ParentSquare Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find Frequently Asked Questions regarding ParentSquare, the mass notification system used by CMCSS. If you don’t see your question listed here, please get in touch with your child’s school or email [email protected].
To watch the training video for ParentSquare, click here.
Users should be able to see all of their children and schools in one ParentSquare account. There are several reasons a parent/guardian may need to merge or add a new student to their account:
- I am a parent, and I do not see all of my children in the same account when I log in.
- I am a parent with an existing account and I do not see my new kindergartener.
- I am a CMCSS employee, and I do not see my children in my account when I log in.
If you are missing a child/school, it may be because:
- You have more than one ParentSquare account with different contact information.
- Your contact information is inconsistent across PowerSchool.
- You have not yet merged your accounts.
Ensure you have the same contact data for each student at every school. You can update your contact information at parents.cmcss.net. Click on “Update Student Information.” If you need to update custody paperwork, you must call your child’s enrolled school.
ParentSquare syncs nightly with PowerSchool. Once your contact information is consistent and correct within PowerSchool, the nightly sync should correct any discrepancies.
Four Ways to Combine Accounts
1. Use the Link on Email Invitation
- Click the link in the email, Sign in to Combine Existing Accounts.
2. Sign in to your other ParentSquare account.
3. Select the name to use on your account and click Combine Accounts.
4. Your accounts are now combined. The next time you log in to ParentSquare, you can access your account using ay of the associated emails or phone numbers on your combined account.
2. Combine Accounts When Verifying Contacts
Web Browser (Desktop)
If you have more than one contact card, and click Yes, Merge This Contact on each card, your contacts will automatically be merged into one account.
Mobile App
If you have more than one contact card, and tap Yes, Merge This Contact on each card, your contacts will automatically be merged into one account.
3. Use My Accounts
Web Browser (Desktop)
- Log in to your main ParentSquare account.
- Click your name in the upper right and select My Account.
- Click Combine with another account.
- If there are any accounts matching your verified email or phone, a page with recommended users will appear.
- Click Combine Accounts, confirm any additional contacts on the account, and click Combine Accounts.
- If you do not see the account you want to combine, click combine another account.
- Log in. to your other ParentSquare account.
- Select the name to use on your account and click Combine Accounts.
- Your accounts are now combined. The next time you login to ParentSquare, you will be able to access your account using any of the associated contact information.
Mobile App
- Log in to your main ParentSquare account. Note: Staff must log in with the email or phone number associated with their staff account.
- Tap the menu in the upper left, select Account, then Combine Accounts.
- Sign in to your other ParentSquare account.
- Select the name to use on your account and click Combine Accounts.
- Your accounts are now combined.
4. Request Password Reset
Web Browser
- From the ParentSquare sign in page, http://www.parentsquare.com/signin click Forgot Password under the Password field.
Enter the email or phone number you think is on both accounts and click Go.
If you entered a cell phone number, you will receive directions to reset your password via text.
If you entered an email address, you will receive an email from ParentSquare.
Click Reset your password.Select the account for which you would like to update the password, click Update Password.
ParentSquare Mobile App
PowerSchool is the official grade book and attendance tracker for the district. Families will still use PowerSchool to track their child’s academic progress.
ParentSquare fully integrates with PowerSchool, and families are automatically opted in to receive notifications. All contact information must be listed correctly in PowerSchool. If you want to add or update a phone number or email address, please visit parents.cmcss.net and update your student information.
Click on “Forgot Password” on the sign-in screen to update your information.
Using a desktop browser:
Click on your name to update your language preferences.
Using a mobile app:
Go to Account>Preferences from the menu.
Using a desktop browser:
Click “Messages” in the sidebar and start a direct conversation by clicking “New Message.”
Using a mobile app:
Start a new message with the “+” in the top right corner.
You will see your child’s teacher in the quick-select recipients’ box at the top of the page. Or, you can type the first three letters of their name in the recipient box for a name to auto-populate.
You can set your notification preferences to receive a daily digest email, text, or app notification with all updates at the end of the day.
Using a desktop browser:
Click on your name to bring up your accounts page and update your notification preferences.
Using a mobile app:
Go to Accounts>Preferences from the triple bar menu.
You can set different notification settings for each school and the district.
Families with children at multiple schools can change which school they view. Staff members that work at multiple school sites and/or have children at another site may also switch schools.
Using a Desktop browser:
From Home, click Switch School in the top left and choose the desired school site. If you are a staff member who sees the district name in the top left, click the district name to go to the district level.
Using a mobile app:
1. Tap the triple bar menu in the top left.
2. Select Schools for a school site, or District for a district site.
3. Select the name of the school or district in the center of the page.
Parents can view all of the posts associated with their children. Parents can switch between schools, then click their children’s names to see posts for each child, or narrow down their posts to view posts associated with a specific class or group.
Follow these directions to view a specific class or group.
Using a Desktop browser:
- If you have children at more then one school, you can switch to a different school. Click Switch School in the upper left and choose the school that has the class you want to view.
- Click the drop-down arrow next to My School, Classes, And Groups in upper right.
- Select the class or group.
Using a Mobile app:
- Tap the three bars at top left.
- Tap Classes to view the class posts. Tap Groups to view group posts.
- Select the class or group name.
You can find additional resources and information regarding ParentSquare here. Please note not all features listed in this guide are included with the CMCSS account. For specific questions, please contact your child’s school or email [email protected].