Joy is not in things, it is in us. Richard Wagner

Today, there was great joy in us as our seventh grade students became our first iPad recipients.  I have to brag about them at least a little bit.  As excited as they were to receive their iPads, they were so attentive and patient as the devices were handed out and so careful as they handled them for the first time.

Once all the devices were safely stowed in their cases, we stepped through accepting a calendar invitation and completing a Google Sync so the school's master calendar would be displayed along with the personal calendar on their iPads.  Again, the kids did a great job following the instructions given even while itching to explore the apps already loaded to the devices.

Over the next several days, the rest of our students will receive their iPads and begin to use them.  It is an exciting time at St. Mary's and those of us that have been involved in the project from the first days are both elated and exhausted!  It has been an amazing journey and we still have so far to go!

"I didn't fail the test, I just found 100 ways to do it wrong." Benjamin Franklin

I know, gentle readers, I know. It has been a long time since my last post. For good reason, I assure you. Over the last 10 days, SMS has been entrenched in the process of configuring our student iPads for roll out. It has been a hit and miss process. Some things have gone swimmingly well. Some things remain categorized as a "confounded mess". Little by little, we are putting all to rights. One of the smallest things has been one of the most frustrating. One of our goals has been to have the school calendar displayed for students when they click on the calendar icon of the iPad. In theory, this is not a big deal. As the administrator of the school's "Master Calendar", I make it "public" so anyone can view it. The iPads are then setup in their "General Settings" with a Microsoft Exchange that allows them to view the "Master Calendar". Except....it doesn't. When these steps are performed and you click on the calendar icon, it shows that you have access to view these calendars but the events associated with them do not display. Hit or miss, here and there, like tossing darts at a moving target, I tried various options to resolve this problem. In desperation, I spoke with a Lightspeed systems engineer because I was convinced that something in the internet content filter was blocking calendar events from display. All to no avail. I am not a person prone to nibbling my fingernails but having exhausted all of my easily identifiable options, my manicure began to look incredibly appetizing. Finally, just when I thought all was lost - I was rescued by the "Google Search" - a search for "sync multiple Google Calendars" brought me these results:

  Google Sync can sync up to 25 Google Calendars with the Calendar app on your iOS device (your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch). If you use Google Apps, follow these steps: Open the Safari browser on your phone and go to http://m.google.com Click the Sync icon. Click Sign in with your Google account at the bottom of the screen. Sign in. Select your device to configure Calendars. Following these steps, in step 3, sign in with your stmarysimsbury.eduk12.net email address and password. On the settings screen, under shared calendars, make sure the SMS Master Calendar 2012-2013 is checked. Then click “Save” in the bottom left. It is a good idea to bookmark the page so you can get back to it easily if you ever want to sync up another calendar.

I followed these steps and amazingly when I clicked on my iPad's calendar icon, there were both my personal calendars AND the SMS Master Calendar.  Honestly, it might as well be Christmas morning.  It is the best gift I have ever received.

“Words are only postage stamps delivering the object for you to unwrap” George Bernard Shaw

Sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words.  Like when all the iPads get delivered.

Federal Express delivery, "I have a large delivery for Donna Hatch.  Do you have a wider door than this one?"

Two of five sync carts.

One of five sync carts freed from packaging.

Third of five - we abandon putting them all in the library and resort to "hallway storage".

Thank goodness Taylor was at school to hold the door open for the delivery!

Some of the most appreciated help I have ever had!

Five of 5, all unpacked and stowed safely in the lab.

And then... once it was all unpacked, there was that "after the presents" Christmas morning sort of feeling in the hallway.

Mrs. Budnick, Mary Elizabeth and Caleb all helped record serial numbers.

Brian from TAB - man of the hour - configuring the ip addresses for our wireless network.

The size and number of boxes only serve as symbols of the magnitude of this project.  1:1 - One step at a time.  Close your eyes, hold your breath, make a wish.... the future is coming.