Dear WUSD Families:
It’s hard to imagine there can be too much of a good thing, but according to you, there is. We’ve heard you and we’re adjusting accordingly, so wanted to share the latest information and guidelines with you about receiving information from your district, school and classroom(s).
We are in the process of shifting to ParentSquare as our singular communication platform. The district and site administrators are using it currently, and all staff will be using it starting next school year (and some teachers and staff are using it now). But as we’ve found our way with this new tool, we’ve heard from all of you that the flow of communication has become overwhelming, causing you to tune out or tune off completely.
First and foremost, you need to configure our notifications. This will allow you to control the flow of information to and through the avenue most useful (or least annoying) to you. See below for how to configure your notifications.
So, effective March 27, we will be altering how messaging is promoted and sent.
The following kinds of messaging will continue to be sent via text/email/app alerts (depending on how you have configured your notifications):
• Messages from your child’s teacher(s) (when full adoption become mandatory)
• Messages from your site that pertain specifically to your school or classroom and is need-to-know (for example, 8th grade field trips, site-based volunteering opportunities, school or class newsletters, district calendars, graduation information, bus schedules, health forms etc.)
• Emergency notifications
Please also know that from time to time we are required by law to send out information to the entire District that may only apply to a few of you and may feel cumbersome to the rest. But we must comply with the law to make sure all families have the opportunity to access specific information.
The following kinds of messaging will be posted in your post feed in ParentSquare but will be sent Do Not Notify. Which means you will see them in the feed if you use the app or log on to your ParentSquare account, but they will not be included in any texts, emails, digests, or app alerts.
• Fundraisers
• Community events
• Sports events (games or meets)
• Community groups or activities
• Arts performances or opportunities
• Non-school-related volunteer opportunities
• Congratulatory information, including college signings, new hires or retirements.
These items will also be posted on our District/School Site social media.
Obviously, there is still a judgement call to be made, but we are working hard to find clear lines of communication that are useful and not overwhelming for our families. As a tip, please note that your post feed has a search function when viewed in a browser. Go to https://parentsquare.zendesk.com/.../217446966-Find-a-Post to see multiple way to find posts.
If you feel that you are still overwhelmed with messaging, especially if you have kids in more the one school, I’m going to suggest the following:
Option 1: Download the app, edit your notification settings to turn the notifications off for email and text, and put the app on digest. You’ll receive all emergency communications, and one notification per day per student/school site about what you can find in the post feed on the app.
Option 2: You could also turn off all notifications, and just commit to checking the app. Emergency communication will still come through, however, if you don’t check the app consistently, you could potentially miss information about your child/class/school. Keep in mind that all communications will come through this platform.
Option 3: Choose one platform (Text, Email, App), and set the notifications for that one platform (On or Digest) and turn off the others.
I imagine you are sensing a theme with these options. Please make whatever choices feel the most useful for you and your family, but also know that this will be the singular communication platform and that communication is a two-way street. If you choose to turn off all notifications, you are likely to miss information you wanted.
To configure your notifications, see attached images.
Please continue to reach out to us and tell us how we are doing. This is a process, and like every new process, there will be some bumps in the road.
Oh, one more tip: If you aren’t getting notifications or can’t sign in, check your Aeries information. We are finding the most common reason for this issue is that in Aeries you have set yourself to Do Not Contact or to only receive Emergency messages.
If you need help, have questions, or want to share your thoughts, don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly, hbailey@wusd.org.
Best,
Heather Bailey
Coordinator of District Communications
Windsor Unified School District