Students commencing at Stella are required to have a MacBook laptop. It can be either an Air or a Pro. We recommend minimum 512GB hard drive, 8GB RAM, Intel Core i5 or Apple Silicon processor. Whilst we encourage students to purchase a new MacBook so that it provides the best performance during their time at the College, we will provide support for MacBooks up to four years old.

Students are expected to come to school each day with a fully charged MacBook so that it can be used in any lesson throughout the day.

You are welcome to purchase a MacBook from any retailer.

At Stella Maris, we have partnered with Computers Now as our preferred MacBook supplier. 

When purchasing your device, it is recommended to include AppleCare+ to enable on-site repairs. This does not include coverage for theft or loss.  For this coverage, please consider consulting your home and contents insurance provider.

AppleCare+ includes accidental damage. For more information about AppleCare+ please visit:

 https://www.apple.com/au/support/products/mac/

The parent purchase portal link for Computers Now  is here.  Should you wish to discuss the purchase with Computers Now contact John Ng on 02 9951 7904 or via email at john.ng@compnow.com.au

The College assumes no responsibility for storing student information, therefore, it is important that an effective data backup strategy is implemented.  Each student’s account is a Microsoft365 account which provides 1TB (1000GB) free cloud storage through OneDrive for student files.

MacBooks purchased from Computers Now will be sent via Australia Post to your house. You will be required to contact Computers Now regarding delivery dates. Supplies are often tight just before Christmas so if you are planning on providing the MacBook as a Christmas present, consider ordering the MacBook in November or earlier.

Parents receive an email package during December with the student’s school account details and instructions on preparing their device for network access and software installations, made up of the Microsoft Office suite (including OneDrive), antivirus software and other apps necessary for their classes in the coming years. There is no need to purchase any software.

If you would like to discuss the laptop policy in more detail, please contact Mr Matt Edmonds on  (02) 9976 1860 or  matthew_edmonds@stellamaris.nsw.edu.au.

My Daughter is coming to Stella. Am I required to provide her with a laptop of her own?

Yes, laptops are used throughout the College as integral tools of learning.

What type of laptop does my daughter need?

For consistency in the classroom, Stella Maris College is a MacBook only school. They are robust, have long battery life and are very quick to boot. They are very reliable and easy for the girls to manage. We also have specialist systems to fully support these devices.

Does the College support iPads?

We do not specifically support iPads at this stage. Girls are required to have a laptop as our current curriculum relies on the use of applications like Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite and other pieces of software that run on MacOS. It is our experience that iPads do not provide sufficient functionality to be used in all classroom scenarios.

Will the College support MacBooks purchased from other Apple stores?

Yes, full software support is given to all MacBooks running MacOS 13 (Ventura) or later.

What will the laptops be used for?

Laptops give learning global reach and facilitate styles of learning that were not possible before technology became an integral part of the education scene. Students need their device to complete tasks, e.g. gather information, access online textbooks and audio-visual material, access the College learning management system, share their learning and complete writing, presentation or design tasks.

Do the girls use electronic textbooks?

Yes, many departments use interactive ebooks. We provide support and assistance with downloading and configuring these ebooks.

How does the College manage Internet security and acceptable use?

Students accessing the College network with their device have secure and filtered wireless access to the Internet. Students are required to follow the College Internet Acceptable Use Policy and adhere to other relevant College policies. A range of sanctions are in place for students who choose not to meet College expectations with regard to internet use, including social media.

Do we need to purchase any Software?

There is no need to purchase any additional software at all as Stella Maris College provides the full Microsoft Office suite including Teams and OneDrive, the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and Anti Malware protection. Most of this is installed automatically upon joining the College's network. Specific software for courses/classes is either installed automatically or available through Stella Maris’ Self Service package with a single click install.

Do we need insurance?

Families are strongly encouraged to check the cover for the device on their existing policies. It is recommended to take out AppleCare+ shortly after purchasing the laptop as this offers greatly reduced, fixed price repairs for accidental damage, and repairs on-site at Stella Maris College can be arranged through Apple Support.

Security of devices

Students must have an appropriate laptop bag or cover to protect their devices. Hard shell covers are available from Computers Now. These covers have been found to significantly reduce screen breakages.

When not in use, all devices should be locked in your daughter’s locker.

What happens if there is a fault in the device?

The student or parent will need to arrange their own repair on the device. The College cannot take responsibility for the service and/or repair to the device but may be able to offer a loan device which can be used during the repair period, although numbers are limited. A device with a current warranty is strongly encouraged.

What do I need to consider if we opt for a device we already own?

1. Does it meet the minimum operating requirements? 
2. Will the battery hold sufficient charge to operate all day?
3. Is the computer used by more than one person and could this compromise the educational use of the computer?