Dear Families,
This message contains information regarding upcoming iPad-related changes, some of which may require action on your part.
Apps available to students
In order to ensure the apps that are available to students continue to be secure and appropriate for use and are in service of current instructional needs, we will be purging apps from student iPads and the “Self Service” app installation portal this summer. Beginning on Thursday, June 22nd, all apps will be deleted from student iPads, except the following:
- Apple Mail (grades 5-12), Safari, Notes, Calendar, Reminders, and Photos
- Apple Pages, Numbers, and Keynote
- Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
- Clever
- Schoology
- Seesaw
- ST Math
- Freckle
- Sora
- Apps individually assigned to students as directed by an IEP
If your child has any information in apps not listed above that they wish to save, please arrange to do so before Thursday, June 22nd. For students in grades 5-12 who wish to save information in the Notability app, please use these instructions to back up data in Notability.
iPad Web Filtering
We will be migrating to a new web filtering system for iPads this summer. This system will enforce filtering on the iPads at all times, regardless of where the iPad is located. The allowed categories will be fairly similar to those currently allowed while at school for each grade level. Parents of students moving from fourth to fifth grade may wish to note that over the summer, filtering will change from allowing access only to pre-approved websites to filtering based on categories of sites.
We will be unable to accommodate family requests for individualized filtering changes for their child.
Please be aware that no web filtering system is perfect, and it is important to monitor your child’s Internet use. You may find that checking your child’s Safari history is useful, as students are not allowed to clear their iPad’s browser history.
Please also note that this new filtering system may or may not be compatible with filtering systems you may have set up on your home network, and you may wish to test your home network filter’s functionality with this new filtering system.
iPad Insurance
Existing iPad insurance policies are valid until August 8, 2023. We will be sending information on renewing policies closer to that date.
iPad Upgrades
Students entering grades 5 and 9 will be receiving new iPads to use for the next four years of their SPS enrollment. In addition, Beal students entering grade 1 will also be receiving new iPads to use through grade 4 while enrolled at SPS. We will be sending information on pickup/exchange appointment windows later this summer.
If you have any questions, please email parenttechsupport@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us, and we will be glad to assist.
Respectfully,
Brian L’Heureux
Director of Information Technology
Shrewsbury Public Schools