Schodack CSD Families,
We are excited to announce that Schodack Central School District will be transitioning to a new district-wide communications tool called ParentSquare. Starting on July 1, 2025, all district-level, school-building and classroom communications to student families will be sent via email and text message using ParentSquare. There is also a free ParentSquare app we encourage families and employees to download so they get the most out of the platform.
ParentSquare is a unified communications tool designed to keep you informed and also encourage greater engagement between our schools and student families. It provides a safe way for district administrators, principals, teachers, staff, and parents to do the following and more
- Send and receive district-level, school-building and class information
- Share pictures, files and forms
- See calendar items
- Sign up to volunteer
- Schedule parent-teacher conferences
Please review the information below for more about activating your Schodack ParentSquare account, overview videos/trainings, downloading the ParentSquare app and FAQs.
Activating Your ParentSquare Account
ParentSquare uses the contact information currently on file with Schodack Central School District. You are encouraged to activate your ParentSquare account ASAP at www.parentsquare.com/signin.
Using the link above, activate your account by entering your cell phone number or email address where it says “Register.” If you cannot activate your account, it likely means you need to update your primary contact information on file with the district. If this happens, please contact your school’s main office to ensure they have your current cell phone number and email address.
Castleton Elementary School Main Office: 518-732-7755
Maple Hill Jr./Sr. High School Main Office: 518-732-7701
On June 24, we will also email invitations through ParentSquare to all Schodack families who have not yet activated their accounts using their current contact information on file. Email invitations will come from a parentsquare.com email address.
Videos & Trainings
If you are unfamiliar with ParentSquare and want to learn more about it, the videos below provide a good overview.
Additionally, you can take a step-by-step online training through ParentSquare Academy to familiarize yourself with it.
- Parent/Guardian 101: Support Your Student with ParentSquare (you will need to activate your account to access)
Free ParentSquare App
We encourage all school families and employees to download the app to get the most accessible ParentSquare experience on their phones. It is available in the Apple App Store here and the Google Play App Store here.
FAQs for Schodack Families
Q: What is ParentSquare replacing?
A: Starting in July 2025, ParentSquare is replacing Schodack’s current primary district-level/school building-to-home communication tool (SchoolMessenger) and all classroom/teacher-to-home communication tools (Seesaw, Canvas Messages, etc). Using ParentSquare, all district and school communications will be in one place, making it easier for student families and employees.
Q: Who will receive ParentSquare messages/updates?
A: ParentSquare will notify contacts listed as a Primary Parent/Guardian in eSchoolData, which is Schodack’s student information system. ParentSquare syncs with the current contact information in eSchoolData. If you need to update your contact information in ParentSquare, contact your student’s school ASAP so it can be updated in eSchoolData.
Q: Do I have to activate my ParentSquare account to receive notifications?
A: No. You have an account if your email and/or phone is in our district’s system (eSchoolData) as a Primary Parent/Guardian. If you sign in to ParentSquare, you activate your account and become a registered user. If you never sign in, you are an unregistered user, but you will still receive email and text message notifications. We strongly encourage you to activate your account to get the most out of ParentSquare. See the ParentSquare article here for a list of what registered vs non-registered users can do.
Q: I cannot sign in to ParentSquare. What now?
A: If you cannot sign into ParentSquare with your email or phone number, please contact your school’s main office to make sure your contact information is correct.
Q: Can I only use ParentSquare on my phone?
A: No. You can use ParentSquare on your phone, tablet or computer. Go to the ParentSquare login page here to access your account on an internet browser or download the app on the Apple App Store here or the Google Play App Store here.
Q: My email is correct in ParentSquare. Why am I not receiving emails?
A: Please check your spam to see if any ParentSquare messages ended up there, and mark them as “Not Spam.” Also, add donotreply@parentsquare.com to your email contacts so your server recognizes our messages. If you still are not receiving emails, please contact support@parentsquare.com.
Q: I am getting too many daily messages on ParentSquare. Is it possible to receive less?
A: Yes, you can customize your notification settings at any time on your account page under “Notification Settings.” If you are receiving more daily notifications than you would like, try switching to the “Digest” setting, where you will receive one summary message in the evening. A user’s Digest setting can be overridden by the district for time-sensitive/urgent messages (school closures, etc), ensuring families and employees receive them ASAP. See a ParentSquare article here for more about notification settings.
Q: If I updated my contact information (phone number, email address), how long does it take until that change is in effect?
A: It can take up to 24 hours for your contact information to be synced from eSchoolData to ParentSquare. This is why it is important to let your school’s main office know ASAP if you change your cell phone number or email address.
Q: Why didn’t I receive a ParentSquare invitation?
A: Schodack will send ParentSquare email invitations on June 24 to school families who have not yet activated their accounts. Invitations will be sent to the email addresses of those listed as Primary Parents/Guardians in eSchoolData. Email invitations will come from a parentsquare.com email address. If you do not receive an invite, then we likely have the wrong contact information on file for you or you have already activated your account.
Q: Why doesn’t my ParentSquare invite link work?
A: Invitation links will only last for 24 hours, but you do not need to wait for an invitation on June 24 to activate your account. You can go to the ParentSquare login page here at any time to activate your account with the email address or phone number we have on file for you.
