New Technology and Facilities at Stella Maris Academy! 

Major technology upgrades have been underway at SMA this year and will be

completed this month. As a result of our strong fundraising this year, the SMA

PTO has been able to implement many important Technology improvements.

They fall into several categories:

Computers and System-wide improvements

Replaced 32 Old Macintosh eMac computers with 30 new Intel iMacs. All

systems were converted to latest versions of the Operating System which will be

updated when OS 10.5 is released in Oct. This allowed new and enhanced

software applications and more streamlined systems maintenance. Thanks to the

Dad’s Club, critical new software was acquired for the Library.

Returning students will find a system with a new network server and enhanced

Server Room with a completely new and substantially upgraded Air Conditioning

System. The new Server and software will allow remote monitoring of the system

to insure 24/7 operation.

Brand New SMA Networks - Wired

The school buildings are being completely rewired with the latest technology,

commonly referred to as the Next Generation Network (NGN) in the major

universities throughout California. The NGN standards consist of CAT6 cable to

the user end with 1Gbps capabilities connecting the separate buildings on the

same LAN together with the use of fiber optic cable. The old Ethernet and other

miscellaneous interim wiring solutions throughout the three buildings and dial-up

connections are being eliminated.

Each classroom will have multiple access points and all SMA buildings will be

connected with a single integrated network with a high-speed fiber optic network.

It will have an immediate LAN capacity of 1Gbps to the desktops and a

switch-to-switch capacity of 1Gbps with an upgrade path to 10 Gbps for the

backbone without further rewiring.

Neracomm, Inc. was chosen from competitive bids to install the NGN upgrade for

SMA. They are a local company based in Carlsbad, CA with over 45 years

collective years of experience installing voice, video, data, and wireless networks

in various environments. These include Scripps Institution of Oceanography,

University of California San Diego, Salk Institute in La Jolla, San Diego City

Schools, as well as many international U.S. military installations and private

businesses. Installation of the wired network by Neracomm will begin June 18th

and is expected to take 3 weeks.

AND Wireless

Immediately following the wired installation, a completely wireless SMA

environment will be created. Arreva Communications LLC from Irvine using

MERU Technologies will install this network. Founded in 2002 and based in

Sunnyvale, California, Meru Networks delivers scalable and cost-effective

wireless solution. MERU's Mobile SCALE solution enables companies, hospitals,

schools, and government organizations to ensure that users have secure and

invariable access to their applications over a mobile infrastructure, without the

limits of conventional Wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions.

The wireless network will have 7 access points with ability to scale up, as more

bandwidth is needed. It will provide a secure wireless environment for use by all

SMA students and families while at school. Password protected access policies

will be developed and provided at the return of school.

New Computer Lab

A completely new Computer Lab is being assembled with new specialized

Computer Lab tables, with accommodation for ergonomic keyboard access

and concealed wiring - gone will be the old pie shaped desks, multiple and

exposed wires and duct tape. New carpeting has been ordered and is being

installed on the 18th of June, in time for the wiring project.

Laptops – What Ever Happened to Them?

We have been wishing for rolling carts of laptops with an eventual long-term goal

of one to one laptops for all students. While we are not yet able to purchase the

first carts for the Senior Yard, Miss Cantillon is working on Grant Requests in the

hope of getting them without cost. If she is not successful, perhaps next school

year we can once again make them a fundraising goal, along with other

non-technology priority items. The changes noted above are needed before

laptop carts could be utilized effectively. If you are considering purchases of

student laptops for home use, you may want to consider compatibility with school

systems – more information can be provided on specifics.

When the upgrades are completed we will post information and pictures on the

Web. PTO has established a new Committee on Technology and I will serve as

its first Chair. I will be keeping parents informed of what is happening – and

asking for help with our new technology.

Ann Kerr Bache

Committee on Technology