FAQ

Why does my son need a laptop for school?
Laptops are used throughout the school day, when appropriate, depending on curricular activities for each subject. Examples include: researching and writing reports; organizing and analyzing scientific data with graphs and charts; composing and revising essays; collaboratively working on multimedia presentations; and much more. All students in grades 9-12 are required to have a working, wireless-equipped laptop in school.

How often will my son use his laptop at school?
Laptop use is driven by the curriculum and the extent to which technology can enhance your son’s learning. Some days they may be used daily while at other times students may not use them at all. Appropriate use of technology is the key and it is the quality of laptop use that is important, not merely how often they are used.

Why should my son use a Mac instead of a PC at school?
Everything is easier on a Mac. The software is more intuitive. The hardware is more reliable and that’s why Mac users enjoy using their computers more. In addition to integrating seamlessly with PCs, the Mac also lets you enjoy the same productivity applications like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as you do on a PC. With a Mac you find flawless integration of hardware and software, with an operating system built by the same people who built the computer. It’s nearly crash proof so bid farewell to the notorious “blue screen of death.”  With Mac OS X, you’ll become accustomed instead to industry-leading stability built on Unix where memory is fully protected and applications can’t conflict with the OS or one another. With higher productivity, and a more enjoyable computing experience, your son will have a competitive edge.

How much does it cost to lease a laptop from Brunswick?
All laptops are leased for 2 years, beginning in the fall of Freshman and Junior year. Parents will be billed an annual laptop fee of $750 per year, charged to your bookstore account, and will cover the cost of the laptop, plus annual software license fees, extended factory warranty, and a comprehensive insurance policy from SafeWare that covers loss or damage not covered by the factory warranty. This coverage includes replacing a broken screen or replacing the computer in the event of theft or accidental destruction, with a $200 deductible (paid by parents) for each SafeWare occurrence. Please note that power adaptors are not covered by this warranty and broken or damaged adaptors will have to be replaced at user's expense.

Can I purchase the laptop outright for my son instead of leasing it?
No. Since leasing has significant ramifications on ownership, customization, and personalization, we have found that a lease program makes it easier for parents, students, teachers, and tech support. Parents make smaller annual payments, students and teachers are all working with the same model computer, and the tech department can more effectively support the school approved model. We have found that “out-of-program” laptops require an inordinate amount of time and effort to support, and subject the student to undue anxiety.

Earlier, laptops were usually bought by parents without purchasing additional insurance cover, extended warranties and required software licenses, making their overall support a laborious, costly, and sometimes acrimonious proposition.

What laptop model is available for leasing to students?
For the 2011-2012 school year, Apple's 13.3” Unibody MacBook laptop had been selected. Detailed specs are available here. We negotiated a very competitive price on the MacBook, and it includes all the networking hardware and software required to work seamlessly on the Brunswick Network.

What happens if my son’s laptop is not working properly?
If your son’s laptop is not working properly, he should take it to the technology office. Our staff will attempt to diagnose and fix the problem. If we cannot fix it in a timely fashion, it will be sent to Apple for repair and your son will be issued an identical loaner laptop to use until his laptop is repaired.

What happens if the laptop is lost or stolen?
The School carries SafeWare insurance on all laptops leased to students. As specified in the Lease Contract, if a laptop is lost or stolen, it will be replaced by us with another comparable unit after receipt of a police report (for insurance records). Parents are responsible for paying the insurance deductible (currently $200).

What will happen after the laptops are outdated?
These laptops are leased. Typically, when the lease expires after 2 years, a new lease will be initiated for your son in his Junior year. This is how we keep our equipment up to date. For graduating Seniors, as their laptop lease expires, Brunswick will offer parents the option of purchasing the laptop at a nominal fair market value.

Can my son access the Internet and email from the laptop at home?
Yes. Students have permission to install their home ISP software on the laptop, and we are available to help with the initial installation. Technical support for your specific ISP must be obtained from your provider.

Do I need to provide my son with an email account from our home service provider?
No. All our students are provided with a Brunswick e-mail account. The school uses Google Apps for Education for email.

Is my son’s access to the Internet filtered at school?
Yes. Brunswick currently uses Barracuda Web Filters to filter inappropriate Internet sites at school. It is important to note that filtering software is not foolproof and is no substitute for responsible behavior on the part of your son. At the beginning of the school year, all students must sign Brunswick's Acceptable Use Policy. You may download a copy here.

Is my son’s Internet access from home filtered?
No. Since your child uses your family’s service provider from home, it is the responsibility of the family to monitor Internet use from home. Brunswick strongly recommends that parents use parental controls or filtering software. Brunswick strongly recommends that in addition to filtering Internet access on the laptop, parents filter Internet access on all home computers as well. Take this opportunity to teach your children about Internet safety. For more information on Internet safety or installing a filter on your laptop, please contact the technology office.

Do parents need to do anything before students receive their laptops?
No. Brunswick will host a Laptop Rollout Session for freshmen and new students in the first week of September. During this session, laptops will be distributed; students will review the School’s Acceptable Use Policy and we will discuss Internet filtering and appropriate computer use.

When will my son receive his laptop?
All eligible students will receive their laptops at the beginning of the school year. The technology department will hold a laptop roll-out session where we will distribute and train the students how to use the laptop. The exact date will be determined over the summer and this information will be posted here and also communicated via email to parents.

What training will my son receive?
Technology instruction is fully integrated into the curriculum; separate technology classes are offered from time to time, but most instruction takes place during regular class time.

Can my son install additional software on a leased laptop?
No. As indicated in the Lease Contract, the laptops are School property and may not have additional software installed without the approval of the Brunswick Technology Department. However, a home printer or other ISP software and Internet filtering software may be installed.  Limited assistance is available from the technology office for such installations.

Will my son have his laptop all year?
Mostly. However, Brunswick may collect all school leased and loaned laptops over the summer for implementing software upgrades or maintenance. At that time, any necessary hardware repairs will be made and the operating system and all software will be upgraded for the upcoming school year. If your son needs his laptop over the summer for school-related work, please email the Director of Technology with your request, well ahead of time.

Can my son use a different type of laptop?
No. Only laptops leased through Brunswick may be used at school. The School does not have the resources to provide technical support for any other laptop models. There are NO exceptions to this policy.

What if I have additional questions?
If you have any additional questions, please contact Sunil Gupta, Director of Technology at (203) 625-5890 or e-mail him at sgupta@brunswickschool.org