The computer lab and mobile lab programs are running at full steam. We see many of your daughters as they come into the lab to conduct online research or to complete their assignments on the computers.

Gaining increased popularity among the students is the use of flash drives, also known as jump drives. Students can easily transport their assignments from school to home and back with these storage devices that are convenient, and reliable. They come in a variety of storage capacities starting at 32 MB and up and are readily available at computer and office supply stores. If you choose to purchase one, we recommend watching the ads; you will frequently find them on sale. Please note that the “nose” of the device, the part that is inserted into the USB port on the computer, needs to be at least 1.25 cm long. You will find that the size of this part of the device varies; those measuring less than 1.25 cm do not work in the USB ports located in the front of the PCs in the lab. More and more students are bringing these devices to school, so be sure your daughter’s name is on hers.

The technology department has seen many exciting additions throughout the campus this summer. When your daughters arrived, the first change they noticed was the new exterior and interior of the computer lab. Not only did the lab have a new look, but a new room number too, Room 333. We are in the process of adding a new mobile lab (20 wireless laptops with a laser printer on a cart) for the science wing, while completing the upgrades to the technology infrastructure this fall. We are thrilled to have the updated capabilities to better serve the needs of our students.

The parent proctor program will continue in the drop-in lab this fall. The blocks that need to be covered are 0, A, C and D. This is an important service for our students, as many take advantage of the lab availability during their free blocks. If you have a technology background, or just a willingness to work with our students, this opportunity may be of interest to you. If you would like to participate to help our students (while earning valuable parent service hours), contact Eve Benson at ebenson@stfrancishs.org.

The incoming freshmen received their student accounts (Novell and eChalk) along with training in the month of September. All students who forget their usernames or passwords should go to the computer lab (Room 333) for assistance in reestablishing their accounts. It is important that all St. Francis students have access to their Novell and eChalk accounts throughout the school year. The Novell account is necessary for access to the student’s personal folder on the server and to the printers on campus. eChalk is the avenue most teachers choose to communicate with their classes.

We have several methods which your daughter may choose to transport her files back and forth from home to school. Remember, it is always recommended to have a backup file, just in case. Your daughter may upload her files to eChalk under the “My Account” link. The lab offers CD read/writes, burners, and USB ports for flash drives (also known as jump drives). Floppy drives are available, but floppies are the least reliable of all file transportation methods. Please make sure your daughter has a backup.

What is eChalk?

eChalk is an Internet based program that our teachers and students use to communicate classroom materials. Assignments, resources and discussion groups are a few examples of how eChalk is used. It also allows students to transport their files to and from school. Every student has a username and password to access her account. Parents will need to ask their daughter for this information to be able to view her account. It’s a great resource for our students and teachers. Please remind your daughter to come to the computer lab (Room 333) with any questions or problems with this program. Thank you.