Updated for 2021-22

This is a copy of the email that is sent to all incoming families in the spring and resent over the summer. It includes everything families need to know to get started using tech @ MA.

Information from MA's Technology Team 

The MA tech team would like to extend you a warm welcome to the MA community! We are excited to have you here with us. We’d like to give you access to a new set of MA online tools so you can take a peek, and see what’s in store. This area is broken into four sections, Responsible User Agreement, Parent Access to MyMA, Student Access to email/MyMA, and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD).

SECTION A: Responsible User Agreement 

In order for students to access their email and other technology resources at MA, parents and students must read, sign, and return MA’s Responsible User Agreement. The form is available here, can be signed digitally, and should be returned via email to RUA@ma.org. Your child’s email will be activated automatically within 2 business days of us receiving this form.

SECTION B: Parent Access to MyMA

If you would like to access MyMA, the Marin Academy online community, prior to Welcome Day, here are the instructions (Note: these instructions apply to parents only): 

1. Navigate to the website (ma.org), hover over the “Log In” link, and choose “MyMA”.  
2. If you’ve never logged in before, click the link for “First time logging in” just below the login panel.
3. Since we have your email, you can now select both the username and password and the system will send you two messages - one will contain your username and one will contain a code, which will allow you to create a password.  
   • We’ve used the email account you registered in Ravenna. If you want to use another, you can change it after you log in to MyMA.
4. Once you’re logged in, we highly recommend you click the Account menu in the upper right corner, and review your Profile information.
   • Please make sure what we have is correct and update it if necessary. 

NOTE: Parent usernames are in the format "first name + last name", e.g. "jasonsmith". Your email address is used ONLY to retrieve your username and password and is not your actual username.

SECTION C: Student Access to MA Email, MyMA, and Canvas

NOTE: Before proceeding, please make sure you submitted a signed copy of the Responsible User Agreement from section A above. Within 1-2 business days we automatically enable your student's account, but no notification will be sent. If you try to log in and receive an "account is disabled" message, please email TechSupport@ma.org for additional help. 

Before a student can access most of the technology resources at MA, they must first sign into their MA email account. In almost all cases, your child’s email address is their first initial plus last name followed by @ma.org. A parent can confirm their child’s MA email address by logging into the parent’s MyMA account, scrolling down toward the bottom of their MyMA Profile, and looking under Relationships. Once you confirmed your child’s MA email address:

1. Ask your child to navigate to Gmail from a web browser (gmail.com)

2. Enter the email address and your child’s birthday as the password (in the format YYYYMMDD, for example, June 15, 1999 would be: 19990615)

3. Students will be forced to change their password at first login. We recommend a minimum 14 character password, though all lower case is OK.

Now that your child can access their email, they can log into MyMA as well as other services such as Canvas. To log in, the student should go to ma.org, hover over “Log In” and then click on MyMA. When prompted, enter their MA email address as the username and press Next. Follow the prompts to log in. A student can access Canvas in a similar manner, by pressing the Canvas link.

We encourage your child to set up and use their ma.org email account soon; this is the email address students will use to communicate with teachers, and it will give them access to our Google Drive, Docs, Calendar, and other tools.

Again, course schedules, activities, athletics, Canvas access, and other important information are released later this summer. 

SECTION D: MA Bring Your Own Device Program (BYOD)

Marin Academy is a BYOD school. Each family purchases a laptop for their child’s use throughout their time here. You can find detailed information on our website, including laptop requirements and recommendations, a list of tools MA provides to students, and support information. Financial aid is available to those who qualify. Please contact admissions@ma.org for more information and deadlines.

Congratulations. We all look forward to meeting and working with you.

Kyle Vitale

Director of Technology