How do Wi-Fi hotspots work?
Hotspots are basically public Wi-Fi networks, so they work just like your home or office network. Just connect, fill out any forms that pop up, and you’re good to go.
FAQ
Schools nationwide are transitioning to Distance Learning. As Merrick Academy prepares for remote learning we understand that there may be a lot of questions from families.
We have listed some frequently asked questions below. Please check often as we continue to add questions daily. If you have a question that is not listed please go to the link below to submit a question. We will do our best to provide you with an answer. Please leave your email address so we may respond to you.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership!
Submit your questions here
Student Meals
- Will my child continue to receive breakfast and lunch from the school? Merrick Academy is not a SchoolFoods site during Distance Learning
- How does my child get school meals? They can go to any Department of Education site from 7:30 am-1pm.
- Can my child eat their food at school? No, all meals are grab n go. Schools are not allowed to let students in their buildings.
- Can my child pick up both breakfast and lunch at the same time? Yes. Students can pick up a max of 3 meals (1 breakfast and 2 lunches).
- Can I pick up meals for my child? Yes, parents can pick up meals for their child(ren).
- Can we pick up more than one meal? Yes, however, these meals are only for students.
Student Learning
- How long will schools be closed? Governor Cuomo closed all DOE schools until April 20th. Merrick Academy and NYC Charter Schools are following the governor's order to close education establishments until April 20th. This is the most updated information.
- How will students learn at home? A combination of written (paper) lessons, online lessons, and home-based projects will be assigned to students.
- How will I get my child's school work? Printed lesson packets and materials can be picked up on March 18th. See the website homepage for specific grade pick up information.
- Will lessons be online? Yes, Digital lessons will be available Monday, March 23rd.
- When does Distance Learning begin? The NYC Mayor has placed a suggested start date of March 23rd for distance learning. Merrick will notify parents of the exact start date for remote learning.
- I don't have school supplies at home, will the school supply them? Merrick Academy will supply students with items to complete work. Our goal is to make home learning as easy as possible for our families by providing materials for each student within our capacity.
- I don't have a laptop at home, how will my child do online learning? Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5KM5G52 and complete the technology survey. This will allow us to see which students need technology devices. At this time we have to prioritize 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students. If we have additional devices we will contact those families in need based on the survey.
- I don't have internet access at home, how will my child complete their work? See Possible Wifi Solutions and Hotspots below
- How do I get my child's login information for Moby Max, Google classrooms and other platforms? Your child's teacher will contact you with this information. Please look for calls and messages from your child's teacher. Also, check the website daily for new information.
Technology Support for Parents
If you need technical support email tech@merrickacademy.org
Please note: While we try to respond a quickly as possible to each email, response times may take 24-48 hours.
How to Videos
Google Classrooms
Zoom
Moby Max
IReady
Khan Academy
Possible WiFi/HotSpot Solutions for Families
A. Spectrum (Doesn’t cover Brooklyn)
Background info
Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1 (844) 488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households.
Findings:
❏ Please visit the following website: allconnect.comin order to see what internet providers are in your area.
❏ If there are Optimum towers in the area, it is more than likely that Spectrum will not be offered in that area. This means they do not offer this solution to the majority of Brooklyn.
❏ They will set up a modium in the home and waive the two months of internet charge.
❏ This is a pay as you go service, which means that you have to cancel before the two months are done to avoid being charged the third month.
❏ This can support the internet on tablets, gaming devices, phones, and smart tvs.
B. Comcast/Xfinity (Doesn’t cover Brooklyn)
Findings:
❏ Please visit the following website: allconnect.comin order to see what internet providers are in your area.
❏ This option is for free internet for low income families., new customers (should not have had Comcast in the last 90 days).
❏ Your child has to be enrolled in a school, and should be enrolled in Free and Reduced Price Lunch. They may ask you to provide government form/documentation.
❏ They will set up a modium in the home and waive the two months of internet charge.
❏ After the two months the monthly charge will be $9.95 (to avoid being charged the $9.95, you have to call and cancel the service.
❏ This can support the internet on tablets, gaming devices, phones, and smart tvs.
C. HughesNet
Findings
❏ This is a satellite internet service, meaning a dish would have to be installed in the home
❏ They would have to enroll in a 24 month contract (there could possibly be a first month credit).
❏ They do not currently provide any feasible/free internet solutions.
D. Verizon
Findings
❏ Small Business and Families services will not get turned off if there is a late payment and that late fees for payments will be turned off.
E. Mediacom.Internet
Background Info
The internet is essential for successful learning and Mediacom wants to help families with K-12 students get connected. Mediacom Connect2Compete is offered as one of the ways our company works to close the "digital divide."
We participate with "EveryoneOn," a national non-profit program. Our goal is to make home internet access simple and affordable so that students have a reliable connection to participate in a digital curriculum and extend the learning experience from school to home. Mediacom makes this service available to eligible families in all areas where Mediacom's broadband network is present.
Findings:
❏ Mediacom offers internet service in your community or area.
❏ You have at least one student in grades K-12 living at home.
❏ At least one child qualifies for free or reduced-priced school lunch through the NSLP ( National School Lunch Program)
❏ You are not a current Mediacom internet customer and have not subscribed to their internet service in the last 90 days
❏ You do not have an outstanding Mediacom bill or unreturned equipment
❏ There is no contract, no installation fees, no equipment fees, or rental fees.
❏ It will cost $9.95/month
F. Optimum
Findings:
❏ Offering free internet for all customers
❏ They have to use this websiteto find a hotspot and see if there is one near there house.
❏ You do not need a password or login in credentials
❏ This is a service they are providing to everyone regardless if they are a member so not.
❏ CON-Their home has to be a hotspot
❏ To login in they open their cellphone/tablet/smart tv and they open the wifi settings and it should automatically connect.
G. AT&T
- For the next 60 days, AT&T will not terminate service for any wireless, home phone, or broadband residential or small bus customer due to the inability to pay.
- They will also do the following:
- Waive late payment fees.
- Keep their public Wi-Fi hotspots open for anyone who needs them.
- The service will also be offering unlimited internet data and offer internet access for limited income households at $10 a month through the Access from AT&T program.
- For more details, click HERE.
Hotspots
How do I turn my phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot?
Follow these directions in your settings app:
- iPhone: Settings > Personal Hotspot
- Android: Settings > Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering > Wi-Fi Hotspot
You can toggle the hotspot on or off and adjust the network name and password from there.
How do I connect to a hotspot?
If you’re on a computer, just find the Wi-Fi menu on your device. (It’s an antenna icon at the bottom right of your screen on Windows PCs and at the top right on Macs). With your phone, you can usually find available networks through your Settings page. Once you find the network list, select the one you want and enter the password if required.
Use an app.
There are a number of smartphone and web apps that can be used to help find hotspots. Some of the more popular include Wefi, Wi-Fi Map (iOS and Android). These apps use crowdsourced data to build global hotspot maps. Wi-Fi Map is especially impressive, with over 100 million hotspots in its database.
Wi-Fi Space is a good web app, so it can be used from your laptop, which can be handy if you’d rather not hunt for a hotspot on a tiny screen.
Are hotspots free?
Many hotspots are free—they’re offered by businesses and ISPs as an added convenience for customers. Many places will have a sticker or other sign advertising free Wi-Fi in the window. If the hotspot isn’t free, you’ll have to provide payment information before you can connect.