How to Easily Add Your Kid’s School Calendar to Google Calendar

ByLucy

(So You Never Miss Another No‑School Day)

Add School Calendar to Google Calendar

Adding your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar is the easiest way to stay on top of school holidays, Pro-D Days, and early dismissals. If you’ve ever been caught off guard by a school closure day, you’re not alone. I’ve learned that when you add your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar, you’ll never miss important dates again.

Most schools only give you a PDF or a messy list of dates. That’s where ChatGPT comes in — it can help you extract the dates and turn them into a calendar file you can upload in minutes.

In this post, I’ll show you exactly how to add your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar — even if you’re not techy.


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🗂️ What’s an ICS File (and Why Should You Care)?

An ICS file is a type of file that stores calendar events. When you upload it to your Google Calendar, Apple Calendar (iCal), or Outlook:

  • 📅 The events appear in your calendar automatically
  • 🔔 You get reminders like any other event
  • ✅ You won’t miss a school closure again

You don’t need coding or special apps — just a simple file that helps you add your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar in one go.

Step 1 — Extract Your Calendar with ChatGPT

To add your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar, you need a clean list of dates first. Most school calendars come as PDFs, messy charts, or color-coded lists. The easiest way to make sense of it is to let ChatGPT help you sort it out.

Here’s how:

  • Option 1 – Copy & Paste: Copy the calendar text (even with colors or legends) and paste it into ChatGPT.
  • Option 2 – Drop the PDF Directly: If you upload a PDF, ChatGPT can read and extract the content.

Then ask:

“Please extract this school calendar into a table with these columns: Event Name, Date, Start Time, End Time, Description. If there are color codes or categories, include a Category column based on the legend. Make sure nothing is missing.”

Why Start Here?

  • You may miss color-coded info if you skip this check.
  • It helps you catch missing events before converting.
  • It saves you time and avoids surprises during import.

After ChatGPT gives you the table:

  • Cross-check it against the original calendar.
  • If unsure, ask ChatGPT:

“Does this list include all Pro-D Days and half-days?”

Step 2 — Convert to ICS Format

Once you have a clean table, use this prompt:

“Please convert this school event list into ICS calendar format with correct DTSTART, DTEND, SUMMARY, DESCRIPTION, and URL if available.”

ChatGPT will produce the raw ICS code — including all the necessary fields.

Step 3 — Validate, Save, and Import

Validate the ICS file:

Save and Import:

  • Copy the validated ICS into a text file and save it as .ics.
  • Import it into Google Calendar:
    • Go to Google Calendar > Settings ⚙️ > Import & Export.
    • Upload your .ics file.
    • Choose the calendar to add it to.
  • Import into Apple Calendar (iCal):
    • Open Calendar > File > Import.
    • Choose your .ics file.

Why Add Your Kid’s School Calendar to Google Calendar?

When you add your kid’s school calendar to Google Calendar, you:

  • Get reminders for every school event
  • Avoid last-minute surprises
  • Sync key dates with family members
  • Plan work and vacation days better

Bonus Tips

  • After importing, set alerts for key dates — like “one day before Pro-D Day.”
  • If the school updates their calendar, delete the old import first.
  • Always check first — some schools offer ready-made ICS files.

✅ Final Reminder — Use This for Any Calendar You Want in Google Calendar

This method isn’t just for school calendars — you can use it for any event list you want to add to Google Calendar or iCal.

Use it for:

  • Work schedules (shifts, meetings)
  • Events/workshops (include location and URL)
  • Volunteer groups (add columns like “Role” or “Contact Info”)
  • Travel plans (flight time, hotel check-ins)

Extra Fields You Can Include:

  • Location
  • Category/Color Code
  • URL (Zoom links or registration pages)
  • Attendees or Contact Info
  • Priority, Reminder, All-Day Event (True/False)

Just:

  1. Extract events into a clean table
  2. Prompt ChatGPT for ICS
  3. Validate, save, import

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