Messaging parents/guardians - Text or other messaging/comms services

[Tom Lonergan]

Hi,

We had a query from a school enquiring if text is still the best way to message or keep in touch with parents.

Their current provider contacted them to say that they would be ending their text/sms messaging service in the next few months.

Some schools use a School App to provide regular updates to parents, which seems to work well.

Some may also be using their administration systems to do so with integrated messaging.

Given that many messaging systems are ‘free’ is the cost of traditional Text messaging still worth it?

 

So is text messaging still a suitable option for schools or are there more fit for purpose ‘messaging or communication’ systems that are more future proofed.

 

Thanks Tom

 

 

 

[Catherine O'Keeffe]

Hi Tom, 

Our school feel limited in the amount of text messages we can send out as the cost per text a parent message adds up.

With this in mind several people have recommended using seesaw. However I would like someone (maybe you could help with this) to explain which setup is most appropriate i.e. teacher account or school admin account. Also, is seesaw GDPR compliant?

Maybe you could explain how a school would have a school app created and would it have different organizational levels within it similar to GSuite?  What is the cost involved? 

Thanks

Catherine O'Keeffe

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[Tom Kendall]

Hi Tom,

My school, along with some other post primary schools, use the FlexiBuzz app for corresponding with parents. I do not manage the system for our school, so I am thin on details other than to say it seems to be working well for us. We're in year two of using it. If you Google FlexiBuzz Ireland, you'll see references to a number of schools that are currently using it.

Regards,

Tom

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[Ronan Ryan]

Hello all,

We have been using Flexibuzz app for a few years now, and it's excellent.

Great communication tool that that can be targeted at class grouping as well as the whole school community.

I admin it in our school.

(It is not free)

Ronan.

[mairead mccarthy]

I use the SeaSaw app and it works extremely well. But school wide the text service is still being used.

[Anne White]

We are using an app called FlexiBuzz and it seems to be very effective so far - only using since November- no longer emailing parents just communicating via the app and we have 950 kids 

Might be of interest 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Siobhán Hennelly]

Hi Tom, 

We use the Aladdin system in the school and the parents use the Aladdin App. It's working out great and epayments etc can also be done through this. There are also different levels of access for different staff.

If you have any other questions about, I'd be happy to help.

Siobhán

[Clare Wallace]

We are using the compass School Information Sustem. It has the option to text, push (if app is downloaded) or email parents. It also gives the option to text if the push is not enabled. Push notifications are free...This is fantasic as it keeps it all under the one roof!

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[Pat Duffy]

For schools using the combination of push notifications & text messages for those without the app, how do you keep track of who has/hasn't downloaded the app? 

What if someone downloads the app, then deletes it or updates phone & doesn't get the app? 

Virus-free. www.avast.com

Virus-free. www.avast.com

[Siobhán Hennelly]

On the Aladdin system, you can see who has downloaded the app & when they have last logged on. If they delete the app or get a new phone, the responsibility is on them to download the app again. 

You can see on all messages sent who has read them.

[John Healy]

The app sounds great, but we have children in both primary and secondary schools and my wife does not have a smart phone and cant take advantage of these apps (whats app groups etc.) and depends on text messaging from the schools. I think the schools need to find out which parents cannot access the apps and keep the text facility open for these people similar to people that don't sign for paperless billing. I don't think you can roll out the app and expect it to suit everyone.

Thanks John.

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From: 'Siobhán Hennelly' via CESI-list <cesi...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday 14 March 2019 21:46
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [CESI List] Messaging parents/guardians - Text or other messaging/comms services

 

[CaoimheChapman]

Hi

We use Aladdin. You can send a text message to parents. The parents do not need apps or a smart phone just a mobile to receive a text. 

As a teacher, I can see if this message has been delivered or not from either the app or desktop version.

HTH

Caoimhe 

Sent from my iPhone

[Denis Dennehy]

Hi Tom, Future proofed is one thing but don't forget transition proofing...eg I have a year group 140 and I have had a small group 6 who repeatedly reported not receiving texts, and equally a group who don't do email. There probably are demographics of interest here... but if you extrapolate it would seem that there will be a group who need  help transitioning so creative thinking called for here... hope it helps : - mind the stragglers!

Regards 

Denis

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