Cold Weather Device Care

The weather is getting colder and it's important to note that laptops and mobile devices are sensitive to cold temperatures. Safe operating temperatures range from 50-95 degrees F. Leaving devices in the cold can shorten battery life, prevent screens from displaying properly, shatter screens, or cause condensation leading to further internal damage.

To prevent damage:

1. Avoid leaving devices in cold places like vehicles, especially in trunks, for extended periods of time.
2. Keep devices in the padded cases to provide additional protection from the cold.
3. Allow devices to return to room temperature before powering them on again. This needs to be done naturally as applying heat too quickly can also cause damage.

Original Post by Katie Krueger

Screenshots on Chrome OS

Several people have asked how to take screenshots on their Chromebooks. Follow the below steps if you do not know how to take a screenshot on your device.

Full-Screen Screenshot:
Press Control and the Switch Window key (next to the lower brightness key)

Partial Screenshot:
Press Control, Shift, and the Switch Window key (next to the lower brightness key)

Kajeet Hotspots for Grades 6-12

Kajeet Hotspot 3-day Checkout for 6-12 Students 

We are excited that we received a grant that allows us to offer students the opportunity to check out Kajeet wireless hotspots. The devices have a three -day loan period and students can check them out if they have a permission form signed and submitted to the LMC. The purpose of the program is to ensure that all students are able to do homework and projects that require Internet use. 

The Kajeet Hotspots do come with pre-configured filters that limit their use to educational resources. Streaming media (YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, and Pandora) and social media (Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram) are blocked by Kajeet and the filter cannot be customized by the district. 

In addition, Kajeet has time-of-day controls that restrict access from 11:00pm - 6:00am so that students have appropriate time for sleep.

We are committed to providing access to technology for all students. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Katie Krueger or the Library Media Center.

Original Post credit to Katie Krueger

Wifi Networks

There have been some questions regarding what wifi network people's devices are connected to. There are certain things that are blocked on the guest network that are not blocked on the Student or Staff networks.

To find out what network you are currently on, follow the below steps:

1. Click on the wifi symbol in the toolbar on the lower-right hand side of your screen.

2. Once you have clicked on that symbol a menu will open up, also on the lower-right hand side of the screen. This will show you what network you are on.

3. If you are on the guest network, click on the wifi section of the menu and select the network which you want to be using. For students, you should be using the Student network at all times when using a district-issued device. Staff members you should be using the Staff network so that you can access everything that you need to.

If you are at home, you should follow the same process as above.

Questions received from the Google Form sent October 17

The following are some of the questions that we received when we sent out a google form on October 17 asking the student body what they need to know how to do on their devices and our answers to those questions:

Q: How to connect to a home printer?
A: You cannot connect to a home printer from your school-issued Chromebook.

Q: Can I bring my MacBook from home?
A: You can bring your personal device from home, but will only be able to connect to the guest wifi network which limits what you can do. Also, you are not allowed to use personal electronic devices during class unless given express permission to do so.

Q: How to fix a charger with a bare wire that shocks you?
A: Please bring this charger into the LMC immediately. New chargers can also be purchased in the school store for $35. If you are having any other issues with your charger, please bring them to the LMC as well so we can determine the problem.

Q: Can I purchase a shell/case for my Chromebook?
A: Yes you can purchase a shell, which come in a variety of colors, from the School Store for $25. However, you are asked to please use the district issued carrying case because they are custom made for our devices.

How to Clean your Chromebook

Do you have some dirt, or maybe a smudge, on your device's screen or on the outside of your device?

Do NOT use bleach to clean your device, it will discolor the outside, and if used on the screen could permanently damage your screen. Instead, use a solution of 1 part rubbing alcohol, and 1 part water. Put the solution into a spray bottle, and spray it onto the area that needs cleaning.

Before cleaning your Chromebook, be sure that it is completely powered off. Remove any connected peripherals such as a USB device, a mouse, a keyboard, a power cable, etc.

To clean the outside of your device or its screen, once it is powered off and all peripherals are removed, spray a small amount of the 1/2 rubbing alcohol, 1/2 water solution onto the area which needs cleaning. Then wipe with a soft or microfiber cloth.

To clean the keyboard of your device, you will need a can of compressed air, and/or your spray bottle of cleaning solution. First, if the tops of your keys are noticeably dirty, spray some of the solution onto your soft cloth and wipe down the keys. If you are cleaning dust from the keyboard, get your can of compressed air and carefully spray around each key, tilting your device up if you desire.

If there is a scratch on your screen, do NOT try any of the methods for buffing out scratches that you may see online. Please bring in your device and fill out a student tech ticket, and let the tech department fix the scratch.

I Left My Chromebook at Home

Uh oh! You left your Chromebook at home. Do not worry just come down to the library. When you get to the library, tell the LMC specialist that you forgot your device at home and that you would like to check one out. A loaner device will be checked out to you. This device MUST be returned by the end of the day or you will be written a DR. Please remember to bring your device to school every day and make sure that it is fully charged, but also know that you have this option if you forget.