As you may have seen already or will see soon on postcards that were mailed out, device handout will take place during Open House today, Wednesday, September 1st in the Arts & Event Center. Seventh grade devices will be handed out after the orientation, which runs from 5:00 to roughly 5:30. Devices will be handed out for 8th and 9th graders at 6:00, and 10th to 12th graders will receive their devices at 6:30. (If you have students in multiple groups, please come at the time most convenient for you. We can hand out all the devices at the same time!)
There will be a brief presentation before each handout regarding policies and other things students and parents should know before picking up devices (especially any changes from previous years), but to help make the process smoother, it is probably a good idea to review some of that information now so you can come prepared for Device Handout.
Firstly, review the “Device Policy & Handbook” document. It has not changed much from last year’s version; really the only difference is that we are deploying Windows laptops instead of Chromebooks, so language was updated to reflect that change. This document can be read by clicking on the blue “Technology Support” button in the sidebar of this website, then by clicking on the “Policies” link at the top of that page. (Here’s a direct link if that’s easier.) A few extra print copies will be available at Open House for those who want to keep one on file.
The last two pages of the document (with places for initials and signatures) will be printed for everyone so you can sign it and turn it in when you are handed a device. To pick up the device, both parent and student need to sign this form, so please be aware of that.
Secondly, the Tech Fee. Every year, we ask parents to pay a Tech Fee. This school year, that fee is $30. However, this school year, we are strongly encouraging families to fill out the forms to apply for Free and Reduced Lunch, 1) even though lunches continue to be free for everyone, and 2) even if you know that you probably won’t qualify for the benefits.
Win-E-Mac Public Schools receives additional funding for every student that qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch, and we lost a lot of funding last year because families stopped filling out the forms because lunches were free for everyone anyway.
(Side note: only the main hot lunch is free. A la carte items or extra milks are not free, so if your student wants to take those items, please make sure there is money in their lunch account!)
If you fill out the form prior to or at the Open House, you will receive a ticket. If you choose to eat the free meal that we are providing at the Open House (which is only available for those who fill out the form), half of your ticket will be torn off and handed back to you to bring to the Device Handout for the tech fee waiver.
Tech fee waivers? Yes! You can waive the $30 by filling out the Free and Reduced Lunch form, which you can two in one of two ways: you can fill out the paper form (there will be copies in your Welcome Back packets) or you can fill out the form online: LunchApplication.com.
I want to be absolutely clear: you do not have to fill out the form if you don’t want to, but be prepared to pay the $30 in that case. Also, please do know that the Free and Reduced Lunch forms have always been and continue to be confidential if you choose to fill them out.
Once again, when you pick up your device, you will need to hand the teacher your Signature Sheet saying that you agree to comply with everything in the Handbook as well as either the Tech Fee OR the torn ticket confirming that you completed the Free and Reduced Lunch form.
If you have any questions, please email me (technology@wemschools.org). As I am still new to this position, I may not have the answer to your question right away, but I promise to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this!
Andrew Hanson, English Teacher and Technology Integrationist