Embedded Files
Have you met our Director of Educational Technology at Big Valley Christian School? Deborah Raingruber has been at BVCS for over 30 years and shares a heart for equipping both students and teachers. Deborah leads the way in integrating technology that enhances learning and supports our mission. From digital tools in the classroom to staff training and system support, she is committed to helping our community use technology with excellence, purpose, and safety. We’re grateful to have Deborah on the BVCS team!
Acceptable Use Policy
Click Here for the 2025-2026 BVCS Student Technology Acceptable Use Policy.
Student Technology Policy Reminders
Allowed Device: 2nd-6th grade students may, and 7th-12th grade students must, have a Chromebook that has been enrolled in our management system and uses our Wi-Fi. Chromebooks may be used in the classroom only when and how they are instructed to do so. Students must leave them put away otherwise. Students must not be on any other sites.
Prohibited Devices: The only technological device allowed on our campus for students is a managed Chromebook. All other devices, including laptops, tablets, Kindles and other readers, smart watches, Fitbits, smart glasses, in ear wireless headphones, and other wearable smart devices, are not allowed on campus and must be left at home. Chromebooks that are not enrolled are not allowed. For elementary students, this policy applies to cell phones.
7th-12th grade students with a cell phone may 1) leave it at home 2) leave it in their car if they drive or 3) leave it off and in their backpack until 3:15 pm or that student has left campus.
Senior High students with a cell phone may pull their phone out and use it: while in the MPR, outside, or the gym during break and lunch. Phones must be turned off and put back in their backpack as soon as the student leaves the MPR, gym, or outside. This rule stands until 3:15 pm or that student leaves campus.
Prohibited Times and Areas: This ban applies at all times and in all areas not specifically mentioned above, including chapel, assemblies, bathrooms, passing periods, and while walking to the elementary or church buildings.
Chromebooks are not allowed during chapel, assemblies, or in the bathrooms. 1st-6th grade may not use Chromebooks outside the classrooms.
Borrowing Devices: Students are strictly prohibited from borrowing another student’s technology under any circumstances.
All violations of the above policy will result in the device being confiscated and placed in the office.
The following steps will be taken when a technological device is confiscated:
Taken and picked up by a student from the office.
Taken and picked up by a parent in the office.
Taken and picked up by the parent; detention given.
A technology use contract will be given to the student.
Repeated offenses will result in a behavior contract being issued.
Chromebook Insurance Discontinued
Big Valley Christian School will no longer offer accidental breakage insurance beginning the 2025-2026 school year. Keep this in mind if you purchase a new chromebook for your student as most companies offer some version of accidental breakage insurance with an additional year or more of warranty coverage when purchased at the same time as the device. Other options would be to purchase an additional chromebook that, once enrolled in our management system, could operate as your own "loaner" device.
Technology Classes Offered at Big Valley Christian School
Junior High
Lego Robotics Competition Team will be starting in our junior high program next school year! Mrs. Smart will coach and students in the class will design, code, and build their robots to compete with other schools in the First Lego League Challenge. Students will apply to be in the class. Current 6th and 7th grade students are eligible to apply. For more information, email Mrs. Smart at brookes@bvcs.org.
Yearbook club students design and create the junior high yearbook each year.
High School
These classes offer valuable career-oriented skills as well has preparing students for more advanced college classes.
Multimedia explores digital art and teaches students to use Adobe products.
Sports Media class walks students through the planning and implementation of sports video boards. We are blessed to have 2 Daktronics scoreboards, used at many large universities and venues. Students with these skills are in demand at the university and professional level.
AP Computer Science Principles introduces students to programming, networking, Internet, data, and security.
AP Computer Science A teaches students to program in the Java language, an integral part of computer science programs for college degrees as well as certifications and career training programs.
Yearbook students design and create the high school yearbook each year.
Python is offered online with a BVCS teacher to guide and assist as either a semester or year-long class upon request. It teaches a beginning coding language to prepare students for learning Java in AP CSA.
Elementary
STREAM classes are offered to kindergarten through 6th grade students. They have the opportunity to explore science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and mathematics with hands-on projects.
SECURLY:
How to Set up You Parent Portal in Securly:
Big Valley Christian School uses the company Securly.com as part of their layered approach toward keeping your students safe online. An account in the Parent Portal will give you scheduled reports on all your child’s online activity and allow you to view your child’s online activity in real time. There is an app, Securly Home, that is the easiest way to manage this account. There is also a website with the same information at securly.com.
This account gives you access to real-time Internet activity as well as weekly reports (you can adjust the frequency of these reports). The Securly software recognizes when the Chromebook (and Google @bvcs.org account) is at school or away from school. You can adjust your child’s Internet category settings while he/she is away from school. You can allow him/her to access streaming and social media. You can specifically block any site you wish.
The email added to Securly’s parent portal is the one you provided the school. Please email Deborah Raingruber at draingruber@bvcs.org if you need help, or would like to add a different parent email.
Download Securly Home from the app store.
Click “Get Started.”
Enter the email you used to enroll your student.
Click “GET INSTANT ACCESS.”
Securly will send you an email.
If you check the email on your phone, click “SIGN IN TO SECURLY HOME.” It will take you to the Securly Home page. Go to step #10.
If you check the email on another device, click “CREATE A PASSWORD.”
After creating the password, go back to the App on your Phone and click “LOGIN” then click “USE YOUR PASSWORD.”
You should see the Securly Home Page. To see multiple students, click “SEE ACTIVITY.”
HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOUR CHILD IN A HYPER-DIGITAL WORLD?
What can you do to help your children navigate a digital world while also protecting them from the dangers they may face?
Pray over the influences in your child’s life. Go to the Lord and ask for His wisdom and direction as you help your child grow and develop into a young adult.
Start early. Children have access to smartphones/screens at an early age. Set up your ground rules from the start, with a plan to have limited rules by the time they leave high school.
Monitor their screen usage. Pay attention to what they’re doing on their screens. The Bark app and Securly are two monitoring tools you can use.
Limit their screen time. Set strict rules about when and how long they can use screens and stick to them.
You own the phone/device. As more and more kids have access to connected devices, it’s also important to remind children that having a device is a privilege, not a right.
Have a contract. Require your child to sign a technology contract in exchange for a device. You can find a sample here.
Keep the lines of communication open. Your kids need to know they can talk to you when they come across something inappropriate or concerning.
Watch your child’s behavior. Smartphones and their apps are designed to be addictive. Also, the kind of content your child is viewing can make an impact on their behavior. Some “typical” pre-teen/teen behavior is normal, but be aware when your child withdraws from you too often.
Keep up on the latest trends. You will have to do some research because trends are always changing. Right about the time adults are figuring out something “new,” kids are on to the next thing. A great resource can be asking someone in their early 20s what’s new and concerning.
Some other practical tips to develop healthy habits around screens are:
Don’t allow kids to have their devices in their bedrooms.
Have a device parking lot for when your kids have friends over.
A young child should only be allowed to use a cellphone for emergencies.
Increase minutes for each year of age and set nighttime boundaries by placing the phone out of reach of your child.
Create quiet zones by putting phones away during meals, family games, and time with friends.
Set limits on screen time and check their screen time usage.
Start your child off with a non-smartphone. This enables pictures, calls, and texts, but not access to the Internet.
You always have the right to monitor and limit usage. Check messages regularly and spontaneously.
Be on your child’s social media and email accounts - even their school Gmail account. Know their log-in information and log in as them. Often.
Be involved with what your kids are listening to, watching, and being exposed to. Hold their hand, so to speak, and help them see and understand the dangers. As they mature, let them know you’re involved and that there is accountability that helps develop trust as they grow - keep talking about the dangers. Finally, with training, support, and accountability, your child should launch into adulthood, able to make godly decisions around the choices they allow to influence their lives.
DO YOU HAVE A TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT FOR YOUR CHILD AT HOME?
DO YOU HAVE A TECHNOLOGY CONTRACT FOR YOUR CHILD AT HOME?
"As more and more kids have access to connected devices, the pressure for parents to provide kids with their own smartphones and tablets is heating up. But technology is a privilege, not a right. In most cases, parents are the owners of their kids’ devices, not the kids themselves. It’s OK to remind your kids that you’re loaning them the device in good faith, and you require them to sign a technology contract in exchange."
LEARN MORE HERE.
THE PORN DILEMMA:
THE PORN DILEMMA:
The average age a boy sees porn is between 8–10 years old. If you have young kids, how are you going to prepare to speak to them on this issue? If you have older kids, what follow-up conversations need to take place?
So what can you do? The Porn Dilemma, a series on RightNow Media is available, with the purpose to inform, educate, and Biblically ground what Christian parents should know about as well as provide a path forward for family understanding and discussion around how we should view the issue. WATCH THE PORN DILEMMA ON RIGHTNOW MEDIA.
IS YOUTUBE OK?
IS YOUTUBE OK?
With YouTube, there are many dangers that parents should be aware of including explicit content – A lot of videos uploaded to YouTube contain content that includes language such as swear words, inappropriate song lyrics, violence, and sexualized behavior.
With YouTube, there are many dangers that parents should be aware of including explicit content – A lot of videos uploaded to YouTube contain content that includes language such as swear words, inappropriate song lyrics, violence, and sexualized behavior.
THE BARK APP:
THE BARK APP:
Bark monitors texts, email, YouTube, and 30+ apps and social media platforms for signs of issues like cyberbullying, sexual content, online predators, depression, suicidal ideation, threats of violence, and more.
With content monitoring, you can get email and text alerts when Bark detects potential issues so you can talk to your child and make sure everything is OK.
CHECK IT OUT HERE.
CHECK YOUR CHILD'S PHONE REGULARLY:
The following is an excerpt from an article by Focus on the Family's titled: 5 Tips for Cellphone Use -
"Mom and Dad always have the right to monitor and limit usage. My husband and I check messages regularly and spontaneously, both on the phone and through online account access (where we can see deleted messages and what time messages were sent). This helps us keep tabs on his use of the phone and ensures nothing inappropriate is being sent or received."
Read more about how to manage your child's smartphone here.
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