Technology

Thayer's laptop program is designed to support collaborative online learning and to help students become more independent, creative, and productive. MacBook Air laptops are provided each year for all students. In keeping with policy, student computers are enrolled in a Mobile Device Management framework, which provides access to licensed software and protections such as content filtering and virus scanning. 

Apple IDs

The laptop program requires each student to have an Apple ID. The Apple suite of applications (such as Pages, Numbers, Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie), as well as the Apple App Store require an Apple ID to access and keep up to date.

Students under age 13 cannot create an Apple ID on their own. However, a parent or legal guardian can provide verified parental consent for a student to have an individual Apple ID and then create it on the student's behalf. Here is Apple's information regarding privacy.

Please note: fifth grade students will receive a Thayer Apple ID in September. If your student is under the age of 13 and entering grade 6 through 8, a parent or legal guardian must create an Apple ID on the student's behalf.

Laptop Insurance Information

Thayer Academy offers a group policy insurance with AppleCare. This is a voluntary group policy that is renewed each year and is billed during enrollment. Payment is made online, and claims are handled by Thayer Academy. Families receive the benefits of a lower premium and faster claim turnaround time since the Academy handles claims. The group rate to protect your school-issued laptop is $75 per year with no deductible. 

In the event a laptop is damaged, students should email help@thayer.org and set up an appointment to bring it to the Hanflig Technology Center. Thayer Academy will send the laptop to an Apple depot for repairs, and the student will receive a loaner laptop. Please note that theft is not covered in this insurance policy. If you choose to decline insurance, you will be billed for any repairs to your damaged laptop. If the laptop cannot be repaired, you are liable for the full replacement cost.

Care of the Laptop

Families are responsible if the laptop is lost or stolen. Thayer will provide a protective case with the laptop and students are required to keep the case on their computer at all times. The case will help mitigate damage in the event the laptop is dropped, for example.

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Laptop Distribution

Laptop distribution for the Upper School will take place in the Tiger's Den (second floor of Cahall Student Center, just to the right of the main stairway). All new Upper School students must register for the session they will attend. The schedule is as follows: 

• Monday, August 19 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 20 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Wednesday, August 21 from 1 to 3 p.m.

New Upper School Student Laptop Orientation Sign Up

Returning ninth graders may pick up their laptops in the Tiger's Den during the following drop-in hours:

• Monday, August 19 from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. 
• Wednesday, August 21 from 9 a.m to 12 p.m.

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Laptop distribution for the Middle School will take place in the Middle School Forum. All new 6th to 8th graders must register for the session they will attend. The schedule is as follows:

• 6th grade: 
  • Thursday, August 22 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.
  • Friday, August 23 from 1 to 2 p.m.
     
• 7th & 8th grade: 
  • Thursday, August 22 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
  • Friday, August 23 from 2 to 3 p.m.

New Middle School Student Laptop Orientation Sign Up

Returning Middle School students may pick up their laptops during the following drop-in hours:

• Thursday, August 22 from 1 to 3 p.m.
• Friday, August 23, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Fifth graders will receive their laptops during class in September.

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FAQs

1. Can a parent or guardian pick up a student’s laptop? No. Your student must be present to pick up, log in, and receive basic training.
2. Can parents and guardians accompany their student(s) to pick up their laptops? Absolutely. Parents and guardians are welcome to join their student(s). 
3. Can students use a parent's or guardian's Apple ID? Only if the student is under 13 and not entering 5th grade in the 2024-25 school year. The parent or guardian will need to provide theirs OR have previously created one for their student.
4. Can a student use their own laptop? No. This is a school program, and the school-issued laptops are managed by Thayer.
5. Can my student print work from a Thayer laptop while at home? Yes. If you have a home wireless network and your printer is broadcast, the printer will be listed in System Preferences/Printers & Scanners. Otherwise, laptops can be directly connected to a printer via USB.
6. Do the laptops come preloaded with software or will parents and guardians need to purchase it? At distribution, laptops are loaded with Thayer's learning management software. Apple application software is pre-loaded on the laptop (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, GarageBand, and iMovie). All other school-required software will need to be obtained via the Thayer Self Service application or the Apple App store using a valid AppleID. 
7. Does my student have the same laptop the whole time they are at Thayer? Are laptops turned in at the end of each year? Your student will have the same laptop while at Thayer; at Middle School grade levels, laptops are collected over the summer and then returned in the fall.
8. What happens if my student’s laptop is not working properly? Thayer has loaner laptops that students may use while theirs is with IT.

TigerCloud Resources and Skills Include:

• Thayer's Tiger Cloud
• Student Google Mail Accounts
• eBooks
• i Applications
• Google Applications for Education
• Library Research Databases
• Typing Web Online Tutor
• Typing Speed Game
• Atomic Learning Online Application Tutorials
• Hour of Code

- Microsoft Office 2011: Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
- Apple's iLife11-iPhoto, iWeb, iMovie, GarageBand, iTunes, iDVD
- Student access to Thayer’s website, student portal, and network

Community Outreach Tech Fellows connect our organization with the Thayer community.

• COTFs will research and report to the Supervisor of the HTC the needs and interests of the Thayer Community so that we may create pertinent workshops that address identified needs.
• COTFs will provide research to the Marketing Tech Fellows
• COTFs will also create outreach events for teaching and learning in the HTC, which may include Thayer community speakers, field trips and outings, and in-school events

Marketing Tech Fellows promote our organization within the Thayer community.

• MTFs will collaborate with COTFs to prepare and execute marketing strategies, plans, and objectives based on COTFs research.
• MTFs will create marketing campaigns such as Digital Safety, Digital Identity using digital signs, short video advertisements, and social media to promote the HTC and its events, workshops, and trainings.

Integration Tech Fellows assist with the integration of technology in the classroom.

• ITFs will pair their student experience with their technological expertise to discover new ways to enrich traditional classroom activities and enhance the learning process.
• ITFs will work with faculty to provide technological tools for facilitating teaching and learning.
• ITFs may be required to present integration techniques in class and support teachers and students as they integrate new educational applications and systems.

Education/Information Tech Fellows teach clients about emerging technologies.

• EITFs will conduct active and engaging workshops on emerging technologies (e.g. 3D printing, virtual reality) and educate users about new features in established applications.
• Workshops will be held in the HTC and will be taught during school hours during free blocks. Sign-ups will be utilized to ensure enrollment numbers are met before a workshop is scheduled.
• EITFs will follow a templated workshop format created with Mr. Landry, HTC Supervisor.
• EITFs will be expected to develop their own proficiency with the product they will be teaching.

Technical Support Tech Fellows

• TSTFs will work with the HTC to support the MacBook Air program throughout the campus.
• TSTFs will primarily be focused on the hardware and programming side of technology integration, but may be required to assist with software installations and application, as well.
• TSTFs will work with ITFs to ensure the working order of integrated technology schoolwide, as well as with EITFs in providing educational opportunities to HTC clientele.