ParentSquare
Staff Information
Below are some common questions. Click them to see the answers.
When will ParentSquare be launching?
ParentSquare will launch on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. From that date forward, all school communication should be sent through ParentSquare and CPSGE Gmail.
Why are we switching?
Four big reasons:
Our top priority is improving communication with families. ParentSquare is designed to help us meet this goal effectively.
ParentSquare offers a broader range of functionalities compared to Remind. It's developed with input from parents and serves as an all-in-one platform for school communications. This includes features for RSVPing to events, signing up for volunteer opportunities, expressing feedback through post comments and emoji reactions, and facilitating emergency communications.
ParentSquare has recently acquired Remind. Consequently, in the coming months, a transition to ParentSquare will be necessary, making it prudent to start this process sooner rather than later.
Our current emergency notification system will soon be discontinued by its provider. This necessitates the adoption of a new system for emergency communications, and ParentSquare offers an excellent solution.
What's happening to Remind?
ParentSquare actually bought Remind! So, we would need to be making this shift at some point anyway.
You can continue to use Remind until Tuesday, January 30, 2024. After that date, there will be a short grace period before we disconnect Remind and will require you to use ParentSquare as the new official communication platform of the district.
Can I still use Seesaw, ClassDojo, or Remind to communicate with parents/guardians?
No. We will be allowing a short grace period for those who are transitioning their messaging over to ParentSquare, but will soon discontinue these communication services.
Other districts that have implemented ParentSquare have found that parents appreciate having one place to go for communications and have seen increased engagement as a result. Additionally, using ParentSquare, you may find that you get more engagement with non-English speaking families due to the live-time translation feature.
Will my students and classes appear in ParentSquare, like they do in Remind?
Yes! Just like with Remind, ParentSquare will reflect your up-to-date class rosters. It syncs nightly, just like Remind does.
Can I add a co-teacher, teacher assistant, or para to my classes?
Will people be able to see my personal cell phone number?
No. We only use your cell phone number in the event that we need to send you urgent alerts (safety notices, school/office closures, etc.) and so that you may choose to receive text message notifications to your cell phone.
Do I need to let parents/guardians know about ParentSquare?
Parents/guardians will receive an activation email for their ParentSquare accounts on January 10, 2024. Those who do not register will still receive text, email and phone notifications. Parents who create an account can become more actively engaged in communication by appreciating posts, viewing photos, leaving comments and managing their communication preferences.
I'm in charge of a club or sport. Can I communicate with just those parents, even if their children are not in my class?
Teachers have the ability to create groups with students who aren't in their class. Please visit Groups > New Group > New Static Group. From there, you can create the group and choose a name and description for your group, as well as whether or not you want the group to be public or private. At the bottom, you can add your members by searching for them and checking the box next to the names of the individuals that you'd like to add. When you're finished, click "Save" at the bottom.
Here is a help article on creating a group: https://parentsquare.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/204107145-Create-a-Group-
I need help. Who do I contact?
Email psqhelp@cpsge.org