Your first message is sent to notify people of your new message system and allow them to set their preferences.
Whether you are setting up your first notifications system or moving to SchoolNow from another provider, the first communication you will send out should inform people of your system, how it works and give them an opportunity to set how they want to be contacted.
The SchoolNow message center allows you to send out two types of notifications, urgent or general. It's vert important that you understand the difference between the two and that you intentionally select the proper type for each message. Failing to do so can get you in trouble with parents, or worse, the FCC. Learn the difference between Urgent and General messages
Getting your community set up in your message center promptly and accurately is important not only to streamline your schools communications, but also so that people are set up to receive your communications for when there really is an emergency.
Broadcast message templates
While you are free to set up your own message broadcast templates for ease of sending later, our team will set up a number of default broadcast templates for your use during the onboarding process. These templates include:
- First communication - Notify your community about your new message system
- Inclement weather/School closed template
- School lockdown/Emergency template
There may be others, and if you find you are missing a template and would like our help setting one up, contact our help desk.
First Communication template
Your very first message broadcast will be sent as an "urgent" message and here's why.
- Only urgent messages allow you to send a "voice" part. That is, you can record a voice message and have it call your constituents to leave them a voice message.
- You are allowed to send this one message in order to inform your constituents of your system and encourage them to set their preferences on how they want to be contacted.
- Sending the message as urgent will allow you to send your first broadcast out as a voice message, an SMS/text message and and email so that you can get a hold of each person on at least one method.
Click here to read an example of your first communication to your community.
Let's take a look at how this first message will go out.