One question we get frequently is whether or not students are required to have a personal computer at home in addition to the SMA iPad they will receive. It is not a requirement. The iPad has proven to be effective enough to complete whatever class work is required at SMA.
However, many of our students have a personal computer at home typically running macOS or Windows. With the licensing the school has with Microsoft and Adobe, those with a home computer can take advantage of these power tools. Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office 365 provide a robust experience using the best digital productivity tools on the market.
FAQs
- Does SMA have laptops to check out to students for off campus use? No.
- Does SMA sell laptop or desktop computers for students to use at home? No.
- Can students bring their personal computers to school to use in the classroom? Yes and no. Please refer to our responsible use policy for when students can use personal devices in the classroom: Responsible Use Policy - St. Mary's Academy (stmaryspdx.org)
- Can students connect their personal computers to the school Wi-Fi? Yes. These devices will have more restrictions on our network than their iPads to ensure the safety of our network and systems. The network and password information are on their iPad or in the Tech Office. Note: Personal computers need to have the capability to communicate with 5GHz wireless networks using security protocol WPA3. In general, if the laptop was manufactured before 2020 it will likely not connect.
- Personal laptops must be consistently updated with latest OS and application patches. Anti-virus/malware software must also be installed.
- Do Tech Help staff assist with personal computer issues? Yes and no. Due to licensing and liability constraints, we can help with basic computer troubleshooting (not connecting to Wi-Fi, not powering on, not updating, etc.).
- Does the Tech Office have extra laptop chargers to check out. No.
- Is there an educational discount for families to purchase computers from popular manufacturers while students are enrolled at SMA? Yes. Companies like Apple and Dell do offer educational discounts. At some point during the purchase process from their sites (or stores) you will simply be asked which school you are affiliated and they will apply the discount.
- Can other family members utilize the Adobe and Microsoft licensing provided to the students? Yes to a degree. Adobe is only licensed for 2 devices of which their iPad counts as one device. Microsoft is licensed for 5 devices of which their iPad counts as one device. So other family members could utilize Microsoft Office 365.
- Any personal laptop that is found to exhibit behavior of being infected with malware will be immediately blocked on our network. A message will appear on what to do to clear up the issue.
- We do HIGHLY recommend that students bring their SMA iPad to school regardless not only as a backup but there are assignments and activities that teachers create that require an iPad.
Please submit a request above if you have any questions.