Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Ottawa Catholic School Board was one of the first school boards in Ontario to allow students to BYOD - Bring Your Own digital Device - to school. Over the last ten years, we have made significant investments to ensure our students and staff have access to a variety current technologies. The use of technology to support learning remains a key priority to ensure that students are equipped with the skills to flourish in an increasingly digital world. Chromebooks have proven to be versatile, reliable, and affordable digital tool in the classroom.
As students have engaged more with the technology that is available in their classrooms, many families have expressed interest in purchasing a device for their child to use at school and at home. Many parents have reached out, seeking advice about which technology would best support their child’s learning, is reasonably priced, yet durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of daily use as it’s transported back and forth to school each day.
We have been working with STAPLES CANADA to provide three good Chromebook options that families can choose to purchase at a STAPLES store or online. These three models are the same devices that are currently used in schools. Each is a rugged commercial-grade Chromebook, with a full keyboard and touchscreen, (and some that fold over to also act as a tablet with a pen). Each of these devices will support your child’s school work, including the use of their @ocsbstudent.ca Google account and all related educational applications they are already use at school.
Detailed information about the recommended options are available online at the following site: https://www.staples.ca/sbdca/en_CA/cre/programs/byod/ottawa/
OR visit your local/Ottawa STAPLES store to view these three Board-recommended devices:
- Lenovo N23 Yoga Chromebook
- Acer R13 CB5-312T-KOYQ Chromebook
- Acer Spin 11 R751TN-C5P3 Chromebook
Please note that there is NO expectation that students must purchase and bring their own devices to school, nor is there any incentive to the Board beyond sharing this information. Devices will continue to be made available in schools for use by all students.
Sincerely,
Shelley Montgomery
St. Gabriel Catholic School
