School News

We are excited to announce a new platform that will streamline and enhance the way our district communicates beginning this school year.

For years, we’ve heard from parents, staff and others that the number of communication tools used by our district, schools, teachers, coaches and activity sponsors can be overwhelming and lead to difficulty finding information. Often, parents need multiple apps to receive and send communication with staff members. This is even more of a challenge for parents with multiple children at multiple grade levels.

That’s why we are partnering with ParentSquare, the industry leader in staff/parent/student communication, to provide a one-stop information hub for district, school, classroom, team and activity messaging. With ParentSquare, you will be able to:

• Choose how you receive messages (emails, texts or app notifications).
• Choose when you receive messages (immediately as they are shared or in a “digest” all at once. Don’t worry – urgent messages will always be sent in real time).
• Send direct messages to teachers, coaches, activity sponsors, etc., similarly to apps such as Band, Remind, Bloomz or GroupMe.
• Sign up for conferences, bringing supplies, etc. (such as SignUp Genius).
• And much more.

Best of all, you’ll be able to find this information all in one location for all of your children by downloading the ParentSquare app. 

In addition to ease of use, ParentSquare will help us comply with a new state law that requires the district to be able to access and archive messages sent between staff and students.

Students in middle school and high school can download the StudentSquare app to receive emails, texts and app notifications. StudentSquare will replace other apps that previously have been used by coaches and activity sponsors for communication. This added layer of protection safeguards both staff and students in the event that messages need to be reviewed. Please note that email between staff and students using official @usd385.org addresses remains a perfectly acceptable form of communication under state law as well.

What parents need to do

By default, parents will receive text notifications as messages are shared, if they have a cell phone number listed in PowerSchool. They also will receive an email in the evening containing all the messages that were shared that day that pertain to them or their child. If you are satisfied with those settings and do not want the ParentSquare app, you are good to go!

If you want to change default settings, please either create a user account at www.parentsquare.com or download the ParentSquare app in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Please look for a separate email being sent today with an invitation to join ParentSquare. Click here to learn more about joining ParentSquare.

To change notification settings: 

• Click on the menu button.
• Click on account.
• Click on notifications
• Choose which forms of notifications you would like, and when you want to receive them. “Instant” is as soon as they are sent, and “Digest” will be in the evening. Please note that all urgent alerts will still be sent instantaneously. 

What students need to do

Middle school and high school students are mostly likely to receive messages from coaches or activity sponsors. Students can log in at www.parentsquare.com or download the StudentSquare app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Using either method, they will use Google Single-Sign on and their @students.usd385.org account as the user name.

Students wishing to receive text messages will need to add their cell phone number when prompted. Students also will receive email messages during the school day via their school email account.

More details to come

This information will get you prepared to receive messages for the 2026-27 school year. We will be sharing more information about messaging staff members, honing settings, and other features in the coming weeks. Please email us at info@usd385.org if you have questions or challenges setting up ParentSquare. We’re excited for this change!

Sincerely,

Andover Public Schools