Student Chromebooks
Student Chromebook initiative for Year 10 to Year 13 students.
Since 2023, all year 10-13 students have been required to bring a Chromebook to school each day to do their work.
We need to provide our students with access to the best learning opportunities possible, and e-learning is an essential part of that.
Recent years have highlighted the importance of remote learning. Students with dedicated access to a reliable and suitable device can learn from home more effectively, with minimal disruption.
We understand that the start of the school year brings many expenses. However, having a Chromebook is a sound investment, and an important part of your child’s journey through the school. It ensures that they can participate fully in the teaching and learning in their classes.
If you cannot afford a Chromebook for your child please contact Mrs Cadman on alison.cadman@otamatea.school.nz to find out how we can help you.
Buying a Chromebook
We recommend an 11” Chromebook, carried in a suitable hard shell case or well-padded sleeve. Also, we recommend you buy warranties and insurance.
PB Tech, for example, currently have suitable models ranging from mid $300s up to $500 - depending on specs. If you use the portals below for PB Teach or Cyclone, you will benefit from educational pricing. You don't need to buy off the BYOD catalogue; you can log in and browse. Unlike a laptop, which has software, Chromebooks work online with Google Drive storage so they don’t have any particular requirements.
Some companies offer financing options.
Refurbished Chromebooks are available from PB Tech and other places - such as 3CNZ, NZLaptopWholesale, and Datatek Pacific, which will range from under $200 up to about $300. These don’t usually offer financing.
PBtech
Click here and select Otamatea High School from the drop down menu.
We have included a selection of options including a hard shell case.
Cyclone
Click here
Insite Technology
Click here Specialise in refurbished Chromebooks. Check back often, as new stock of ex-lease devices comes in. Use Promo Code OTMTHS10 in the checkout for a discount
You will find a selection of options for Otamatea High School Students including a hard shell case.
Both PBtech and Cyclone have insurance and extended warranty options. There are also finance options available.
Warning about S-mode laptops for Otamatea High School
We have recently become aware that the lower-cost S mode (Streamlined) Windows-based laptops only allow Microsoft products to be installed. Therefore the Google Chrome browser cannot be downloaded. Since we are a Google school, the Chrome browser is an absolute must as this is how all students access their school accounts and resources. This means these devices actually cannot be used at our school in this mode.
Switching out of S mode can be done, but it is time-consuming and a one-way procedure. This means, once the switch is made, the laptop cannot be reverted back into S mode.
To get these devices to work on our systems, we have to erase and reinstall a fresh copy of Windows, then remove almost all the extra apps, leaving only the bare Windows operating system. Finally we download the Google Chrome Browser for school purposes. The laptop will then function as needed. However, we recommended that students do not download much else onto these laptops as they have very limited storage capacity.
If you have purchased one of these laptops, we would require your permission before proceeding with the outlined procedure on your child’s laptop.
If you are looking to spend under $1000, we strongly recommend that you purchase a Chromebook. These work on our systems without issues, and will provide the same functionality as an S mode Windows laptop.
We look forward to students bringing their own Chromebooks so that our school can continue to broaden opportunities for students to engage in online collaboration, research, and self-directed learning at school and at home.
Please note, if students wish to bring in a device other than a Chromebook to school, or if you have any other questions, please contact our ICT Coordinator Mrs Alison Cadman on alison.cadman@otamatea.school.nz