Cathedral Parish School BYOD
Definition
Bring your own device (BYOD) refers to a technology model which allows students to bring a
personally owned device to work or school. For the purpose of our BYOD initiative, a personally
owned device is an approved wi-fi capable device brought into the school, owned by the
student’s family, a staff member, or guests, specifically for the purpose of learning.
Acceptable Wi-fi capable devices include:
 Chromebooks (All St. Joseph Academy students will need a Chromebook in high school)
 Laptop computers running windows or apple operating systems (OS)
 Tablets (including iPad models, Samsung Galaxy Tab, etc.)
 Students may not use devices such as the iPhone, iPod touch, or android smartphones
Likewise, most Nook or Kindle models have not been effective for students.
BYOD Expectations:
CPS will allow student owned devices in the middle school classrooms for the purposes of
learning. A Wi-Fi network has been created for all student devices that will allow connection to
the internet via the school’s web filter. Use of a 3G or 4G connection is strictly prohibited.
Devices may be utilized for note taking/word processing, accessing student textbooks, use of
approved educational apps, research for school related assignments, and other activities as
authorized by the teacher.
Use of the device will be allowed in the classroom if:
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The activity is directly related to the students educational activities;
The device usage has been approved by the classroom teacher
Devices are not to be used in the: (unless authorized for an educational purpose)
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Gym in the morning
Parish Hall at lunch
Restrooms
Locker rooms
Hallways between classes
Dismissal
Student textbooks will be available via the internet as one year web subscriptions. CPS will
provide the log in information necessary for students to access the information. In some cases
the textbook will only be accessible when an internet connection is available. Where applicable,
teachers will have hard copies of the textbooks available in the classroom. Parents may also opt
to purchase a hardback textbook.
Special Note: The ever changing nature of technology requires that we continue to grow and be
flexible as we move through this process. The policies herein may be changed or adjusted as
deemed necessary by the school.
Guidelines:
1. Any student who wishes to use a personally owned electronic device within Cathedral Parish
School must read/sign a waiver and agreement with the school. The owner of the device should
be the only person to utilize said device. Do not allow others to utilize your device.
2. The student takes full responsibility for his or her device and keeps it with himself or herself at
all times. The school is not responsible for the security of the device.
3. The student is responsible for the proper care of their personal device, including any costs of
repair, replacement, or any modifications needed to use the device at school.
4. The school reserves the right to inspect a student’s personal device if there is reason to believe
that the student has violated school policies, administrative procedures, classroom rules or has
engaged in other misconduct while using their personal device.
5. Violations of Cathedral Parish School policies involving a student’s personally owned device
may result in the loss of use of the device in school and/or disciplinary action. Students must
comply with teacher directions concerning the use of their device, including but not limited to
requests to shut down and stow away the device during class time. The teacher will decide when
and how devices will be used in the classroom.
6. Personal devices shall be charged prior to bringing them to school and shall be capable of
running off its own battery while at school. There will be limited access to charging stations in
the classroom.
8. The student may not use the devices to record, transmit, or post photos or video of a person or
persons on campus. Nor can any images or video recorded at school be transmitted or posted at
any time without the permission of a teacher.
Likewise, students may not access or post to social media sites or picture apps while on the CPS
campus!
9. The material accessed through the school’s Internet system must be for educational purposes.
Use for entertainment purposes, such as, but not limited to, personal blogging, instant messaging,
on-line shopping, or gaming, is not allowed. The school internet system may not be used to
access material that is obscene, that promotes or advocates illegal activities, that promotes the
use of alcohol or tobacco, school cheating, weapons, or that advocates participation in hate
groups or other potentially dangerous groups. If inappropriate information is mistakenly accessed
it must be reported to a teacher or school administrator.
10. The student will use the CPS Public wireless network. Use of 3G & 4G wireless connections
for accessing the Internet or creating a wireless hotspot is not allowed. Attempting to subvert the
school internet filter in any way is not allowed. Students will not attempt to gain unauthorized
access to any school systems or to go beyond the authorized access allowed by the school.
11. Use of Cell Phones will not be allowed.
12. The use or possession of a recording device in locker rooms and restrooms is strictly
prohibited. "Recording device", as used herein, will mean a camera, a video recorder, or any
other device that may be used to record or transfer images.
Cybersafety and Cyberbullying
Cyber-bullying - We have very high standards for respectful behavior among our students.
Digital Citizenship is a key feature of this initiative. Any incidents of cyber-bullying, social
media posting, or other unacceptable behavior will result in disciplinary action according to our
personal and social responsibility rules. Students face the potential for loss of permission to use
a device on campus. The loss of such a privilege may require a student to purchase additional
textbooks.
Safety – Cathedral Parish School uses a web filter to block inappropriate content from reaching
student devices. However, despite every effort for supervision and filtering, all Users and
Students’ parents/guardians are advised that access to the network may include the potential for
access to content inappropriate for school-aged students. Every user must take responsibility for
his or her use of the network and make every effort to avoid those types of content. Every User
must report security or network problems to a teacher or administrator.
Personal Safety – In using the network and Internet, Users should not reveal personal
information such as home address, financial data, or telephone numbers.
Confidentiality of User Information – Personally identifiable information concerning students
may not be disclosed or used in any way on the Internet without the permission of a parent or
guardian. Users should never give out private or confidential information about themselves or
others on the Internet.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why BYOD?
CPS is committed to developing the use of 21st century learning skills that will benefit our
students in high school, college, and in their careers. Technology increases students ability to
research educational topics and access reading material required for class.
The BYOD model will allow families to make personal choices about the operating system,
style, and nature of their investment in this process. The school will continue to research
available devices for the purposes of making recommendations in the future.
Are students required to bring a personally owned device to school?
No. This is a choice that must be made by the family.
Are students expected to use the devices at both school and home?
Yes. One of the goals of BYOD is ubiquitous and continuous access as a way to build
information literacy. This means access to the learning tools on a device at home and school.
The digital subscriptions for most textbooks may also be accessed from a home computer.
Are there any recommended and required accessories?
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A protective case/sleeve is highly recommended. It is also a good idea to use a backpack
that has an internal, padded sleeve for protecting the device.
An extended warranty is strongly recommended.
We recommend theft or hazard insurance (Warranties often do not cover abuse, theft, or
accidental damage).
A thumb drive, external hard drive or access to a cloud storage service like Google Drive,
Drop Box, etc. for backing up files is recommended (Learning to perform regular
backups and how to restore from a backup are very important skills).
A headset or ear-buds (for private listening) may be effective.
An external keyboard may be considered for some tablets.
What if I’m in 8th grade?
St. Joseph Academy is going to allow the use of Chromebooks on their campus in the 2014-2015
school year for educational activities. Please review the information soon to be available on their
website or contact the school with questions.
Who is paying for the devices?
The devices will be purchased, owned, and the responsibility of the family.
May students install software on their devices?
Yes, provided that A) parents have given such permission and B) such applications do not violate
the school's acceptable use policies. We always recommend running software downloads and
updates at home as a way to prevent network congestion and slowdowns.
Will the students have access to charging stations throughout the day?
Students are expected to arrive at school each day with a fully charged device. Most tablets and
Chromebooks should last throughout the school day with medium to heavy use. There will be
limited access to charging stations in some classrooms; however that should not be relied upon.
What should students do with devices when not in use?
Student devices may be stored in backpacks, lockers, or locked in classrooms, if allowed by the
teacher.
Who is responsible for damage, loss, or theft of devices your child brings to school?
Families must stress the responsibilities their children have when bringing their own computing
devices to school. Any devices students bring to school are their sole responsibility.
CPS takes no responsibility to search for lost or stolen devices, nor is there any assumption of
financial responsibility by CPS for damaged, lost or stolen personal computing devices.
Where may students use devices when not in class?
Devices are to be used for in-class educational purposes only unless given permission by teacher
or administrator for additional use. (See page 1)
Will devices be used in every class?
No. Whether or not a device is used will depend on the teacher’s judgment, the nature of the
day’s lesson, and the availability of digital textbooks for a particular course.
A digital device is a very powerful tool for engaging in learning and scholarly work, but it is not
the only tool that teachers use to deliver high-quality learning experiences at CPS.
What if students forget their device and need it for class?
It is the student’s responsibility to bring their device every day, just as it would be to bring a
textbook or notebook. In some cases the classroom computers will be available, but on a limited
basis.
What about printing?
Students will not have direct access to wireless printers, at this time. The use of a usb drive to
print at home or in the computer lab is a valuable tool.
How will a child's education differ if the family does not have a device to bring to school?
Students will receive the same great instruction, focusing on the same skills and objectives,
regardless of the approach you choose.
In cases where there is an interactive piece to the online version not present in the paper text,
teachers will be able to project and display that information on the main screen for everyone to
experience.
Can I email my teacher my assignments?
Students should not communicate with their teacher via email. Some textbook software may
allow for work to be completed on-line and submitted via the server for review by the teacher.
However, any email contact with the teacher should only occur via the parents. When Edline or
an Edline style product allows for work transmission, this may become an option employed by
the school.
Which is better? Mac or PC? Android or iOS? Chromebook OS?
We do not advocate one operating system over another. All have their relative strengths
and weaknesses (see below for a basic analysis). We have noted the cost effective nature of a
Chromebook, as well as the commitment that St. Joseph Academy has made to the device.
What are the relative strengths and weaknesses of laptops, tablets and Chromebooks?
Chromebook
Pros:
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Lightweight and portable
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Excellent battery life
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Fast start up
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Relatively Inexpensive
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Integrated keyboard facilitates content creation
Cons:
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Shorter lifespan. Will need to be replaced after 2-3 years.
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Not as effective for extended reading
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Requires Internet connection for most applications to run (including word processing in some models)
Laptops (Windows and Macintosh Laptops)
Pros:
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Have been on the market for quite some time
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Content creation (writing, creating multimedia, etc.)
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Have a longer lifespan (3-4 years with good care)
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Work well with older software programs, flash sites, Java sites, etc.
Cons:
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Tend to be larger, heavier and less portable
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Battery life isn’t as good as tablets/Chromebooks
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Not as effective for extended reading
Require more maintenance
Tablets (iPad and Google Nexus)
Pros:
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Cons:
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Lightweight and portable
Excellent for reading
Excellent battery life
Fast start up
Short lifespan. Will need to be replaced after 2-3 years.
Not as effective for content creation
Keyboard and other accessories add to total cost and bulk
Will not run flash, Java and Windows/Mac applications
Wi-fi capable E-readers (Kindle Fire, Nook, etc)
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Based on the experiences of families and students, these devices are not recommended for student use.
Should the technology change in newer models, they may be considered in the future.