School Communications
Ascension Public Schools is committed to transparency, quick response, and multiple communication tools that allow two-way communication with the district and its schools. Below is information about official district communication channels.
School Messenger
School Messenger is the platform used by the district to send calls, emails, and texts to parents. This is used for official communications about school closures, emergency situations, and principal and superintendent messages. It is also used for automated messages about child nutrition accounts and student attendance. Parent contact information for School Messenger is linked to student PowerSchool accounts.
How to sign up for School Messenger
PowerSchool
PowerSchool is the school district's student information system that maintains vital data about students including grades, attendance, and contact information. Contact information for parents/guardians and emergency contacts are updated annually through online student registration. If a student's account or parent contact information needs to be updated during the year, please contact your child's school.
How to sign up for PowerSchool
District Website
Ascension Public Schools maintains an official website, www.ascensionschools.org, with both district- and school-level official information. The district's previous web address, www.apsb.org, is still active and redirects to the new www.ascensionschools.org website.
BoardDocs
BoardDocs is a web-based platform for Ascension Parish School Board meetings. All meeting agendas and minutes are posted on BoardDocs, including archived minutes. In addition, Board Policies and approved employee job descriptions can be found on this site.
Google Classroom
Ascension Public Schools is a Google district. This means the school district uses the Google Suite of programs such as Google Classroom, Google Meet, and Gmail. Students and teachers use Google Classroom for assignments and student/teacher communications.
Remind
Remind is a communication platform that helps educators reach students and parents via the Remind app and optional text messages. Messages are sent in real time to an entire class, a small group, or just a single person. Ascension Public Schools has a district Remind account, which is designed to protect the safety and security of users and their personal information.
Here Comes the Bus
Here Comes the Bus is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child's school bus on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer. Ascension Public Schools rolled out this new tool in 2021.
How to sign up for Here Comes the Bus
Social Media Commenting Guidelines
The purpose of our social media platforms is to regularly share information about Ascension Public Schools, the Ascension Parish School Board, and schools within the school district.
We appreciate the opportunity social media provides us to engage our families and community while allowing us to express ideas and share opinions in the best interest of our schools. The District acknowledges the importance of social media as a means of communication and exchange of viewpoints and takes very seriously its responsibility to provide a safe and appropriate forum for all members of our community.
The intent of these guidelines is to facilitate dialogue and constructive discussions on matters related to education and our schools while notifying individuals engaging with our social media platforms that conversation/comments must occur in a respectful and responsible manner, within the bounds of the purpose served by the forum.
These guidelines outline our approach using our social media platforms as limited public forums and the circumstances under which we may regulate speech. We invite you to join the conversation about Ascension Public Schools and help keep this page engaging, friendly, and active. While constructive criticism, diverse viewpoints, and respectful disagreement are welcome within the framework of the forum, there are circumstances in which Ascension Public Schools may regulate speech on our social media platforms.
Read our full social media commenting guidelines.
Peachjar
Ascension Public Schools distributes electronic flyers through www.Peachjar.com. Parents are automatically enrolled to receive Peachjar flyers by email based on their student's PowerSchool profile. However, additional family members can sign up to receive flyers from their student's school by creating a Parent/Guardian account and selecting the school(s) they would like to subscribe to. Flyers are also posted online.
How Peachjar Works for Parents
Ascension Public Schools Flyer Approval Guidelines
Ascension Public Schools cooperates with community groups and organizations that sponsor activities of an educational/enrichment nature for students by distributing materials. As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, embrace innovative technology, and maintain fiscal responsibility, we transitioned from paper to electronic flyer delivery via Peachjar on December 14, 2017.
Community groups and organizations wishing to distribute flyers to our schools, must register with Peachjar (www.peachjar.com) as a “Program Provider” and upload your flyer for approval in compliance with the following guidelines.
Ascension Public Schools approves the distribution of:
- Flyers that promote an educational experience for students or parents, a healthy use of leisure time and/or a special enrichment activity.
- Information targeted to staff that announces job-related activities and instructional opportunities related to the APSB curriculum.
- Flyers that include the following disclaimer, “This program is not sponsored by Ascension Public Schools.”
Ascension Public Schools does not approve the distribution of:
- Materials for projects, activities or programs that would publicize or promote a particular political party, political organization or political viewpoint.
- Materials for projects, activities or programs that would publicize or promote a particular church, religious organization or religious viewpoint.
- Advertisements or coupons for products or services for sale. Exceptions to this may include school or district fundraisers.
- Materials for events deemed not suitable for children.