Systems Used at NIS

Systems used at NIS - Parents

On the NIS website, you will find the Parent Portal. This portal will hold all the information that you need to take an active part in school life here at NIS. The NIS Parent Portal is here.

NIS Parent Portal

1. All personal school-related information, powered by iSAMS, and includes:

2. • Attendance records,

   • Report cards, 

   • Schedules,

   • Calendar of events,

   • After-school activities, etc.

2. NIS Student/Parent Handbook, powered by Google Sites, and includes:

   • Guidelines for Student Learning & Wellbeing

   • School policies, including Primary & Secondary.

   • Documents & Forms

   • Campus Map

   • Technology information

   • Library information, etc.

To access this, you will need an account name & password, which will be issued to you upon enrollment. If you have trouble logging in, please troubleshoot here. It also includes information on how to ask for a (new) password and/or login information.

The personal school-related information can also be accessed through the use of the iParent app (powered by iSAMS). Students can access this through the use of the iStudent app (powered by iSAMS). This app will be used for push notifications about news items and emergency information regarding school closures.

Google Apps For Education

Here at NIS we use the full range of Google Apps For Education, including GMail, Classroom, Sites, Meets, Drive, Calendar, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, etc.

Google Account for Students

All students from Preschool to Grade 12 will be provided with a google account and issued a personal account name and password.

Google Drive for Students

Each student is allocated a personal Drive to store their school work. The Drive is cloud storage where your child can store and organise all their school work, giving them access to it on any device. Within the Drive your child can create documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and collaborate with their peers and teachers in real-time, allowing them to share their work, get feedback, and make edits instantaneously. Again, we encourage parents to regularly monitor your child’s digital footprint and online behaviour in an age-appropriate manner.

Toddle

A place to view your students learning and communicate with their teachers. Here you will find all the layers of implementation of the IB continuum curriculum. Click here for more information on Online Learning Spaces.

Bus Minder

Parent Portal help

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) (Grade 7-12)

At NIS, we believe in the power of technology for communication, collaboration, creativity, and research, and for building connections within an atmosphere of responsible and ethical use. This encourages them to become responsible global digital citizens. Here at NIS we have implemented Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) to further foster and encourage the use of technology for learning.

With classroom teacher approval, students may use their own devices in the classroom to enhance lessons, through access to digital textbook supplemental materials and increase access to learning content. Students are better able to connect with learning material and objects when they feel comfortable with the technology that they are using.

Please note that students who cannot bring their own device will be able to access and utilize limited school equipment on temporary basis, however these devices must remain in school. No student will be left out of our instruction but students who do bring their own devices may have greater optional access to technology to facilitate their learning in more self- directed ways.

Which students are included in the BYOD program?

• All Grade 7-12 students are required to ‘BYOD’ as a condition of enrollment at NIS. 

• All Grade 6 students are encouraged to utilize the hardware provided by the school. All students in grade 6 will be assinged a school computer in the first quarter.

• Students in Grade 6 may bring their own device to school in the second semester.  

What kind of Device does your child need?

We encourage parents to consider the variety of needs of their children when deciding which device would be the best.  Each device has its own merits, however we would strongly recommend a laptop or notebook. Tablets can be used, however they have limited capabilities in the classroom, especially for uploading work.

Middle and High School parents considering buying a new device for their child may get the most return on their investment from a laptop, as it has the greatest capability.  Entry level Macbook Airs are a perfect example of the tech specs we would recommend.

Required Accessories:

• Personal headset or earbuds

• Protective sleeve/case for devices

Required Software:

• Antivirus software for computers (e.g. ClamAV for Mac, AVG for Windows)

• Web browser

Software/Applications Provided Available for Students:

• Toddle

• Google Apps for Education

  • Google Drive

  • Google Sites

  • Gmail

• Logger Pro (HS Science)

• Graphical Analysis (HS Math)

• Sora from OverDrive (G5 and up)

• ePlatform from Wheelers

Recommendations:

• Extra AC power adapter to have one at school and one at home

• Some kind of insurance:

  • We would recommend that you get in touch with your home insurance provider to check if you can extend the insurance to cover your child's laptop.

  • For all apple products would recommend apple care

  • For all new window laptops please discuss extended warranty offers with the retailer.

Access to the Internet and school server

Students must register their devices on our BYOD Wifi network.  This will give them access to the Internet, school files and printers.  Once on the WiFi network, all users will have filtered Internet access just as they would on a school owned device. NIS is not responsible for the content accessed by users who connect via their own tethering service (cell phones, personal hotspots, MiFi devices, etc.).

Conditions of Use:

Students and parents/guardians participating in BYOD must adhere to the Secondary Pastoral Guidelines and Policies,  the Responsible Use Agreement (RUA) and the school policy on Academic honesty. Furthermore, the student must agree to the following conditions:

• The student takes full responsibility for his or her technology device.

• The school is not responsible for the security of student-owned technology.

• The technology must be in silent mode while on school campuses and while riding school bus.

• The student accesses only files on the computer or Internet sites that are relevant to the classroom curriculum.

• The student complies with teachers' request to shut down the device or put it away.

• The student acknowledges that the school's network filters will be applied to one's connection to the Internet and will not attempt to bypass them.

• The student understands that bringing on premises or infecting the network with a Virus, Trojan, program designed to damage, alter, destroy, or provide access to unauthorized data or information is in violation of the RUA and will result in disciplinary actions.

• The student realizes that processing or accessing information on school property related to ‘hacking’, altering, or bypassing network security policies is in violation of the RUA policy and will result in disciplinary actions.

• The school has the right to collect and examine any device that is suspected of causing problems or was the source of an attack or virus infection.

• All personal devices must be clearly labeled with a student’s name and grade.

• The responsibility for solving hardware/software problems will reside at home with parents or guardians. 

Device Zones:

Students are encouraged to put away their devices at break and lunch and participate in activities and play with their peers.  However, we also understand that some students need to use their devices during the day, outside of structured lessons.  

The following device usage applies:

• Morning Break and Lunch ONLY students may use the iSpace (unless in use by teachers or student leadership groups) or the Wing Patio opposite the Atrium.

• All students may use devices in the Library = for study ONLY

• Grade 11 & 12 students may use devices in the East Lobby = for study ONLY

• Teachers may allow devices in classrooms = for Educational use ONLY

Click here to download a  parent help file for conferences