Mars Area High School students may submit their completed technology forms, along with the required Technology Fee payment, between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, through Friday, Aug. 28, at the high school.
Students must reserve an arrival time online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0a49a9a622a2fd0-mahs2. Times are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Face coverings (masks or shields) are required to be worn at all times in the building and visitors are asked to maintain social distancing, where possible.
For more information, see below:
Mars Area High School's 1:1 Technology Program Information
Mars Area High School will provide each student in Grades 9-12 with a District-issued electronic device to be used in school and at home for educational purposes, in accordance with District Policy 237 Electronic Devices & Personal Technology Resources and District Policy 815 Acceptable Use of Internet, Computers & Network Resources.
Note: All Mars Area High School students are required to have either a District-issued device or an approved personal BYOT device. All devices must be fully charged and brought to school each day. Distribution will occur prior to school starting this year. Devices will be used as part of the first day of school orientation activities.
For the 2020-2021 School Year, the devices provided at Mars Area High School will be a Microsoft Surface Go for Juniors and Seniors and a Google Chromebook for Freshman and Sophomores. Each device comes with a keyboard and stylus pen. Mars Area High School parent(s)/student will have the option to pay an annual technology fee of $100 for a District-issued device or not to pay and leave the device at school each day. A case will not be provided for the Surface Go; therefore, the District highly recommends that each student purchase his/her own case in order to better protect the device from damage. A case will be provided for the Google Chromebook within the first few weeks of school. In the event that a student’s District-issued device cannot be used or is in need of repair, the student may be issued another device, if available. All content will be made available for students on any registered BYOT or personal device, if possible.
REQUIRED FORM COMPLETION (Grade 9 — Aug. 19: Grade 10-12 — Aug. 25-28)
This school year, students and parents/guardians will need to PRINT, SIGN and DATE the required District technology forms and submit all completed forms along with the required payment at the High School during the first week of September. Parents who do not have access to the Internet or a printer may complete the forms and pay their fee at the school. Students who do not present the signed forms and/or the required payment will not receive a District-issued device.
ALL MARS AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST REVIEW AND SUBMIT a signed “District-Issued Student Device Guidelines” form, “District-Issued Student Device (Grades 9-12) Technology Fee Payments & Distribution/Collection Information” form, and “Bring Your Own Technology Student Guidelines” form, all of which are included as attachments to District Policy 237 Electronic Devices & Personal Technology Resources .
ALL MARS AREA STUDENTS (K-12) AND A PARENT/GUARDIAN MUST ALSO REVIEW AND SUBMIT a signed “Computer Networks/Internet Use Student Agreement” form, which is included as an attachment to District Policy 815 Acceptable Use of Internet, Computers & Network Resources.
ANNUAL PAYMENT
Any Mars Area High School parent(s)/student needs to make an annual payment of $100 in order for the student to be permitted to take a District-issued device home. Payment is required by Sept. 15 of the corresponding school year. Payment will be accepted with checks made payable to “Mars Area School District” and may be turned into the school’s main office. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs are exempt from paying the annual fee.
The student may be without a District-issued device during any repair period. The cost to replace a device, stylus pen and/or keyboard will be determined by the actual retail price of comparable replacement items.
NO PAYMENT
If the Mars Area High School parent(s)/student does not pay the $100 fee, the student will be issued a District device for use during the school day only. All students still must complete all district Technology forms. The student will not be permitted to take the device home and must check his/her device in/out each day at a designated area within the High School. Students who do not pay the $100 annual fee and accidentally and/or intentionally damage the District-issued device will be held financially responsible for the full repair and/or replacement cost.
DISTRICT-ISSUED DEVICE DISTRIBUTION
Students, who submit their completed forms and payment by Friday, Aug. 28, will receive their device the same day. Students who submit the forms and fee after Friday, Aug. 28, will receive their device during school hours, as soon as possible. All devices must be fully charged and ready to be used on the first day of school.
REGISTERING BYOT DEVICES
All BYOT devices, including cell phones that require access to the District’s Internet, must be registered online at http://wiki.marsk12.org/byot/ prior to the start of school (Monday, Aug. 31). Devices that are not registered with the District will not be permitted to access the District’s network.
For more information about the District’s One-to-One (1:1) Technology Program; Bring Your Own Technology (BYOT) Program; or to view District Policy 237 or District Policy 815, visit www.marsk12.org. Specific questions regarding District-issued device distribution may be directed to Mrs. Lindsay Rosswog, Principal, at (724) 625-1581.