Mac Support

• 13" MacBook Air 

• Power Adapter: 30W USB-C or 45W MagSafe 2

• USB-C 4-Port Adapter (for 2020 MacBooks and newer)

 

• You are assigned this equipment as part of your employment with Spring Lake Park Schools. If you leave the district, it is expected that all of your assigned equipment and accessories are returned to Technology Services or your school's main office. 
• You can you bring your laptop outside the district for your use (home, shops, etc.) You can also connect to your home wi-fi and install home printers. 
• You're not required to have a case for your Mac, but many staff purchase their own clamshell case. 
• Staff are not to run a home or small business from their district-provided MacBook. 
• You are expected to backup your data to the district's supported services, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. Technology Services cannot recover data lost to deletion or accidental damage.
• If any accidental damage occurs on your MacBook (i.e. physical breakage, spills) please let Technology Services know right away. We understand that accidents happen, but it's important that you have functional technology to best serve our students. 
• If you lose your MacBook, alert Technology Services right away. We can either help locate the Mac, or if we're unable to find it, send a command to remotely wipe the Mac to ensure any possible student data is erased and secured.

• To log into a district Mac, enter your network username and password (e.g. jsmith/password). After a few seconds, your account will be created on your Mac and you'll be logged in. 
• Default apps installed on our Macs include:
  • Self Service: Used to install district apps, printers, and run quick fixes from Tech
  • Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneDrive
  • Safari and Google Chrome: Two web browsers. Firefox is also available from Self Service.
  • Google Drive File Stream: Data sync and backup for Google Drive and MyPanthers
  • PaperCut: Printing software
  • NoMAD: Password sync utility
  • HP and Xerox Print Drivers
  • Additional security and utility apps
• Additional apps can be installed from Self Service or the Mac App Store. Read more about installing apps on your Mac here. 
• If you don't find an app you need in Self Service or the Mac App Store, complete our Free App Request form.
• To Configure Microsoft Outlook for E-mail
  • Go to Finder>Applications>Microsoft Outlook
  • When prompted, enter your district email and password (e.g. jsmith@district16.org). This will activate Microsoft Office. 
  • Once Office is activated, you'll be asked to add your email account. Click on "add account" and your district email will be added to Outlook.

The password on your district network account is set to change every 90 days. There are two ways of changing your password from your Mac. You can read below or watch this video:

Change your password at school with NoMAD (Recommended)

• Your Mac is preinstalled with an app called NoMAD. You can see it on the taskbar of your Mac with the triangle icon. The number next to the triangle is the amount of days until your password expires. 

• To change your password with NoMAD
  • While at school, click on the NoMAD icon and click "Change password".
  • Enter your current password, then enter your new password twice. Your password is now changed.
• Changing your password with NoMAD is recommended because it changes both your network passwords (Outlook, Schoology, Skyward, et. al.) and your local passwords (computer password, FileVault password).
• NOTE: Changing your password with NoMAD only works at school. If you have to change your password off-site, you'll need to use the Password Portal.

Change your password with Password Portal

• Learn how to change your password with Password Portal

I just changed my password from the Password Portal and my Mac won't take my new password

• If you changed your network password from the Password Portal instead of the NoMAD app on your Mac, the passwords are temporarily out of sync.
• Log into your Mac using your previous password. Once you log in, NoMAD will update your FileVault password automatically. The next time you log into your Mac, you will be able to use your new password.

I don't know my password anymore and I can't log into my Mac

• Call the Technology Services Help Desk at x5555 and a tech will assist you with unlocking your Mac. 

By default, your Mac is configured to extend your desktop from your Mac to your projector, showing you a blank desktop. To mirror your laptop monitor to your classroom projector, follow these steps:

NOTE: For these steps to work, you must first plug your Mac into a projector or connect to an Apple TV. These steps can't be followed if you're not already plugged into a projector, since the Display Settings button will not appear. Your Mac must also be updated to macOS Monterey or higher to follow these steps.

• Go to the top-left Apple menu>System Preferences 

• Click on Displays in System Preferences 

• Click on the Display Settings button. 

• On the left side there will be two displays, your built-in laptop display and your projector or Apple TV. Click on the projector or Apple TV on the left. Under Use as..., click the drop down menu and select Mirror for Built-in Display. Click Done.

• Quit out of System Preferences to save these settings. 

FileVault 2 Drive Encryption

The hard drives of staff MacBooks are secured with Apple's FileVault 2 drive encryption. This prevents anyone without the staff member's password from accessing data on the Mac or powering on the MacBook. If your Mac is ever lost or stolen, student data will be protected. On the flip side, if your computer is ever damaged (e.g. spills, physical damage), your data could be lost. It is incredibly important that you back up your data using either Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive on your Mac to prevent accidental data loss. 

Logging into a Mac with FileVault Enabled

• Power on your Mac. In a few seconds, the logon screen with your username will appear along with a Guest account.
• Enter your password. The Mac will begin logging on, taking about 30 seconds to 1 minute. 
• Your desktop will appear, and your Mac will be logged on. 

I just changed my password from the Password Portal and my Mac won't take my new password

• If you changed your network password from the Password Portal instead of the NoMAD app on your Mac, the passwords are temporarily out of sync.
• Log into your Mac using your previous password. Once you log in, NoMAD will update your FileVault password automatically. The next time you log into your Mac, you will be able to use your new password.

I don't know my password anymore and I can't log into my Mac

• Call the Technology Services Help Desk at x5555 and a tech will assist you with unlocking your Mac. 

NOTE: FileVault is designed to prevent unauthorized access to your computer. It is important that you backup your data using Google Drive File Stream or Microsoft OneDrive. Technology Services cannot guarantee data recovery if FileVault will not unlock. If a FileVault volume cannot unlock, the only way to get into the computer is to wipe the hard drive.

Palo Alto Traps Endpoint Security

The district uses Traps Endpoint Security to prevent malware and adware infections on our district computers. You won't have to worry about any updates or interaction with Traps. However, if you see a popup saying Traps has detected a virus or malware, please create a Panther Help Desk ticket and your building tech will help you.