All Year 7-13 pupils will be expected to bring a device to use in their classes.  We are committed to using a device as a tool to support the students’ learning and allow students to work online from home should the situation arise.

There are some general guidelines/specifications for what the device should have.

• Have good battery life.  Devices must be charged at home, overnight.
• Have a keyboard.  If your child uses an iPad, they will require a Bluetooth keyboard.
• Be Internet accessible so students can access their Microsoft 365 Portal/Google Apps for education.
• Be covered by your insurance.  The school will not be responsible for any loss or breakages.
• Please note – a Cell Phone will NOT be considered the most appropriate learning device. Your child can bring in a device you already have if it meets the criteria above.
• Please disable the parental lock as the device cannot be used at school with this lock in place.
• Year 7-10 students: We highly recommend Chromebooks, or some variation on this, because they are the most cost-effective and durable for this age.
• Years 11-13 students: We recommend laptops.

Subject Specific Specifications

For some Art based Year 9 and 10 Learning Packages, a Chromebook isn’t the best option.  A laptop is preferable.  Such choices include 9/10 Digi Image (DME) and 9/10 Innovation and Invention (INI).  Laptops for these subjects need to have 8GB RAM and a minimum of 240GB hard disk/SSD.

For all Senior Art packages Levels 1-3, laptops need additional specifications above and beyond the general requirements.  These include 240GB Hard disk/SSD and 12 GB RAM.

Learning Needs e.g., Dyslexia

If your child has dyslexia or any other specific learning needs, we suggest you check out a computer or tablet with assistive technology, i.e., text-to-speech and speech-to-text features built in.  All Windows devices, Chromebooks and Apple devices have these.

On loan School Devices

We know providing a device is not always easy for every family so as a School, we will continue to provide some ‘loaners’ for daily use.  These are Chromebooks/Laptops which students can borrow from the Library from 8.30 – 8.45 am, and lunchtime each school day. These must be returned at the end of the day.  This ideally would only be an interim measure to give families time to purchase their own devices.  As you will appreciate, demand often exceeds our supply. But we try to do our best for the students.

Netsafe – Snapchat

There have been growing concerns around the use of snapchat. For over 25 years, Netsafe has supported people across New Zealand to have safe and positive online experiences, by providing free support, advice and education to all ages.

Click HERE for a useful guide to help navigate Snapchat safely. Designed with whānau and teens in mind, these resources help you to discover essential features like privacy settings, safe communication tips, and family safety controls. A worthwhile read for parents and whānau.

As of Monday 12 February 2024:

• Students cannot use a cellphone whilst on the school site from 8:50 am – 3:10 pm
• All cellphones must be left at home or switched off and in the student’s bag
• Airpods/Headphones may not be used if linked to a cellphone
• Exemptions for medical reasons can be applied for to the Principal

Whenever a student is found with their cell phone out, they will be sent with a note from a teacher to hand it into Student Services. 

1. First 2 times; when a student hands in their cell phone, they can pick it up at the end of the day.
2. 3^rd time; the cell phone will need to remain at Student Services until a caregiver can pick it up. The student will not be allowed to bring their cellphone to school for two weeks.
3. 4^th time; students will not be able to bring their cellphone to school for four weeks.

If you have an urgent message for your child, please ring Student Services on 03-211-6030. It is also permissible for you to send your child an email which they can pick up on their device (Chromebook/laptop). When students are released at 3:10 pm they can take their cellphone out and check for any messages.