Frequently Asked Questions

Please check this site for updates and e-mail additional questions to Mrs. Callahan, Middle Division Technology Integration Coordinator.

Must my child have to have an Internet connection on his/her laptop at home?
No.  If you have a home computer already set up with an Internet connection, your child may use this computer to access mail or the Internet from home. It does, however, make it more complicated to save pictures or copy/paste text needed for research notes, etc..

Does my child have to have a printer set up to his/her laptop at home?
No, he/she could print out at school.  However, we highly suggest this be done. It is impossible for 300 middle division students to print out homework prior to first period each morning.

How would we add a printer at home?
Disconnect the printer cable from the family computer and connect it to the laptop. Go to Start/Settings/Printers and click on Add a Printer. The wizard will help you through the steps.  This will be a local printer. You may need the CD or disk that came with your printer to add the appropriate drivers to the laptop. You might also need info from the manual. If the manual is not available, you could visit the manufacturer’s Web site.

Do we have to keep switching the cable from our family computer to the laptop to print?
No, you could purchase a parallel or USB switch box that allows multiple computers to share a single printer.

Is my child allowed to use Instant Messenger during the school day?
No. This is not allowed. We would suggest you don’t allow them to use IM during their scheduled homework time at home either, since this is very distracting.

Is there a filter on Internet access at school?
We employ Internet filtering software to minimize the chance that students will encounter inappropriate web content. WebBlocker blocks sites that are known to be unsuitable for children. Even though the list is updated frequently, some offensive material can sneak through. Sophisticated blocking technology works hand-in-glove with adult supervision to create an environment in which students can enjoy the learning opportunities provided by Anytime Anywhere Learning.  

Can I add a filter to my Internet access at home?
Many Internet service providers give some type of parental control options for your account.  Check with your provider to see what options they provide and how they work. Another option is to purchase a filtering software for your computer. More than fifty companies produce filtering or monitoring software for home use. Among the best known are Net Nanny, SurfWatch, and CyberSitter. Please our Safety Online pages for more detailed information.

I use RoadRunner at home.  Can my child use this with his/her laptop?
Yes, you’ll have to disconnect the computer that’s already connected to your cable modem and then turn the modem off (or unplug).  Connect an Ethernet cable to the cable modem and the Ethernet port in the back of the laptop.  Power up the modem, then power up the laptop. The Home Networking link offers some additional information on this topic.

Can I use more than one computer with Roadrunner at the same time?
Yes, you can do this by purchasing a cable/DSL router-switch, which allows more than one computer to use the cable modem.

How can I tell where my child has been on the Internet?
Every computer keeps track of what sites have been downloaded from the Internet.  There are several ways to see this Internet “history”.  To the right of the address window in Internet Explorer is a drop-down arrow.  Clicking that arrow will display a list of sites that have been typed into the address window.  By clicking the History button of your browser, a list of daily or weekly visitations appears on the left side of the screen.  If the History button is not visible, you can reach it through View > Explorer Bar > History.  If the history has been deleted, another way to view information regarding Internet visitations is by going to Tools/Internet Options and clicking Settings… under Temporary Internet Files, then View Files….

What should my child do if he/she has a technical problem with his/her laptop?
A Help Desk has been set up on campus in Room 61. Someone is there most periods of the day to answer questions or deal with problems. If a problem can not be fixed, but is covered by your warranty, the laptop will be sent to a certified IBM vendor and a loaner will be given to your child. If a problem requires filing an insurance claim, that process will also begin with the Help Desk.

May my child add software to his/her laptop?
All the software needed for school has already been installed on the laptop. Students may want to download special programs that allow viewing of video and audio clips from the Internet.  Adding software not required for school is a fast and easy way to render the laptop unstable, even unusable. The Help Desk’s primary strategy for resolving mysterious software problems is returning the laptop to its out-of-the-box configuration (ghosting). This, of course, wipes out any files that the student may have on the laptop and the Help Desk will try to move files to our network prior to doing this. However, it is important that students save important files to their home directory on the network.

How can my child access his/her e-mail from home?
E-mail can be accessed from any computer with Internet access at www.berkeleyprep.org/access.  A username and password are required.

Where can my child access assignments from teachers if absent from school?
Teachers post weekly assignments and other documents in an area of our e-mail system called Public Folders. You or your child can access these postings through the Internet at www.blackboad2.berkeleyprep.org and if your child is in the lower division the homework can be found at http://www.berkeleyprep.org/Default.asp?Page=415.

Do the children have access to mail throughout the school day?
Students have access to mail during study halls and when teachers have a reason for them to use it during class, such as to get a document they have been sent for class.  It is essential that students have access to mail teachers may send, to assignments in public folders, and communications on group projects. Mail usage during study halls should be for these reasons only, and not for non-school related reasons. 

What are my child’s responsibilities at school regarding computer usage?
Each child has signed a computer usage policy agreement, which was discussed in their advisory groups.  A copy of this agreement can be found in our MD Student Handbook.

How should my child identify his computer?
Each child is required to have their name on their laptop case, AC adapter, adapter plug and mouse (if used). Luggage tags and colored tags have been given out for this purpose.  We have also suggested that a ribbon or personal item such as a key chain be attached to help them identify their case more quickly.

How should my child store his/her laptop while coming to and from school?
The laptop should always be in its case.  It should never have anything put on top of it such as books or a backpack. The pressure and weight may cause the screen to crack or get scratched.

Where should the laptop go while my child is attending an after school event such as sport practice or forensics?
The BASE room has been set up for after school storage.  Each child must sign in.  Laptops must be picked up by 6 p.m.  Some coaches or faculty members may also provide their own storage area.  Students should take their laptop and books with them on the bus to an away event.  The bus driver will stay with the bus and all belongings to insure their safety.

What should my child do if their InfoCase is damaged in some way?
The carry case for laptops (InfoCase) has a two-year warranty period.  If the case is defective, please notify the Help Desk.  The warranty does not cover normal wear and tear or damage from misuse.

What about removing the ThinkPad from the InfoCase?
First, students should remove the computer from the InfoCase only if absolutely necessary. Second, they should exercise extreme care in freeing the top (the screen) of the laptop. Any twisting or bending of the screen can damage the display.

May my child decorate the InfoCase?
We encourage students to decorate their cases using good taste and remind them that this case will be with them for several years.  They don’t want to be embarrassed by something they thought was neat as a 6^th grader when in 8^th grade.

How can I avoid loosing any work saved to the laptop?
Students should get into the habit of backing up their work on a regular basis.  Our network is a safe place to copy all of their files, as it is backed up each evening.  Students have a network drive named H for Home where all work may be stored.  They may also burn a CD or use a memory key.  If they need assistance in doing this, have them contact their division technology coordinator or go to the Help Desk.