Family Technology Guide

GMSD utilizes several vital web-based portals to manage school administrative duties, academic coursework, and online payments.

In GMSD, we automatically provision and create all parent Schoology accounts! Your account is built using the primary email address you have registered on file in PowerSchool. Furthermore, all of your children are automatically associated and pre-linked to your parent profile -meaning you never have to ask a teacher for a 12-digit child access code or add them manually.

First-Time Login Steps

1. Go to app.schoology.com (Note: Students log in via a separate portal at gmsd.schoology.com).
2. Click Forgot your password link on the sign-in page. 
3. Enter the email address registered with your PowerSchool profile and click Send My Login Info.
4. Check your inbox, retrieve the temporary reset link, and set a secure password.
5. Log back in and download the Schoology Mobile App (available for free on iOS and Android) to manage your account on the go!

Need a visual guide? Watch the Schoology Parent Walkthrough Video for a quick video demonstration of how to sign in, set up notifications, and navigate your account features.

Reviewing Child Activity (Two Profiles in One)

Schoology provides parents with "two accounts in one"- a Personal profile and a Child Activity display:

• Your Personal View: When you first log in, your name appears in the top-right corner. This view is for adjusting your account settings, setting privacy configurations, or viewing groups you belong to.
• Your Child’s View: Click your name in the top-right header and select your student's name from the dropdown. A green banner will display across the top, indicating you are viewing Schoology as your child. If you have multiple children, they will all be listed here, with a checkmark indicating which student's account you are currently reviewing.
• Courses & Enrollments: While in your child's view, click Courses in the header to view their active classes (up to 12). To see a full list of all current and historical classes, select the Enrollments link on their homepage.
• To-Do & Overdue Lists: The right-hand column displays an active calendar agenda. Under the To-Do section, you will see upcoming assignments, and if they miss a deadline, an Overdue list will display missing assignments sorted from most to least overdue.
• Student Privacy Note: Direct messages to your child are private. For privacy and security reasons, the Message icon (envelope) is hidden from view when you are toggled into your child's student profile.

Configuring Notifications & Summaries

Stay updated without needing to log in every day by turning on direct email alerts:

1. Toggle to your child’s view by selecting their name from your header dropdown.
2. Click their name in the top right and select Settings.
3. Navigate to the Notifications tab.
4. Under Parent Email Digest, set Email Summary to On. Select Daily or Weekly to determine when updates are sent to your inbox.
5. Under Overdue Submissions Email, set Email Notifications to On to receive an immediate email alert the moment your child fails to submit an assignment on time.
6. Click Save Changes.
    

Accessing ClassLink from Home

Students can open their digital classroom backpacks on home computers or personal devices:

1. Go to launchpad.classlink.com/gmsd.

2. Log in using the student username and password listed above.

3. Click on any digital textbook, curriculum app, or Google Drive icon to log in automatically.

4. Need a quick guide? Review our step-by-step ClassLink Parent Sign-In Walkthrough on iorad for an interactive walkthrough.

5. Tablet/iPad User Rule: If your student is utilizing an iPad or mobile tablet at home, you must open and sign into the downloaded ClassLink App first rather than utilizing a standard web browser. Launching textbook apps inside the ClassLink app ensures proper single sign-on authentication.
    

GMSD is proud to provide secondary students with a school-issued Chromebook laptop.

Before picking up a Chromebook, parents and students must complete online registration, read the GMSD Blended Learning Procedure Manual, and watch the official Device Orientation. Those resources can be found on the GMSD Blended Learning page. 

Essential Chromebook Care Guidelines

To ensure devices remain functional and to avoid costly cleaning or repair fees, students must adhere to the following maintenance rules:

• Official school-issued charger: GMSD Chromebooks use custom high-performance batteries. Students must only charge their laptops using the official, school-issued charger. Lost chargers must be replaced through the school for a $50 replacement fee; utilizing off-brand chargers can damage the battery and results in a structural damage fee.
• Stickers and drawing are banned: Students are strictly prohibited from writing on, painting, or applying personal stickers to any part of the plastic Chromebook shell. Applying customization of any kind results in a cleaning fee upon return at the end of the school year.
• Asset tag visibility: Students may purchase and utilize a standard clear protective case for their Lenovo device, but the district's official Asset Tag (barcode) must remain fully visible through the case at all times. Removing or obscuring an asset tag violates district policy.
• Care and handling: Keep liquids, food, and heavy objects away from the device. Do not drop, throw, or share your Chromebook with other students, and never leave your laptop unattended.
• Cloud backup: All student coursework, documents, browser settings, and drive files are automatically saved and backed up to the Google Cloud. If a Chromebook suffers physical hardware damage or is lost, students do not lose any of their schoolwork. They can immediately sign in on a temporary school-provided device and access all of their files instantly.