(Since there’s so many of you going to the Presidential Inauguration, you get our own post.)

Be sure to download the following apps to your iPad/iPhone BEFORE we leave for D.C. Check back on Friday night. There may be a couple more.

Inaugural 2013 Official getting around app and info about ceremonies, road closures, etc. (There’s also an offline version for when the network goes down.) Free.

D.C. Metro Map It’s nice to have a digital version. You can also find out why the train is delayed and whether you should try another route.

WordPress Yes, you can use it with our site. Just be sure you’re trying to login through broadview.sacredsf.org and not through wordpress.com!

Adobe Photoshop Express Need to change the brightness or contrast? This app will do it — and it automatically saves the original!

Your teachers are finalizing your textbooks for this year. Watch this space for a list of required e-textbooks and iPad apps.

Sophomore Art Foundations
Uffizi Touch $11.99 • Centrica

Freshman Biology & Honors Biology
Biology (National Edition)  $14.99 • Kenneth R. Miller, Ph.D. & Joseph S. Levine, Ph.D.

AP Environmental Science 
Environmental Science $14.95 (National Edition) • Jay Withgott

Did I leave it at school? Is at my mom’s office? Was it [Gasp!] stolen?

New York Times tech columnist David Pogue gives step-by-step instructions for turning on the Find My iPad function on your device(s).

Caveat: This only works if your iPad is on an open wireless network (no password required) or the iPad is in a place where you have already put it on a wireless network (like at school).

Save yourself a sleepless night and do this now.

Standards for Proper iPad Care

1. General care

1.1 All iPads must kept inside a student-purchased case designed to protect iPad shell and the glass screen from bumps and drops. “Smart covers” that cover only the glass and do not protect the edges are not acceptable.

1.2 Care should be taken not to drop the iPad, which may result in screen breakage or injury to internal components.

1.3 IPads should never be placed under heavy items such as textbooks. Students should take exceptional care when iPads are placed inside purses or book bags to make sure the iPad isn’t subject to being shocked or crushed (such as by dropping the bag).

1.4 Avoid using the iPad in area of high humidity or leaving it for an extended period of time in an area with temperatures below 32 degrees or above 95 degrees.

1.5 Avoid getting the iPad wet. If should it become soaked, unplug it immediately if it is being charged or synched to a computer. Wipe off excess liquid with a soft cloth and turn it glass-side down. Do not try to dry the insides with a hair dryer, oven, or by other means. Seek help as soon as possible from the Computer Department or at your own cost at a local Apple Store.

2. Screen

2.1 The screen should cleaned with a soft cloth, such as an old T-shirt or chamois that may be slightly dampened.

2.2 Do not clean the screen with alcohol, glass and window cleaners, or abrasives.

2.3 Do not spray anything on the screen other than an approved iPad cleaner (such as iKleen or Apple Polish) as these cleaners have a very fine spray mist. Most spray bottles release too large droplets that may cause liquid to drip into the iPad, damaging the components.

3. Batteries

3.1 Batteries have a finite number of charges, therefore it is better to drain the battery to a fairly low level before recharging it rather than recharging it more frequently.

3.2 Fully discharge the battery (run the iPad until it goes to sleep) at least once a month. Keep the iPad plugged in until it recharges to 100 percent.

3.3 Perform regular system software updates as they may contain patches that will extend battery life.

4. Security and personal safety

4.1 When not in use, iPads should always be kept in a secure place such as a locked locker or a trunk of a car, taking care not to expose the iPad to extreme temperatures.

4.2 Students should not use iPads in circumstances in which their personal safety may be compromised due to inattention of surroundings. This includes, but is not limited to,  while walking or operating a vehicle. Students should use discretion in using iPads on public transit or in public areas.

5. Miscellaneous

5.1 Care should be taken that school inventory labels and name labels remain on the iPad during the term in which the school owns the equipment.

5.2 Students may not place stickers or other permanent on semi-permanent adhesives, markings or engravings anywhere on the iPad.

We’ve left this decision up to you because some of you love pink and others hate it. Some of you might want a keyboard built into your case, and others of you will find the touch keyboard will work just fine.

Whatever case you decide to buy, be sure that it is one that covers the sides of the iPad and will protect the glass should the iPad sustain a hard bump or drop. Smart Covers or protective sleeves without a protective back case are not acceptable.

Remember, you must bring a case with you to Freshman Success in order to pick up your iPad. No iPads will be distributed without a case. No exceptions.

Here’s a list of some of the cases that are acceptable. There are others, but they should contain many of these same features.

Infocase for iPad

Kennsington back case for use with a Smart Cover

KeyFolio keyboard case

Kickstand Case II 

Solid Line case with detachable keyboard

Solid Line Kéka case

Should I purchase an iPad for my daughter?
No. Convent of the Sacred Heart High School has purchased iPads for all incoming freshmen (Class of 2016). Purchasing all of the class’s iPads with the same configuration allows teachers to work most effectively with students and allows our IT department to put the iPads on our school network, push necessary software, and do routine maintenance in the most efficient way possible.

What iPads will the students receive?
The students will be issued black iPad 3s, 32 GB with WiFi that will connect to the Internet through the school’s wireless network as well as other wireless hotspots, including homes with wireless routers. Students will be given one-time redeemable codes to download productivity apps including Pages (word processing), Keynote (presentation) and Numbers (spreadsheet and graphing).

When will iPads be distributed?
Freshmen will receive their iPads on the first day of Freshman Success. In the rare instance that a student cannot attend freshman orientation, we schedule a session with her during the first weeks of school during the Community Period.

Is there anything we need to buy?
All students will need to purchase a protective case for their iPads to help prevent damage due to  accidental bumps and drops (they happen). Students will not receive their iPads unless they have a case in which to immediately place their iPads. “Smart Covers” or any cover that simply covers the glass without protecting the sides and corners of the iPad are not acceptable. Examples of acceptable cases can be found here.

Can our family share an iTunes account for purchasing apps?
We strongly suggest students have their own iTunes accounts. This allows students to install software at school without parents having to share their passwords with their children. By having her account, students can take purchased music and software with them when they go to college rather than leave it on their parents’ account and have to repurchase apps, songs, video and other software for their iPads, iPhones or other iOS-compatible devices.

How can we get additional software for the iPad?
All students will need to have a personal iTunes account that requires a prepaid iTunes card or credit card for purchasing additional software (apps) and e-textbooks. Parents can preload their daughters’ accounts for a specified amount of money,  give their daughters a pre-paid iTunes card (available at Apple Stores, Safeway, Walgreens and other stores), or students can make purchases can be made one-at-a-time, entering a credit card number for each transaction. All software issued by the school or purchased by the student belongs to the student, which again, is another reason why it’s important for every student to have her own iTunes account.

How does the student backup software she installs on her iPad?
Students are responsible for backing up all software and data on their home computer using iTunes software for either Mac or PC and/or through iCloud (although we request students do not perform backups at school due to bandwidth issues). Information on how to do this is at http://apple.com/ipad . 

How much will this cost?
The school will collect a $225 use fee (payable on the school’s website) at the beginning of the freshman, sophomore, and junior years to cover the purchase price of the iPads and some productivity apps students will use in most classes. Your freshman payment is due at this time. Students will not initially receive their iPads until this fee is paid. If you have special circumstances, please contact Interim Head of School Mary Forsyth.

Do the iPads belong to the student or the school?
All equipment is owned by Convent of the Sacred Heart High School until the completion of the students’ junior year.

What else is the student responsible for purchasing?
Aside from purchasing a case to protect the iPad from impact, some art classes will require students to have a stylus (about $15). Students may wish to purchase headphones or earbuds for listening to instructional videos in public spaces, such as in the library. Some students may wish to purchase an external keyboard, yet many students quickly adjust to using the virtual keyboard. Students are additionally required to purchase apps and/or e-books required for their courses. These are listed here.

Will all textbooks be available on the iTunes App Store?
Some classes will use iPad-only textbooks, while other course will use traditional texts and materials. In order to prevent purchasing the wrong e-book (as some have similar names and e-books cannot be returned), please use the links provided in the textbook post.

What happens if the iPad breaks?
All iPads come with a one-year warranty during which almost all hardware issues will become apparent and will be covered. Well-designed protective cases, supplied by the students, will prevent damage to iPads in routine use and occasional drops; however students and their parents are responsible for paying for any damage to the iPad, such as cracked or broken screens.

Students should bring any concerns to the high school computer office where we will arrange for repair, if necessary, with our IT department. Alternatively, students can take the iPad to the Genius Bar at any Apple Store for replacement (for mechanical problems covered under warranty) or repair, at their own expense. The school has a limited number of loaner iPads that may be available in the interim.

Is there anything else we should know?
In our first year of implementation, we found the iPad to be an powerful device for enhancing student learning and engagement. We are excited to see how your daughter will use this tool in the scope of her academics. We encourage parents and guardians to discuss with their daughters how they are using their iPads, and to encourage them to use it wisely and responsibly, including what applications or songs they download, how often (or late) they communicate with friends and classmates via Facetime, Facebook or Instant Messaging, and what Internet sites they visit.

Have you noticed there are a lot of app updates lately? That’s because Apple updated its iOS (iPad/iPhone operating systems) and now app designers are scrambling to add new features that will work with the new version.

The problem is, though, a lot of upgraded apps will not work with the version of software that came with the student and teacher iPads issued in August. (Especially true: Keynote, Numbers and Pages.) In fact, if you try to upgrade, you’ll get a dialogue box telling you that the app is incompatible with your iPad.

If you want the newest features, upgrade to iOS5. But leave yourself a good two or three hours to do so. It takes time.

If you don’t care, then leave things as they are. If you want the newest features, upgrade. But, be careful. Read what the upgrade is for or what it is supposed to do. Best advise: Don’t just click randomly.

The next time you synch your iPad to your home computer, you should get a dialogue box telling you there’s new software available for your iPad and asking you if you want to upgrade. Yes, you should — but do this first:

Many developers have upgraded their apps to work with iOS5, so log into the App Store and upgrade all of your apps. (This took Ms. Sena over half an hour just to do this.) After they apps have downloaded, plug your iPad into your computer and open iTunes, if it doesn’t open automatically.

Click the button for “DOWNLOAD ONLY.” While the software is downloading, make sure all of the software that’s on your iPad is on your computer. If you’ve downloaded apps directly to your iPad, there’s a possibility they’re not synched. After your iPad has synched once, and while still in iTunes, go to File >Transfer purchases from <YourName’s> iPad and let the iPad synch again.

By this time the new software may or may not have downloaded (it may take half an hour or more). If it has and you’ve got a good hour or so to kill, unplug and replug in your iPad synch cable and follow the prompts to upgrade your software.

Note that the upgrade may take 30 minutes to an hour or more, depending on how much stuff you have to synch. (If you have downloaded chapters from the algebra or geometry book, resynching may take longer.) Do not unplug the iPad during this process, so plan your time carefully.

 Once everything is upgraded and resynched, your iPad will ask you to reset a few things, like your passcode, if you have one. This whole process should only take five minutes.

There you go! Have fun with your new iOS and upgraded apps!