Laptop Program

Students in grades six through eight on the Carmel Campus are required to have a working laptop computer that meets the school's minimum standards. Grade 5 students will be issued a school owned Chromebook. New 6, 7 and 8 students require the use of a MacBook Air. The MacBook Air may purchased at the Apple store in Monterey or online. For returning grade 6, 7 and 8 students, other configurations are acceptable.

Questions about the laptop program can be directed to Jim Fannin at jfannin@stevensonschool.org or 831-625-8375.

We are able to manage these laptops at school without optical CD/DVD drives; however, students may want to watch DVD movies or listen to audio CDs at home. In this case, yes, you may purchase an external USB drive that will remain at home. Additionally, these laptops come without an ethernet port. In the rare case that you connect to internet at home via ethernet instead of wirelessly, you will need to purchase a separate adapter to do so

We piloted an iPad program in Grade 4 to assess the use of iPads in the classroom. The results are mixed. While iPads are a wonderful tool, they continue to lack some advanced features needed for the Middle Grades. For example, word processing can be awkward and web publishing or programming is difficult. iPads are still ideal in early grades, and the Grade 4 class will continue to advance creatively and academically with tablets while we continue to assess the usefulness of adopting them in later grades.

We welcome iPads and can accommodate and manage them in the technology program; however, the student must also bring the MacBook to school daily. We can support iPads with some school-supported software, but currently we can only offer external vendors as resources for repair. We are not yet certified to troubleshoot or repair iPad tablets.

Because the Upper Division campus has an international population of more than 520 resident and day students, in addition to other dynamics that differ from the Carmel Campus, we will continue supporting the current mixed-platform laptop program. As the technology applications advance in conjunction with our academic program, we believe high school students should have the option to choose a laptop make and model based on their needs and interests. On the other hand, we expect parents and students will be delighted by what the MacBook Air offers, and that you will find its usefulness lasting well into the high school years.

As part of the new laptop program, students will be provided a thin yet sturdy, padded case in which to carry their laptops; this will offer ample protection. Additional cases are available through Apple or other vendors (for example, plastic skin cases or keyboard covers) and can be attached to the laptops for added protection.

Each MacBook Air is purchased through the school with 2 years of Apple Care, Apple’s extended protection program. This program offers warrantied repair to all laptops. If desired, additional years can be purchased through Apple. Stevenson’s technology department is equipped to troubleshoot and repair basic software and hardware problems. Note that accidental damage - such as screen breakage - is not covered. Stevenson has partnered with some local reputable and licensed Apple repair stores to assist with any work outside of the warranty, and we are equipped with loaner laptops for such cases.

As part of the laptop program and the Community Citizenship curricula in Middle Grades, students explore themes of digital safety and security, search and research, kindness and respect, digital footprint, creativity, and screen time. Students learn how to change settings on their laptops to minimize distractions such as pop-ups, messaging, and volume controls. Middle grade students also engage in an ongoing dialogue with their teachers and peers about what is working and what is not, and support is provided to work through tech challenges.

Historically, laptops have remained useful for students for 4-5 years. We encourage laptops to be replaced somewhere in this time frame.

No. Students in these grades may continue using the same laptops; however, if you choose to purchase a new laptop, we encourage you to contact the technology coordinator and consider purchasing the same MacBook Air used in the new program.

With the adoption of Grade 5 into the Middle Grade program, and with the extra responsibilities and skills empowered to students in the STEM and Humanities programs, we believe that grade 5 students are ready and capable to enter into the laptop program.

No. The technology fee that is part of tuition covers all software used at the school. If you wish to purchase and install other software for your child, you may do so, as long as it will not conflict with other software or hardware used at the school. You are encouraged to contact the technology coordinator about such additional software. Please also read through the list of provided software so that you are not buying a duplicate copy of a title available through the school.

Yes. We encourage each family to have at least a black-and-white, USB or wirelessly-enabled printer at home. While we are working toward less paper use at the school, faculty may still request assignments be printed at home and brought to school with the student at the beginning of the next school day.