- Grades 3–8 Agreement
- Grades 3–8 Q&A
- Grades 9–12 Agreement
- Grades 9–12 Q&A
- Under Age 13 Services
- Acceptable Use Policy
- Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Grades 3–8 Agreement
ePack Program
Learning at Convent & Stuart Hall is not bound by the four walls of a classroom or tethered to a desk and chair.
About the ePack Program
Our teachers support, enhance and extend learning for all students with increasingly innovative curricular tools that propel greater communication, organization, creativity, collaboration, conceptual understanding and production of knowledge. Our educational technology philosophy is a “use to learn” model rather than the “learn to use” model of stand-alone computer labs. Students and teachers naturally and seamlessly integrate digital practices throughout the curriculum in ways not possible in the past. The devices students use are just one part of the ePack program and differ between grades because of the different academic needs at each level.
Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 have access to a personalized, non-shared iPad. iPads remain at school unless a home need becomes necessary due to an extended illness or school closure.
In Grades 3 and 4, students transition to an optional take-home arrangement at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
Grade 5–8 students are issued a school-owned Apple iPad and a Logitech digital crayon. Grades 5–7 are also given a Logitech keyboard case. These devices are taken home every day.
ePack 1-to-1 Program | Take Home Device Agreement
Note to incoming Grades K–2 Parents: In part due to additional health precautions of the past year, students will be provided dedicated iPads for use at school. In the event of any future school closures, K–2 students will take their assigned iPads home to complete work. We've included copies of the agreements for you to acknowledge when you complete the Family Information Form. Note to incoming Grades 3 and 4 Parents: Students are issued school-owned, pen-enabled iPads. iPads include a Logitech Crayon to enable more effective handwriting and drawing. When/if instructed by teachers, students will be able to bring school-owned iPads home to complete work. Grade 3 and 4 students will be issued iPads at the start of school. Note to incoming Grades 5–8 Parents: Grade 5 students will be issued a new 10th Gen iPad with a Keyboard case and Logitech Crayon. Grade 6,7 and 8 students will retain their existing pen-enabled iPad as their primary digital device, grades 6 and 7 will switch out their old case for a new Logitech keyboard case. More information is posted in the Grades 5–8 Q&A tab. If you have questions after reviewing this agreement and the ePack Q&As, contact the head or dean at your school division. |
Purpose
This document serves as an agreement between Convent & Stuart Hall (hereinafter referred to as School) and you, the parent or legal guardian (hereinafter referred to as Parent). Upon an acknowledged agreement via the Family Information Form, all students in Grades 3–8 will be issued — and/or permitted to retain a previously issued — school-owned individual electronic device (hereinafter referred to as "iPad") for both school and home use for the school year. Parents may not opt out of the program. This is part of our all-school initiative to promote, enhance and extend student learning by providing daily access to a wide range of digital tools for use in and out of school.
This Take Home Device Agreement grants approval for the School to provide school-owned equipment. Students are expected to abide by all class, teacher, grade, school and individual home rules guiding iPad use, as well as other School policies guiding acceptable and appropriate use.
Equipment and Related Expectations
- The School retains sole right of ownership of the provided iPad and all provided peripheral equipment, such as case, power charger and cables, unless otherwise stated.
- The school also has optional equipment for loan through the Digital Media Library program (cameras, microphones and related digital content creation gear). Any equipment checked out to students is subject to the same expectations as below, substituting “iPad” for the device checked out.
- Equipment and support is provided at no additional fee. Support includes costs associated with the take-home program, including the equipment, many educational applications, low-deductible breakage coverage, improved network capabilities and enhanced tech support personnel.
- The iPad and peripherals issued may change from year to year as determined by the School. This agreement holds for all devices and peripherals provided for school and home use. The School may collect the iPad and issue an alternative device at any time.
- The School retains the right to collect and/or inspect the iPad — including all electronic data stored there — at any time, including via electronic remote access, as well as to alter, add or delete installed software or hardware as needed.
- The provided protective keyboard case must remain on the iPad at all times. Any breakage resulting when the iPad is not in its provided protective case will be considered gross negligence and Parent will be billed at the full repair rate.
- Students must bring the assigned iPad to school every day, fully charged. (A fully charged iPad should last throughout the school day. The provided external charger is better left at home.)
- Teachers are permitted — and strongly encouraged — to create appropriate and meaningful homework assignments that require the use of the provided iPad. However, students retain the privileges of home use at the discretion of the School and Parent.
- All expectations covered by this agreement as well as all class, teacher, grade, school and individual home rules guiding iPad use remain in effect regardless of time or place. The School, depending on grade-level practices, may provide year-round access to the iPad. This is intended to encourage continuation of digital skills through vacations and summer months, and to provide teachers opportunities to extend learning assignments during these times.
- The student bears full responsibility for backing up all personal data. The School does not accept responsibility for maintaining backups of student data. The School will provide information on how students can back-up their electronic data.
Damage or Loss
- Students are responsible for maintaining a fully functioning iPad at all times. If, at any time, the iPad is damaged or not working properly, the student must immediately report this to either the classroom teacher, or a member of the Technology Support Team. School tech support will handle all necessary repairs or replacements. The School will repair or replace — at no cost — any iPad defects deemed equipment failure that was NOT caused by damage or neglect. Defects normally covered by Apple product warranty will result in no additional Parent charges.
- In the event of accidental damage, Parents will be billed according to the following schedule:
- $75 first occurrence;
- $125 second occurrence;
- Full repair fee for any additional breakage.
- This schedule remains in effect during the duration of the student’s enrollment within an individual school.
- In the event of damage caused by gross negligence — i.e., an unusual and serious lack of care such as using the iPad in the bathtub, throwing or purposefully dropping the iPad, or other acts that specifically violate the norms of proper care — the School reserves the right to bill the Parent the full cost of repair or replacement.
- Loaner equipment will be provided — if available — during repairs to support student academic needs.
- If the iPad is lost, stolen or vandalized, Parent may be billed the full cost of replacement. (Note: Although the iPad remains the property of the School, families assume an insurable interest and therefore families may pursue reimbursement through their personal insurance policies. Families are encouraged to consult with their insurance agent. Optional individual iPad insurance is available through private vendors.)
- If the iPad is lost, stolen or vandalized while not at School or a school‐sponsored event, parents shall file a police report and provide it to the School.
- The School provides additional institutional insurance which could result in lower replacement fees if the iPad is lost due to theft, burglary or robbery, assuming this can be corroborated with a timely copy of a police report.
- Students are expected to keep their iPad either with them or securely locked. Unattended and unlocked iPads may be confiscated, and loss may result in full replacement fee.
Apps and Other Customizations
- The School’s Managed Distribution program allows the School to provide many apps and ebooks to the students. These apps are owned by the School, are provided for the duration of the student's tenure and will be revoked upon departure.
- An individual Apple ID is not necessary.
- Often iPad applications include user agreements that restrict installation by students under the age of 17. This includes basic tools such as web browsers (e.g., Google Chrome). Further, Google requires that students under the age of 18 have express permission from parents to use their school Google credentials to log into third party apps (e.g., Blackbaud or Notability) Although students must abide by these legal restrictions, the Parent agrees to provide school personnel permission to authorize installation on student-assigned equipment of school-approved applications deemed important for school-related work and agrees to authorize the use of school Google accounts to access vetted third party services.
Take Home Agreement
- Students will be issued — and/or permitted to retain a previously issued — iPad for take-home use upon verification of parent agreement, which is included in the Family Information Form.
- Violations of school rules, norms and policies will result in disciplinary action as determined by individual school administration. Students may lose iPad take-home privileges for failure to abide by policies as monitored by teachers or school administration.
Grades 3–8 Q&A
What is the ePack Program?
This is an all-school initiative to support, enhance and extend student learning by providing daily access to a wide range of digital tools. Students in Grades 3–8 are provided a school-owned individual Apple iPad for school and home use.
Why provide devices for all students?
Traditional stand-alone computer labs and rolling carts no longer best advance learning as school technology has moved from a “learn to use” to a “use to learn” model. Our outstanding teachers actively integrate the use of digital tools to assure even greater success in helping students to learn math, science, reading, writing, history, arts, theology, language and all the subjects we value at Convent & Stuart Hall.
Anytime, anywhere access to digital tools via an exponential increase in helpful curricular aids will help normalize technology use. Rather than a specialty subject, the use of technology in such an environment becomes seamless and ubiquitous.
Are there grade level differences in the ePack Program?
Yes. The school provides for age-appropriate transitions designed to support learning and build personal responsibility leading to ubiquitous access at school and at home. Grade 3 and 4 students begin to manage their own dedicated iPads, primarily in school, but with the opportunity for take-home assignments as determined by their teachers. Grade 5–8 students have dedicated iPads with constant take-home privileges and expectations. High school students add a home-owned laptop computer in our Dual-Device program, which continues through Grade 12.
Why iPads?
We’ve chosen iPads as the primary device for K–8 due to features that provide advantages over traditional laptops and other systems. These value-added qualities include:
- Touch and Pen-Enabled Interaction. The various input options on iPads provide for significant alternatives for all users. Students can hand write and print, sketch, paint and draw sophisticated art and interact with content not possible on a laptop. Not only does this increase the quantity of input options, we know these choices are advantageous to most learners. Although several tablet-based PCs offer pen-input, we chose not to adopt them after several field tests that did not yield the seamlessness that we wanted.
- Compact and Lightweight. The size and weight bring a wealth of advantages, from obvious portability to the promise of significantly reducing backpack weights for all students. The average textbook weighs approximately five pounds; an iPad with a case weighs just over one pound. Also, much of the paper-based student organizational paraphernalia (paper, planners, calendars, notebooks, etc) will likely be replaced by a plethora of customizable digital tools.
- Full-Featured Devices. The newer generation iPad can do almost anything a laptop can, and then some. There are thousands of applications available. This provides faculty with an enormous range of software to reinforce student organization, communication and production skills. New curriculum-based apps foster skill growth from reading and writing to the most abstract conceptual learning involved in math and science. We know that iPads spawn student and teacher exploration and best match the individual needs of all our students.
The iPad’s built-in high-quality camera and microphone, paired with simple editing and production applications, empower students with a virtual production studio. The ease of creating and collecting audio, video, stills, images and text provide students with a palette of creativity tools to encourage unlimited possibilities for students to demonstrate their learning. This gives students the tools to directly record images and sound themselves, in the field, rather than cutting-and-pasting from the internet.
- Availability of Digital Texts. Digital texts offer many advantages over traditional paper-based reading and iPads provide for the widest offering of available titles. Students can highlight, take notes and harvest all their annotations for push-of-a-button review. This act of physically engaging with textual material supports reading and comprehension. iPads can access nearly any type of digital text, from the highly interactive iPad-only iBooks to texts purchased via other vendors. Many newly developed e-texts, in particular in math and science, offer video tutorials and interactive simulations that enhance understanding of abstract conceptual content. Physical paper-based books will continue to play a central role for Convent & Stuart Hall student learning for many years to come; we do not intend to become a “paperless school,” rather, teachers will begin to augment traditional books with digital texts when deemed advantageous to student learning.
- Multimodal Input Supports Diverse Learners. We now know that most learners benefit from being able to access information and create meaning in multiple ways. The iPad offers opportunities for differentiating the way students take notes, experience content and interact with their classmates and teachers as never before. The iPad, for example, has built-in speech recognition so students can voice compose as an alternative to writing. Students can also use the built-in text-to-speech feature to listen to almost any text, from digital books, to websites, to “proof listening” their own writing. Students can also record their thinking process via audio/video screen capture, as well as access recorded micro-lessons of their teachers.
- Less down-time. The iPad results in far less loss of time waiting for equipment to start (we leave them on all the time) and programs to launch. Students pull it out of their pack, open it and it’s immediately on and ready to go. In addition, iPads have far fewer repair issues than a traditional laptop, and repairs are far less expensive and can be completed quickly.
- Ease of use. The iPad user experience is familiar to a wide-range of students and faculty. Most students have used an iPad, iPod or iPhone either at school or at home.
When will iPads be distributed and taken home?
Note: All returning Grade 5–8 students retain their same iPad from the previous year.
The faculty and administration work together to determine the most opportune time to begin take-home privileges. This generally begins from the first day of school for Grade 5–8 students but may be a few days or weeks later for Grades 3–4. Grade 3–4 student iPads are distributed during the initial days of school, but take-home privileges are determined by the teaching team, are episodic based on learning needs, and may not begin until later in the school year. Grade 5–8 students retain the iPads throughout the year and summer months at the discretion of the school.
Is there an ePack support fee?
No. Equipment and support is provided at no additional fee. Support includes all costs associated with the take-home program, including the equipment, many educational applications, low-deductible breakage coverage, improved network capabilities and enhanced tech support. The program enables us to supply students with refreshed equipment as instructional needs rise.
Can my student opt out of the 1-to-1 program?
No. Universal use by all students is integral to the learning process. Teachers need the confidence that all students are able to complete the work assigned. Opting out is akin to choosing not to let students use books, pens and paper.
What equipment will be provided?
Due to annual growth, various classes have differing models as per below. The school has found relatively limited functional differences between various iPad models. All Grade 3–4 iPads include the STM Dux Plus Duo case or similar. Grades 5-7 will receive a new Logitech Keyboard case.
- Grades K–2: previously used Gen 6 or 7 iPads
- Grades 3 and 4: previously used iPad Gen 8 or 9 iPads with Logitech Crayon e-pens
- Grade 5: new 256GB Gen 10 iPad with Logitech Crayon e-pen & Keyboard case
- Grade 6 and 7: retain their 256GB Gen 9 iPad with Logitech Crayon e-pen and receive a new keyboard case.
- Grade 8: retain their 256GB Gen 9 iPad with Logitech Crayon
Can we use our own family-provided iPad?
No. The integrity of our program relies on the efficiencies afforded by providing all students in the same grade with the same equipment. In addition, in order to take full advantage of the significant hardware and software discounts provided to schools, the equipment must be purchased and owned by Convent & Stuart Hall.
Who provides the necessary apps? Will students be able to download apps?
The school provides a common base of universal apps, such as word-processing, note-taking, multimedia production and other student creation tools. Additional universal apps will be added from time to time based on teacher and student needs and discoveries. For most students, school-provided apps will either be automatically added or will be available via the "Self Service" app.
All students must secure prior permission from their teachers and abide by unique grade-level rules before installing any apps on their school-owned iPad.
Apps provided to the student through the school's managed distribution system remain the property of the school.
Will we get to keep the iPad?
No. The ePack program relies on continued use throughout the school. Upon graduation from eighth grade, iPads are collected and redistributed to younger students.
What happens if the iPad is damaged?
We provide highly protective cases that prevent most damage. In the event of accidental damage, the school will facilitate all repairs and bill the family a deductible fee ($75 first occurrence, $125 second occurrence, and full repair fee for any additional breakage). This is further clarified in the Grade 3–8 Device Agreement. Because teachers will expect students to have everyday access to the equipment, the school will provide a loaner during repairs, depending on availability.
What happens if the iPad is lost or stolen?
We provide a "theft-only" insurance policy for all iPads. As stated in the Grade 3–8 Device Agreement, "If the iPad is lost, stolen or vandalized, families will be billed the full cost of replacement." However, in the event the iPad is lost due to theft, burglary or robbery — and this can be corroborated with a timely copy of a Police Report — families will be charged a $100 deductible, as opposed to full replacement value. Please note, this does NOT apply to theft from an unattended vehicle unless there is evidence of forced entry (such as a broken window). This does NOT cover unexplainable loss, and other loss deemed as dishonest, intentional or otherwise mysterious.
With ample precautions, such as always storing out-of-sight in a fully locked car and never leaving the device unattended, we do not expect loss. Coupled with the durable protective case, we are confident loss and breakage will be minimal.
Is there insurance for loss or breakage?
See above answer about our $100 deductible theft-only insurance. Although Convent & Stuart Hall retains legal ownership over the device, given the parent financial responsibility outlined in the ePack Device Agreement, families have an “insurable interest” and therefore a current home coverage plan may already cover loss due to theft or damage. Check with your insurance agent for more details.
What about external keyboards?
We have discovered from experience that most students prefer a physical keyboard when composing lengthy writing, therefore we will provide new keyboard cases to our students in grades 5-7.
Can I use an alternative case to the one provided?
In most cases, the answer is no. The Apple approved cases purchased by the school have proven to significantly reduce damage. The average user is bound to drop his/her iPad at least once a year and these cases have successfully protected most from damage.
Who can I contact with further questions?
- For inquiries about technical assistance, specific child needs, and programmatic and policy-related issues, contact Krista Inchausti, Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning.
- For inquiries about classroom rules, expectations and curricular use, please contact your child’s teacher(s).
Grades 9–12 Agreement
ePack Program
Learning at Convent & Stuart Hall is not bound by the four walls of a classroom or tethered to a desk and chair.
About the ePack Program
Our teachers support, enhance and extend learning for all students with increasingly innovative curricular tools that propel greater communication, organization, creativity, collaboration, conceptual understanding and production of knowledge. Our educational technology philosophy is a “use to learn” model rather than the “learn to use” model of stand-alone computer labs. Students and teachers naturally and seamlessly integrate digital practices throughout the curriculum in ways not possible in the past. The devices students use are just one part of the ePack program and differ between grades because of the different academic needs at each level.
Students in grades 9–12 are in a dual-device program that includes a required home-owned Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) laptop and a school-provided Apple iPad with a digital pen.
ePack Dual-Device Program | Grades 9–12 | Device Agreement
Note: This version is applicable to the 2024–25 school year for all students entering Grades 9–12. The ePack Dual-Device Agreement is renewed each academic year. This becomes effective on the first day of school in August 2024 and, at that time, replaces any previous agreement from prior years. If you have questions after reviewing this agreement and the ePack Q&As, please contact your Division Head. |
Purpose/Overview
This document serves as an agreement between Convent & Stuart Hall (hereinafter referred to as School) and you, the parent or legal guardian (hereinafter referred to as Parent). In order to support individual preferences for digital device use that best supports the student’s learning and academic production, students are expected to come to school with equipment both provided by the School and equipment of their own choice and ownership — with the ability to change as their needs and use patterns change — all within a learning environment that assumes and requires active use of personal technology. This is part of our all-school initiative to promote, enhance and extend student learning by expecting daily access to a wide range of digital tools for use in and out of school. Parents may not opt-out of the program and are required to acknowledge agreement via the Family Information Form.
Home-Owned Equipment and Related Expectations
- All Grade 9–12 students are expected to have or purchase their own personal laptop computer for both school and home use that meets the school’s minimum requirements as stated on the Grade 9–12 ePack BYOD Info page.
- Students must bring an approved device to school every day, fully charged, along with a power adapter and any necessary peripherals.
- Teachers are permitted — and strongly encouraged — to create appropriate and meaningful homework assignments that require the use of personal digital devices. Students are expected to complete all digital assignments using their home-owned device.
- All expectations covered by this agreement, as well as all class, teacher, grade, school and individual home rules guiding digital device use, remain in effect regardless of time or place.
- The student bears full responsibility for all personal data. The School does not accept responsibility for maintaining back-ups of student data. The School will provide information on how students can back-up their electronic data.
- The school will provide a school-owned loaner laptop device — depending on availability — for up to one week during necessary repairs to support student academic needs.
School-Owned iPad, Digital Pen, Loaner Equipment & Related Expectations
- The School will provide each student with an Apple iPad and digital pen for use at school and at home. The School retains sole right of ownership of the provided iPad and all provided peripheral equipment, such as the case, digital pen, power charger and cables, unless otherwise stated.
- Equipment and support is provided at no additional fee. Support includes costs associated with the take-home program, including the equipment, many educational applications, low-deductible breakage coverage, improved network capabilities and enhanced tech support.
- The iPad and peripherals issued may change from year to year as determined by the School. This agreement holds for all devices and peripherals provided for school and home use. The School may collect the iPad and issue an alternative device at any time.
- The School retains the right to collect and/or inspect the iPad — including all electronic data stored there — at any time, including via electronic remote access, as well as to alter, add or delete installed software or hardware as needed.
- The provided protective case must remain on the iPad at all times. Any breakage resulting from when the iPad is not in its provided protective case will be considered gross negligence and the Parent will be billed at the full repair rate.
- The School, depending on grade-level practices, may provide year-round access to the iPad. This is intended to encourage continuation of digital skills through vacations and summer months, and to provide opportunities for teachers to give learning assignments during these times.
- The student bears full responsibility for all personal data. The School does not accept responsibility for maintaining backups of student data. The School will provide information about how students can back-up their electronic data.
- The school also has equipment available for checking out through a Digital Media Library, which includes cameras, microphones and other digital content-creation gear. Any equipment checked out to students is subject to the same expectations as noted above and below.
Damage or Loss
- If, at any time, the school-owned device is damaged or not working properly, the student must immediately report this to a member of the Technology Support Team, either in person or via email: support@sacredsf.org. Tech support will handle all necessary repairs or replacements to school-owned devices.
- The School will repair or replace — at no cost — any iPad defects deemed as equipment failure that was not caused by damage or neglect. Defects normally covered by Apple product warranty will result in no additional Parent charges.
- In the event of accidental damage to a school-owned device, Parent will be billed according to the following schedule:
- $75 first occurrence
- $125 second occurrence
- Full repair fee for any additional breakage
- This schedule remains in effect for the duration of the student’s enrollment.
- In the event of damage caused by gross negligence (i.e. an unusual and serious lack of care such as using equipment in the bathtub, throwing or purposefully dropping equipment or other acts that specifically violate the norms of proper care), the School reserves the right to bill Parent the full cost of repair or replacement.
- If the school-owned device is lost, stolen or vandalized, Parent may be billed the full cost of replacement. Please note: Although the school-owned device remains the property of the School, families assume an insurable interest, and therefore families may pursue reimbursement through their personal insurance policies. Families are encouraged to consult with their insurance agent.
- If the school-owned device is lost, stolen or vandalized while not at School or at a school‐sponsored event, Parent shall file a police report and provide this to the School.
- The School provides additional institutional insurance that could result in lower replacement fees if the school-owned device is lost due to theft, burglary or robbery and corroborated with a timely copy of a police report.
- Students are expected to keep their school-owned device either with them or securely locked. Unattended and unlocked school-owned devices may be confiscated, and loss may be subject to a full replacement fee.
Apps and Other Customizations
- The School’s managed distribution program allows the School to provide some apps and e-books to students at no additional cost. These apps are owned by the School, are provided for the duration of the student's tenure and will be revoked upon departure.
- Often iPad applications include user agreements that restrict installation by students under the age of 17. This includes basic tools such as web browsers (e.g., Google Chrome). Further, Google requires that students under the age of 18 have express permission from parents to use their school Google credentials to log into third party apps (e.g., Blackbaud or Notability) Although students must abide by these legal restrictions, the Parent agrees to provide school personnel permission to authorize installation on student-assigned equipment of school-approved applications deemed important for school-related work and agrees to authorize the use of school Google accounts to access vetted third party services.
- Allowed individual app installation: Students are required to follow class, teacher, grade, school and individual home rules which may require prior agreement from the teacher to install any app, whether purchased or free.
Agreements
- Students are expected to abide by all class, teacher, grade, school and individual home rules guiding device use, as well as other School policies guiding acceptable and appropriate use.
- Violations of school rules, norms and policies will result in disciplinary action as determined by school administrators. Students may lose BYOD and/or loaning privileges for failure to abide by policies as monitored by teachers or administrators.
Grades 9–12 Q&A
What is the Dual-Device Program?
Grade 9–12 students use both a required home-owned laptop and a school-provided pen-enabled iPad to significantly expand the digital palette of tools to support learning.
Why require two devices?
Laptops are superb devices for students, especially for the kind of long-form writing and multi-window needs of older students. When paired with a pen-enabled iPad, the two systems have exponentially greater capabilities, enabling the iPad to be used for digital reading, note-taking and creative production. The digital ink capabilities of the iPad will have immediate benefits throughout the curriculum, especially in math, science and the arts where complex documents can be shared and enhanced with digital writing. Many teachers are now using multiple devices to support instruction. Our high school faculty members help guide students as they expand their use of devices.
Our solution embraces the personal choice of a full-featured laptop as well as a school-provided iPad. Students come to school with a laptop of their choice and ownership with the ability to change as their needs and use patterns change, all within a learning environment that assumes and requires the active use of personal technology. This mirrors the growing practice of other preeminent high schools and most universities.
Can my student opt out of the Dual Device program?
No. Universal use by all students in Grades 9–12 is integral to the learning process. Teachers and students benefit from having the confidence that all assigned work can be completed.
What are the technical requirements for the chosen laptop?
Minimum requirements may change from year to year, but the school will strive to expand choices in the future. Please note: Students may change their primary device at any time as long as it satisfies these requirements.
Capable of installing software (i.e. no Chromebooks). The school relies on some critical software such as the full Adobe Suite of professional tools that currently run on MacOS, Windows, iOS and Android devices. Devices running Google’s Chrome OS do not enable software installation. This may change in the future, but for now, Chromebooks are deemed incompatible with our systems.
Long-lasting battery. Students should be able to work for at least two hours while disconnected from a power source. Most modern devices should last for several hours during normal, non-video intensive work. If your device loses power within the two-hour time requirement, you will need to either replace the battery or purchase a new device. Note: One of the greatest advantages of a new laptop is its battery life, which slowly degrades over time. See Apple’s guide to check the condition of your Mac laptop’s battery.
Basic Productivity Tools. Nearly all modern devices include basic productivity tools. The school’s Google Workspace for Education (Google Apps) suite of online tools serves as the primary productivity suite, and most devices also include additional software tools. All devices must be capable of:
- Installing and running multiple web browsers
- Digital photo, video and audio editing
- Capable of basic use while disconnected from a network connection (i.e. no Chromebooks)
Additional Assumed Capabilities. Nearly all modern devices include the following capabilities and must be able to:
- Wirelessly connect to our network at Convent & Stuart Hall. Nearly every digital device will have this capability. There is no need for a mobile data plan (3G, 4G, etc.).
- Connect to our classroom LCD displays, either via an HDMI cable or wirelessly via AppleTV
- Connect to external peripherals, such as a keyboard, mouse, audio devices and external storage via Bluetooth and/or USB
- Join video conferencing via a built-in webcam
Are there other recommendations for the chosen device?
Although not formally required, we strongly encourage the following features when choosing your device. These recommendations are based on feedback from students and faculty and will benefit nearly all students.
- Full-featured laptop. Most students strongly prefer a full-featured laptop with a full-size screen, keyboard, internal hard-drive and external connections. The school-provided pen-enabled iPads will serve as secondary devices and are extremely helpful for all students.
- Full-sized physical keyboard.
- Full-size screen. A bright and clear screen at least 13 inches in diameter will help reduce eye strain and fatigue from extended use
- Under three years old. Older machines tend to not hold their battery charge and may not be able to run the most current secure operating system.
- Lightweight. We strongly discourage oversized laptops with screens bigger than 14 inches. The chosen computer should result in a net reduction of backpack weight, replacing some traditional items such as paper and notebooks. Students who feel the need for a larger monitor can consider an additional external monitor at home.
- Solid State Storage. Most newer mobile devices come with Solid State storage (also called SSD or Flash Based Storage), as opposed to the older spinning hard-drives, which are far more susceptible to breakage and memory loss, and also consume battery life.
- Ample Storage. 256GB is considered adequate storage capability. Some students may require 512GB if they store many large audio or video files. Students who plan extensive digital photography and/or video may require more storage. Note: Additional storage can be added with inexpensive external USB drives, and the school’s Google Drive system provides students with unlimited cloud-based storage.
- Ample RAM. 8GB of RAM (working memory) should be sufficient for most users.
- Running the current operating system. Devices should be running the latest operating system. Software and web browsers should also be up-to-date.
Platform Trend
All faculty are provided Apple laptops and most use iPads as secondary devices. In past years, the vast majority of students have brought Apple laptops as their home-owned device. Apple laptops are capable of installing Windows, but not vice versa. We do not formally recommend using Apple products, but want to make you aware of this reality. Apple laptops also provide enhanced integration with iPads. We are confident that other platforms and manufacturers will work just fine in our system as long as they meet the above minimum requirements.
Comparison Charts
We encourage you to conduct some of your own research on the features, advantages and disadvantages of various machines. Below is a starting point for you to find the most compatible machine for your use.
- http://www.apple.com/mac/compare
- http://notebooksforstudents.org
- http://www.cnet.com/topics/laptops/best-laptops/
Can we use our own family-provided iPad?
We strongly discourage this since the integrity of our program relies on the efficiencies afforded by providing all students in the same grade with the same iPad and the ability for the school to provide additional iPad apps.
What happens if the student’s home-owned laptop is broken, lost or stolen?
Student laptops are the property of each student and family, and therefore the school will not insure or repair any student-owned device. Repair, replacement or substitution is the responsibility of each student and family. Since daily access to a digital device is an expectation of all students, the school will provide a loaner device (depending on availability) for up to one week while necessary repairs are made. Families must make prompt arrangements for the repair or replacement of a laptop to ensure student access to digital work, both at school and at home.
We recommend that families investigate warranty and replacement programs at the time of purchase, as well as seek advice from your personal property insurance agent, if applicable. Most vendors offer warranties on new devices, but families should be careful to select a warranty that covers accidental damage rather than simply mechanical failure due to defect. Comprehensive warranties that include accidental damage (cracked screens, spilled liquids, shattered cases, missing keys, etc.) cost more, but enable the device to be replaced or repaired quickly, often without additional cost. Below are three companies known to service student laptop insurance:
What happens if a school-provided iPad or digital pen is broken, lost or stolen?
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iPad: Students should immediately report a broken, lost or stolen iPad to Tech Support by emailing support@sacredsf.org. Tech Support will provide a loaner device and arrange for repair and/or replacement. Families are responsible for costs associated with breakage or loss. Please refer to the Damage or Loss section of the Grade 9–12 Agreement.
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Digital Pen: All students are provided one Logitech Crayon with a unique asset tag that can be traced back to the student as long as it is not removed. The school will not replace a lost or damaged Crayon. Families should purchase a replacement (~$65) from Logitech, Amazon or elsewhere. Alternatively, an
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Apple Pencil (1st generation only) will work with our Generation 8, 9 and 10 iPads. Note: The inner components of the Logitech Crayon are essentially the same as the Apple Pencil — and has the added benefit of not requiring electronic pairing.
Why can’t a Chromebook be sufficient as a primary device?
Chromebooks are attractive due to their low cost and might work quite well as a student’s secondary device. However, Chromebooks are dependent on a web connection, have extremely limited internal storage and cannot install required or desired software applications. In short, they have too many limitations to best support learning in Grades 9–12.
Do we need to buy software?
Most of the necessary work can be accomplished within our school’s Google Workspace for Education suite of online tools. In addition, there is a plethora of free online and downloadable software. If additional specific software is required for classwork, the school will either provide a license or you will be informed otherwise. For example, the school provides a full Adobe Suite license to students who need access to its many programs.
Students will be required to confirm installation of antivirus software. The school recommends Malwarebytes, a free tool.
How does a student add their device to the school network?
The school will provide a simple method to gain full access to our network systems. Incoming freshmen will be provided directions during Freshman Success in August. Returning students will be informed prior to their return to campus.
Who can I contact with further questions?
- For inquiries about programmatic and policy-related issues, contact Krista Inchausti, Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning.
- For inquiries about specific technical assistance or specific student needs, contact Tech Support at support@sacredsf.org, and a team member will get back to you shortly.
- For inquiries about classroom rules, expectations and curricular use, please contact your child’s teacher(s) or Division Head.
Under Age 13 Services
Third Party Tools and Services
For Students Under Age 13
Below is a list of third party web-based services either in use or planned to be in use in Grades K–8 that require student information in order to have functional access. This is provided both as a service to parents and educators, as well as part of the COPPA Policy to help protect the privacy of students under 13.
Zoom for K–12 School
The school has a paid license to use the Zoom video conferencing system to support distance learning and video conference capabilities.
- Curricular Use: Enables virtual synchronous classroom continuance such as during campus closures; provides opportunities to bring guests into the classroom via teleconferencing.
- Scope of Student Use: Students do not have their own accounts, rather they are invited to participate by their teachers; all faculty and staff have accounts.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Formative
- Curricular Online math tool that provides real-time feedback for students working independently and allows teachers to perform online assessments.
- Scope of Student Use Students in grades 7 & 8 sign into Formative with their Google credentials.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Notability
- Curricular Digital note-taking app used across subjects in grades 5-8 for classwork and PDF annotation.
- Scope of Student Use 5-8 students connect their Notability app to their Google Drive in order to backup their work.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
CoSpaces
- Curricular Virtual world-builder used to create online “museums” for historical artifacts.
- Scope of Student Use Students in grades 5 and 6 log directly into the teacher’s online class with their Google credentials.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Adobe Apps
- Curricular Students use these professional grade creativity apps for projects involving digital design, photography, filmmaking.
- Scope of Student Use 5-8 students can log into their Adobe Enterprise account using their school Google Credentials
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Padlet
- Curricular A virtual sticky note wall gives students a virtual way to capture ideas and collaborate.
- Scope of Student Use Grades 3-8 are able to connect to the teacher’s Padlet - no login required.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Noodle Tools
- Curricular Students use Noodle Tools to produce accurate citations for research.
- Scope of Student Use Used by students in grades 5-8, the site does not collect any identifiable information from children under 13.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
iXL
- Curricular Individualized math support
- Scope of Student Use Students K-4 sign into a teacher managed account using a teacher-given password.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Quizlet
- Curricular A virtual flash card application used for studying.
- Scope of Student Use For children age 13 or younger (or other age of consent where required by local law), Quizlet offers a restricted feature set and website experience that removes certain features.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Conjuguemos
- Curricular Spanish practice and homework
- Scope of Student Use Students in grades 5-8 log in with their school Google credentials.
- Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
Acceptable Use Policy
Network Resources
Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Schools of the Sacred Heart | San Francisco
Definitions
- School — refers to Convent & Stuart Hall (Schools of the Sacred Heart San Francisco).
- Users — refers to students, staff, employees, trustees, volunteers and any other individuals utilizing School Network Resources.
- Computers — refers to all personal or school-owned devices that store digital data including desktop and laptop computers, iPads and other tablet-based equipment, data capture and/or storage devices such as cameras, audio recorders, hard-drives, flash-drives and other digital storage devices.
- Network Resources — refers to School computers and other digital technology resources and services, including but not limited to: computers (as defined below); software and operating systems; email, voicemail and all related storage and retrieval systems; data and database storage and retrieval systems including local and cloud-based services; and all other internal and external networks and internet services made accessible by and for the School.
Convent & Stuart Hall reserves the right to amend this statement at any time with or without notice.
Overview
Convent & Stuart Hall expects all users to conduct themselves ethically and in accordance with the Goals & Criteria, whether they are using School resources on or off campus. The most relevant Goals & Criteria include:
GOAL 2: A deep respect for intellectual values.
- Members of the School community model and teach ethical and respectful use of technology.
GOAL 4: The building of community as a Christian value.
- The School promotes a safe and welcoming environment in which each person is valued, cared for and respected.
GOAL 5: Personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom.
- All members of the School community show respect, acceptance and concern for themselves and for others.
- Network Resources are important tools for furthering the educational mission of the School. Using these resources is a privilege, not a right. This policy outlines the School's' expectations for exercising this privilege responsibly.
- School policies and practices promote self-discipline, responsible decision-making and accountability.
These Guidelines serve as an outline of expected behavior and delineate some unaccepted behaviors; however these lists are not exhaustive. Users must abide by all School policies such as individual School, grade-level or classroom rules.
Users must refrain from any activity when in doubt about the legality, ethics or applicability to the rules contained herein. When an action is unclear, users agree to seek advice and/or permission from those with greater authority and knowledge about computer and network services.
Violation of these Guidelines may result in disciplinary or legal action, as deemed appropriate by representatives of the School.
In general, Users are responsible for:
- Behaving courteously, ethically and legally in accordance with the Goals & Criteria, whether they are using Network Resources on or off campus;
- Cooperating with School personnel when policy violations are suspected or confirmed.
- Reporting policy violations promptly to School administrators;
Legal and Ethical use of Network Resources
Legal Use
Users are expected to protect the School's investment in Network Resources. Theft, vandalism, tampering, destruction or disregard for the intended use of Network Resources are not acceptable. Users agree to:
- Not steal, destroy, deface or otherwise cause harm to School Network Resources;
- Report others' abuse of Network Resources to School administrators.
- Not plagiarize;
- Not download, copy or share works, such as music, videos or software without payment and/or the owner’s permission;
What this means to students: You must know and follow all laws. Violating laws puts you, your parents and the whole school community at legal risk.
Finite Resources
Understanding that the School’s’ resources are finite and that responsible, academic and school-related creative use must be given priority, Users agree to refrain from activities that hinder network access to other users. Individual prohibited activities include, but are not limited to, streaming video, audio, or other digital files for entertainment, such as those delivered through Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, television and other media apps, or gaming sites. Chats or video conferencing through Facetime, Hangouts, or other means are restricted to academic pursuits.
What this means to students: No watching or listening to video or audio entertainment while at school as this slows down access for everyone.
Ethical Use
Understanding that the use of School Network Resources involves exercising care and ethical treatment of all, Users agree not to engage in unethical activity, including but not limited to:
- Accessing or tampering with another person’s account or gaining unauthorized access to resources by evading or purposefully breaking into protected content. All users are expected to keep their passwords and personal information private.
- Knowingly accessing inappropriate content, such as pornography, profanity, racist, sexist or otherwise unethical material, unless conducted as part of teacher-supervised academic study.
- Recording others with still photos, video or audio in situations in which they have an expectation of privacy.
- Distributing or posting other people’s information without their knowledge or agreement, such as forwarding email or other messages, photos, audio and video.
What this means to students: Before sending any information to others or posting online, ask yourself, “Might this hurt the feelings of others?”
Using Networked Resources
Non-Managed Internet Services
The School cannot be responsible for the security or accessibility of content stored on Internet servers not managed by the School. Users who choose to use remotely hosted services for School-related purposes may do so, but with the following conditions:
- They do not represent in any way that these are School-owned or managed resources;
- Teacher-chosen services for use by students must be submitted to and cleared by the administration prior to purchase or use.
- The posted content conforms to this Acceptable Use Policy and other published School guidelines for appropriate conduct;
What this means to students: Use websites, apps and other Internet-connected sites wisely and in accordance of School rules. When in doubt, ask a parent or teacher for advice.
Minimally Managed Content
The School's Network Resources employ limited content controls in order to maximize access to the widest array of appropriate tools and materials. These controls are partly managed by contracted vendor relationships with expertise in K-12 student access. The School also configures individual student devices with a wide range of access. Parents should assume technical restrictions will not limit student access to potentially objectionable content. Therefore:
- Parents may choose to monitor student home use, either with time and place restrictions or with their own home device systems;
- Parents may choose to enable technical content restrictions on the student's take-home device so long as these restrictions do not hinder student ability to complete required work.
What this means to students: You may accidentally access inappropriate information, and when you do, exercise "wise freedom" and immediately close or quit the application.
Identity Management
Anonymous or pseudonymous electronic communications are inappropriate when used to dissociate Users from responsibility. Publishing anonymously or with an invented name for malicious purposes is prohibited. Anonymous or pseudonymous electronic communication may be appropriate when used to maintain appropriate online security when publishing School-related online content to an audience beyond the School community.
Users may not use Network Resources to transmit, view, or publish material inappropriate for a School environment. Users must take appropriate security precautions when posting online content. Users may not send or post messages anonymously or posing as another person to mask inappropriate behavior. Users may post School-related messages anonymously or with an invented name to remain appropriately secure online or for faculty-directed academic purposes.
It is never appropriate to pose as another real person online.
What this means to students: Do not use services that hide your real identity unless this is part of a teacher-led activity.
Intellectual Property Rights
Copyright Infringement
The School's Network Resources may not be used to steal content owned or copyrighted by others. Fair use laws regarding copyright apply; in general, a single copy made for personal use falls within fair use laws, while multiple copies do not. The various School libraries and librarians will provide resources and guidance. In cases where the law is unclear, Users should assume that anything published on the Internet is copyrighted. The School’s technology personnel actively monitor network activity, investigate network behavior when it appears that illegal file sharing may be taking place and communicate suspected or confirmed violations to the appropriate Administrator responsible for the User(s) in question.
What this means to students: Seek advice from your teachers or librarians before making copies of any material.
Copyright Infringement
Software piracy occurs when one installs and/or uses software for which proper payment has not been made. Protected software may not be copied into, from, or by any School facility or system, except by license. Copying software from School Network Resources is prohibited, as well as copying software between School and home computers. Exceptions include instances in which specific license agreements provides software licenses for home, work-related use. Users should consult the Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning to determine which software programs are eligible for home installation.
The School enters into a variety of software licensing agreements, some of whose terms are complex. Users are expected to consult Technology Department support staff when considering purchasing or installing software to certify that doing so will comply with vendor licensing agreements.
The Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning is responsible for ensuring that the School’s Network Resources are fully compliant with vendor licensing agreements. All School-owned software licenses acquired by donations, departmental or grade level purchases or promotional programs must be registered with the Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning to be inventoried. Technology Department staff may remove unregistered software from School devices until proper licensing can be verified. User-owned software installed on School Network Resources must abide by all the above and all copyright laws.
What this means to students: Do not copy and distribute any songs, videos, software or other media. Owning a song or video does not give you permission to send copies to others.
Legal Documents
Computers and associated peripherals such as printers and scanners may not be used to create fraudulent or counterfeit documents such as IDs, currency, tickets, legal documents, etc.
What this means to students: Do not photograph or copy money or legal documents.
Commercial and Political Activity
The School’s Network Resources are not to be used for commercial or political advocacy purposes, such as marketing, reselling bandwidth, business transactions between commercial organizations or political lobbying. Commercial advertising is forbidden. Any content created for personal financial gain using the School's Network Resources may belong to the School.
What this means to students: If you are developing a product or service using any School device, seek permission first from the President.
School Access, Monitoring and Security of Network Resources
The School owns all data stored on School-owned Network Resources, including but not limited to the data network, computers, tablets, mobile data storage devices, connected peripherals and School contracted Internet-based services.
Users must abide by School Technology Department directives such as mandated software installation, de-installation, and required system upgrades.
Individuals using these resources are subject to having their activities monitored and recorded by authorized School Technology Department personnel as directed by The Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning or other senior Administrator. Anyone using this system expressly consents to such monitoring. When monitoring reveals possible Acceptable Use Policy violations, School personnel may provide this data to School administrators.
The School maintains the right to monitor Network Resources electronically to ensure that system performance, management and maintenance functions, policy compliance and system security are intact and that problems can be diagnosed and resolved quickly when disruptions to normal service occur. This extends to services the School provides to you. Users are prohibited from installing software designed to breach security measures, including software to crack or capture passwords or break encryption protocols. Use or possession of hacking software is strictly prohibited.
Any attempt to deliberately degrade or disrupt system performance or to interfere with the work of others is a breach of this policy.
Limits may be set on certain Network Resources such as digital storage space, printing access, bandwidth priority for specific applications, computer login time, etc. Users may not attempt to bypass these limitations.
What this means to students: Hacking into any system designed to keep you out is wrong. The School can monitor your actions.
Privacy and Personal Security
Information you have not been invited to use is not yours to access. Even if a User's files are unprotected, it is improper for another User to read them unless the owner has given permission. Any attempt to access another User's files by any means constitutes a violation of this policy.
Users are expected to safeguard their data, authorization codes and passwords by choosing passwords difficult to guess and changing these passwords frequently. You may not attempt to bypass password security features in any manner. Users are responsible for all activity on accounts assigned to them and must take all reasonable precautions, including password maintenance and file protection measures, to prevent use of their accounts by unauthorized persons.
It is inappropriate and inadvisable to use School-owned computers for conducting sensitive or confidential personal business or storing such data. Users are advised that all data on School computers belongs to the School; technical support personnel at Convent & Stuart Hall may access other's files when necessary for the maintenance of computer systems. When performing this maintenance, every effort is made to ensure the privacy of a User's files. However, Users cannot reasonably expect the same level of privacy as they would on a computer they own.
Conversely, it is inadvisable to use personally owned accounts for conducting School-related business. Conflating personal and professional accounts when using electronic tools and services may expose personal accounts to unwanted scrutiny by legal entities investigating possible malfeasance involving School employees. School-provided accounts and services may only be used by the individual to whom the account is assigned. Users may not authorize anyone, including family members other than their parent or legal guardian, to use School equipment or account(s) or login information for any reason. Parents reserve the right to access their child’s School-provided equipment and School-provided accounts.
What this means to students: Never attempt to access someone else’s account. Don’t provide your login information to others. Assume anything you write or post might be viewable to others.
Consequences
The User in whose name a system account and/or computer hardware is issued will be responsible at all times for its appropriate use.
Noncompliance with these and other School policies may result in suspension or termination of Network Resources privileges, other appropriate discipline including expulsion, termination and/or legal action. Violations of applicable state and federal law will result in criminal prosecution, as well as disciplinary actions by the School.
The School cooperates fully with local, state, or federal officials in any investigation concerning or relating to violations of computer crime laws. Contents of email and network communications are governed by State and Federal laws; proper authorities will be given access to any content as warranted.
What this means to students: If you break the rules, expect serious consequences.
Exceptions
All requests for exceptions or clarifications should be directed to the appropriate head, Director of Technology in Teaching & Learning, or president.
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
Federal law, specifically the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), requires that children under 13 years of age must have verifiable parental consent to use online services that collect personal information. This consent is provided via the Family Information Form. COPPA also permits a school to gather consent from parents on behalf of its students, thus eliminating the need for parents to provide consent, and establish accounts individually with each of the service providers.
For more information, please review this letter.