Digital Parenting and Family Technology Support
Every student in the district has access to an iPad during the school day. All secondary students and some elementary students take the iPad home after school to extend learning experiences and complete homework.
While iPads are a powerful learning tool, it is important for families to set boundaries around the proper use of the iPad at home. As a parent or guardian, you have the final say as to how much your child uses the iPad at home. Here are some tips on how you can help your child become a safe and responsible digital citizen. Additional information is available at spps.org/families.
For specific questions or concerns about your student’s iPad, contact your school.
Recommendations for Home iPad Use
Set iPad rules for your child at home
- The iPad should be FIRST used to complete school work before students use the iPad for other purposes.
- Check your child’s iPad and their school work regularly.
- Have your child use the iPad in a main location like the kitchen or living room.
- To avoid unsupervised iPad use, charge the iPad somewhere other than your child’s bedroom at night.
- If your child is not following your rules, you have the right to limit access to the device.
- Read more screentime tips for families at Common Sense Media.
Control Internet Access at Home
At school and at home, SPPS iPad internet content is automatically filtered. Inappropriate and adult content is blocked, as well as social media sites (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, etc.)
ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and other AI websites are blocked. Students 9-12 have access to Google Gemini via their SPPS Google Apps account.
Families can use the Securly Home app to monitor and further manage their student’s iPad at home. Some popular use cases are:
- Setting a “bedtime” for the iPad
- Temporarily stop internet access on your student’s school device.
- Limiting or block access to Youtube or other websites
- Limit or block access to Google Gemini
Technology Support
![Seesaw]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730485495/sppsorg/lzdbbvjfqeqy70bj6kjt/Seesaw.png","width":250}])
Elementary classrooms use Seesaw to create digital lessons and activities. Families receive a classroom join code from their student’s teacher to view their student’s work. Contact your student’s teacher if you need access to their Seesaw class.
![Schoology]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730485881/sppsorg/yqj24ovqp0sxoufpwiuq/Schoology.png","width":250}])
Schoology is an online learning management system where students can submit assignments, review grades and receive classroom updates. Parents and guardians can log in with their SPPS accounts to see their student’s progress, monitor grades and set up weekly email digests for summaries of completed and missing work.
![Infinite Campus]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1730485446/sppsorg/hmn7yety6juoj3bsev4k/InfiniteCampus.png","width":250}])
Parents and guardians can log in with their SPPS accounts to update contact information, review student attendance, schedules, final grades and more.
![iPad icon]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1699591653/sppsorg/ug2juvqw4dwqwz3satnv/ipadapp_lime.png","width":150}])
Get help with troubleshooting and learn about iPad features students will use in SPPS. Helpful articles include signing into Google Meet and Clever as well as clearing the browser cache and disabling pop-ups.
![Securly]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1699755138/sppsorg/zttziri7ydyftdqvumag/Securlyicon.png","width":200}])
Securly Home is a free app for SPPS families to use when school iPads are at home. Securely Home allows parents to pause internet access, block specific websites like Youtube, or schedule offline time entirely for school-issued iPads.
iPad Security and Controls
Students and staff have access to a special “app store” on the iPads with over 400 apps that have been reviewed for content, data privacy and security guidelines by SPPS educators. Pre-installed device management features block apps such as the Apple App Store, FaceTime, iMessage and other tools. SPPS is committed to safe and secure data practices of student and family contact information and data. Learn more about the district’s data privacy practices.