In order to have a smooth learning experience online, we recommend the following:
Check your connection speed. You want to have high-speed internet and a good WiFi router in place. Speak with your ISP to ensure you are on a plan that provides at least 3.0Mbps per user in your household.
Get a headset. Having a solid headset with a microphone makes a world of difference. Here is one we recommend. A typical gaming headset works great as well.
In the middle school, we provide school-owned devices. The students are issued the devices at the start of the year. If necessary, we may collect these devices during breaks. Students must return them at the end of the school year unless other arrangements have been made. For answers to some commons questions parents have about the program, please go here.
In the upper school we use a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model. If you are purchasing a laptop for your student, we recommend devices with the following minimum specifications. If your student already has a device and you have questions about its usability, please let us know. We can help evaluate this based upon their course schedule.
Students and families on financial aid will receive a survey to determine which laptop they would like. The laptop will be purchased by the school and issued to the student before the start of school. It will be their property and they can take it with them when they leave Northwest.
We recommend signing up for AppleCare+
We recommend purchasing an extended warranty from Lenovo or insurance via a third-party service such as Square Trade.