As we come to the end of the 2023-2024 school year, we would like to take this opportunity to share crucial information regarding school-issued devices and Optional Device Protection for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.
TOPICS INCLUDED IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
- Student devices coming home for summer
- Parent/Guardian tools for supporting student online safety during summer
- Expectations for "ALWAYS-ON" cases
- Optional Device Protection Plan for the 2024-2025 school year
- Hotspots
As in years past, 5-11th grade students be bringing their devices home for the summer. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the devices in good condition. The following groups of students are eligible to take their devices home:
- Secondary students (unless communicated otherwise by your student's school)
- Currently enrolled 5th Grade Students
Students and parents/guardians should develop a system for using and storing devices and accessories (charging cable, stylus, carrying bag) over the summer. When students return in the Fall of 2024, they will bring the devices and accessories to their assigned schools.
Summer Device Filtering
The GoGuardian internet filter will remain active on student devices throughout the summer. However, district staff will not monitor or receive GoGuardian alerts regarding students' browsing activities during the summer.
Please note that only browsing alerts related to suicide and self-harm will be sent to parents. We encourage parents to set appropriate measures for device use in their homes and use the GoGuardian Parent mobile app to monitor and control their student's school-issued device use.
Suicide and Self-Harm Alerts
After school on Friday, May 24, 2024, the GoGuardian alerting system will be reconfigured to notify parents or guardians if any highly alarming online activity linked to suicide or self-harm is identified on your child's school-issued device.
- Alerts will be sent directly to the email addresses listed in PowerSchool under household contacts. The alert will be emailed to contacts one and two only.
- Please ensure that your contact information in PowerSchool is up-to-date to receive these critical alerts.
Parent Tools for Safeguarding Student's Online Activity
For parents who wish to grant their students permission to use their school-issued devices at home, we recommend utilizing the GoGuardian Parent App (GoGuardian Parent App | West Ada School District). This app enables you to monitor and control your student's browsing activity, providing additional control and supervision.
Over the summer, the GoGuardian Parent App allows parents/guardians to:
- View the "Top 5" summary of student browsing activities, including applications and extensions used, documents, and websites visited
- Review the 30-day history of websites, videos, documents, apps, and extensions
- Block websites on school-issued devices
- Pause internet access on school-issued devices
Parents and guardians with questions about the GoGuardian Parent App are encouraged to use the following resources for more information:
- GoGuardian Parent App | West Ada School District
- GoGuardian Parent App Features - for detailed information on the mobile application
- Getting Started with GoGuardian Parent App - for instructions on downloading and installing the app
- Contact the West Ada Service Desk: (208) 350-5300
Additional Measure for Safe Guarding Your Student Online
As a parent or guardian, you can take some critical steps to help ensure your student's safety online:
- Set guidelines for internet usage to promote responsible online behavior
- Establish specific hours for online activities
- Designate supervised areas for device use in the presence of a responsible adult
Additional talking points to consider to help your students understand potential dangers they may encounter when online:
- Avoid talking to strangers online and never agree to meet them in person
- Never share personal information, such as full name, birthday, address, or email address with anyone online
- Be cautious about downloading files or pictures from unknown sources
Student devices have been fitted with an "ALWAYS-ON" case (with the exception of 11th-grade devices, which still use the black Bump Armor carrying cases previously provided).
Expectations of Use for ALWAYS-ON case:
- As the title indicates, the case is intended and expected to remain ON at all times.
- The case should only be installed or removed by a trained technician. An increased risk of damage and screen breakage can result if it is not installed/removed correctly. Damage resulting in self-removal of the case nullifies the Optional Device Protection Plan.
- Devices with the ALWAYS-ON case can be safely transported in students' backpacks or other laptop cases.
Benefits/Incentives of the ALWAYS-ON case:
- Protects against accidental bumps, drops, and other minor damage, reducing damages by up to 40%.
- Minimizes lost instructional time caused by device damage and subsequent repairs.
- Ensures claims submitted through the optional district Device Protection Plan are covered. Optional Device Protection coverage will require the case to have been ON the device when the damage occurred.
- Allows students to personalize the front/top of their devices with school-appropriate stickers and/or drawings (unless directed otherwise by your child's school).
Want to safeguard your family from the expense of repairing any accidental damage to your school-provided devices?
Consider an Optional Device Protection Plan. It's a smart and practical way to safeguard your school-issued technology.
Families can enroll early for Device Protection for the following school year each spring. Early Enrollment Device Protection is available now and will remain available until July 31, 2024. During this period, families can purchase Optional Device Protection at a discounted price of $20 per device. Coverage can still be purchased after this date until the end of September for the regular price of $25.
Enrollment for the 2024-2025 school year
- Early enrollment: March 1 - July 31 - Discounted price - $20 per device
- Regular Enrollment : August 1 - October 7 - $25 per device
Optional Device Protection Coverage Dates
Enrolling and paying for Optional Device Protection provides coverage until October 1 of the following school year.
- 2023-2024 School Year: Coverage will end October 1, 2024
- 2024-2025 School Year: coverage will end October 1, 2025
Information about what to do with your device at the end of the year or about Optional Device Protection can be found on the West Ada website (Device Protection Program | West Ada School District) or by contacting your school.
If your student was issued a hotspot for the 2023-2024 school year, please make sure it is returned to the school for the summer. Hotspots will be disabled on Wednesday, May 29th, and fines issued for unreturned devices.
If you have questions or want to find out whether your student qualifies for a hotspot for the 2024-2025 school year, please visit the West Ada Website, Technology, Hotspots.
It's crucial that graduating students have the option to access their emails, assignments, and files created using their West Ada accounts. To do this, they must download them to a personal device before their account is deactivated.
HOW LONG DOES MY INFORMATION STAY ACTIVE?
For graduating students, there's a 90-day window from the last day of school to log in and download their files. Non-returning students have 14 days from their PowerSchool 'exit date' to do the same.
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DOWNLOAD YOUR ITEMS, PLEASE KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND:
OneDrive prevents "all files" from being downloaded simultaneously when OneNote files are included in the selected files.
Please be aware of storage space limitations when transferring files. Both Microsoft and Google offer personal (free and paid-for accounts) accounts with various storage options.
CLICK HERE to view instructions on downloading files from OneDrive. If you have additional questions or concerns, please call the Service Desk at 208-350-5300.
