How do I reach my child during the school day?

You have two ways to stay in touch. New this year for grades 5 -12, Family Messaging in ParentSquare lets you and your child message each other directly, so you can reach them during the day even while their phone is in the pouch. Your child uses StudentSquare, the student version of ParentSquare, on their Chromebook. This works well for routine, non-urgent notes, such as a change in pickup plans, though because students are learning on their Chromebooks, your child may not see a message until an appropriate break in instruction.

For anything urgent or time-sensitive, call your school's office and our staff will relay your message to your child right away. If there is a family emergency, contact the office immediately, and an administrator or counselor will reach your child directly.

Family Messaging is the approved way for students to reach family from their Chromebook. Their district email is limited to school accounts for security, so they cannot email personal contacts during the day. The office remains the reliable channel for anything that cannot wait, and our staff handles these calls every day.

How does Family Messaging work?

Family Messaging lets parents and students in the same family message each other directly through ParentSquare. Your child signs in to StudentSquare, the student version of ParentSquare, on their Chromebook using their school Google account, and from there can message you through your existing ParentSquare account. You can message your child in return. Parents connected to the same student can also message one another, as long as the conversation includes the shared student or a school staff member. Siblings cannot start a conversation on their own, but a parent or staff member can begin a group message that includes them, as long as everyone is at the same school.

To get started, activate your ParentSquare account if you have not already. Visit parentsquare.com/signin and, under Register, use the email address or phone number associated with your Family Access account in Skyward. Your child signs in at mystudentsquare.com/signin, chooses "Sign in with Google," and uses the same credentials they use for their Chromebook.

Family Messaging is designed for routine, non-urgent communication. For anything urgent, please call the school office.

What happens if there is a school emergency?

We know this is the question on every parent's mind, and it is a fair one. The instinct to reach your child in a frightening moment is completely natural.

Here is what safety experts tell us: phones in students' hands during an active emergency can actually make situations more dangerous. High call volumes can jam emergency communications. Phone noise can reveal student locations. Misinformation spreads rapidly on social media and creates panic. What keeps students safe in an emergency is following the directions of trained staff and first responders.

Students keep their pouches with them at all times. Once students are in a safe location, administrators can unlock pouches with handheld unlocking devices so students can contact their families. During any school emergency, LPCSC will communicate with families through ParentSquare.

Will my child's phone be safe?

Yes. Your child's phone never leaves their possession. It stays in their sealed pouch, in their backpack, or on their person for the entire school day. Devices are not collected, stored in bins, or handled by staff.

What if my child forgets their pouch?

There is an important difference in our policy between forgetting the rules and deliberately breaking them.

If a student forgets their pouch at home, they report to the main office and place their device in a secure lockbox for the day. The device is returned at dismissal, and a parent or guardian is notified. It is a natural consequence, not a punishment.

Purposeful violations, such as having a device out of the pouch, using unauthorized magnets, or placing a decoy device in the pouch, carry progressive consequences beginning with a parent or guardian picking up the device at school. Full details are in the student handbook.

What devices need to go in the pouch?

In short, if it connects, records, or plays audio, it belongs in the pouch. Senate Bill 78 covers all personal wireless communication devices, including cell phones, smartwatches, earbuds and headphones, tablets and e-readers, portable gaming devices, MP3 players, and Bluetooth accessories.

School-issued Chromebooks and devices used for approved instructional purposes are not affected.

What if my child doesn't have a phone?

Every student in grades 5-12 is assigned a pouch and is responsible for bringing it to school each day. An empty sealed pouch is in full compliance. No student is singled out either way.

What about medical needs, IEPs, and 504 plans?

Students with documented medical needs, such as continuous glucose monitors or cardiac devices, will receive a specially designated medical pouch that allows independent access when medically necessary. Medical exemptions require documentation from a licensed healthcare provider and are filed with the school nurse and building principal. If your child has a medical device need, please contact your school nurse before the school year begins.

Students whose IEP or 504 plan includes a personal device as an accommodation will be supported on an individual basis. The building administrator, the special education coordinator, and the family will work together to develop an appropriate solution.

What about GPS tracking apps?

Inside the pouch, phones may be silent, in airplane mode, or powered off, so real-time tracking may be limited during the school day. If real-time tracking is medically necessary for your child, contact your school nurse to discuss accommodations.

Who is paying for this?

Pouch program costs are funded through the district's GO bond allocation, with grant funding applied for if available. No dollars from the Education Fund or Operations Fund are being used to directly support classroom instruction.

The replacement cost for a lost or intentionally damaged pouch is approximately $30, which will be assessed to the student’s Skyward fees.