Technology Welcome Email for New Families (24-25)

Dear Incoming Families,

On behalf of the Marin Academy technology team, welcome to MA! We are excited for you to join us and are here to support your use of technology throughout your journey; please watch this video for an overview of what our department provides.

Please follow the steps below to set up your accounts in and gain access to our school systems: 

MyMA and General Forms

First, log into MyMA. MyMA is our main repository for information and connects to our emergency alert system, so it’s extremely important to keep it updated. Once logged in, here are a few important things to do:

• Click the yellow "You have X forms to review" banner at the top. Then click the review button next to each form, and follow the prompts to add or confirm your important demographic information.
• One of these forms is the Technology Responsible User Agreement (RUA), which describes MA's expectations for how students responsibly manage the use of the technology resources MA provides; please review it with your child. You must sign the RUA to activate your child's MA Google account, and students are required to sign it before the start of the school year. 

• Click the Directories tab at the top, and find families that live near you to carpool with.

SchoolDoc Health Forms

Next, visit SchoolDoc, our system for collecting various health information about your child. You will also complete the necessary athletic forms before your child can participate on a MA sports team. To access SchoolDoc: 

• First, sign into MyMA, click on Resources, New Families, and SchoolDoc. 
• Then, follow the instructions to complete your child(ren)’s profile(s). 

Student Google Accounts

Once you sign the Technology RUA (see info in MyMA, above), your child’s Google account will activate within 1-2 business days. Students can visit the Gmail homepage to log in. Their username is their email address, <first initial + last name + grade year + @ma.org>, and their password is their birth date in YYYYMMDD format. 

Once a student has access to their email account, they can also log into MyMA. The student’s email address is the username, and if prompted, they should log into their MA email account. They will then automatically be logged into MyMA. 

Student Schedules and Canvas

• Student schedules will be posted to MyMA on July 16, along with access to additional technology resources. 
• Canvas is the tool students use to view course materials, submit work, and view assignment grades. Students can log in to Canvas once they have access to their MA Google account, although there is nothing to see there until the fall when classes begin. Parents will receive instructions on how to set up their Canvas account in the fall. Please stay tuned!

Laptop Buying Guide

Next, check out the laptop buying guide available on our website! All families are responsible for purchasing a device for their child to use during their time here at MA, and the laptop buying guide provides a lot of helpful information. The 13” MacBook Air is one of the most popular options for students due to its combination of power, portability, and price, and it's the laptop we recommend. The 13” MacBook Pro is also popular. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. 

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at kyle@ma.org. I’m excited to meet the awesome class of 2028 this fall!

Be well,

Kyle Vitale

Director of Technology