BYO devices for Years 5 to 12

Introduction

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) allows students to bring a personally owned laptop to school for learning, research, and communication.

St Catherine’s Catholic College has implemented a mandatory BYOD laptop program for students in Years 5 to 12.

This program enables students to collaborate, share information and experiences, work across disciplines, and take control of their learning.

Responsibilities

Daily Readiness: Students must bring their charged laptop to school every day. Charging laptops at home every night to full battery capacity is essential.
Software and OS Updates: Students are responsible for keeping their software and operating system up-to-date at home.
A full charge and a weekly restart, with the device connected to the home network, will help ensure updates are applied efficiently.
Device Maintenance: Parents or guardians should ensure that the laptop is in working order. Each laptop should be clearly labelled with the student’s name.
Charging at School: Due to WHS restrictions and power point availability, charging at school is not allowed, except for chargers that are electrically tested and tagged.

Software

Microsoft Office: Each student is entitled to a free Microsoft Office 365 license (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Teams, OneNote) as part of their school account.
The license remains active while the student is enrolled.
Additional Software: Depending on course selections, other software may be used, such as Fusion 360 (free), Minecraft Education (free), and the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite ($8/year, included in course fees).
Antivirus: Windows devices include free antivirus software.
Operating System: Windows 11 Preferred. After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, feature updates, or security fixes for Windows 10. Windows 10 laptop will continue to work, but it will be at a higher risk of viruses and malware.

Suggested Hardware Specifications

Do not buy a Chromebook I understand the temptation due to lower price - but we do not support google Chromebook's.

HP created a portal for St Catherine’s, as an option. Prices already includes 3-year onsite warranty. For Accidental Breakage, you need to complete the ‘Register Now’ form and then after 4 days they will get in contact to process the ADP insurance order over the phone. For HP's BYOD Flyer, click here or go to: HP_STCathsBYOD, Code: stCCC

Laptops can also be purchased from local retail stores such as JB Hi-Fi, Harvey Norman, & OfficeWorks, etc. Parents or guardians should check the suggested specifications for student laptops before purchasing a laptop for their child.

Dell's refurb store: DellRefurbStore

It is also acceptable to use a ‘hand-me-down’ laptop from an older sibling or parent. For those that are online savvy, have a look at ozbargain for specials.

You can also have a look at the "Diocesan BYOD Minimum Specifications" page HERE.

Suggested specifications:

Types:	Mac or Windows 11 (Windows 11 Preferred)
Screen size:	11” or larger, 13"/14” is ideal. Touch/2in1 is personal preference. 15" and above is heavy and bulky.
Processor:	Ideal: Intel i5, AMD Ryzen 5 and up (Intel i3 and Intel Pentium Gold will work, bit slower. Celeron to slow)
Memory:	8GB and up
Storage size:	128GB and up
Storage type:	Best; m.2 NVMe, then SATA SSD (eMMC and normal 7200 spindle drive not ideal)
Connectivity:	Wireless support for 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz (Wi-Fi 5 and 6)
Operating System:	macOS, Windows 11 Home or Pro (Windows 10S/11S & Chrome OS NOT supported)
Brand:	Preferred; HP, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, MSI

The device must have a physical QWERTY keyboard. iOS devices like iPads have a limited functionality, therefore, we suggest you do not purchase them for this purpose.

Gaming laptops are not good for school use, mostly due to weight and battery life.

Headphones; the school requests that every student has a set of wired headphones / earbuds for personal use when listening to multimedia resources, and to minimize noise level in classrooms. Please ensure that any accessories purchased for use at school are clearly labelled.

Repair and Loss of BYO Devices:

The school is not liable for accidental or wilful damage to laptops caused by students. When a student’s laptop is not working or damaged:

The student should bring their laptop to the IT staff for inspection/suggestions.
The IT staff may attempt small repairs when the device is out of warranty.
The school do not have loan laptops available currently.
For cracked screens you may find replacement at: https://www.laptoppanel.com.au/