Program Overview & Lifecycle

All laptops in the St. Andrew’s One-to-One program follow a standard lifecycle. Currently, each device is slated for a four-year service period beginning from its original date of purchase.


We make every effort to ensure that the majority of students in a grade level are on the same cycle, with the goal of having the laptop "retire" the same year as the student's graduation. Because this alignment is not always possible, please refer to the chart below to confirm your specific device’s status.

Distribution & Pickup

  • New Students: Laptops are assigned during a mandatory orientation session. Dates for incoming Middle and Upper School students are shared via school mailings in late spring. These sessions typically take place the week before school resumes.

  • Returning Students: If the previous laptop reached the end of its lifecycle at the conclusion of the last school year, families are notified via school mailings and provided instructions on how to remove the management controls. Students may pick up their replacement device the Friday before classes begin or during the first week of classes.

Graduation or Withdrawal Options

Families of students leaving St. Andrew’s—whether due to graduation or withdrawal—have two options if the device is not at the end of its cycle:

  1. Purchase the Device: Families may keep the laptop by buying out the remaining years of service to retire it early. In this case, any remaining manufacturer warranty will transfer to the family.

  2. Return the Device: Families are under no obligation to keep retired laptops. If you do not wish to purchase the device, it must be returned to the Tech Office.

Families can keep the laptop at no cost if the device is at the end of its cycle.

Post-Retirement Ownership

Once a laptop is retired and SAES management controls are removed, the device is no longer considered St. Andrew's property. At this point:

  • Ownership: The family assumes sole responsibility for the device's care and maintenance.

  • Access: The student’s user account is promoted to the primary Administrative account. All other management-related accounts, web filtering, and classroom monitoring controls are removed.

  • Management: Families are free to manage and use the device as they see fit, including returning it to the Tech Office

Identifying Your Laptop

If you are unsure of your laptop’s age or cycle, you can identify it in two ways:

  • Coloured Tag: Check the physical tag on the bottom of the computer.

  • Computer Name: If the tag is missing, go to the Settings app to find the computer name.

    • Note: Student computer names include an "S" character that is not printed on the physical tag.