An informational meeting is scheduled to be held on Monday, July 10
Dell laptop computers will be in the hands of approximately 5,700 Washington Township students in grades three through 12 when the district expands its one-to-one laptop initiative to the middle and elementary levels for the start of the 2017–18 school year.
The highly successful initiative was introduced in Washington Township High School in 2016–17. Under the plan, middle school students will receive a Dell 3340 or Dell 3350 laptop computer and a protective case and will be permitted to transport their computers home. Elementary students in grades three through five will be assigned a laptop computer that will be used throughout the school day and remain housed in the school building.
“We are thrilled to put laptops and the personalized learning experiences that they create, into the hands of our middle school and elementary students,” Superintendent of Schools Joe Bollendorf said. “These devices will be fully integrated into our curriculum and, as we have discovered from our high school experience, allow us to extend learning beyond the classroom and the school day. Mobile learning devices assist us in promoting responsible digital citizenship, personal responsibility and college readiness, and the students love them.”
Middle and high school students will be responsible for the care of their laptops, bringing their laptops to school, taking them home each day and ensuring that they are fully charged for use for the following school day. Limited in-school charging stations will be accessible to all students. Elementary school students will not be permitted to take their laptops home.
Middle and high school parents will have the option to purchase an insurance policy through the district to protect against theft or certain accidental damage to the laptop.
All parents of students in grade six through nine, or students who are new to WTHS, were encouraged to attend an informational meeting on Monday, July 10, at 6:30 p.m. at the Investors Bank Performing Arts Center. The meeting provided an overview of the initiative, including a series of tips for caring for the laptop, expectations of digital citizenship and the availability of optional insurance coverage for laptops that will be leaving the school buildings. Members of the district technology staff were on hand at the meeting to answer any questions or concerns.
Parents and students can access comprehensive information on the initiative on the district website (www.wtps.org/onetoone) by going to the high school and/or middle school pages and clicking on the “one-to-one initiative” under the student tab. A video link explaining the one-to-one program, expectations and family responsibilities will be posted in the coming weeks.
For additional information on the WTHS laptop distribution schedule, please contact technology director Joe Konecki at (856) 589–8500, x7310.
Laptop Distribution Schedule
Washington Township High School
Freshmen and new student distribution in the HS IMC:
August 7–10: 1 to 3 p.m.
August 10: 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Middle School distribution will take place at the student’s designated school in the IMC:
Bunker Hill Middle School
August 1: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
August 1: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any BHMS student
August 7: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any BHMS student
August 8: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
Chestnut Ridge Middle School
August 2: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
August 2: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any CRMS student
August 8: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any CRMS student
August 9: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
Orchard Valley Middle School
August 3: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
August 3: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any OVMS student
August 9: 4 to 6:30 p.m. — any OVMS student
August 10: 9 a.m. — Sixth grade students participating in transition camp
*Make-up times/dates may be scheduled if needed.
*Schedule subject to change.
