1. Making ParentLink Work How to Make the Most of ParentLink

2. ParentLink Brochure The CCSD’s ParentLink brochure contains a lot of useful information regarding how to access and navigate the ParentLink website, as well as several useful tips for using ParentLink. The ParentLink brochure also contains information about how to access ParentLink by phone rather than through the internet. Download the CCSD’s ParentLink brochure at http://ccsd.net/parents/pdf/parentLinkBro.pdf http://ccsd.net/parents/pdf/parentLinkBro.pdf

3. Where is it? The web address for ParentLink is: http://parentlink.ccsd.net http://parentlink.ccsd.net Do not put “www” in front of the web address. Simply type “parentlink.ccsd.net” into your browser’s address bar. You may want to “bookmark” or add ParentLink’s homepage to your “Favorites” in your browser.

4. Getting Started You do not need a separate login ID and password for each of your children. You can obtain a login ID and password from any school your children attend. That login ID and password will allow you to view information for all of your children enrolled in the school district. Once you have a login ID and password, you can view information about any of your children simply by clicking on their names.

5. Your Email Address It is a good idea to enter an email address for your account. Entering an email address allows you to reset a forgotten login ID or password by clicking the “I forgot my login ID or password” link on the parentlink.ccsd.net login page. Also, once you have entered an email address, you can choose to receive grade update notifications, email messages from your school, and other ParentLink communications.

6. Accessing ParentLink by Phone You do not need internet access in order to use ParentLink. The basics for accessing ParentLink by telephone include: 1) dial 799-4433; 2) select a language; 3) press “9” to login; and 4) enter your ParentLink login ID and password. The CCSD ParentLink brochure contains additional information about accessing ParentLink by telephone, including a list of frequently accessed phone options.

7. Sending Email to Teachers If you are using a computer-based email program (such as Outlook or Outlook Express), you can email a teacher simply by clicking on his or her name. However, if you are using a web-based email service such as Yahoo, MSN, gmail, etc., simply right-click on the teacher's name, choose "Properties" from the pop-up menu, and then copy and paste the teacher's email address into your address book or email program.

8. An Easier Way to Send Email to Teachers If you are using a web-based email service, there is an easier way to send email to teachers. Go to our school’s website at http://schools.ccsd.net/fertitta. http://schools.ccsd.net/fertitta Click on “Staff” near the top of the homepage. Find the teacher you want to email and click on the “my.ccsd.net/{teacher name}” link under his or her name. Click on the envelope icon directly to the right of the teacher’s name on his or her my.ccsd.net home page.

9. Accessing my.ccsd.net Teacher Websites You can view each teacher's my.ccsd.net website by clicking on the name of his or her class. Most names are linked directly to the teacher's website. For others, enter the teacher's name in the space provided on the my.ccsd.net home page and you will be presented with a link to the teacher's website. Once you have reached each teacher's website, be sure to bookmark their home pages so you can return easily to their websites. Remember that you can send email to teachers by clicking on the envelope icon next to their names.

10. Progress Reports and Report Cards Quarterly PROGRESS REPORTS are posted as a message in your inbox. Check your child's planner for the dates of progress reports (generally about 4 1/2 weeks after the start of each quarter). Semester REPORT CARDS can be viewed by selecting the appropriate grading period from the drop-down list located directly above the list of your child’s classes. Check your child's planner for the dates of each report card.

11. Attendance and Tardies In addition to grades, you can easily check your child's attendance and tardies using ParentLink. Click on the "Attendance“ tab near the top left- hand part of the page to view attendance and tardies. When viewing your child’s attendance and tardies, you can also view or save your child’s complete attendance report in.pdf format by clicking on the “Attendance File” button located to the right of the drop-down list box.

12. Verify Your Phone Number Verify that the phone number to which messages are delivered is correct. An out-of-date or incorrect phone number will result in ParentLink phone messages not being received. Correcting your phone number in ParentLink DOES NOT correct your phone number at your child's school. Contact the Registrar at your child's school for information about how to change the phone number on file at that school. This must be done for each child you have enrolled in the CCSD.

13. Verify Your Address Verify that your mailing address is correct. If your address is incorrect in ParentLink, then it is also incorrect at your child's school. Remember that correcting your address in ParentLink DOES NOT correct your address at your child's school. Contact the Registrar at your child's school for information about how to change the mailing address on file at that school. This must be done for each child you have enrolled in the CCSD.

14. ParentLink Tips Look for patterns in your child’s assignments for each class. If your child suddenly has several “missing” (labeled “mi”) assignments in a class, this can be an early indication of a problem that has recently arisen. If your child has missing (“mi”) or zero points for “Classwork” assignments, this may be an indication that he or she is off-task and/or not focusing in class. If your child is earning passing grades on “Classwork” and “Homework” but is earning low grades on “Tests/Quizzes/Assessments,” you may want to contact his or her teacher for suggestions about improving those grades.

15. Reflections ParentLink provides a powerful tool for monitoring your child’s academic progress. It can also alert you to recently arising academic problems, as well as provide insight into the components of your child’s overall grade in a class. Combining proper use of the Daily Planner with regular monitoring of ParentLink yields the clearest picture of your child’s academic progress in each of his or her classes.