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 all classwork required at SMA, especially when paired with a keyboard.
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, students with home computers can take advantage of these powerful 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 laptops 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 school: Responsible Use Policy - St. Mary's Academy (stmaryspdx.org)
- Can Juniors and Seniors 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. Important Notes:
- Personal computers must support communication with 5GHz wireless networks using the security protocol WPA3. In general, if the laptop was manufactured before 2022, it will likely not connect.
- There are limited power outlets in classrooms and shared spaces. There should be no expectation that power will be provided to student desks.
- Sophomores and Freshmen can also connect using a personal laptop only if they are enrolled in an online program that takes place during the school day (e.g., LanguageBird).
- Personal laptops must be consistently updated with the latest OS and application patches. Anti-virus/malware software must also be installed.
- 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 with instructions on how to clear up the issue. If it continues to happen, we will block the device permanently for the remainder of the school year.
- 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.). But we will not attempt to repair a laptop that could cause more damage or negate the warranty.
- 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 be asked which school you are affiliated with 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 two devices of which their iPad counts as one device. Microsoft is licensed for five devices, of which their iPad counts as one device. So other family members could utilize Microsoft 365. Note: it can only be used with student accounts.
- It is a requirement that students bring their SMA iPad to school, even if they do have a laptop, 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.