ParentSquare

This FAQ is designed to help families and students understand how to use ParentSquare and StudentSquare, Tooele County School District’s new communication platforms. It will be updated as new questions arise. And thank you for your patience as we launch and learn the best ways to implement this convenient new communications platform.

General Overview

Q: What’s the difference between ParentSquare and StudentSquare?
A: There really is no difference other than some very minimal branding. ParentSquare is the main communication platform used by TCSD for parents, families, and school staff to stay connected. StudentSquare is the same basic platform, just a different name a slightly different look. A student can sign in to either platform using their school email address. This FAQ includes information relevant to both platforms.

Getting Started

Q: How do I access ParentSquare?
A: Visit www.parentsquare.com or download the free app from the App Store or Google Play. When looking for the app, parents and guardians should use ParentSquare, while students can use StudentSquare. Log in using the email or phone number registered with your school through the Skyward SIS system. Students use their school email.

Q: Do I need to create an account?
A: Your account is already created using the information in Skyward. You should have received an invitation email or text to activate your account around September 12, 2025. Follow the instructions to set up your login. However, if you didn’t receive an invitation, no problem. You can still register through the website or the app by using the email or phone number on file with the school.

Features and Communication

Q: What can I do with ParentSquare?
A: You can receive messages from your school and the district, view calendar events, send and receive messages with teachers and staff, and control how and when you receive notifications.

Q: Can I reply to messages?
A: Yes. You can reply to messages sent by teachers or staff. Replies are private and go directly to the sender unless otherwise specified. While the app and online experience is a little deeper, parents can also reply with a text message without downloading the app.

Q: How do I change my notification settings?
A: In the app or website, go to your account settings and choose “Notification Settings.” You can select how you want to receive messages (email, text, app push) and when (instant, daily digest, or never). The digest feature allows you to receive all messages from that day in one notification.

Troubleshooting

Q: What if I didn’t receive my activation email or text?
A: Check your spam folder. If it’s not there, no problem. You can also register through the website or the app by using the email or phone number on file with the school.

Q: What if I’m not receiving messages?
A: First, check your notification settings in ParentSquare. Make sure your contact information is correct in Skyward. If everything looks correct and you’re still not receiving messages, contact your school for assistance.

Q: Is my contact information visible to others?
A: No. Your personal contact information in ParentSquare is not visible to other parents or students. Some contact information is still available for staff through Skyward. Messages you receive will show the sender’s name but not their personal contact details.

Support and Resources

Q: Where can I find help or tutorials?
A: Click the question mark icon in the top right corner of the ParentSquare website or in the app click on the hamburger menu and click on "Help" to access help topics and videos. You can also visit the ParentSquare Help Center online for more detailed guides.

While there are a lot of similarities withing the platform for parents and staff, this section is designed to support TCSD staff and teachers as we transition to using ParentSquare, our new district-wide communication platform. It provides answers to common questions, guidance on best practices, and updates on the implementation timeline. As we continue to learn and adapt, this document will be updated to reflect new questions, features, and feedback from staff. We encourage everyone to read through this FAQ sheet to help you get started and check back occasionally for updated information.

Getting Started

Q: How do I access ParentSquare?
A: When we officially launched on September 10, you should have also received an email invitation to activate your account. You can also go to www.parentsquare.com or download the ParentSquare app (iOS/Android) and log in using your district email. 

Q: Do I need to set up my classes or contacts?
A: No. Your school and class rosters should be preloaded. You’ll see your students and families automatically linked to your account.

Q: What if my classes or schools I am assigned to are wrong or incomplete?
A: If you feel your roles, schools, or permissions need to be updated, especially for those staff members assigned to multiple schools, you can email the Help Desk. Please use “ParentSquare Help” in the subject line and indicate what specific changes need to be made. Since most changes are tied to Skyward, it can take 1-2 days for the updates to reflect on your ParentSquare account.  

Basic Features and Navigation

Q: What can I do with ParentSquare?
A: Availability to some features varies depending on your role, but you can:

• Send posts and messages to the school, your class, and families
• Use Smart Alerts for urgent communications (text, email, voice)
• Translate messages into families’ preferred languages
• Share calendar events
• Review the reach and engagement of your messages
• Set your notification preferences and working hours

Q: What’s the difference between a post and a direct message?
A: Posts are public information shared with your class, extracurricular group, or school community. Direct Messages are private, one-on-one or small group conversations with parents or staff. Think of Posts like a social media post and Messages as emails to selected individuals.

Q: How do I change my notification settings?
A: Click your name in the top right corner through the web version and then → Manage account → Notification Settings (on the left side of that page). On the app, click on the hamburger menu and the account on the left-hand side. In here, you can choose how and when you receive alerts (email, text, app push) along with other account-level updates.

Communication Tips

Q: Can I schedule messages to go out later?
A: Yes and no. When creating a Post, use the “Schedule” option to choose a future date and time. You can also save it as a draft to finish it later. However, when sending a Message, scheduling features are not available.

Q: How do I translate messages?
A: ParentSquare automatically detects the preferred language of each parent and translates your message. This applies to any communication through the platform. You can also manually preview translations before sending.

Q: Can I use graphics and images in ParentSquare posts?
A: While you are able to insert images and files to your posts, it is also important to understand the files such as .jpg, .tif, .pdf, etc do come with limitations. Those files need to include "alt text" in order to be ADA compliant. Information in those files are also not searchable or translatable. So those types of files should only be used to support the content of your post and not contain much if any text. A PDF file of a school newsletter is not the proper way to send information. There are templates in the "Studio Editor" tab to help with newsletters and other regular messages that are sent to your school/class.

Q: Can parents reply to my messages?
A: The default setting does NOT let parents reply to Posts for others to see, just the author and group managers/owners. You can also control whether individuals can reply to everyone in a Message or just you. These settings can be adjusted, but it is recommended to make the default setting not include replies to everyone.

Limitations and Access

Q: Are all ParentSquare features available to us?
A: Not currently. TCSD’s version does not include RSVPs, Forms, Payments, Volunteering, and Appointments.

Q: Can parents and other employees see my personal information?
A: No. Even though  TCSD’s version does not include RSVPs, Forms, Payments, Volunteering, and Appointments.

Support and Training

Q: Where can I find help or tutorials?
A: There are a few places for you to learn more about ParentSquare. Communications and Ed Tech teams are creating some materials to help answer basic questions and get people started. These will be available on the Communications webpage and on the “Staff Login” under the Communications tab. ParentSquare also has some great resources to better understand the platform.

• Click the question mark icon in the top right of the ParentSquare site or app for help topics and videos.
• Visit ParentSquare Help Center
• Ed Techs and Communications are available for group training. (Your staff should be familiar with PSQ beforehand for a better experience)

Troubleshooting

Q: I didn’t receive my activation email. What should I do?
A: Check your spam folder. If it’s not there, contact the Communications Department.

Q: My contact information is not correct, or I want to add my cell phone. What should I do?
A: The best place to update your contact information is through Skyward. That will help keep accurate information through multiple platforms, and information updated only in ParentSquare may be changed with Skyward information during the nightly sync.

Q: Is my contact information viewable by the public and other staff members?
A: No. Personal information is not viewable by parents, students, or other staff members. This also applies to messages sent from PSQ. The recipient will see the message or text is from you, but it will contain generic contact information that isn’t tied to you personally.

Q: A parent says they aren’t receiving messages. What should they do?
A: The parent should confirm their contact info is correct in Skyward. If it is, direct them to check their notification settings in ParentSquare or contact the Help Desk.

Quick Tips

Here are a few quick tips to help you navigate ParentSquare:

• Log in at www.parentsquare.com using your TCSD email.
• Posts = public updates; Messages = private conversations.
• Update contact info in Skyward/iVisions, not ParentSquare.
• For help, click the “?” icon or visit the Communications webpage.

Purpose and general guidelines

• District tool: Tooele County School District (TCSD) has adopted ParentSquare as the primary communications tool for informational messages.

• Purpose of this guidance: To help district employees choose appropriate tools for different communication circumstances.

• Two main categories of communication:

  • Instructional communication

  • Informational communication

Instructional communication

Definition

• Instructional communication: Sharing information about student learning and classroom instruction.

Appropriate tools

• Skyward

• Canvas

• Google Classroom

• District Outlook email

• District‑provided curriculum products and platforms

Typical uses

• Assignments and assessments: Tracking, posting, and updating assignments and assessments.

• Feedback: Providing feedback to students on their work.

• Grades: Reporting and updating grades.

• Learning information: Sharing information directly related to classroom learning and academic progress.

Informational communication

Definition

• Informational communication: Sharing general information that is not specifically about classroom instruction or individual student learning.

Examples

• Logistics and reminders: Bell schedules, field trip reminders, picture day, early‑out days, etc.

• Upcoming dates and events: School events, performances, parent nights, registration dates.

• Clubs and sports participation: Practice times, meeting dates, tryouts, general team or club information.

• Public notifications: General announcements to families or the community.

Primary tool

• ParentSquare is the recommended and preferred tool for informational communication.

Special cases and secure data

Special cases

Some types of communication require specific tools and must not be sent through general email or other platforms.

• Secure file exchange and sensitive data:

  • MOVEit (Progress MOVEit): The only acceptable tool for secure file exchange involving sensitive student information, including IEP and 504 documents.

  • Skyward: Used for secure data sharing and official student information.

• Questions about special education data:

  • For questions about IEP/504 communication and storage, contact the district Special Education (Sped) department.

TCSD communication scenarios

Missing assignment notice

• Purpose: Notify students and parents about missing or late assignments.

• Type of communication: Instructional (individualized to the student).

• Appropriate tools:

  • Skyward

  • Canvas

  • Google Classroom

  • Other district curriculum products

• Notes: Use the built‑in reporting and notification features in these tools to send individualized reports or alerts.

Responding to email

• Scenario: A parent or student emails a teacher.

• Type of communication: Typically individualized.

• Appropriate tool:

  • District Outlook email for replying to incoming messages.

• Important note: When a teacher originates communication (starts the conversation), they should choose the appropriate tool:

  • Use instructional tools (Canvas, Google Classroom, Skyward, etc.) for learning‑related communication.

  • Use ParentSquare for general informational communication.

IEP/504 accommodations

• Type of communication: Special case involving confidential student information.

• Approved tool:

  • MOVEit is the only acceptable tool for storing or sharing IEP and 504 information.

• Do not use: Outlook, ParentSquare, or other general tools for transmitting IEP/504 documents or details.

• Support: For questions, contact the district Special Education (Sped) department.

School event information

• Purpose: Share information about school events with families and/or the community.

• Type of communication: Informational.

• Appropriate tools:

  • ParentSquare for sending event information to targeted groups or the whole school.

  • School website for posting public event information.

• Note: ParentSquare is replacing tools such as PeachJar and School Messenger for these types of announcements.

Sports teams

• Purpose: Communicate with students and parents about sports teams.

• Type of communication: Informational, often group‑based.

• Appropriate tool:

  • ParentSquare group for the team (coaches, students, and parents).

• Restriction: No other communication methods should be used for team‑wide communication (e.g., no group texts, social media DMs, or personal messaging apps).

Report cards and progress reports

• Type of communication: Special case.

• Primary tool:

  • Skyward family portal Report cards and progress reports are posted directly to the family portal.

• Restrictions:

  • Do not send report cards or progress reports through Outlook or other services.

• Optional: Hardcopy report cards can be printed and sent home if needed.

School club information

• Purpose: Communicate about school clubs and organizations.

• Type of communication: Informational.

• Appropriate tool:

  • ParentSquare group for the club.

• Audience: Faculty advisors, student participants, and parents.

School operations change

• Examples: Building closures, emergency alerts, changes to pickup/drop‑off procedures, schedule changes, or other operational updates.

• Type of communication: Informational, sometimes urgent.

• Appropriate tool:

  • ParentSquare for targeted or broad informational messages.

• Notes:

  • Messages can be targeted to specific groups (e.g., one school, bus route families, grade levels) or sent more broadly from employees to the public.

Lunch balance reminder

• Purpose: Notify families about lunch balances and fees.

• Type of communication: Both individualized and general.

• Appropriate tools:

  • Skyward for individualized parent alerts about lunch balances and fees (built‑in notifications).

  • ParentSquare for general information about lunch accounts, payment options, or reminders that are not student‑specific.

• Guidance:

  • Use Skyward for student‑specific balances.

  • Use ParentSquare for general, non‑individualized reminders.

Assignment feedback

• Purpose: Provide feedback on student assignments.

• Type of communication: Instructional and individualized.

• Appropriate tools:

  • Canvas

  • Google Classroom

  • Other district curriculum products where the assignment is given

• Guidance: Feedback should stay within the same curriculum tool used to assign and collect the work.

1. Accessing your account

Invitation email:

• Step 1: Check your district email for an invitation to access your ParentSquare account.

• No invitation?

  • Check your Spam or Junk folder.

  • If it’s not there, contact the Communications Department.

Log in without an invitation:

• Go to: www.parentsquare.com.

• Click Log In.

• Sign in with your district email.

Account issues:

• Help Desk phone: 435-884-7799

• Help Desk email: helpdesk@tooeleschools.org

2. Mobile app

ParentSquare is available for both iOS and Android.

• Download the ParentSquare app from the App Store or Google Play.

• Log in with your district email.

• The app serves as an on-the-go communication hub to:

  • Connect with families

  • Share updates

  • Manage communications

3. Navigation basics (Home page)

When you log in on a browser, you’ll see the ParentSquare Home page.

• Home: Click Home at the top to return to the main feed.

• Account settings: Click your name in the top-right corner to manage your account.

• Posts feed:

  • Each post shows which class or group it was shared with.

  • By default, you see all posts for your school, classes, and groups.

• Filter posts:

  • Use the drop-down near the top to view posts for a specific class, group, or school.

• Communicate section:

  • Posts: View all your posts, including drafts and scheduled posts.

  • Messages: Access direct messages.

  • Alerts and Notices: View any alerts or notices.

• Explore section:

  • View the school directory.

  • View or add events to the calendar.

  • View or upload files, images, and videos.

• Participate section:

  • Create or join groups.

4. Manage your profile

To manage your account:

1. Click your name in the top-right corner.

2. Select Manage account.

In My Account you can:

• Edit Account:

  • Add or change your profile picture.

  • Add information in About You (visible to parents and staff).

• Edit Contact Info:

  • Note: Contact information (email, phone) must be updated in Skyward. ParentSquare pulls data from Skyward.

• Settings available:

  • Roles & Permissions

  • Notification Settings

  • Language Settings

  • Office Hours

• Activity:

  • Posts

  • Scheduled & Draft Posts

5. Notifications

You can choose how often you receive notifications by email, text, and mobile app.

5.1 Notification frequency

• Instant:

  • Get a notification every time a notice or message is sent.

• Digest:

  • Get a once-daily summary email and/or text and/or app notification with all posts from that day.

• Off:

  • Turn off certain non-urgent notifications (where allowed).

5.2 Types of notifications

1. Urgent Alerts

   • Includes attendance notices and messages marked critical or urgent.

   • Sent to all emails and phones.

   • Cannot be disabled.

2. General Announcements and Messages

   • Includes posts, direct messages, and reminders.

   • You can choose:

     • Instant

     • Digest

     • Off

3. School Alerts

   • Includes school closures, early pick-up, student notices, etc.

   • These can be disabled if you choose.

5.3 How to change notification settings

1. Click your name in the top-right corner.

2. Select Manage account.

3. Click Notification Settings.

4. For each category (Urgent Alerts, Posts/Direct Messages/Notices, School Alerts), choose your preferences for:

   • Email

   • Text

   • App

6. Language settings and office hours

6.1 Language settings

• Go to Manage account → Language Settings.

• Choose your preferred language for your account.

• This affects how content and interface text appear for you.

6.2 Office hours

Office Hours control when you receive app and text notifications for direct messages and urgent alerts.

• Go to Manage account → Office Hours.

• Check Enable Office Hours.

• Set:

  • Time zone (e.g., Mountain Time (US & Canada)).

  • Start and end time (e.g., 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM).

  • Days of the week (e.g., Monday–Friday).

• Notifications via app and text will be limited to those hours.

• You can disable Office Hours by unchecking the box.

7. Posts – basics

You can send a post to any class or group you are connected to.

7.1 Audience and recipients

• When creating a post, choose To: and select:

  • Classes or groups you are connected to.

• Choose Who should see this?

  • Staff

  • Parents

  • Students

  • Guests (if enabled)

• The audience is limited to the classes or groups you select. Example: If you send a post to your first-period class and select “parents, staff, and students,” only those connected to that class will be notified.

7.2 Notification options for posts

When sending a post, you can choose:

• Send at recipients’ preferred time (instant or digest)

  • Respects each user’s notification settings.

• Send instantly (overrides digest setting)

  • Sends immediately to everyone, even if they normally receive a digest.

• Do not notify (only post on ‘Posts’ page)

  • No notification is sent; the post appears in ParentSquare only.

7.3 Post add-ons (TCSD)

Available add-ons:

• Calendar Entry

• Attach Photos or Files

Note: TCSD does not use Calendar RSVPs, Forms, Payments, Volunteering, or Appointments.

8. Studio Editor (newsletter-style posts)

Studio Editor lets you create more visual, newsletter-style posts.

8.1 Accessing Studio Editor

• When creating a new post, click the Studio Editor tab.

• Choose a template (e.g., newsletter header, school week, community newsletter).

8.2 Editing tools (browser)

When editing a post (regular or Studio):

• Basic tools include:

  • Bold, italic, underline

  • Text alignment

  • Links

• Additional tools:

  • Text and background color

  • Indentation, ordered and unordered lists, line height

  • Insert table, template, or building block

Studio Editor is best for:

• Newsletters

• Longer, formatted updates

• Posts with sections, images, and structured content

9. Edit vs. update a post

• Edit a post:

  • You can change the content.

  • No notifications are sent to users about the changes.

• Send an update:

  • Use the gear icon on a published post and choose Send Update.

  • Users connected to the post receive a new notification about the update.

  • You can edit the update message in each language tab (e.g., English, Spanish).

You can edit a post and then send an update if you want users to be notified of the changes.

10. Post collaborators

Collaborators can:

• Edit a post

• Send updates and notifications

• Respond to comments

• Receive notifications about the post

• Co-author content in Studio Editor

10.1 Adding collaborators on a published or scheduled post

• Click the gear icon on the post.

• Select Manage Collaborators.

• Add or remove collaborators (must be associated with your school).

• You can only add or remove collaborators on a scheduled or published post.

10.2 Adding collaborators in Studio Editor

• In Studio Editor, click Collaborate (or similar button).

• Add collaborators by name.

• They receive an email with a link and can also find the post under Studio Posts in Scheduled & Draft Posts.

11. Scheduled & draft posts and post detail screen

11.1 Finding scheduled and draft posts

• Under Communicate, select Scheduled & Draft Posts.

• Switch between:

  • Posts

  • Studio Posts

• You will see:

  • Your own scheduled posts and drafts.

  • Posts where you are a collaborator.

11.2 Post detail screen

From Activity → Posts or from the post list:

• Click a post title to open the Post Detail Screen.

• From here you can:

  • Edit

  • Send Update

  • Duplicate

  • Delete

  • Manage Collaborators

  • Print

  • Get a link

• The screen shows:

  • Who was notified

  • Notification type (user preferred, instant, etc.)

  • Number of comments and appreciations

12. Post delivery statistics

You can view delivery and interaction data for each post.

12.1 Accessing delivery stats

• On a post you created or collaborate on, click the eye icon at the bottom of the post.

• This opens Delivery Statistics.

12.2 What you can see

At the top:

• Total users notified

• Viewed count

• Undeliverable (bounced, spam)

• Email users (instant vs. digest)

• Text users (delivered vs. failed)

• App users (instant vs. digest)

• Unknown or pending statuses

Lower on the page:

• Individual recipient data, including:

  • Student name(s)

  • User language

  • Email status

  • Text status

  • App notification status

  • Viewed status

You can Export CSV to open the data in Excel or Google Sheets.

13. Direct messages

Direct Messages allow you to communicate in a more text-message-like way.

13.1 Overview

• Automatic translations are available.

• You can send:

  • Text

  • Pictures

  • Files

  • Voice clips

• Emoji reactions are supported.

• You can direct message:

  • Individual parents

  • Students (if enabled)

  • Staff

  • Classes and groups (within limits)

13.2 Starting a direct message or group conversation

1. On the left side, under Communicate, click Messages.

2. Click New Message.

3. Choose:

   • Direct Message

     • Separate conversation for each recipient (like BCC in email).

     • Each person sees only messages from you.

   • Group Conversation

     • One conversation for everyone (like CC in email).

     • Everyone sees messages from everyone else.

The message window looks the same for both—make sure you choose the correct option.

13.3 Adding recipients

• Type to search by student, parent, or staff.

• Or click Add by Quick Select:

  • Choose classes or groups you are connected to.

  • Choose which people to include:

    • Associated parents

    • Students

    • Staff

Limits:

• Direct Message: Up to 150 recipients.

• Group Conversation: Up to 50 recipients.

13.4 Sending the message

• Type your message in the Message box.

• Use the paperclip icon to attach files.

• Use the microphone icon to record an audio message.

• Click Send.

14. Direct message FAQs

14.1 Direct message notifications

• Notifications for direct messages follow each user’s Notification Settings.

• Users may receive:

  • App notifications

  • Text messages

  • Emails

14.2 Replying via email

• In email notifications, recipients may see a “Reply in App” link and a note that they can reply to the email.

• If they reply to the email:

  • Their reply appears in the Messages section in ParentSquare (web and app).

14.3 Read receipts

• Direct messages show Sent under the message at first.

• Once viewed by the recipient, it changes to Read.

• Only staff can see read receipts. Parents and students do not see read receipts for messages they send.

15. Direct message or post?

Think of:

• Direct Message as a real-time text message for a smaller audience.

• Post as a public service announcement for a larger audience.

Use a Direct Message when:

• The information is relevant to one or a few people.

• You need a quick, conversational exchange.

Use a Post when:

• The information is relevant to everyone in a class, group, or school.

• You want:

  • Rich text formatting (tables, colors, etc.).

  • The ability to disable comments or replies if needed.

• You want it to appear in the Posts feed and be part of the broader communication record.

16. Groups overview

Groups help you communicate with specific sets of people.

• Go to Participate → Groups.

• Click New Group.

You can choose:

• Static Group (most common)

  • Members are manually added or join via self-enrollment.

  • Best for flexible groups involving multiple classes or grades.

• Auto-Update Group

  • Members are automatically added or removed based on conditions you set (e.g., grade level, language, zip code).

You can also work with your main office to create Activity Groups in Skyward, which sync to ParentSquare nightly.

17. Creating a group

When creating a group, you will set:

• Display Name: The name of your group.

• Description: Purpose or details about the group.

• Category and School: Where the group belongs.

17.1 Visibility options

Choose one:

• Public

  • All users at the school can view the group.

  • Anyone at the school can join.

• Private

  • Only group members and admins can view the group.

  • Group owners and admins add or remove members.

• Confidential

  • Group name is hidden in feed posts and notifications when other recipients are included.

  • Members do not see other members in the group.

  • Group owners and admins add or remove members.

17.2 Advanced options

You can also choose:

• Allow group members to post to this group

  • By default, only group owners and managers can post.

  • Turn this on if you want all members to be able to post.

• Hide directory

  • By default at TCSD, only group owners, group managers, and admins can view the directory.

  • Uncheck if you want members to see the directory.

• Make comments public

  • By default, comments are private (visible only to comment author, post author, and ParentSquare admins).

  • Turn this on to make comments visible to anyone who can see the post (affects future posts only).

18. Group roles

There are two main roles:

• Group Owner

• Group Manager

Both can:

• Post to everyone in the group.

• Direct message everyone in the group.

• Add group members.

• Remove group members.

• Receive notifications when group members are added.

• Manage posts sent to the group (edit, delete, etc.).

Key difference:

• Group Owners can assign and remove Group Manager and Group Owner roles.

• Group Managers can only manage their own posts (not all posts) when that limitation is noted.

You can add owners and managers when creating the group or later:

• Use the Owners and Managers sections to add people by name.

• Individuals must be associated with your school to be added.

19. Managing group members

You can add members:

1. When you create the group:

   • Use Save and Add People to add members immediately.

2. From the group page:

   • On the main group page, click the Manage drop-down in the top-right.

   • Options include:

     • Add People

     • Add members by selecting students

     • Add members by name or role

     • Add members by uploading CSV

     • Generate Group Invitation Link to share with people you want to join.

You can also find a Manage button on the Group Directory page.

Removing members:

• You can remove group members only if you are the Owner or Manager of a Static Group.

PARENTSQUARE Tooele County School District (TCSD) Parent Resource – Getting Started

SECTION 1: OVERVIEW

ParentSquare is the main communication tool used by Tooele County School District for messages between schools, teachers, and families. You can use it on a computer (website) or on a mobile phone (app) to:

• Register and manage your account

• Receive messages from schools and teachers

• View posts and school publications

• Send and receive direct messages

• View calendars and events

• Change notification and language preferences

• Switch between multiple schools, if you have more than one student

If you have trouble with your account, contact the TCSD help desk at 435-884-7799.

SECTION 2: SIGNING UP FOR A PARENTSQUARE ACCOUNT

You must use the same email address or phone number you provided when you enrolled your student for the current school year.

Ways to sign up:

1. Email invitation

   • Look for an email inviting you to “Activate your account” from ParentSquare.

   • Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see it in your inbox.

   • Click “Activate your account” and follow the steps.

2. From the Tooele County School District website

   • Go to: tooeleschools.org

   • On the homepage, look for and click the ParentSquare icon.

   • Follow the prompts to register using your enrollment email or phone number.

3. From the ParentSquare website

   • Go to: parentsquare.com

   • Click to register as a parent.

   • Use the same email address or phone number you provided to the school.

Basic sign-up steps (from the email or website):

1. Click the “Activate your account” or “Register” button.

2. Enter your email or phone number (must match what the school has on file).

3. If prompted, confirm whether you already have another ParentSquare account and choose to sign in or create a new account.

4. Fill in your name, email, and create a password. Agree to the Terms of Use and click “Register.”

5. Confirm your contact information and your child or children listed.

   • If the information is correct, click “Yes, This is Me” and confirm.

   • If something is incorrect, choose the option that indicates it is not you or not your child.

If you have trouble at any step, call the help desk at 435-884-7799.

SECTION 3: DOWNLOADING THE PARENTSQUARE MOBILE APP

You can use ParentSquare on your mobile phone.

• For iPhone: Download from the App Store (search “ParentSquare”).

• For Android: Download from Google Play (search “ParentSquare”).

Once installed:

1. Open the app.

2. Sign in using the same email or phone number you used to register.

3. You will see your school posts, messages, alerts, and events.

SECTION 4: BASIC NAVIGATION – WEBSITE

When you sign in at parentsquare.com:

1. Home

   • Click “Home” to return to the main page at any time.

   • The center column shows posts from your school and your student’s teachers.

2. Left menu

   • Switch between schools (if you have more than one).

   • Access “Communicate” (Posts, Messages, Alerts and Notices).

   • Access “Explore” and “Participate” (if available).

3. Top bar

   • Change language (for example, English or Spanish).

   • View reminders and favorites.

   • Access help.

4. Calendar

   • On the right side of the Home page, you will see a calendar and a list of upcoming events.

   • You can change which calendar you are viewing (school, district, etc.).

5. Account and profile

   • In the upper right corner, click your name.

   • Click “Manage account” to access your account settings.

SECTION 5: BASIC NAVIGATION – MOBILE APP

On the ParentSquare mobile app:

• Bottom menu:

  • Home: View posts from your school and teachers.

  • Messages: View and send direct messages.

  • Alerts: View urgent alerts and notices from your school or district.

  • Events: View school and other calendars.

  • More: Access additional options.

• Main actions:

  1. Tap the three horizontal lines (menu) in the top left to open the main menu.

  2. Tap “Home” to return to the main screen.

  3. Tap “Messages” to read direct messages from teachers.

  4. Tap “Alerts” to read urgent messages or notices.

  5. Tap “Events” to see the calendar.

  6. Tap the plus (+) button to start a Direct Message or Group Conversation.

SECTION 6: MANAGING YOUR ACCOUNT – WEBSITE

To manage your account:

1. Click your name in the upper right corner.

2. Click “Manage account.”

3. A new page will open with a menu on the left, including:

   • Edit Contact Info

   • Edit Account

   • Security

   • Remove Account

   • Notification Settings

   • Language Settings

   • Scheduled & Draft Posts

   • Groups

   • Volunteer Hours

Edit Account (website):

• Click “Edit account” to:

  • Upload a profile picture.

  • Write a short “About You” message.

  • Add a school title (for example, “Parent”).

• After making changes, click “Save.”

SECTION 7: MANAGING YOUR ACCOUNT – MOBILE APP

To edit your account in the app:

1. On the Home screen, tap the three lines in the top left.

2. Tap “Account.”

3. Tap “My Account.”

4. Tap “Edit.”

5. You can upload a profile picture and update your information.

6. Tap “Save” when finished.

SECTION 8: NOTIFICATION SETTINGS

You can choose how and when you receive notifications.

On the website:

1. Go to “Manage account.”

2. Click “Notification settings.”

3. For each school or district, you can choose:

   • Email: Off, Instant, or Digest (summary).

   • Text: Off, Instant, or Digest.

   • App: Off, Instant, or Digest.

Definitions:

• Instant: You receive notifications as soon as messages are sent.

• Digest (Summary): You receive a summary of notifications once a day, around 6:00 p.m.

• Off: You do not receive notifications for that channel (email, text, or app).

Important:

• Urgent alerts are sent to all emails and phones and cannot be turned off.

• Changes to notification settings are saved automatically; you do not need to click Save.

On the mobile app:

1. Tap the three lines in the top left.

2. Tap “Account.”

3. Tap “Notifications.”

4. Adjust your preferences for email, text, and app notifications.

5. Summary notifications are sent around 6:00 p.m.

SECTION 9: LANGUAGE SETTINGS

On the website:

1. Go to “Manage account.”

2. Click “Language settings.”

3. Choose your preferred language from the list.

4. Click “Save.”

When you change your language:

• Menus, messages, and posts will be translated into your preferred language.

• You can write messages in your preferred language, and teachers will receive a translated version.

On the mobile app:

• Language is managed through your account settings.

• Tap the three lines in the top left, then “Account,” then “My Account,” then “Edit” if needed.

• Save your changes.

SECTION 10: MULTIPLE SCHOOLS

If you have students at more than one school, you can switch between schools.

On the mobile app:

1. On the main screen, tap the school name or arrow near the top.

2. A list of schools you are connected to will appear.

3. Tap the school you want to view.

4. Posts and messages will update to that school.

On the website:

1. On the Home page, click the arrow next to the current school’s name at the top.

2. A drop-down list of your schools will appear.

3. Click the school you want to switch to.

4. Posts and messages will update to that school.

SECTION 11: CALENDARS AND EVENTS

On the mobile app:

1. Tap “Events” in the bottom menu.

2. Tap the arrow at the top of the Events screen to open a list of calendars.

3. Choose the calendar you want to view (for example, school or district).

4. The events will update to match the selected calendar.

On the website:

1. On the Home page, look at the calendar on the right side of the screen.

2. Click the arrow above the calendar to open a list of calendars.

3. Choose the calendar you want to view.

4. The events list below the calendar will update.

SECTION 12: VIEWING POSTS AND PUBLICATIONS

On the mobile app:

• All posts appear on the Home screen.

• To show appreciation for a post, tap the heart icon.

• To comment on a post:

  1. Tap the post.

  2. Scroll to the “Add Comment” area.

  3. Type your comment and submit.

On the website:

• All posts appear in the center column of the Home page.

• Under each post, you may see options such as:

  • Appreciate

  • Comment

  • Print

• Click these options to interact with the post.

SECTION 13: DIRECT MESSAGES (CONTACTING TEACHERS)

On the website:

1. On the Home page, in the left menu under “Communicate,” click “Messages.”

2. Click “New Message.”

3. Choose “Direct Message” or “Group Conversation.”

4. Select one or more recipients (for example, your student’s teacher).

5. Type your message.

6. Click “Submit” or “Send.”

To read messages on the website:

• Go to “Messages” under “Communicate.”

• Your message history appears below the search bar, with the newest messages at the top.

• Click a conversation to read or reply.

On the mobile app:

1. On the Home screen, tap the plus (+) button.

2. Choose “Direct Message” or “Group Conversation.”

3. Select recipients and tap “Add.”

4. Type your message in the message box.

5. Tap the send icon.

To read messages in the app:

• Tap “Messages” in the bottom menu.

• Your message history appears, with the newest messages at the top.

• Tap a conversation to read or reply.

SECTION 14: MORE RESOURCES

ParentSquare provides additional help articles and videos, including:

• Getting Started – Article and tutorial

• Sign Up for ParentSquare from the App – Article and tutorial

• Manage Your Account Settings – Article and tutorial

• Manage Your Notification Settings – Article and tutorial

• Parent Dashboard – Article

• Parent Dashboard in the Mobile App – Article

• Translate Help Articles Using Your Web Browser – Article

• Change School or District – Article and tutorial

• View Class Posts – Article and tutorial

• View Received Alerts and Notices – Article and tutorial

• View, Send, or Reply to a Direct Message – Article and tutorial

• Subscribe to the ParentSquare Calendar – Article and tutorial

• View Your Student’s Communications – Article and tutorial

• Troubleshooting: Parents Not Receiving Notifications – Article

• Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Guardians

Video resources include:

• ParentSquare Overview for Parents – English

• ParentSquare Overview for Parents – Spanish

• Parent and Guardian Training – English

• Parent Training 101 – Spanish

• Two-Minute Tip: Setting Notifications – English

• Two-Minute Tip: Setting Notifications – Spanish

• Parent Summary Settings – English

• Let’s Learn StudentSquare – English

SECTION 15: SUPPORT AND THANK YOU

If you experience any issues with your ParentSquare account, contact the Tooele County School District help desk at 435-884-7799.

Thank you for using ParentSquare to stay connected with your child’s school and learning.