Laptop Purchasing Information Letter | Curriculum Guide
Gross Catholic's technology program provides students with the skills to compete in our technology-driven world. The technology-based curriculum greatly enhances education and allows student access to a computer at all times during the day via their personal laptops and our wireless network.
We were the first school in the metro area to have a laptop program!
Recent studies indicate that high school users that have anytime internet access and have experienced total technology integration receive higher college entrance exam scores and are better prepared for college.
This year's laptop purchasing information letter that goes out to all incoming freshman and new students is now available.
Each Gross Catholic student is expected to have a laptop to bring to class. There are two ways to purchase a laptop for school: (1) Order a laptop through a school group purchase with full payment due by June 1 or (2) purchase or otherwise acquire a laptop (new or used) on your own. The advantage of purchasing a laptop through the school is that we will service the laptop at school, which often saves days and weeks of downtime. The student will indicate their choice when they register for classes. Information about ordering a laptop through the school will be available in the spring.
If you purchase a laptop on your own, it must meet the specifications outlined below. If your non-school laptop breaks, we will help with repair and recommend a particular action, but the student is ultimately responsible for any repair costs. Students may purchase their own laptop (not through the school) if it meets the following specifications:
-Operating System: Any version of Windows Vista / 7/ 8 is fully supported. Other operating systems such as the Mac OS, Linux, and others may not be fully supported.
-RAM: 1.0 GB minimum
-Wireless: 802.11 b and/or g and /or n
-Service: 4 year parts and labor warranty and 4 year accidental damage protection (can be less than 4 years.) This accidental damage protection is highly recommended, but not required. The constant movement in a school environment can be very hard on laptops.
-Office package: Microsoft Office 2010 or 2013 REQUIRED
-Anti Virus: We install the school’s anti-virus on your computer
-Web filtering: we have filtered internet access at school but it is not installed on the laptop. Once the laptop leaves the school wireless network, it may have access to the unfiltered web.
Macs or Ipads are not fully supported. The student will have to work around certain issues on their own. Microsoft Office for Macs must be purchased.
Tablets and cell phones are allowed to be used to connect to the internet and to be used for educational purposes while at school. While these devices are very useful and convenient, they cannot do everything that a student needs for class at Gross Catholic and should not be the primary device. They can be used as secondary devices in addition to the required laptop and are not required.
All students will need to abide by the school rules and guidelines outlined in the school handbook relating to the use of technology. Students with newly purchased laptops will receive technology training during their regular class
