BYOD

Chromebooks are our recommended device for parents to purchase. However, if your daughter has a laptop which meets the device specifications this could be brought to school as an alternative. After exhaustive testing we have found that iPads are not conducive to the high level of productivity needed at high school level. Chromebooks and laptops are more robust than tablets and students using tablets this year have found it difficult to complete work, particularly when documents need to be edited or long reports need to be typed. Chromebooks and laptops are more ergonomically suitable for use for long periods of time and have a USB-port which allows a mouse or external hard drive to be connected.

A Chromebook or a laptop are the only devices suitable for use by Year 9 students from 2016 onwards. The specifications are listed in the the devices section of this website.

A number of our community are concerned about the security and safety of equipment in learning areas in the school such as Physical Education. As an example the Physical Education department have fitted lockable cupboards with individual cubbies for student bags and devices – the cupboard is locked at the beginning of the period and unlocked at the end. There is no student or other unauthorised access to this facility.

Currently all students have access to the school Wifi and there have been no issues with this. There is an extremely strong firewall/filter which is constantly updated to ensure the safety of all students.

We have negotiated a reduced purchase price with PB, Tech Manukau, who are our preferred provider of Chromebooks. A number of purchase plans are available. We are also working with the WINZ who will be aware of our BYOD plans and will work with parents who receive WINZ support. If there are concerns regarding finance please contact your Year Level Dean to arrange a meeting and the school will doing everything necessary to equip our students.

Depends. A Chromebooks are connected using the student’s unique MHS Google Account. Students will be accessing and storing documents using Google Apps which stores and saves documents automatically online – however – work can be saved offline on their device as necessary.

If the laptop is broken you can contact our IT Team and they will assist where they can.

No. Generic software for web browsing, word processing etc would be satisfactory for use in class. A student at MHS also has free access to Google applications and very good online versions of Docs, Sheets, Slides and more.