Printing/Copying/Scanning
All professional and paraprofessional staff members have the ability to print to the copiers. This is the most cost effective and preferred way to print in WPS. If you are using a PC laptop or desktop computer then these are the directions for printing.
If you are using a Chromebook you can follow these directions to connect your Chromebook to the copiers for printing/scanning/copying.
Printing on a Chromebook or laptop can be done from any location, including home, and retrieved the next time you are in the school building provided it is not over 48 hours from when you pressed print.
Cyber Security & Online Safety
We are once again participating in a cyber security training program. This years participation will be less formal. You’ll still receive occasional fake emails as part of phishing campaigns to test your discretion and participate in two trainings embedded in professional development days or faculty meetings throughout the year. You'll be provided with specific information ahead of each date. Participating in all of this will be very helpful in securing our district for years to come.
2-Step Verification & Passwords
2-Step Verification adds an extra layer of verification to confirm the person trying to log into your Google Account is actually you. Thank you to everyone for enabling this last year. Please remember that it needs to remain enabled in perpetuity. If you are new to the district this year, please enable it as soon as possible. These directions will guide you in doing that. I recognize there is some inconvenience involved in this but it does make our information more secure. Also, please do not share your passwords with anyone, even colleagues.
Web Help Desk
If something technology-related is not working as expected we want to know about it! The best way to get a member of the technology staff to attend to it is by submitting a work order to our Web Help Desk system. If you are using an interactive panel or PC you can use the Web Help Desk icon. You must be on the school's network for this to work. If you are using a Chromebook, interactive panel, or PC you can email helpdesk@wrenthamschools.org. If all else fails, dial HELP (x4357) to leave a message in our tech voicemail. This helps us get the request to the technology staff member that can help out most quickly and efficiently.
Google Classroom
As you’ve learned from your time in the MyView and MyPerspectives training on our opening days, Google Classroom will be an important part of assigning ELA work to your students. To support you in that there will be upcoming sessions on using Google Classroom effectively. We’ll start with those skills most vital to the ELA curriculum and branch off to general Google Classroom skills. The skills associated with the ELA curriculum will be covered on a PD day while the expanded skills will be covered in revamped after school PD sessions. Each session will be geared towards you finding success and leaving with skills to practice immediately.
Assigning Student Chromebooks In Your Classroom
Students should be assigned a specific Chromebook from your cart at the start of the year that they will use for the entire year. That helps to keep students responsible for caring for the device and what websites they visit. This will also hold students accountable if something goes wrong.
Chromebooks For Learning At Home
While we do not send the Chromebooks we use in classrooms home with our students we do offer families the opportunity to borrow one for use during the school year. They are available to any student. If you have a family that is interested in one you can provide them this link to complete the loan agreement and one will be sent home with their student.
Grade 5 Student Google Password Changes
Over the last few years students have begun memorizing each other's passwords. Since they have had them since Kindergarten this is not a complete surprise. To counter that trend we are going to be changing the Google password for all students when they enter 5th grade. As we did last year, 5th grade teachers received envelopes with student passwords. One to keep in class and one to send home. Students will login with their new passwords for the first time on Wednesday. It is best to collect the password envelopes staying in school and not allow them to be kept in student desks.
Staff Device Care Reminders
Turn Off and/or Restart Laptops: In order for your laptops and Chromebooks to receive critical updates and installs they need to be turned off or restarted on a regular basis. You might consider shutting down your device at the end of the day rather than closing the lid and leaving it on.
Improving Laptop/Chromebook Battery Life: Unfortunately, no matter what we do a battery’s life will only get worse over time. This previous Tech Tuesday message will help make the most of your battery life. If your PC laptop’s battery performance has degraded over the summer or cannot stand to be unplugged from the charging adapter let us know through the help desk so we can replace it. Chromebooks naturally have much longer battery life and their batteries also last longer.
Student Device Care Reminders
Start of the year Chromebook Slowness: As students log into their Chromebooks for the first time you may notice they are running more slowly than at the end of the year. That is not unexpected. The first time a student logs into a new device extra information is pulled onto the Chromebook. When a whole class, grade level, or school is doing this at the same time it will slow things down. Just be aware that if you want to use the Chromebooks first thing on Wednesday it may take some time for them to be ready for action.
Device care: Last year we saw a huge increase in damage-related repairs to student Chromebooks. Students should be developing routines that help care for their devices. Mrs. Moon and Mrs. Fox each reviews these practices. It is helpful to remind students to follow those practices. They include not carrying a device by the screen, keeping it on a flat surface away from edges when using it, and only putting hands on their assigned device.
Substitute Access to Devices/Google Stuff
Never share your passwords with anyone ever! If the situation arises where you need a substitute to access your interactive panel or a Google resource we will be able to give them access to the panel through the substitute network login and the grade level substitute Google account. In order for the substitute to access specific files in Google those things will need to be shared with the substitute Google account. You can also add the grade level Google account to your Google Classroom as a co-teacher so a sub can pull that up as well. The login information will be the same as last year. If you need a refresher please let me know and I will provide you with the login information.
Tech Task Force
The Tech Task Force will once again be forming in mid-September to support effective integration of technology throughout the Wrentham Public Schools. There are some exciting things planned for this year that I can't wait to share in a couple weeks.
As always, never hesitate to reach out to me with any questions! I hope Meet & Greet goes well and the school year kicks off smoothly!