Emily Jones

Staff Writer

What if students could view their homework assignments, test dates, upcoming school events, sports results, and find out what’s for lunch all in one place?

Cal High is set to launch an app that will allow students to do just that.

Expected to be available for download in August, the “Cal High app” will serve as another form of the Grizzly Guide ,“binder reminder”, for students with access to an iPhone, Droid, iPad, or iTouch.

The Associated Student Body (ASB) spent $18,000 on paper binder reminders this year for students; fewer than half of whom even use it, according to a survey conducted by the leadership classes.

With this knowledge, assistant principal Dayna Taylor felt that replacing the majority of the binder reminders with the app was the economically right thing to do.

“(The app is) a way to keep Cal progressive,” said Taylor. “In upcoming years it can save ASB money that can then be put toward other purchases.”

The app will cost around $3,800, plus the monthly maintenance fee of about $350, which can be stopped at any time if the app is not satisfactory, said Taylor.

One of the app’s creators, from Eight25Media is a Cal High alumnus. The company previously made an app for the University of Phoenix,  but the “Cal High app” will be their first high school version.

Eight25Media presented the idea of an app to both leadership classes and has come back after listening to student feedback. On May 10, ASB approved the contract. It is now in the district office waiting for final approval.

“Leadership has been instrumental throughout this process,” said Taylor. “The company is really looking at our needs and what we want, and at the same time putting their own spin on it.”

Previously, the company had reached out with the app’s proposal to Taylor, who had been interested in the idea of a “Grizzly Guide” app. Now, the company is presenting the idea to other schools in the district, such as San Ramon Valley and Monte Vista, but with the promise that Cal High will be the first to get it.

When students download the app and use it for the first time, they will be asked to select their classes and teachers from a list to receive updates.

“It would be a very convenient resource to have with the touch of a screen,” said junior Vivian Li.

The app also functions as a binder reminder, as students will be able to enter in their own assignments and notes, and apply such functions as prioritizing them and checking them off when complete.

Although teachers will be able to notify students via the app of upcoming assignments that are due, they will not be required to do this.

“It’s eco-friendly,” said sophomore Harshini Chengareddy. “Everything’s in one place, and it keeps you organized.”

Junior Melody Hsia agrees with Chengareddy.

“If I don’t bring my binder reminder to school, run out of paper or don’t have a pen by my side, I can just open the app and type in what I need to write,” said Hsia.

The app will also contain a section with school events, categorized into plays, sports, and dances. For all events, the location, time, date, and level of play, such as varsity, will be listed, along with competitors, if applicable.

Students can tap a button on the event page to add it to their calendar, a capability that many students see as beneficial.

“It will all be right on the app, so it will provide easier and more access to students about school events, and possibly get more people involved,” said junior leadership student Michael Di Dio.

Although students without access to a smartphone, iTouch, or iPad will not be able to access the new app, Taylor assures that binder reminders will still be available to students during registration for $5.

The school plans to buy a limited number of paper binder reminders for next school year.

“All of the information that will be on the app will still be online or in binder reminders,” said Taylor. “Students without access to smartphones will definitely be able to access a yearly planner and find information about school events online still.”

The “Cal High app” reflects the school’s increasing use of technology to promote education.  The fact taht it encourages students to get organizaed through technology is something sophomoreMatthew Bluestein supports.

“It’s with the times, updated, and current, and that’s really what it’s all about.”