1 to 1 Parent/Student Guide - Highland Middle School

What are the daily expectations for the iPads?

• Students are to bring charged iPads to each class daily.
• iPads are to be used as an integral part of every classroom.
• Classroom iPad usage should support measurable educational goals.
• Teachers are in control of when and how students are to use their iPad in class.
• Students are responsible for keeping their iPads in good, working order.

 How should students and parents become familiar with the iPad?

• A series of online tutorials have been created to assist students and parents in becoming familiar with how the iPad works, how to complete basic tasks, and how to participate in virtual learning via Microsoft Teams when appropriate.

What sign off forms must be completed by parents prior to a student receiving an iPad?

• Several iPad sign off forms must be completed prior to a student receiving an iPad.
• The forms are available for digital acceptance in Skyward family access.
• Downloadable copies of the form are available on the 1 to 1 Forms page.

Are there any insurance requirements for students in grades 5-8?

• iPad insurance can optionally be purchased by families in grades 5-8.
• Insurance coverage is $40 per year, per student.
• The maximum insurance cost per family is $80 per year.

 What exactly does the insurance cover?

• A summary of the insurance coverage can be found on the iPad Insurance and Coverage page.

How can a student/parent sign up for insurance?

• Parents will opt in or opt out of insurance coverage in Skyward family access.
• If insurance is selected, parents will make payment using the FnB eGov online payment portal.
• Parents will have until September 23rd, 2023 to submit payment for the insurance coverage.   After that time, insurance coverage will be dropped for the device until payment is received.

If I am unable to afford the insurance coverage, what can be done?

• Any student who are enrolled in the "Free and Reduced Lunch" program are eligible to have their iPad insurance fee waived.   In lieu of payment, the iPad Insurance Waiver Form should be completed and  submitted to any building office in the district.  
• Any students or families with financial hardship should contact their building principal to discuss additional waiver options..

 What if a student does not purchase the iPad insurance coverage?

• The student/family would be responsible for the full repair or replacement of any lost or damaged iPad.
• A full iPad replacement cost is $299.
• Repairs typically range between $59 (repairing a headphone jack) and $239 (cracked screen).

Who should be contacted if a student is having technical difficulty with their iPad?

• Students should report technical any difficulty to their classroom teacher.
• If needed, the classroom teachers will work with the technology department to resolve any issues. 

When students access the Internet using their iPad, is the content filtered or tracked?

 How do students download apps to their iPads?

• Each iPad has a "Self Service" app installed on them.  This app allows all students to download the apps the district has made available to them.
• Students do not have access to the "App Store" 

Do students have the ability to delete apps?

• Students have the ability to delete apps from the iPad.
• Any app deleted can be re-downloaded by using the "Self Service" app.
• Students are encouraged to delete apps after they will no longer be needed (i.e. after a specific lesson).  This type of "app management" may be necessary if an iPad's storage becomes full. 

What apps should be used for students to create documents in class?

• While Apple has several options, it is required that Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel be used as the "core apps" for document creation in class.

Where should students save files on the iPad?

• The iPad has several options for storing files online (i.e. "The Cloud").
• Microsoft OneDrive provides 1 TB of cloud storage for students.
• Apple iCloud profices 200 GB of cloud storage for students when signed into their "Managed Apple ID"
• Students will be required to use Microsoft OneDrive for saving "core apps" documents so that files created on the iPads can easily transfer to district PC's found in computer labs.
•  Tutorials will provide guidance on how to organize and save files on the iPad using the various cloud services.

What is a "Managed Apple ID" and how does it work?

•  A "Managed Apple ID" is a login that Blackhawk School district has created for students to take advantage of certain Apple services.
• "Managed Apple IDs" for Blackhawk students take advantage of "Single Sign On" which means that students will use the same user name and password as their Microsoft Office 365 email account to log in.
• Students can sign into their "Managed Apple ID" on their iPad to gain access to the 200 GB of iCloud storage.  

 How should students who do not have Internet access at home work with files on the iPad?

• The iPads have the ability to save files directly on the iPad (i.e. not in the cloud).
• This will allow students to download and work with files off line.
• Tutorials will provide guidance on how to work with files directly on the iPad.
• Please review the "Connectivity Assistance" page if you need an avenue to obtain Internet access.

Where in the school are iPads not permitted?

• Restrooms
• Locker rooms
• Nurses office (they must be turned off)

What should students do with their iPads when they go to lunch or gym?

• To be announced.

How will teachers alert students to stop using their iPads in class, what is the consequences if students do not comply?

• Teachers will use the standard phrase "screens down" to indicate to students that technology should be placed face down on the desk and technology is not to be used.
• Failure to comply with any technology instructions will be handled as a normal insubordination offense for the students.

Will there be an iPad pass code requirement for students, and how will it work?

• Students are encouraged to create a pass code to secure access to the apps and files on their iPad but it is not required.
• If a pass code is in place, teachers have the right to ask students to unlock their iPads at any time.
• The district IT staff has the ability to bypass student pass codes should the student forget their pass code or refuse to unlock the iPad upon request.

What is the process for students needing replacement cords or power adapters for their iPads?

• Students with malfunctioning cables or power adapters will need to report the issue to a teacher.  A no cost replacement will be provided to the student with the trade in of the malfunctioning cord or power adapter as long as the accessory does not appear to be damaged.
• Teachers will collect the malfunctioning cables and/or power adapters and the replacements will be delivered to a student's homeroom teacher. 
• A student may purchase additional cables by visiting the "Approved iPad Accessories Page" or by completing the "iPad Replacement Cable/Power Adapter Form" then returning it to their homeroom teacher..
• The replacement equipment will be delivered to the student's homeroom teacher after processing

 What is the procedure if a student forgets their iPad or needs their iPad serviced?

• At Highland Middle School specific grade level teachers will be in charge of managing "loaner" iPads.
  • 8th Grade - Phelps
  • 7th Grade - Cox
  • 6th Grade - Braddock
  • 5th Grade - Muslin 
• A student must request a "loaner" iPad during homeroom as early as possible.  "Loaner" iPads will not have a keyboard and will require students to download all needed apps and to login/out of those apps as needed.
• Any "loaner" iPads provided must be kept by the student for the entire day and must be returned during the last period of the school day.  The student is responsible for wiping down/sanitizing the iPad and ensuring that are signed out of all apps/websites prior to returning the iPad to the teacher that issued the "loaner".  Any student with an early dismissal must leave their "loaner" iPad with the last teacher they have for the day.
• If  an iPad needs sent for service but is not damaged (i.e. a cracked screen), the student will leave the iPad with the grade level teacher responsible for distributing loaners.   The teacher will submit an IT request for service.
• If a student's iPad is "forgotten" for 5 consecutive days it will be considered lost and the student/parent will be responsible for the cost of the replacement iPad.

What is the procedure for a damaged iPad?

• A student with a damaged iPad must report the damage to a teacher immediately.
• The student, parent, teacher, or principal will complete an "iPad Damage Report" which will be investigated by a district administrator.
• If the damage is due to negligence, the student will be responsible for either a deductible (if insurance was purchased), cost or the repair, or the total replacement of the iPad.
• A student will be issued a "loaner" until the iPad can be replaced or repaired. 

 What is the procedure if an iPad is stolen?

• The student should first report the stolen iPad to the local police department and obtain a police report.
• The student should alert the building principal of the stolen iPad so that the district IT department can disable the iPad and use the device's GPS coordinates to assist in recovery of the iPad. 

Can the district obtain the GPS coordinates and other information about the iPad?

•  Yes, the mobile device management system used by district iPads can collect information about the iPads including GPS location, installed apps, and other activity of the iPad.

If a district iPad is stolen, can it be resold or reused?

• All of the serial numbers of the iPads purchased by Blackhawk School District are uniquely managed by the district.
• Even if an iPads is stolen or wiped, they will always redownload the district's management profile each time they connect to a WiFi connection therefore rendering the device useless to anyone who steals the device.  The iPad will also report its GPS location that may assist authorities is recovering the iPad.

Can the students purchase different cases and accessories for their iPad?

• Students must keep their iPad in the case provided by the district.
• A list of approved accessories can be found on the "Approved IPad Accessories List" page.

Can students place stickers or draw on their iPad cases?

• Drawing on the iPad cases in any form is not permitted.
• Stickers may be placed on the iPad case as long as the can be removed without damaging the iPad case.
• Any damage to the iPad case will result in the student being financially responsible for a replacement.

Will student iPads be collected at the end of the school year?

• Highland School principals will send out specific information regarding the end of the year/summer iPad plans near the end of the school year.
• 8th grade iPads will be collected at the end of the 2022-2023 school and students will receive new iPads at the start of their 9th grade year as part of the district iPad replacement plan. 
• Grades 5-7 will keep their iPads over the summer .

Will the charging cables and charging bricks be collected at the end of the school year?

• iPad charging cables and charging bricks will not be collected at the end of the school year.
• Students are expected to keep the cables for using during the following year.
• New iPad charging cables and charging bricks will only be provided to students once per iPad purchase cycle (i.e. when the district purchases new iPads, each students will get a new cable and charging brick).