Using the new SB App

With more and more people downloading and using the new SB App, we thought it would be a good idea to put out a basic tutorial on a few of the primary functions.  If you don't currently have the SB App you can download it by clicking here or visiting: https://southbend.parentlink.net/smartlink/

Though most people who operate a smartphone know how to navigate and set up an app, this tutorial will give an idea of what you can do with the app.

The following sections detail some of the app features, including: Grades & Attendance, Notifications, School Updates, & Jr. Sr. High Bulletin.  

The first thing to note is that depending on the size of your mobile device screen, the icons could be located on the first or second page of the app.  Swipe across to locate the tool icon you are looking for.

The Grades & Attendance feature in the SB App gives both students and parents the ability to view and manage student class grades, schedules, and attendance using real-time information.  The SB App is integrated with the Skyward Family/Student Access database and feeds the app with this information.  Once you click on the Grades & Attendance icon, you will be prompted to enter your Skyward Login ID and Password.  If you do not have a login or if you have forgotten your login information, please contact your school office.  Once you have entered your Skyward login and password, you will see a screen that allows you to configure alerts for grades, assignments, and other class data.  For example, if you want to be notified when your student's grade drops below a "B", you can set the app to send you a notification if this grade changes to a lower grade.  You can also view attendance and set notifications for missing assignments and other class info.

When you first download the SB App, you can choose which schools you want to follow, or you can select them all.  This allows you to determine which school information you want to see in the app.  You can also set push notifications to receive important reminders, school alerts, and other information.  All notifications and alerts can be found and managed in the Notifications icon for future reference.

School Updates feeds information from the superintendent blog, school Twitter account, school calendar, and all other alerts and notifications.  You can scroll down to view past updates.

Parents and students can access the daily bulletin using the SB App.  The bulletin is updated each morning and automatically posts to the app.  This is a great source of information regarding late athletic changes and/or other mid-week schedule updates.

Finally, the SB App can be set to different languages, including Spanish.  This feature will translate all school updates, school articles, calendar info, and the daily bulletin.  This feature can be configured under Settings.

Thank you for your patience as we implement this new service.  If you have questions about the app or its features, please contact superintendent Jon Tienhaara at jtienhaa@southbendschools.org.