Dear Patuxent Valley Families,
As we're coming to the end of the school year, we are noticing a rash of Chromebooks with damage not due to normal wear and tear. We have also heard talk of various TikTok challenges that involve damaging Chromebooks in various ways, including trying to set them on fire with graphite.
This email is to remind everyone that having a Chromebook is a privilege, and with that privilege comes various responsibilities. There are instances where accidental damage to a screen or port might take place, and the county has instituted a policy that takes those situations into account. If, however, damage is being intentionally inflicted, this violates the county's technology use policy and could lead to administrative consequences in addition to financial charges being assessed.
Below is the link to the county webpage describing typical damages and the resulting costs:
https://www.hcpss.org/devices/repair-costs/
We'd also like to remind families that students should be charging their Chromebooks nightly and bringing their chargers to school. Each teacher has a limited number of chargers in their classroom.
Thank you, families, for partnering with us and your students to ensure a positive end to the school year when it comes to technology. Any encouragement you could give to your students to threat their devices with respect would be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Richard Smart, Principal