As part of their standard set of supplies, students enrolled in grades 6-12 at AISJ must bring an Apple MacBook that meets AISJ minimum requirements. AISJ, in consultation with our school community, has determined that the use of Apple's MacBook and the suite of computer applications available for use on this device best meets the needs of our teaching and learning programs. The Apple suite of applications and Apple hardware are used by staff and students to plan, deliver, assess, and demonstrate learning, understanding, achievement, and reporting.
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SPECIFICATIONS
All AISJ students in Grades 6-12 are required to have their own Apple MacBook, all families must provide their child with a Mac laptop.
Any recent Apple Pro or Air laptop purchased within the last 3 years should meet the minimum specifications for use at AISJ:
Apple Silicon Chip
8GB of RAM
256 GB SSD Storage
Please note below what can be affected if a Non-Mac device is used:
We strongly recommend that students not use devices at AISJ besides an Apple MacBook.
Teachers plan for learning using Apple MacBooks and the software available on these devices.
Teachers cannot provide in-class support for students experiencing problems or needing to fully understand their devices' functioning and operation.
Some software used at AISJ will not function on all devices: Adobe Creative Cloud, iMovie, GarageBand, Ableton Live, Minecraft, robotics apps, AirDrop, AirPlay screen sharing in classrooms, and Printing. This may impact students' ability to participate fully in some courses.
Installing AISJ-owned software on non-Apple devices will be challenging and time-consuming.
The TSC (Tech Service Center) will be able to provide only minimal support for student-owned non-Apple MacBook laptops.
AISJ makes no guarantees that student-owned non-Apple devices will be compatible with the network, systems, and software available
If you have already spent money on a Windows PC, it can be used for two years, after which the student will be required to get a MacBook of AISJ standard.
PURCHASING
PURCHASING
Parents are free to use a suitable Apple device they may already own, or they can purchase a new MacBook from a provider of their choice.
AISJ has partnered with iStore (Apple Store) to assist with better pricing. There’s an iStore in most of the major malls in South Africa. Parents can purchase an Apple MacBook at the same educational discounted price that the school receives.
R500 off Mac
Free iCare for Mac (Extended warranty)
10% off selected accessories
Technical/Setup Support at any of our iStores nationwide
If you’re interested in buying an iPad as well, they do offer the below:
R500 off iPad
50% discount off iCare for iPad (Extended warranty)
Parent iPad Safety Sessions
How to buy Online
How to buy Online
Create your account and link your school (Select your school name from the dropdown list).
If you already have an account - Sign In and select My Students and select your school from the dropdown list.
The discount Code to apply at Secure Payment is IPADSCHOOL (iPad purchase) or MACSCHOOL (Mac purchase).
When adding iCare or any accessories, they will automatically be discounted at checkout.
How to buy In-Store
How to buy In-Store
Visit one of our iStores nationwide.
Show the consultant this brochure confirming that your school is a participating school and claim your Partner School discount.
Buying from outside of South Africa
Parents can also buy a device when they are out of the country; sometimes, MacBooks are cheaper when bought in America or Europe. We will be able to assist the student in setting these up as well. Remember to consider the South African power socket when buying the laptop outside South Africa.
Warranty and Insurance
iStore offers extended warranties, as Apple only comes with a 12-month warranty. The extended warranty will extend the warranty from 12 months to 36 months. These extended warranties can only be used through the supplier you bought the warranty from and won’t be honored when you go to a different country. Adding an extra two years of warranty is not a significant cost, but it is up to the parents if they want to get this. The warranty only covers Apple component failure and will be voided if there’s any physical or liquid damage.
It's highly recommended that you take out insurance on the laptop. Accidents happen, and the school won't be responsible for fixing damage sustained on or off campus.
For any questions, please email AISJ-Technology@aisj-jhb.com
REPAIRS
REPAIRS
Laptops can be taken to the Tech Service Center (TSC) for first-line assessment. The technician will then advise whether it can be fixed by AISJ staff or if it needs to be taken to a repair shop.
If the laptop needs to be taken to an external provider, parents are free to take the parent-owned Apple MacBook to any authorized Apple service center - we strongly advise parents to use only authorized Apple service centers.
No matter what repair service center the parent chooses to use to repair the damaged Apple MacBook device, upon receipt of supporting documentation (eg, service center receipt), AISJ can provide an entry-level temporary loan device for up to two weeks while the damaged device is out for repair. The loan laptop will be a very basic entry-level Chromebook that can only work with online tools. A refundable security deposit may be required. The student will be responsible for returning the loan device in the same condition as when issued, in full working order, and as soon as the repairs are completed. Any damage to the loan device, while issued, will be the responsibility of the student and parents.
It's highly recommended to take out insurance on the laptop. Accidents do happen, and the school won't be responsible for fixing damage sustained on campus or off campus.
For any questions, please email AISJ-Technology@aisj-jhb.com
ACCESSORIES
ACCESSORIES
Laptop Bag/Carry case
AISJ recommends that each student have a sturdy laptop carry bag or case to protect their laptop during travel to/from school. Some of these bags are available to buy on the iStore portal. Please note the size of your laptop to the size of the bag to make sure it will fit.
Laptop Hardshell
These are covers that fit directly onto the laptop case and will help to protect it against small bumps and scratches. There are some listed on the iStore portal. Please ensure the size of the hardshell will fit onto the laptop.
Headphones
It is a requirement for all students to bring their own headphones to school, as some work requires the student to watch a video or listen to an audio clip. Bluetooth headphones are recommended, and there are some options listed on the iStore portal.
Insurance
Taking out insurance on a laptop is recommended. Accidents such as spills, drops, and theft can happen both on and off campus, and without insurance, the cost of repairs or replacement can be a significant financial burden on the family. By purchasing insurance, parents can help protect themselves from the potential costs associated with such accidents and ensure that their device can be repaired or replaced in a timely manner. It's important to note that while the school may provide technical support or assistance, they are not responsible for the repair or replacement of personal devices, which further highlights the importance of insurance.
FOR YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
FOR YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL
Each student must have a MacBook laptop charged and ready for the first day of school
Join the school's Student Wi-Fi using your AISJ-issued username and password
Book a time with the TSC (Tech Service Centre) to bring your laptop in so it can be registered on the AISJ network.
Part of the registration will be for the TSC to install some standard AISJ software:
Mosyle - will allow Tech to push out software, fixes, and updates. We will also install something called self-service, where all the paid-for apps will be that students have access to.
Printing - To use the AISJ printers, we need to register your laptop and account on the Printing server
BYOM FAQS - NEW FAMILIES
BYOM FAQS - NEW FAMILIES
WHAT IS THE AISJ OWNERSHIP MODEL?
A parent-owned approach for the provision of laptops for all students in Grades 6-12. This approach is commonly referred to as a 'Bring Your Own Device - BYOD' or 'Bring Your Own Mac - BYOM' approach.
WHAT IS THE STUDENT LAPTOP OWNERSHIP APPROACH AT AISJ?
A cost-effective approach for the school and for parents
The BYO approach is proven and effective in many schools around the world
Many students are familiar with Apple and MacOS and may already have a suitable device available
Parents can choose the particular model of Apple MacBook that best suits their child and their specific course of study
Parents have control over when the laptop will be replaced and will be able to ensure the device under their own insurance policy cost-effectively
The Mac ecosystem better integrates with other Apple devices at AISJ – iPads, Apple TVs for seamless wireless projection, interconnectivity between Apple devices
MacBooks are comparable in price to other, similarly specified devices - AISJ MacBook Airs currently cost R18,200 in South Africa
The AISJ mobile device management system (JAMF) allows for better management and security of Macbooks and other Apple devices than a PC, which directly translates to better remote support for learning from home or blended learning
Students more readily transition from iPads in ES to Mac's in MS/HS
WHO DOES THIS IMPACT?
Parents of students new to AISJ entering Grades 6 to 12 will be required to provide a parent-owned Apple MacBook.
WHICH TYPE OF LAPTOP IS NEEDED?
Apple laptops with the Appl M chip(MacBook Air, MacBook Pro) are currently acceptable, THe Macbook NEo will not work at AISJ. We recommend that the laptops not be older than five years. The storage drive should be 256GB or greater.
The school can leverage existing infrastructure and support systems to assist students and families.
AISJ will continue to provide device management and critical security systems for all MacBooks.
The single platform across AISJ allows for unified support by both teachers and technology staff.
HOW DO PARENTS PURCHASE A NEW APPLE MACBOOK FOR THEIR CHILD TO USE AT AISJ?
Parents are free to use a MacBook that they may already own or they can purchase a new MacBook from a provider of their choice.
Parents will be able to purchase an Apple MacBook from the Apple reseller the school uses, at the same educational discounted price that the school receives. Please refer to the purchasing portal.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED SPECIFICATIONS FOR AN APPLE MACBOOK?
Not older than five years
M processor
8GB RAM or higher
256Gb SSD Drive or larger
13inch screen or larger
WHAT PROCESSING IS REQUIRED BY AISJ, INCLUDING SOFTWARE TO BE INSTALLED, FOR PARENT-OWNED MACBOOK LAPTOPS TO BE USED AT AISJ BY STUDENTS?
All laptops that intend to access the AISJ wifi, network, printers, and servers require the following software to be installed:
Install Mosyle (AISJ mobile device management system)
Mosyle will add a management account (This will assist the TSC to manage and assist with Software installs)
Install AISJ Software Self-Service (allows students to download AISJ-purchased software)
Change the computer name so it is more recognizable on the network
The above installation process will take about 1 hour.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD’S APPLE MACBOOK IS DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED?
The student and parent can take it to the repair shop of their choice.
Tech can assist by sending it to an authorized repair centre, there will be a fee for the assessment
BYOM FAQS - RETURNING FAMILIES
BYOM FAQS - RETURNING FAMILIES
WHAT IS THE AISJ OWNERSHIP MODEL?
A parent-owned approach for providing laptops for all students in Grades 6-12. This approach is commonly referred to as a 'Bring Your Own Device - BYOD' or 'Bring Your Own Mac - BYOM' approach.
WHO DOES THIS IMPACT?
Any student enrolled at AISJ in Grades 6 to Grade12 must bring a student/parent owned Apple MacBook.
WHICH TYPE OF LAPTOP IS NEEDED?
Apple MacBook
This will allow students to continue using a device and operating system they are already familiar with.
The school can leverage existing infrastructure and support systems to assist students and families.
AISJ will continue to provide device management and critical security systems for all MacBooks.
The single platform allows for unified support by both teachers and technology staff.
We strongly recommend that students use only Apple MacBook devices at AISJ. Please note below what can be affected if a Non-Mac device is used:
Teachers plan for learning using Apple MacBooks and the software available on these devices.
Teachers cannot provide in-class support for students experiencing problems or who do not fully understand the functioning and operation of their Non-Mac devices.
The following software used at AISJ will not function on all devices: iMovie, GarageBand, Ableton Live, robotics apps, AirDrop, AirPlay screen sharing in classrooms, and Printing. This may impact student's ability to participate fully in some courses.
Installing AISJ-owned software on non-Apple devices will be challenging and time-consuming.
The TSC(Tech Service Centre) will be able to provide only limited support for student-owned non-Apple MacBook laptops.
There will be no support to facilitate repairs through a service center - there will be no transfer service for non-Apple MacBooks.
The TSC cannot provide a temporary loan if the student-owned device is out for repair.
AISJ makes no guarantees that student-owned non-Apple devices will be compatible with the network, systems, and software available
CAN PARENTS PURCHASE A NEW APPLE MACBOOK FOR THEIR CHILD TO USE AT AISJ?
Yes .....
Parents will be free to choose a suitable device they may already own or they can purchase a new MacBook from a provider of their choice.
The Bring Your Own MacBook (BYOM) approach at AISJ will allow parents to choose the particular model of Apple MacBook that best suits their child and their particular course of study.
Parents will have control over when the laptop will be replaced and will be able to cost-effectively insure the device under their own insurance policy.
Parents will be able to purchase an Apple MacBook from the Apple reseller the school uses, at the same educational discounted price that the school receives. Please refer to the purchasing portal for more information.
WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM RECOMMENDED SPECIFICS FOR AN APPLE MACBOOK?
Not older than five years
M processor or better
8GB RAM or higher
256Gb SSD Drive or larger
13inch screen or larger
WHAT IS THE PROCESS TO DE-REGISTER THE MACBOOK FROM AISJ OWNERSHIP SHOULD PARENTS PURCHASE THE DEVICE?
For those departing AISJ, we follow the below steps to remove any AISJ software:
Remove JAMF (AISJ mobile device management system)
Remove Sophos (end-point-protection)
Remove AISJ Software Self-Service (allows students to download AISJ purchased software)
Remove NOMAD AD Tool and NOMAD lock screen (allows access to AISJ printers, and change AISJ account password)
Remove the NOMAD lock screen
Remove from the AISJ Domain
Remove from AISJ Apple Device Enrolment Program (DEP)
WHAT PROCESSING IS REQUIRED BY AISJ, INCLUDING SOFTWARE TO BE INSTALLED, FOR PARENT-OWNED MACBOOK LAPTOPS TO BE USED AT AISJ BY STUDENTS?
All laptops that intend to access the AISJ wifi, network, printers, and servers require the following software to be installed:
Install Mosyle (AISJ mobile device management system)
Install AISJ Software Self-Service (allows students to download AISJ purchased software)
The above installation process will take about 1 hour.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD’S APPLE MACBOOK IS DAMAGED AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED?
The student and parent can take it to the repair shop of their choice.
Tech can assist by sending it to an authorized repair centre, there will be a fee for the assessment.
It is highly recommended that parents insure these laptops against loss or damage with their insurance company
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