Frequently Asked Questions

iPad 1:1 Initiative

• Is this my iPad? 

• No.  It belongs to Great Neck Public Schools.  You are simply borrowing it while a student in the district.

• Can I use my own personal device instead of the school's device?

  • Unfortunately the answer is no.  School devices are optimized to work on the school's wifi, filter, and mobile device management system.  Purchased apps, books, and such cannot be put on personal devices, as they remain the property of GNPS.

• What is the biggest difference between 5th grade and 6th grade iPad usage?

  • You will carry the iPad to all your classes, and take it home each evening. 
  • Much of your work and notes will be entirely kept on your iPad in the Google Classroom app and Notability app.

• Who is responsible for the iPad if a repair is needed?

  • As GNPS policy, the student and district share the cost for the first repair.
  • Any repair after that is the responsibility of the student.

• What happens if my assigned iPad is need of a repair?

  • You will need to bring the iPad to the IT Lab or Library for a diagnostic.
  • Based on our best guess as to what the repair needs is, we will provide you with information on the cost.  If the cost comes back higher, you will need to reimburse the district for the difference.  If the cost comes back lower, the district will reimburse you for the difference.
  • Once you pay the estimated repair, you will receive a loaner iPad.
  • When your iPad is returned from repair, we will collect the loaner and return the original iPad.

•  Where do I go if I can't find my iPad?

• If you very recently realized it was missing (for example, you had it last period in math), you can retrace your steps to find it.

• If your iPad has been missing for a few hours or days, it will be brought to one of the following: 
  • During the day the following rooms have staff available to help with misplaced iPad:
    • IT Lab
    • Library
  • After school:
    • Main office

• If your iPad has been missing for a much longer period of time or you know it was stolen, you will have to reimburse the district for the full cost of the iPad (half the cost if accompanied with a police report documenting theft).

• What should I do if you find your friend left his/her iPad behind?

  • Leave it where it is or give it to the classroom teacher where you found it.  Students will often come back looking for it.  We also don't want another student to accidentally drop or damage another's iPad.  It is best to leave it where it is.

• How can I access my notes and complete my homework at home if I forget my iPad at school?

  • Google Classroom (for your class assignments) and Google Drive (for your Notability notes) can be accessed via any other Internet connected device, including:
    • A computer in your home
    • A smart phone
    • Via the public library's computers 

• You can also always use old fashioned pen/pencil and paper.

• How do I back-up my notes in Notability?

  • Within the settings in Notability, select auto backup with Google Drive and sign-in with your school Google ID.  Make sure to change the file format from ".note" to ".pdf."  This will automatically create a "Notability" folder in your Google Drive account with all of your notes in a format you can access via any Internet connected device.  
  • Within the settings in Notability, you must also turn on iCloud syncing.

• Am I allowed to place stickers on the iPad or case?

• No.  This makes it difficult for staff to read the labels and vandalizes the case.

•  If I have a question, who can I contact?

  • Questions regarding the iPad 1:1 initiative at SMS should be directed to Mr. Damon Reader.