WEYMOUTH — Superintendent Jennifer Curtis-Whipple and Director of Technology Brett Lindholm are pleased to announce that starting this week the district will begin distributing Chromebooks and iPads for students in grades six through 12.
On Thursday, Sept. 10 and Friday, Sept. 11, students in grades six through 12 who did not receive a device prior to the closure of all school buildings last spring and who have a device status of “Ready for Pickup” will have the opportunity to collect their devices.
On Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., students in grades eight through 12 will receive their devices at Weymouth High School while seventh grade students will receive their devices at Adams Middle School.
On Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., students in grades eight through 12 will have a second opportunity to receive their devices at Weymouth High School while sixth grade students will receive their devices at Adams Middle School.
This schedule only applies to students in grades six through 12 who have not yet received a device. Johnson School and all other primary schools will release their device rollout plan soon.
The school district will distribute all devices through a drive-thru method at each school and families should arrive at their designated time based on the students’ last name. To make the process faster and safer, families should display the student’s full name on their dashboard. Staff members will approach the cars wearing masks and gloves for the device hand-off and the district asks that anyone inside the car wears a mask as well to ensure everyone’s’ safety.
The following is the list of times designated for each last name:
- 9-10 a.m.: A-D
- 10-11 a.m.: E-I
- 11 a.m.-noon: J-M
- noon-1 p.m.: N-Q
- 1-2 p.m.: R-U
- 2-3 p.m.: V-Z
Families who cannot make their designated time should contact their child’s school administrators for alternate pickup arrangements.
The Chromebooks and iPads are provided to students and families at no cost and all expenses, including insurance, are covered as part of the Weymouth Schools Technology Plan that provides all students with access to a device for hybrid and remote learning.
The requirements for each student to receive a device are to read the device agreement and attend a Device 1:1 informational session or watch the recorded session. The device agreement and information session cover important information on the purpose of giving each student a device, how to use the devices responsibly and any maintenance that may be involved.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Central Office Leadership, Instructional Technology Staff, Instructional Technology Leadership and Curriculum Leadership Team, the district has been awarded a Remote Learning Technology Essentials grant by the Baker-Polito Administration to purchase these additional devices. The grant, in the amount of $217,601, will allow for the district to provide a device to every Weymouth student this year for the purpose of remote learning. The Remote Learning Technology Essentials grant program is to support district efforts to ensure that every student has adequate access to technology to use for remote learning purposes due to COVID-19 during the 2020-21 school year.
All students with an existing device will keep this device and are asked to send the serial number in a support ticket to update the district’s records. To submit a ticket, click here.
If a student’s device status is “Not Ready for Pickup,” they will receive their device at a later date when the district receives its next iPad shipment in the coming weeks. Please reach out to your school if you require a device sooner and the district will try to accommodate your request.
For students and families with any questions or who are in need of any technical support can contact the Weymouth Technology Team here.
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