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SchoolMessenger enables school administration to efficiently communicate with our families via an automated system. The primary uses of the system will be to notify you of delayed openings, early dismissals, school closings, and emergencies. This will enable the district to disseminate information to each of our families in the most time efficient manner possible in a variety of methods - including phone calls, email, and text message.
During the student registration process, parents are asked to provide a primary and secondary home phone number as the main point of contact for their child. Parents are also asked to provide the e-mail, home, mobile, and work phone numbers for the parent or guardian with whom the student resides (the main contact), and the additional parent or other legal guardian (the secondary contact). The contact information is stored in our PowerSchool Student Information System and then used by the SchoolMessenger Instant Alert System.
Stay Connected!
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Our SchoolMessenger notification system enables you to stay in touch in the event of emergencies, delays/cancellations, and other important events throughout the school year. In order for you to be able to receive these notifications, it is vital that you keep your contact information accurate and up to date with your child’s school.
To confirm and/or update your contact information, you should contact your child's school registrar. If you have children who attend different schools, you will need to contact each school separately. We encourage you to take a minute to make sure your contact information is up to date so you don't miss out on important notifications.
Another great way to stay connected is to download our SchoolMessenger Parent Mobile App. For instructions on how to install the app, sign in, manage your preferences, and more, refer to the Parent Mobile App guide.
Want to Learn More?
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Click on a question to learn more about how to manage your SchoolMessenger notification preferences, how to manage your contacts, and for a full description of the various message categories.
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How are Messengers Sent?
Alert phone calls, texts, and e-mails are sent to the above referenced numbers during a school emergency, closing or delay, or student absence. The instant alert system is also utilized for school events or announcements, as deemed necessary by school administration.
Alert system notification is automatic. To ensure alerts are received, Parents and Guardians need only provide the above contact information and keep it current with the appropriate school personnel. Parents and Guardians will need to contact their students current school to make changes to existing contact information we have on file for the student. Failure to maintain current contact phone numbers and email addresses can result in Parents and Guardians not receiving notifications of school delays, early dismissals, closings, attendance, and/or emergency information.
Messages are sent to home and mobile phones, e-mail, and text. While phone calls and e-mails are automatic, users must choose to receive text alerts. When a students contact information is initially sent to SchoolMessenger by WPS, a text is automatically sent to the mobile phone numbers of the main and secondary contacts Contacts can reply YES to the message or, at a later time, text YES to 68453. Text authorizations can be removed via the SchoolMessenger contact management portal.
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How do I Manage My Preferences?
Parents can select which contact numbers and email addresses receives alerts via their SchoolMessenger Parent Portal. Once your SchoolMessenger Parent Portal account is setup you can also access your notifications from the SchoolMessenger app available in the App Store or the Play Store. Also, parents are still able to use the SchoolMessenger portal located within the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
If you haven't already done so, you can sign up for your SchoolMessenger Parent Portal. When signing up be sure to use the same email address that you provided the school registrar as that is the email on record with PowerSchool that is being provided to SchoolMessenger. If you are not sure what email address you provided, or if you need to update your email address please contact your school's registrar for assistance.
After logging into your SchoolMessenger Parent Portal you will have preferences that you can manage how you receive notifications. From your preferences you'll be able to manage what message types you want to receive and for what email address or phone number that you have on file.
Parents will also be able to review past notifications from within the School Messenger Portal
REMINDER: TO CHANGE EXISTING CONTACT INFORMATION, PARENTS MUST CONTACT THEIR CHILD’S SCHOOL REGISTRAR.
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What are the Message Categories?
Alerts are assigned to one of six message categories as explained below.
- Attendance. Attendance messages are sent whenever your child fails to report to school or, at the high school level, each class. Attendance messages are sent to the students primary and secondary home phone numbers as well as the main and secondary e-mail contacts. There must be at least one number selected to receive attendance messages.
- General. General messages contain information regarding school events, meetings, or general announcements. General messages are sent to the students primary and secondary home phone numbers as well as the main and secondary contacts e-mail addresses.
- Non-School Hours Emergency. Non-school Hours Emergency messages are used for any emergencies occurring outside the hours of normal school day. Non-school Hours Emergency messages are sent to the students primary and secondary home phone numbers as well as the main and secondary contacts e-mail addresses. There must be at least one number selected to receive emergency type messages.
- School Hours Emergency. School Hours Emergency messages consist of any non weather related emergency occurring during school hours. School Hours Emergency messages are sent to every phone number and email address in the alert system. There must be at least one number selected to receive emergency type messages.
- Schools Out. Schools Out messages consist of school closings, delays, or early dismissals. Schools Out messages are sent to every phone number and email address in the alert system. There must be at least one number selected to receive schools out messages.
- Surveys. Surveys, conducted by your child's school or the district and sent via the alert system, utilize this message type. Surveys are sent to the students primary and secondary home phone numbers as well as the main and secondary contacts email addresses.