At HNI we have been adopters of technology in the Classroom as a tool to engage students. Digital students can explore different ways of learning which enrich traditional learning methods. It’s well known that students learn at varying speeds throughout their school life, digital classrooms offer tools for students to work at their own pace.
We want our kids to embrace technology as it’s a necessary skill in the workplace. There are very few jobs that don’t require some interaction with technology, whether it’s in the office or the orchard, technology drives industry and the economy.
It doesn’t come without its challenges. The internet can be a huge distraction which requires time and effort to monitor and control. A common conversation around the staffroom is how much teacher time is consumed checking that students are focussed on the task at hand. We have many examples where students install browser extensions or apps to circumvent school security systems.
HNI Chromebook Management system will enable teachers to forget about continuous monitoring of students. System settings and policies are rolled out to student devices which include approved apps and extensions. Google Safe Search will be turned on and incognito mode turned off.
At Havelock North Intermediate, we prioritise effective management of our students' Chromebooks through Google Licences for Education. This approach ensures that our learners can fully engage in their education by minimising distractions. With Google Licences for Education, students are logged into their individual school accounts, restricting access to non-HNI accounts during school hours. This not only maintains a focused learning environment but also ensures the enforcement of our school's internet safety policies. For instance, Google Safe Search filters explicit and dangerous content from the internet. Additionally, we have the capability to block specific social media and gaming sites. Students are unable to use incognito mode or delete search history, allowing for easy monitoring of their online activities on school accounts. This has resulted in improved learning outcomes at HNI by reducing distractions.
In the event that a chromebook is lost or stolen, we have the ability to remotely lock it down and display a message requesting its return to Havelock North Intermediate. This further ensures the security of our students' chromebooks.
We will begin the introduction of Google Licences to our new students early on in Term 1.
To add these Google Licences to student chromebooks, a factory reset will be required. Most data on Chromebooks is stored safely online; however, some data may be saved locally on the chromebook, typically in the "downloads" or "camera" section. If you wish to preserve any locally saved data (on the chromebook, not in the cloud), it is recommended to either upload it to Google Drive or save it on a USB stick or similar external storage chromebook.
After the Chromebook has been reset, it will be set up to use only school accounts during school hours. Outside of school hours, including weekends and holidays, students will have access to both personal and school accounts. User accounts will need to be added again, so students should remember their personal account username and password.
If Family Link was previously set up, it should still be linked when they log in with their child account. If it’s a new setup, you may need to re-enable parental controls.
Rest assured that all online data will be safely stored, ensuring minimal disruption to the chromebook. Additionally, Wi-Fi passwords will need to be re-entered. This works in conjunction with Family Link which will be added again when you add the child account back to the device.
To ensure your child's safety while online at school, their chromebook needs to have this management in place. If a child does not have this, their device will need to be kept at home and they will be issued a school device to use instead.
We appreciate your support in ensuring a safe and focused digital learning environment for our students.
When a device is enrolled to a school’s domain with a Chrome Education license, that device will act in the same way no matter if your child is at school, home, or a friend’s house. This is because it is device settings rather than network settings that are being applied. Therefore, safe search settings, various levels of YouTube restrictions and blocked URL’s can be applied to the device 100% of the time when using HNI accounts.
Because the device can be locked down to users of the school domain during school hours, schools can disable various apps and extensions that may become a distraction from learning. For Chromebooks that can access Android apps through the Google Play store, only school approved apps will be shown. Schools can also block various online games that they deem are not enhancing learning in any way. Parents are investing in the device to help transform learning for their child, therefore, it is important to create an environment that allows this to happen.
This is an agreement between students, parents and Havelock North Intermediate to ensure the best care and responsibility of the Chromebook is exercised during each student’s time at Havelock North Intermediate. Transgressions are taken very seriously and, depending on the severity, consequences range from restorative conversations, through lack of access to digital platforms for specified time periods, to stand downs and suspension. Parents are informed and invited to be a part of the conversations and consequences that follow breaches of the student agreement.
Chrome Education Licensing
Chromebooks that will be used through this BYOC agreement will be managed through Chrome Education. This means that:
Chromebooks will be used as a tool that will enhance learning.
Chromebooks will have online safety settings enabled.
Lost/stolen Chromebooks will locked down with a return to school message.
Acceptable use of equipment -
I will respect the Chromebook by always looking after it and keeping it safe.
I will bring my Chromebook to school every day, charged and ready to use.
Acceptable use agreement -
This acceptable use agreement has six conditions or facets of being a digital citizen
I will ensure that the information, images and materials I post online will not put me at risk.
I will not publish my personal or contact details .
I will report any attacks or inappropriate behavior directed at me and I will seek support from appropriate people
I will protect passwords, accounts and resources.
I will interact with my child’s learning in a kind, positive and helpful way.
I will respect the terms of this document and ensure my child is encouraged to be a responsible user.
I will work with my child to keep all equipment safe when it is at home and provide a secure place to store it and charge it.
I understand that the addition of a Google License will require the chromebook to be factory reset and that the school will undertake this. School devices will be made available to those students who do not have a managed Chromebook.
The concept of well-being encompasses the physical, mental and emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of health. This concept is recognised by the World Health Organisation.
At HNI we care deeply about the well-being of our students. We believe that our students need to be well and happy to learn and to be able to immerse themselves in the opportunities that our school offers. We believe that they need to be well and happy to meet our vision ‘Growing inspired learners - confident and capable to navigate the future.’ To support this view the following philosophies, approaches and programmes are woven into daily life here.
The school values guide us in all decisions and responses. HNI uses the Te Whare Tapa Wha model when delivering hauora and wellbeing learning.
HNI Health Curriculum
Puberty and ‘Navigating the Journey’ Sexuality Education
Drug Education
Healthy Lifestyles
Small group programmes - HNI contracts facilitators to deliver these important support programmes in school.
Shine Girl is a special programme that has 9 sessions (1 per week) that focuses on the concepts of Worth, Strength, Potential and Purpose. Each term 10-12 girls complete the course. The sessions are filled with fun, encouragement, teaching, object lessons and group time where the girls can discuss their understanding of the learning and can enjoy building friendships with others. The aim of the sessions is to help girls to develop emotional resilience and to give them skills in working through healthy friendships, confidence, their value, peer pressure issues. We also look at bullying and the different factors and emotions involved in this.
Inspire in Education: Pastoral Care and Mentoring ‘Producing Rangatira for Tomorrow’ Our strategic objective: To have Māori participate and succeed at all levels of learning. Our aspirations: 1. For all Māori students to feel safe and included, and able to learn as Māori. 2. To provide an outstanding learning experience for Māori learners. 3. To provide a learning environment that is attractive to and supportive of Māori and facilitates their success. Inspire in Education works mainly with Maori students. We have two groups for boys and another group for girls.
The STRENGTH program is about equipping adolescents with the knowledge and skills to discover who they are and the person they want to become. Strength is a unique personal development and group mentoring tool for boys, that uses an inspirational, practical and experiential approach to learning. The programme is founded upon the premise that every life counts and has intrinsic value and fosters an awareness of this belief. As a result, individuals are equipped to become effective global citizens for the future.
At HNI we also recognise the wider responsibility to learn about emotions and ways to positively respond to the challenges of everyday life.
We have sourced funding to employ an experienced school counsellor for 10 hours a week. This is a response to the increased demand for this service from whanau. Whanau will always be involved in discussion before any referral is made. We also make referrals on behalf of whanau to local counselling organisations.
Our school counsellor, Carly works with students here at school, during school time. Students access counseling through a referral system and parent permission being gained before counseling can begin with any student. Carly works in a variety of ways including one on one and small group counselling with the aim of improving student function at school.