Skip to main content

Catoosa County Public Schools

A Georgia Charter System

Parent and Student Information Home

Parent and Student Information

Screen Smart

Protecting Your Child Online

ParentSquare Logo

We're excited to share that we have adopted a new communication platform called ParentSquare to help us keep you better informed and more connected with your school community. 

With ParentSqure, you'll receive all school and classroom messages in one place and translated into your preferred language - whether by email, text, app or web.

 

Beginning July 1, 2026, all school, grade-level, and classroom communications will now come through ParentSquare.

 

Click here to join ParentSquare!

Padlock with the inscription K-12 on it

If It Sounds Too Good to Be True - Fall 2026

Parents, in the online world, the classic saying, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," has never been more important. Identity thieves are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using tempting offers like free items, promises of remote jobs, or even cryptocurrency to trick people - including students - into giving up private information.

 

Here are the essential security tips to discuss with your student today: 

 

Protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) 

Online thieves are looking for details that can be used to steal your child's identify. A good rule of thumb: If it's something you wouldn't shout in the school hallway, don't share it online with strangers. 

Your child should never share: 

  • Their full name
  • Their home address
  • Their birthdate
  • Their phone number
  • Any online logins or passwords

Even if you child is tech-savvy, the temptation to overshare or respond to a seemingly harmless request can be strong. Remind your child that strangers online are not friends.

 

Guard Their School Account Like a Key

Your student's school Google account username and password are the keys to their entire digital school life. They must be kept completely private. 

The rule is simple: DO NOT SHARE!

  • Not with a friend
  • Not with another student
  • And especially not with anyone online

When login information is shared, it allows a stranger to:

  • Impersonate your child
  • Target other students
  • Trick others into sharing sensitive information about themselves or their families (like addresses or financial details)

This is a dangerous and escalating trend. By securing your child's online accounts, you are protecting them and the entire school community.

 

Action Item: Take five minutes today to talk with your child about these dangers and reinforce the importance of keeping their personal and account information private.

Parent ProTech Logo

Parent ProTech: A Resource for Parents - Fall 2026

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with technology and keep your students safer online? Catoosa County Public Schools and the Georgia Department of Education are excited to provide you with resources to help protect your family online with Parent ProTech's on-demand platform at no charge!

 

Click here to sign up for Parent ProTech’s on-demand platform.

 

Your Parent ProTech access includes: 

  • A library of videos and guides to help parents make confident, informed choices about technology
  • A complete K-12 digital citizenship curriculum for classroom use, meeting SB 351 requirements
  • Tools that help families and educators make smart technology decisions to keep kids safe online
     

Want to Learn More?

Watch this short video introduction to find out more about Parent ProTech.

 

Student using a smartphone while sitting on a bench

A Contract for Smartphones - Fall 2026

Parents, now might be a great time to discuss contracts with your student. Professional athletes sign contracts. Singers and songwriters sign contracts. Even teachers sign contracts. Parent ProTech has created a Smartphone Contract to help parents define boundaries when managing a cell phone with their student. Cell phones can be convenient for knowing when to pick up your teen from ball or band practice, but they sometimes create new issues with seemingly endless opportunities for communicating with friends and strangers. The Smartphone Contract can be  great place to bein discussing rules and limitations around your student's cell phone use. You can find the Smartphone Contract on the Parent ProTech homepage by searching for "Smartphone Contract." 

Don't have a Parent ProTech account? You can sign up for free at by clicking here.

Image of a student reading books at home

Summer Time Can Mean Screen Free Time - Summer 2026

This summer, why not try a 24 hour screen free challenge with your child? You can pair a screen free day with a trip to a playground or the library to participate in the summer reading program. You can find information about the Catoosa County Public Library's Summer Reading program by clicking here. 

You could make a screen free challenge fun with a reward at the end! 

For older students, you might try a screen free weekend. Try asking your teens what free activity they would enjoy doing this summer to get a break from screen time. Click here to get tips on a screen free challenge on Parent ProTech.

Image of a teen using a chatbot

Grok is Unsafe for Teens - Spring 2026

According to a recent review by Common Sense Media, the AI Chatbot Grok is not safe for children and teens. Grok is built into the social media platform X, which was formerly known as Twitter. According to Common Sense Media, Grok scored an unsafe rating for, "inadequate identification of users under 18, weak safety guardrails, and frequent generation of sexual, violent, and inappropriate matters." 

You can find the full article about the dangers of Grok online here.

Quick Links For Parents

CCPS E-Store

Parent­Square

IC Parent Portal

Meal Applic­ation

Title I Parent & Family Engage­ment