The Jamesville-DeWitt Central School District, its schools and teachers are all using a new communication platform called ParentSquare that replaces all other platforms used in the past, such as Remind and SchoolMessenger.
With ParentSquare, parents and guardians can receive all announcements from the district, their students’ schools and teachers in one place. The platform can be accessed through the ParentSquare website or the ParentSquare app, which can be downloaded on mobile devices.
All caregivers will receive an email invitation prior to the start of school to activate their ParentSquare account. Activation allows users to interact with the district in such ways as viewing and downloading photos, messaging teachers, accessing school and classroom calendars and indicating if they will attend events. They can also manage their communication settings and preferences online or through the app.
Because ParentSquare is replacing SchoolMessenger as the district’s messaging system with families, those who do not register with ParentSquare will still receive important text, email and phone notifications through the platform, but they will not be able to use the additional engagement features.
Information important to the greater community will be shared on the district website, and community members are encouraged to check the website frequently for updates.
Why ParentSquare?
Streamlining the way in which families receive and share information with the district, its schools and staff is one of the ways in which the district is striving to improve family engagement, which is a focus area within the district’s 2020-25 Strategic Plan. ParentSquare allows staff and parents to engage in one-to-one and group messaging with real-time language translation for those families who prefer their notifications to be delivered in a language other than English.
The district will continue using SchoolTool, which is a password protected secure website that offers parents, guardians and students online access to personalized information about a student’s academic program and progress. Student report cards, interim reports and academic schedules are posted in SchoolTool.
Activating ParentSquare
It takes less than a minute to set up an account. Families can access ParentSquare through the ParentSquare website as well as the ParentSquare app that can be downloaded on mobile devices. There are a number of helpful videos on the J-D website that will walk users through how to log in and set notification and language preferences.
For help with setting up an account or accessing information on J-D’s ParentSquare platform, contact Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Pete Reyes at preyes@jd.cnyric.org.