The Epstein School in Sandy Springs recently released a smart phone and tablet app for the purpose of keeping parents and other community members abreast of school news.

Parents of students at the school can now download the app on Apple and Android products by searching for “Epstein.” The app will allow users to read news and the head of school blog, view and add school events to the user’s calendar, purchase school spirit items, donate to the school, view the school’s lunch menu and share photos.

“Communication is always changing,” said Coleen Lou, the school’s director of communications. “The number of phones being used is extraordinary. People are on their phones more than their computers. We thought this would be a great way for us to be able to stay in touch with parents and make information more accessible.”

In the first two weeks the app was released, 40 to 50 percent of families had already downloaded the app on at least one device, according to Anthony Shields, the school’s director of information services.

“It’s not geared to students,” said Shields. “It’s geared for parents as a communication platform. It’s also a great way for parents to share the school with those outside of the Epstein community.”

Shields said the app did provide students with links to academic resources, however.

The IT director said he was already looking at updating the app.

“We’re looking forward to making version two even better than version one,” he said.

On the Web: www.epsteinatlanta.org