Yes. Students may purchase a cellular iPad through their cellular carrier; however, the cellular connection must be disabled during the school day. Students are required to use the Saint Mary's wireless network to access the Internet and applications to ensure that school filters are not bypassed. Students found using their mobile cellular connection may be subject to disciplinary action.

Student Safety
Internet filters are in place to limit students’ access to inappropriate web content and exposure to viruses. Teachers will also help them understand the importance of acting as responsible digital citizens. Use of a hotspot, proxy server or VPN (Virtual Private Network) to bypass the network restrictions is strictly prohibited.

Please reference the Electronic Use Policy in the Parent/Student Handbook

Troubleshooting

Basic Troubleshooting
The following are strategies for troubleshooting an iPad that is not working properly.

For general iPad problems
For issues such as freezing home screens or strange screen activity, follow these steps:

Make sure the iPad has enough battery life, and charge if necessary.
Reset the iPad. Hold down both the Power button and home button until the screen goes black and an Apple appears on the screen. Release the buttons and wait for the iPad to restart.
If problems continue after steps 1 and 2, please notify the Computer Services Dept. at school.

For issues with a specific app
When you find that a particular app is crashing or freezing, here are some steps you can take:

Shut the app down: Click on the home button once to return to the home screen. Then double click on the home button to see all currently running apps. Swipe up on the app that is giving you trouble, which will shut the app down. Relaunch the app to see if the problem continues.
Remove and Re-install the app: If step one does not resolve the issue, you can delete the app and re-install (Make sure to back up any documents you may have on the app by syncing to iCloud or your computer). From the home screen, press and hold the app until it begins to shake. In shake mode, click on the x to delete the app. Click on the home button to get out of shake mode. Navigate to the App Store and re-install the app.
If problems continue after steps 1 and 2, please notify the Computer Services Dept. at school.

Greg Bahr

Director of Information & Technology Services

Email Greg Bahr

(209) 957-2240, Ext. 107

Theresa Calamaco

Technical Support Specialist

Email Theresa Calamaco

(209) 957-3340, Ext. 207