Welcome to ParentSquare!

ParentSquare is Southwest Allen County Schools' (SACS) primary platform for school-to-home communication. It's designed to keep you informed and engaged in your child's education, providing a safe and secure environment for all communication from the district, your school, and your child's teachers.

With ParentSquare, you can easily:

• Receive important alerts, notifications, and emergency messages.
• Check school and classroom updates.
• View the school calendar for upcoming events and activities.
• Fill out forms and permission slips digitally.
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences and volunteer opportunities.
• Communicate directly with teachers and school staff in a secure environment.
• Receive photos and videos of school activities.
• Access information in your preferred language.

For more detailed information, please navigate to the "Parent Square" tab.

Getting Started & Logging In

Most SACS families will automatically receive an invitation email or text from ParentSquare to activate their account. This invitation will be sent to the contact information you've provided to the school district.

Already have an account?

Click the "Sign In" button below to access your ParentSquare portal.

Haven't received an invitation or need to register?

If you have a student enrolled at SACS and have not received an invitation, please contact your child's school office directly to ensure your contact information is up-to-date in our system. Once your information is verified, an invitation will be sent to you.

Key Features & Benefits

ParentSquare offers a unified and convenient way to stay connected, replacing many separate communication channels. This means less clutter, more timely information, and a stronger partnership between home and school. Our goal is to make your experience with SACS communication as seamless and effective as possible.

With ParentSquare, you can easily:

• Receive important alerts, notifications, and emergency messages.
• Check school and classroom updates.
• View the school calendar for upcoming events and activities.
• Fill out forms and permission slips digitally.
• Sign up for parent-teacher conferences and volunteer opportunities.
• Communicate directly with teachers and school staff in a secure environment.
• Receive photos and videos of school activities.
• Access information in your preferred language.

Download the ParentSquare App!

For the best experience, we highly recommend downloading the free ParentSquare app to your smartphone or tablet. The app makes it easy to receive real-time notifications, access all features, and manage your preferences on the go.

Download on the App Store (iOS) Get it on Google Play (Android)

Manage Your Notifications

ParentSquare allows you to customize how and when you receive notifications. You can choose to receive instant alerts, a daily digest, or turn off less critical notifications. Manage your preferences directly within the app or on the website under your account settings.

Look for the "Account" or "Settings" menu in the ParentSquare app or website to adjust your notification preferences.

Troubleshooting & Support

Need Help?

• ParentSquare FAQs: Visit the ParentSquare Help Center for common questions and user guides.
• Contact SACS Support: If you're experiencing technical issues or have questions specific to SACS communication within ParentSquare, please contact your child's school office directly or email [YourDistrictEmail@sacs.k12.in.us].

Setting Up Your Parent Observer Account

To view your child's Canvas courses, you'll need an Observer Account. You will need a 'pairing code' from your child or their teacher.

1. Ask your child to log into their Canvas account.
2. They need to go to Account > Settings.
3. Click "Pair with Observer" on the right sidebar.
4. Copy the pairing code provided.
5. Go to Canvas and click "Parent of a Canvas User? Click Here For an Account".
6. Fill out the form, including the pairing code.

Watch a Video Tutorial:

Logging In to Canvas

Once your Parent Observer account is set up, you can log in to Canvas from any device with an internet connection.

• Go to: SACS' Canvas
• Enter your username (the email you used to register) and password.
• Click "Login".

If you forget your password, click "Forgot Password?" on the login page to reset it.

Navigating the Canvas Dashboard

The Canvas Dashboard is your hub for quickly viewing your observed student's courses, recent activity, and important notifications.

• Course Cards: Each card represents a course your student is enrolled in. Click on a card to enter that course.
• Recent Activity: See a stream of recent notifications, announcements, and assignment updates from all courses.
• To-Do List: View upcoming assignments or tasks that may require your student's attention.
• View Grades: Quickly access grades for all observed students.

Checking Grades and Feedback in Canvas

As an Observer, you can monitor your student's grades and view feedback provided by teachers.

• From the Dashboard, click on "View Grades" in the sidebar, or enter a specific course and click "Grades" in the course navigation.
• You will see a list of assignments and their corresponding grades.
• Click on an assignment name to see submission details, teacher comments, and rubric feedback.

Regularly checking grades helps you stay informed about your student's academic progress.

Viewing Assignments and Due Dates in Canvas

Canvas makes it easy to track assignments and due dates for your student.

• Navigate to a specific course.
• Click on "Assignments" in the course navigation menu to see a list of all assignments, organized by type (e.g., graded, upcoming, past).
• You can also view due dates on the Course Calendar or the "Syllabus" page within each course.
• Click on an assignment title to view full instructions, rubrics, and submission details.

Setting Canvas Notifications

Customize your Canvas notification preferences to receive alerts the way you want them.

1. Log in to Canvas.
2. Click "Account" in the Global Navigation menu (left sidebar).
3. Select "Notifications".
4. For each item (e.g., "Due Date," "Grading," "Announcements"), click the icon to choose your preferred delivery method: Notify me right away, daily summary, weekly summary, or don't send.

We recommend setting notifications for Announcements and Grading to stay most informed.

Canvas Troubleshooting & FAQs

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions and common troubleshooting tips for Canvas.

• "I can't see my child's grades." Ensure your Observer account is properly paired with your child's student account. Contact the school if you need a new pairing code.
• "Assignments aren't showing up." Check the "Assignments" tab within the course, and also the Course Calendar. Confirm with the teacher if you believe an assignment is missing.
• "Notifications aren't coming through." Review your Canvas Notification settings (Account > Notifications) and ensure your contact information is correct.

For further assistance, please use the "Still Need Help?" option.

Still Need Help with Canvas?

If you've tried the troubleshooting tips and still require assistance with Canvas, our tech support team is here to help.

• Contact Your School: For specific questions about a course or your child's assignments, please contact their teacher directly.
• SACS Tech Support: For technical issues with Canvas accounts or access, please visit our Tech Support Hub or call [Your Tech Support Phone Number].

Accessing Apps with Clever

Clever is a single sign-on (SSO) portal that makes it easy for your student to access all their learning applications with one login. This means fewer passwords to remember!

How Your Child Logs In:

• Students typically log into Clever using their district Google account.
• They can access Clever from the school's homepage or by going directly to SACS' Clever.
• Once logged in, they will see a personalized portal with icons for all the apps they need for their classes.

What You Can Do:

• Help your child navigate their Clever portal.
• Understand which apps are used for different subjects.
• Familiarize yourself with the resources available through Clever.

Understanding Clever Applications

The Clever portal houses a variety of educational applications used by SACS students. These may include:

• Canvas (for assignments and grades)
• PowerSchool (for attendance and official records)
• Online textbooks and supplementary learning tools
• Reading programs (e.g., Lexia, Raz-Kids)
• Math programs (e.g., Imagine Math)

Each app is represented by an icon. Clicking the icon directly launches the application without needing a separate login.

PowerSchool Parent Portal Information

The PowerSchool Parent Portal provides secure access to your student's academic records, including:

• Real-time grades for all courses
• Attendance records
• Assignment details and scores
• Teacher comments
• School announcements
• Student demographic information

How to Access:

1. Go to: SACS' PowerSchool
2. Enter your username and password.
3. If you do not have an account, please contact your child's school office for assistance.

Exploring PowerSchool Features

Beyond grades and attendance, PowerSchool offers several features to keep parents informed:

• Email Notifications: Set up email alerts for attendance changes, grade thresholds, and more.
• School Bulletin: View important messages and updates from the school.
• Teacher Contacts: Easily find contact information for your child's teachers.
• Demographic Information: Review and update your family's contact and emergency information.

Digital Citizenship & Online Safety Resources

In today's digital world, it's essential to teach children responsible online behavior. This section provides resources to help parents guide their children in becoming good digital citizens.

Key Topics Include:

• Internet safety rules and practices
• Understanding cyberbullying and how to prevent it
• Responsible use of social media
• Protecting personal information online
• Screen time management tips

We encourage families to discuss these topics regularly and set clear expectations for online conduct.

Guide to Parental Controls

Setting up parental controls can help ensure a safer online environment for your children. Here are resources to help you implement various controls:

• Device-Specific Controls: Guides for setting parental controls on smartphones, tablets, and computers (e.g., iOS, Android, Windows, macOS).
• Router/Network Controls: Information on how to manage internet access and content filtering at the router level.
• App & Game Controls: Tips for managing settings within popular apps and games to restrict content or in-app purchases.
• Browser Settings: How to configure safe search and content filters in web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Password Reset Guide

If your student is having trouble logging in or has forgotten their password for district accounts (like Google or Canvas), follow these steps:

• For elementary students: Please contact your child's teacher for assistance with password resets.
• For middle and high school students: Students can often reset their own passwords through the district's password management portal or by following prompts on the login screen. If issues persist, they should contact their school's tech support or library staff.
• For ParentSquare/PowerSchool Parent accounts: Use the "Forgot Password" link on the respective login pages.

Common Troubleshooting Tips

Here are quick solutions for common technical issues families might encounter:

• "My device won't connect to Wi-Fi." Check your router, restart your device, and ensure you're entering the correct password.
• "An app isn't loading." Try closing and reopening the app. If that doesn't work, restart your device. Ensure your device's operating system is up-to-date.
• "Video/audio problems." Check your volume settings, ensure headphones are properly connected, and try a different browser or app if applicable.

If these tips don't solve the problem, please contact our tech support.

Learning Tool Guides

Detailed guides for various learning tools used in our district:

• [Link] Google Classroom for Parents
• [Link] Using Zoom for Virtual Learning
• [Link] Understanding Seesaw (Elementary)
• [Link] Microsoft Teams for Students

These guides provide step-by-step instructions and video tutorials to help you support your child with their daily learning applications.

Contacting Tech Support

If you need further assistance with technology, please reach out to our dedicated tech support team.

• For general tech issues:
  • Email: [YourDistrictTechSupportEmail@sacs.k12.in.us]
  • Phone: [Your Tech Support Phone Number]
• For specific course or grade questions: Please contact your child's teacher directly via ParentSquare or email.
• School Office Support: For account access issues (ParentSquare, PowerSchool) or contact information updates, please contact your child's school office.

Our support hours are [e.g., Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM].

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Browse our frequently asked questions for quick answers to common inquiries.

General Questions:

• Q: How do I update my contact information?

  A: Please contact your child's school office to update your phone number, email, or address.

• Q: Can I access these tools from my smartphone?

  A: Yes! Most of our platforms (ParentSquare, Canvas, PowerSchool) have dedicated mobile apps or are mobile-friendly for browser access.

Account Questions:

• Q: I forgot my password. What should I do?

  A: Please refer to our Password Reset Guide in the Tech Support section.

Contact Aboite Elementary

You can reach Aboite Elementary School at:

(260) 431-2101

Contact Covington Elementary

You can reach Covington Elementary School at:

(260) 431-0501

Contact Deer Ridge Elementary

You can reach Deer Ridge Elementary School at:

(260) 431-0701

Contact Haverhill Elementary

You can reach Haverhill Elementary School at:

(260) 431-2901

Contact Lafayette Meadows Elementary

You can reach Lafayette Meadows Elementary School at:

(260) 431-0601

Contact Whispering Meadows Elementary

You can reach Whispering Meadows Elementary School at:

(260) 431-2601

Contact Summit Middle School

You can reach Summit Middle School at:

(260) 431-2501

Contact Woodside Middle School

You can reach Woodside Middle School at:

(260) 431-2701

Contact Homestead High School

You can reach Homestead High School at:

(260) 431-2202