Tandem Helps Schools Communicate with Parents about Events

Parents can customize a calendar that relates only to their child’s school or activit ies.

Richmond Public Schools (RPS) is working with Intand, an online calendaring company, to provide school events and activities in an online format. The calendar, called “Tandem,” can be filtered and customized by the user to show only the events that are relevant for the user.

RPS’s Tandem calendar shows all events for each school. Each school’s events are listed under the school’s unique initials. You can filter the calendar by selecting the “filter” option above the monthly calendar. You can then select the school(s) that you would like to see and then se lect “Filter.” You can also search for events by selecting the “search” option above the calendar and then entering key terms.

Benefits of Starting a “My Tandem” Account The Tandem calendar can be used without signing in or setting up an account. However, there are benefits to signing up for an account. Here are some of those benefits:

• You will have the ability to track events in your Outlook, , Google, Cozi, Windows Live, Yahoo (Beta) or 30 Boxes Calendar. • You will receive notifications via e- if events you are tracking are modified or cancelled. • Filters are saved so that each time that you log-in, you will see only those events that you have requested. • Registered users can receive RSS feeds about events or groups that they are currently tracking.

How to Sign Up for a “My Tandem” Account To sign-up for an account, go to the calendar, then select “Sign In” at the top right-hand corner of the Webpage. At the bottom of the sign-in page, you will see an option to sign up for an account. Click on the words “Sign Up” to be directed to the sign-up page. You will be asked for the following information: e-mail address, first name, and last name. You will also be asked a simple security question.

How to Track Events Using “My Tandem” Once you have signed up for an account, you will see the LWSD Calendar again. At the top of the page, you will now have an option that says “My Tandem,” with a house icon. Select that option to be taken to your “My Tandem” Account Preferences page. On the left side of the page, you can select one of the following options:

• My Tracked Groups – allows you to select groups that you would like to track using the Tandem calendar. • Tracked Events – allows you to see which event types that you are tracking. • Yearly – allows you to add a school to track their yearly calendar.

Select the groups that you would like to track so that the next time that you view your calendar, it will filter accordingly.

Privacy / Security of Information Intand takes appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data. These include internal reviews of their data collection, storage and processing practices and security measures, as well as physical security measures to guard against unauthorized access to systems where Intand stores personal data.

Tandem helps schools and districts restrict access to sensitive information. Staff and parents can be given permission levels that are different than the community at large. Schools or districts can choose to show event dates and times but not locations on the calendar. There are many ways schools and districts use Tandem to ensure that just the right information is posted about any event.

Benefits for Registered Users Versus Non-Registered Users

Non- Registered Actions with the Calendar and Schedules Registered User User Access to help tutorial X X View calendar and schedules X X View news and photos about an event X X Subscribe to or download schedules to Google, Outlook, iCal or X X Cozi personal calendars Filter view by school, group or location X X Filter views by department, activities or event type X X Search for events by keyword X X Jump to calendar dates X X View a 5 or 7 day calendar X X View calendar by year, month, day or list X X Print a calendar or schedules X X View schedules created by schools and groups X X Get RSS feeds to Internet Explorer or Outlook X Customize a personal view in the My Tandem section X Actions with an Event Registered Non- User Registered User Add a single event to Google, Outlook, iCal personal calendars X X Print a single event or series of events X X View a Google map and get directions to an event’s location X X Receive updates of changed events via e-mail X Set up reminders for a single event X Upload photos about an event X Write news about an event X E-mail an event to a friend X View and add comments about an event X Track a group’s events X

For more information about the Tandem benefits for parents and students, visit the intand website.