Student TechBytes
May 28, 2024
Take a Break with the Aquarium of the Pacific
End of Year Testing
For students getting ready for Finals, or still taking State Assessments:
- Make sure you get a good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast before testing
- No Cheating
- Do not wear your smart watches during testing
- All cell phones should be in silent mode and in your backpacks
Relax! No need to be stressed or anxious
Are you Graduating?
Don't forget to download your files before you go!
If you are graduating or moving, your PUSD account will be accessible through May 31st. After that, you will lose access, so please download or transfer all of your content before then. If you have a lot of files in your Drive, it can take up to a week to transfer. For detailed instructions, please check out the newsletter linked below.
How Do I Get My Kid to Read More?
Twenty ways to foster a love for books
Everyone knows reading is good for kids. But even though it seems like a no-brainer (pick up book, move eyeballs from word to word), you've got to mix things up so kids don't get bored, run out of choices, or feel the lure of their devices. Common Sense Media's 20 tips should encourage a reading habit.
- Let them choose
- Feed their interests
- Go Hollywood
- Savor a series
- Read aloud
- Have your kid read to you
- Establish device-free times and zones
- Be a reader yourself
- Use audiobooks
- Read all around you
- Try poetry
- Visit the library
- Consider a book subscription
- Be real
- Be relevant
- Stick to a subject
- Feed the favorite-author addiction
- Laugh out loud
- Go graphic
- Be a storyteller
EdTech Resources that Support Literacy
- Epic: Epic is a digital library of online books. It has audiobooks for those beginning readers and chapter books for the more advanced. Click here for information on discounted Summer Subscriptions.
- Vooks: Vooks is a wonderful resource for PK-2 students. It provides animated stories that are read aloud to students.
- Storyline Online: This website is targeted to PK-4th grade students. It began as a site where actors read famous children’s books. It has become a place where teachers and parents can access the stories and lesson plans to go with them.
ITS Resources & Information
Is your information up to date?
Caregivers, is your information in Aeries up to date? If not, update your contact information with your school site to ensure you receive the latest information about end of school year events, enrollment, summer school, and more.
PUSD Help Desk
As a reminder, when there are issues at your site, the best way to get help quickly is through a Help Desk call (626-396-3699) or ticket (gopusd.com/helpdesk). Not following this process can result in a delay in resolving your issue.
Common Issues to contact the Help Desk for include:
- Application or Account issue with
- Aeries
- Canvas
- Clever
- Chromebook issue
Help Desk Summer Support
If students have any issues with their Chromebooks during the summer, service will be provided via the Help Desk rather than the school site. A ticket must be submitted for all issues that require attention from ITS.
Chromebook Reference Information
Chromebook Operating System Updates
Please remember to completely shut down your Chromebook at the end of every day! This will ensure your device has received all necessary updates and that you are able to connect to all PUSD applications without issue.
Locked Student Chromebooks
We are currently in the process of retrieving lost chromebooks. If your chromebook gets locked, please see your Librarian or Office Manager to get the device unlocked and/or submit a ticket with the device's service tag.
Lost, Stolen, and Damaged Devices
A reminder that Chromebooks are instructional materials, similar to textbooks. We have been receiving a large number of tickets from school sites and from students stating students have lost or damaged their devices. Chromebooks range in cost from $389 to $758. We understand that devices may be misplaced and that accidents happen, but please make every effort to take care of your devices as well as locate lost devices before submitting a ticket for device replacement.
Once a device has been reported lost or stolen, it will be locked and unusable.
How to Guides
Did you know you can see what devices, textbooks, and library books are checked out to you? Check out the video linked above to see how.
It's a good idea to update your password occasionally to keep your account secure. Check out the video linked above to see how.
Caregiver How-Tos
- Are you ready to set up your Aeries Parent Portal account and don't know how to get started? Check out our series of how-to videos HERE.
- Are you an Observer in Canvas so you can see your student's assignments and grades? If not, check out this document with linked videos on how to become an observer in Canvas.
Email: EdTech@pusd.us
Website: pusd.us/its
Location: 351 South Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, CA, USA
Phone: 626-396-3699