Use of Electronic Devices, Computer Services, Internet Access, and Resources:

De La Salle High School believes in the use of technology to engage, expand, and supplement student learning across the curriculum. We seek to make learning more accessible and relevant, to ignite our student’s natural desire to learn, and to prepare them for college and a rapidly changing world where the information landscape is networked, digital, and overwhelmingly abundant.

We continue to develop policies and procedures for the proper and effective use of educational technology devices on campus. Possibilities within and beyond classrooms will be discussed. Students and parents will be invited to weigh in on these matters.

Starting in 2018-19, De La Salle High School operates within a “Bring Your Own Laptop” (BYOL) Environment. The extent of device use will vary according to the nature of the course. Students are encouraged and will sometimes be directed to use devices for academic work in their classes. Students may use one of several types of devices, such as a laptop, netbook, or tablet. Chromebooks are not supported nor recommended.

As a BYOL school, De La Salle maintains a robust wireless network for student use. Students are encouraged to pair their devices with the school network to access the full range of tools and resources they may need to complete academic work.

Please review the De La Salle Student-Parent Handbook for the full electronic device policy.

Schoology is the Learning Management System (LMS) used at both De La Salle and Carondelet.

An LMS is where teachers share course information and content like handouts, notes, and assignments. It is also one of the ways in which we share daily announcements and club reminders.

PowerSchool is our grade book of record for grades, records absences, family information (collected during the summer Information Updates and Agreements process), and more.

While parents are automatically given access to PowerSchool, at the moment, parents must request access to Schoology. Please complete the Google Form below to receive a Parent Access Code.

Once you have that code, here is a link (through Schoology) about how to create your account.

And finally, here is a guide to help familiarize you with the Schoology platform.

De La Salle High School believes in the use of technology to engage, expand, and supplement student learning across the curriculum. To this end, De La Salle operates in a Bring Your Own Laptop (BYOL) environment for all students.

Students in grades 9-12 grade students must have a laptop for daily academic use. These students are asked to bring a laptop each day, meeting the following minimum requirements:

• Windows laptop: Microsoft Windows 8 (service pack 1) or higher; Windows “hybrids” such as the Surface Pro 3 are acceptable. Mac laptop: Mac OS 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or higher.
• De La Salle does not recommend a particular brand of laptop; roughly 50% of our students use Mac devices and 50% use Windows. Please consider a laptop that is a good value for durability. Lenovo and Dell make some very durable and price-conscious models.
• No need to purchase Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) or an equivalent office suite (OpenOffice, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, etc.). De La Salle will provide a student license for the Microsoft Office/365 suite to ALL students at Tech Boot Camp.
• Protective sleeve or case.
• Headphones/earbuds.
• It is highly recommended that families acquire an extended warranty that includes accidental damage protection (such as GeekSquad, HP CarePack Services, etc.), which covers against drops, breaks, and spills (the most common damage). Also, note that AppleCare does NOT include accidental damage protection.
• Please check with your home insurance provider for coverage or a third-party provider such as SquareTrade.

Please note: Chromebooks and/or tablets such as Apple iPads and Android devices, readers, and smartphones are NOT sufficient for day-to-day use in the 9th-grade year.

For further recommendations, check out this link: Digital Trends "Best Laptops for High School Students" (Please skip their recommendations on Chromebooks, as they are not valid De La Salle devices)

Because transitioning from middle school to high school is complicated in and of itself, have students bring a laptop they are currently using (if applicable); there is no need to go out and buy a new laptop if the existing laptop meets the standard. Perhaps a discussion and decision to purchase a newer device can be had after your son has experienced a semester of school at De La Salle and is in a better position to judge what type of laptop will complement his workload.

Our piloting experimentation and experience over the last four years have shown that while smartphones and tablets (iPad, Surface, Galaxy) or Chromebooks tend to be cheaper and lighter weight, they haven’t proven robust enough to handle all the academic work students will encounter in high school (such as writing papers & creating presentations) or may have some limitations with applications that laptops don’t have.

We have found smartphones/tablets to be great companions, especially to access content, but are far more “clunky” for producing work. Laptops have emerged as the most robust for everyday use. However, “hybrid” devices such as the Surface Pro 3 (and not lower) have entered the realm as laptops and ARE acceptable devices.

De La Salle will provide a student license for the Microsoft Office/365 suite to all students. This includes a downloadable version compatible with Mac & Windows laptops - there is no need to purchase additional office tools when purchasing your son's laptop.

De La Salle recognizes that not all students have the resources to acquire devices.

Students qualifying for financial aid will be eligible for use of/access to a long-term loaned device. To qualify for a loaned device, students need to receive more than 50% in financial aid from the school. If you qualify for assistance in securing a laptop through the school, contact Mr. Jay Juarez (juarezj@dlshs.org), IT Director, to request a device. 

Please note: Because transitioning from middle school to high school is complicated in and of itself, have students bring a laptop they are currently using (if applicable); there is no need to go out and buy a new laptop if the existing laptop meets the standard. Perhaps a discussion and decision to purchase a newer device can be had after your son has experienced a semester of school at De La Salle and is in a better position to judge what type of laptop will complement his workload.

Check out the work of Tristan Harris through the video here. He also has some great tips for taking control of your phone.

For the past five years, De La Salle has talked with parents about effective parenting with technology. One of the key elements is open and honest discussions about device use, rules, and expectations.

De La Salle's recommends resources found at Common Sense Media on managing teen screen time: 

There, you can also download a Family Device Contract from Common Sense Media HERE

Still unsure of what apps your son should have/be using? Check out more resources from Josh Ochs here: www.safesmartsocial.com

De La Salle Presents: Screenagers addresses the most pervasive parenting issue of our time head on—depicting teen struggles over social media, video games and internet addiction. The film empowers kids to best navigate the digital world and provides practical resources to help them do it. We had a great turn out for the film and a lively discussion that followed- thanks to all who came out and joined us!

Missed our screening? Check here for other local showings.

Download the packet of resources from the showing

Or look below under Device Contracts & Agreements. Be sure to check out our other resources on this page and the resources at Screenagersmovie.com