Do all
freshmen and incoming transfer students
have to buy a laptop?
Yes, all
incoming students must purchase a laptop
(see next question). The laptop will be
incorporated into the overall
curriculum.
Should I buy a laptop
before I come to Bergen Catholic?
No. Laptops
are purchased through a designated
vendor; all students will have the same
laptop (this helps streamline software
installation, upgrades and maintenance).
How much
does it cost?
This year,
freshman paid approximately $1350.00 for
their laptops plus a $450 software &
insurance fee. The total price includes
the laptop, the software (Windows XP
Professional, Office Professional with
Front Page), 4 years Software Assurance
(free upgrades to all licensed
software), a laptop case, 1 year Theft
and Fire Insurance, 4 years IBM ThinkPad
protection and a 4 year parts and labor
warranty.
How do I
renew my fire and theft insurance for
the laptop?
Information to renew your insurance can
be found at
nssi.com. Coverage will cost
roughly between $26 and $55.
Do I own the
laptop or give it back when I graduate?
You own the
laptop. You take it home with you every
night and keep it when you graduate.
What can/can
not be loaded onto the laptop?
The software
originally installed by Bergen Catholic
must remain on the laptop, be maintained
in usable condition, and be easily
accessible at all times. Only software
that is licensed to a laptop is to be on
a laptop. Computer images that are
obscene, violent or pornographic are not
allowed in school, including on the
laptop. Games and File sharing programs
(i.e. LimeWire, BearShare, Ares, etc.)
are not allowed on the laptops. Instant
Messaging programs (i.e. AIM, ICQ, Yahoo
Messenger, etc.) are not allowed in
school; they are strictly for home use.
How are the
laptops used in school?
Technology
has been incorporated into all
department curricula. The laptops are
used during at least one-third of all
teaching time, although many teachers
use it far more often. Students take
tests and quizzes on them, do in-class
research on the Internet, create and
present PowerPoint and MovieMaker
presentations, turn in assignments, find
their homework and grades with them,
work with graphic arts with them. In
addition, a number of textbooks are
located on line or CD-Rom.
Will the
laptop replace textbooks?
Not
immediately. Each year more textbooks
become available on CD. Some of our
classes use the CD in place of the
textbook. Textbook publishers have not
created CDs for all of their textbooks.
Many books have websites and/or
accompanying CDs for support.
Will the
laptop replace paper?
Students
will continue to take notes on paper for
some classes. Many of our teachers use
ExamView, from which quizzes and
tests are given on the laptop, rather
than on paper. Teachers have access to
students’ network folders, from which
they can grade assignments; other work
is submitted on paper.
Do students
keep their laptops with them all the
time?
Students
carry their laptops with them to all of
their classes (except lunch and gym).
The laptops will be stored in their
student locker during gym and lunch, and
during after school activities.
Can I access
the Internet from home on this laptop?
If you have
Internet access at home already, you can
connect to the Internet from your
laptop. You will need to load your
Internet Service Provider’s software on
the laptop (i.e. AOL or Optonline).
However, you cannot access the
school’s network from home.
Can I
connect this laptop to my home network?
Yes. Windows
XP is very network friendly. Using
Access IBM Connections, you can add a
new profile and add the laptop to your
home network. When you return to school,
the laptop will pick up the signal for
the BCHS network, there is no need to
make any changes to access the school or
home networks once they have been set
up.
What do I do
if the laptop is stolen?
You have a 1
year Insurance policy which covers theft
(the premium for year 1 is included in
the cost of your laptop). In successive
years, you will renew this policy to
continue your insurance coverage.
