The Phelps-Clifton Springs CSD is using ParentSquare as our digital parent communication tool. ParentSquare provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school to connect.  The best way to use ParentSquare is by downloading the free mobile app for iOS or Android by following these steps:

• Download the ‘ParentSquare’ app on iOS or Android.
• Check your email or text for the activation link.
• Sign in.

To change your notification settings while in the app:

• Tap the menu icon at the top left corner
• Click “Account" and then “Notifications.”
• You may also select the “Instant” or the “Digest” in addition to “Text” and “Email” for how and when you’d like to receive notifications.

To change your language preference, go to:

• "Menu" and then "Preferences"
• Select your preferred language.

To change your language preference, go to:

PARENTSQUARE Help

Messages

Families may use ParentSquare to send private notes to school staff using the “Messages” feature in ParentSquare. For more information, please visit:

• Send a Direct Message on Mobile App
• Send a Direct Message

Families may contact the Pupil Support Office at either Midlakes Elementary School at (315) 548-6700 or Midlakes Secondary School at (315) 548-6310 for login assistance and other support.

SchoolTool

Clever is an easy way for students to log in and learn with all of the online programs used at school. With personal portals, students can learn with the resources selected by their teachers and school district. Students can log into their account directly by going to Clever.

After opening the Clever app, display your QR code (badge) to your device's camera. Those without a badge can choose to log in with a username (firstname.lastname) and password.

Schoology is a web-based system for securely viewing your middle and/or high school student’s grades, assignments and calendar.

With a single login, parents can connect to their child’s teachers to download assignments, view grades and teacher feedback. With the free Schoology mobile app for i0S (Apple) and Android, parents can sign up for push notifications and have complete access from a smartphone or tablet.

Schoology is not a social networking site. It is an educational tool with highly monitored communication filters.

We recommend using Firefox or Internet Explorer 10.0 or better when online.

Schoology link for parents

In the top right-hand corner, parents will click the "Sign Up" for the first time and a drop down will appear that offers a parent option. They will be prompted for a code that they can get through their child's teacher. 

Schoology Tutorials for Parents

• Schoology Parent Sign-Up
• Schoology Parent Log In
• Navigating Schoology as a Parent

Schoology tutorials for students

• Getting Started on Schoology for Students
• Submitting Assignments to Schoology

After families receive a SeeSaw invite from their classroom teacher, they can access their accounts by going directly to https://app.seesaw.me. Students will log into Seesaw through Clever. 

SeeSaw provides information just for families on their website at https://web.seesaw.me/families.

Use the following steps to connect a school device or iPad to a home WiFi network. 

• Open your settings
• Tap the name of the desired network.
• Enter the password for the WiFi network and tap JOIN. If you cannot select JOIN, the password is incorrect.
• After joining the network, a blue checkmark will be displayed. The WiFi icon in the upper-left or upper-right corner of the display will appear.

Additional Resources

►Connecting to WiFi from Home (English)
►Conexión a WiFi desde casa (Español)

Microsoft Office 365 includes many products available in the self-service app on school-issued iPads. Open the app using your Midlakes email address to log in. If prompted, choose the "Work" or "School" account option. Use your Midlakes password for the password.

Office 365 is also available from using any web browser by going to https://portal.office.com/. The login credentials are the same as the above.

Depending on settings, the cache can grow quite large and use a lot of disk space on a computer or iPad resulting in slow performance in browsing the web. Sometimes data, which is stored in the cache prohibits loading of up-to-date contents. When you delete the stored cache data, the new version can be retrieved. In many website-related issues, the cache is the root of the issue.

The following document provides some simple steps to clear the cache on a school-issues iPad.

Other iPad tips

• When your iPad is acting strangely (temporarily freezing running slowly, etc.), power cycle it.
• If a particular app is giving you trouble (freezing or misbehaving in some other way), delete the app and then reinstall it.
• If the iPad is not charging, make sure the lighting cable slider is engaged properly and the plugs are properly connected to an outlet.
• To close all web pages in Safari, press and hold the TABS icon (denoted by two squares in the top-right corner of an iPad screen). Select CLOSE ALL TABS.

The Internet can be a fun and informative place, but it's important to make good choices when online. Students should never give out personal information online, including:

• Name
• Age
• Address
• Phone Number
• Your school
• Pictures of you or friends

Guidelines to Keep Student Safe Online

1. Ask an adult for permission to be online. 
2. Share with an adult when anything online makes you feel uncomfortable. 
3. Don't share personal information.
4. Choose passwords that are hard to guess, but easy for you to remember. 
5. Choose nicknames that don't tell anything about you. 
6. Never meet with someone you met online without permission from a parent/guardian. Make sure that responsible adult is with you.  
7. Treat people nicely. 
8. Don't take things that aren't yours and claim them as your own. 
9. Never open emails from people you don't know. 

Internet Safety For Parents

It's important to teach children how to use the Internet safely. Families can start at home by:

• Keeping your computer in a central location
• Discuss and set guidelines for computer and internet use
• Consider using software that will help you monitor your child's email and Internet use

Additional Resources

►Safe Kids Internet Quiz
►Internet Safety Tips for Parents
►Protect Kids Online
►Parents' Guide to Cell Phones
►Parents' Guide to Snapchat