Quick links:
- About Parent Square
- What Parents Can Do with ParentSquare
- Getting started with ParentSquare
- Download the App
- How to change ParentSquare to your preferred language
- FAQs
- Community Member Sign Up
- Resources for Parents/Guardians
- Resources for Students
- Resources for Staff
About ParentSquare
Valley Central School District is now using a new communication platform called ParentSquare. This system replaced SchoolMessenger for school-to-home communications. This will not replace classroom-to-home communications such as ClassDojo for the majority of classrooms at this time. A small group of teachers will be piloting ParentSquare and if your child’s teacher is one of them you will be notified by the teacher.
The primary contact information parents have on file with the District has not changed so you will continue to receive text messages, phone calls, and emails from the school district without interruption. If you need to make updates to your contact information, please contact your child’s school.
We are encouraging parents/guardians to consider downloading the ParentSquare app and creating an account with ParentSquare to take advantage of its special features that give you more control over your communication preferences. All Valley Central families will receive an invitation via text or email to register their account with ParentSquare. You can also self-register at any time through the ParentSquare app or ParentSquare website using the email address or cell phone you have on file with the school.
Once You Register, Here’s what parents can do with ParentSquare:
- Send and receive messages in your preferred language
- Set your message preferences to receive non-urgent messages in real-time or get a daily digest of all messages at 6 p.m. Urgent messages will always be received in real-time.
- Respond to automated absent/tardy texts and emails with the click of a button to send your child’s school your note excusing their absence or tardy. This means you won’t have to remember to send in a paper note to school with your child.
Communications may include:
- News and reminders from the district or school
- Urgent alerts such as school cancellations, early dismissal, or delayed start
Getting started with ParentSquare
1. Activate Your Account
Click the link in your activation email/text, or sign up on parentsquare.com or via the ParentSquare app.
2. Download App
It’s easy to stay in the loop with the ParentSquare app. Download it now for iOS or Android devices.
Reading this from your computer? Hold your phone up to the QR code below to launch the app download on your mobile device:
3. Set Preferences
Parent and Guardian Overview
Overview Video: ParentSquare for Parents and Guardians
Learn more about getting started with ParentSquare here
Use ParentSquare in your native or preferred language
If you speak a language other than English, you can change your language settings so that you receive information in your preferred language.
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How to change to your preferred language
Using a Website Browser
1. Login to ParentSquare
2. From Home, click the down arrow next to your name, in the upper right.
Select “My Account.”
3. On the left side of the page, click “Language Settings”
4. Click “change this” in language settings
5. Select your preferred language, and then click “save”
Using the Mobile App
This will change the language for messages sent to you.
Note: to change the language in the App (UI) itself, visit
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204031 for iOS
- https://www.androidcentral.com/how-change-system-language-your-android-phone for Android
1. From Home, tap the triple bars in the upper right.
2. Select Account, then Preferences.
3. From the Preferences screen select Language.
4. Choose your preferred language. You will receive all messages in your preferred language.
FAQs:
What if my contact information is incorrect, or needs to be updated?
If you need to update your contact information, please contact your child’s school at the email listed below:
High School – Kelly Capozzoli kelly.capozzoli@
Middle School – Laurie Marine laurie.marin@vcsdny.org
ALC – Diane Cascarino diane.cascarino@vcsdny.org
What if I can’t find the invitation from ParentSquare in my email?
Download the app using the links or QR codes above or go to www.parentsquare.com/signin and enter your email or cell phone number that is on file with the district to receive a new invitation link.
I’m receiving too many notifications throughout the day.
ParentSquare gives users the ability to receive all non-urgent messages in one email that is sent daily at 6 p.m. This is called the “digest” setting. With the digest setting, you won’t miss any important messages and you won’t receive messages throughout the day. All urgent messages will still be received in real time.
If you prefer to receive messages throughout the day, you can choose the “instant” setting. In this setting, you will receive notifications in real time.
To access your notification settings from the desktop site, click “my account” in the top right corner, then select “notification settings” on the left-hand side, and then set your notification preferences.
To access your notification settings from the app, click the three horizontal lines on the top left corner, then “account,” then “notifications.” In the notifications screen, you can toggle between instant and digest.
Is ParentSquare replacing some existing tools and services that the district has been using?
Yes. The use of SchoolMessenger will be discontinued. The functionality of this tool is available in ParentSquare.
Will parents receive notifications from ParentSquare if they do not sign up for ParentSquare?
Yes. Individuals who do not activate their account in ParentSquare will still receive emails, phone calls, and text messages from their student’s school, as well as the district.
Community Member Sign Up
Members of the community (who are not parents or staff members) may sign up to receive district alerts primarily pertaining to weather-related closing and delayed openings.
Use this community member sign up link to join and receive these communications from VCSD.
Resources For Parents/Guardians
Intro Video for Parents and Guardian (English)
Intro Video for Parents and Guardians (Spanish)
Parent and Guardian Training (English)
Parent and Guardian Training (Spanish)
Resources For Students
Student Square Video
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Resources For Staff
3 Minute Overview
Teacher Training
Teacher Training
Admin Training
Admin Training Video
Training Webinars