ParentSquare/StudentSquare FAQ

We will no longer be using the MVCTC App this school year. If you still have the MVCTC App installed on your phone or tablet, you can delete it from your devices.

The ParentSquare app and its companion StudentSquare app will replace our previous mobile communication tools and serve as our primary mobile communication tools for families and students.

ParentSquare provides an easy-to-use platform for communicating with MVCTC families. With ParentSquare, you can:

• Create posts and send messages to families
• Communicate in families' preferred languages with built-in two-way translation
• Post calendar events and request RSVPs
• Share forms, files, and permission slips
• Schedule conferences and appointments
• Set up volunteer and wish list sign-ups
• Track message reach and engagement
• And more, all from your computer or mobile device

What’s the difference between ParentSquare and StudentSquare?

Think of ParentSquare as the main communication platform and StudentSquare as its student-facing companion.

• ParentSquare: Staff use ParentSquare to communicate with parents, guardians, and students. Parents and guardians use ParentSquare to receive messages, complete forms, RSVP to events, schedule appointments, and stay connected with MVCTC.
• StudentSquare: Students use StudentSquare to receive messages, announcements, reminders, and other communications sent to them through ParentSquare.

Staff work in ParentSquare; families use ParentSquare; students use StudentSquare. The two platforms work together so staff can manage communication from one place while families and students have an experience designed for them

ParentSquare Alerts are one-way messages sent out using all available modes. There are two types: Smart and Urgent.  

Posts

Use Posts for everyday communications at the district, school, and classroom levels. Share information, reminders, and newsletters.

• Used for everyday outreach such as class, school, or district announcements

• Can be more detailed and are viewable throughout the school year

• Sent to recipients as a text, email, or app notification (controlled by the user). No voice

• 3 different delivery options are available

• Can be scheduled for a later time or date

• Can include Add-Ons such as Calendar Entry/RSVP, Forms, Sign-Ups, photo and file attachments, etc.

• Can be formatted to include images, videos, and links directly in the content of the Post

• Users can comment and appreciate a Post

• Can be shared to social media when linked

• Automatically translate into the user's preferred language.

Smart Alerts

Smart Alerts are one-way communications used for timely, non-critical messaging. You can choose who receives the Alert and how it is sent.

• Used for short reminders and important communications that are non-urgent

• Short messages are only viewable to recipients for 3 weeks

• Text, email, app, and voice options. If text or email fails, a voice call goes out even if the voice option was not selected

• Instant delivery

• Can be scheduled for a later time or date

• No attachments

• Can include links

• One-way communication. Recipients cannot respond

• Automatically translate into the user's preferred language. Limited translation for text-to-speech calls. No translation for recorded calls

Urgent Alerts

Urgent Alerts are one-way communications used in urgent situations. They send notifications across email, text, app, and voice call.

• Used for urgent situations when there is a critical threat

• Short messages are only viewable to recipients for 3 weeks

• Goes out via all modalities automatically (text, email, app, and voice)

• Instant delivery

• No attachments

• Can include links

• One-way communication. Recipients cannot respond

• Automatically translate into the user's preferred language. Limited translation for text-to-speech calls. No translation for recorded calls