Each child receives a Cloushare Google Account when they start school.
The Cloudshare account includes the following:
The Cloudshare account includes the following:
- an email address and inbox
- a publishing app called Docs (similar to Microsoft Word)
- a slide presentation app (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint)
- a storage storage facility called Google Drive with 25 GB of storage space
(similar to Microsoft One Drive) - a spreadsheet app called Sheets (Similar to Microsoft Excel)
- many other apps and tools where students can store, share and publish their learning. They will use different apps for different learning tasks as they progress through their year levels.
The account will stay with them for the duration of their time attending within the Sydney Catholic school system. This will become a record of their learning from Kindergarten to Year 12. Your child’s teachers have the same google account as well. Some students in Year 1 and 2 may have had access to this account previously using it at school with a generic password (all students the same).
During Kindergarten to Year 2, students begin to use this account occasionally for learning with its use increasing in the upper primary years. With a BYOD program, it is important to have a secure personal environment for students to store their work. This account enables them to login to access safe environments set up by their teacher when needed.
We have a special request that you please do not change your child's password once you have logged into the account. Your child's teacher will securely store a copy of your child's password in the event there is an issue, as it is much easier for it to be changed by the ICT coordinator, Mr Butt. He will be responsible for ensuring these passwords are administered correctly and changed every six months. A series of three challenge questions are in place; one including the seven digit student number to which Mr Butt has access. In the event a student can't login, it is much easier if we can solve a password issue at school level. Logging in can be a source of frustration for younger students as they learn their email address and password but after a few months, they become very good!
For any questions, technical enquiries or trouble logging in please contact us using the form on the website.
The following pages explain the account in more detail including login information.
We appreciate this is a significant step for young children and appreciate the partnership, feedback and support of all families. Please explore the account and ask questions. More information is available on the BYOD site accessible from the St Mary’s News site.
Cloudshare Summary
We gratefully acknowledge Elsie Hutton in Year 3 and her family for allowing us to use her Google Account as an example for students and parents.
The most reliable browser for the cloudshare account is Google Chrome.
Logging On
Your child's full cloudshare account is a google account, however It does not have a gmail.com address. It is administered and given to you through a partnership between Google and Sydney Catholic Schools. Their email address has been automatically generated by the system.
The email address usually is:
On occasion, their name may be used already so there are variations to this, particularly if their surname is long or hyphenated. A number may be added or an initial used instead of a name.
The password Is:
Their student identification number followed by their initials. This password has been generated by the ICT coordinator. We request that parents or students, please do not change this number as it makes it easier for the administrator to reset their password if there is an issue. The password will be reset every six months by the school administrator (Mr Butt). The passwords will toggle between the same student number with their initials changing from lowercase to all capitals and then back again every six months.
When logging in you can access this page simply by going to www.google.com.au and click sign in.
In this field you type your child’s full email address firstname.lastname@sydstu.catholic.edu.au. Click next.
In the boxes below, please place in their username only. This is usually first name.last name (do not put the email address in here). The next field is their password as per the slip of paper. Please select the Sydney option. They can access this account at home and at school.
The email account
Suggestions around email.
- Email is beneficial in lower grades to allow them to log into safe classroom environments created by their teachers such as Google Classroom.
- Email is mainly used for learning when students are collaborating for their learning.
- The teacher may on occasion ask students to send an email during the lower years to them. Never to an outside organisation. Students need to direct any enquiries via their teacher.
- Email cannot be blocked. In fact none of the google apps can be blocked or removed from their account as the account is the same for all students from Kindergarten to Year 12. This is a system decision.
- Students should never email anyone outside of the Sydney Catholic schools system using this email address. This includes signing up for user accounts to other websites.
- This is very rare, however, in the event of any activity that is of concern (eg bullying comments), the Principal and ICT coordinator will have access to deleted email history via application to Sydney Catholic Schools and google.
Google Apps
Most of the work they will complete within the chrome browser is contained in these nine dots at the top of the web account.
A quick summary of some apps
- a publishing app called Docs (similar to Microsoft Word)
- a slide presentation app (similar to Microsoft PowerPoint)
- a storage storage facility called Drive with 25 GB of storage space
(similar to Microsoft One Drive) - a spreadsheet app called Sheets (Similar to Microsoft Excel)
- Students are encouraged not to use and never sign in directly to Youtube in their account. They will usually be assigned videos to watch by their teachers if applicable to their learning through a link.
- There are many other apps that are being added as well. Many apps they will not use until Upper Primary School.
Google Drive
Google Drive is cloud based storage. Google Drive is where all of their personal document files will be kept. It comes preloaded with many folders categorised by subject area. Students are encouraged to file their work in these folders. It's a great way to encourage good habits of filing. They can also power search for their files so it is important that we encourage correct naming of files as well.
Benefits for students having their own Cloudshare account are;
- All of their work automatically saves on whatever device they are using as long as they have an Internet connection.
- The autosave function also has revision history so, if they accidentally delete all of their work they can go back in time to when it was working correctly.
- Students can share documents and collaborate on work with other students. This is particularly useful when they are collaborating, for example, on a speech for debating or a group presentation for the class. They can work on the same document.
- Photos can be backed up automatically if the correct settings are placed.
- Teachers can share safe and relevant learning links with students using the "Google classroom app".
- There are free apps available on the iTunes and Google Play stores for tablets.
- St Mary’s School is committed to becoming eSmart accredited over the next two years to support and educate students on cybersafety.
- It supports efficient work flow and quick access to their files.
