Text Messaging is Schoolzine's latest product which enables schools to connect with parents, students, and staff through instant and convenient text-based communication. With Text Messaging, you can effortlessly send important updates, announcements, reminders, and event notifications directly to recipients' mobile devices.

This feature serves as a reliable and efficient way to ensure that crucial information reaches the intended recipients promptly. Whether it's notifying parents about upcoming parent-teacher meetings, reminding students of assignment due dates, or alerting staff members about important school-wide announcements, Text Messaging simplifies and enhances communication within the school community.

When to use Text Messaging:

• Urgent Alerts: In case of emergencies, such as school closures due to weather or other unforeseen events, text messaging allows you to quickly reach parents and staff members to ensure everyone receives timely and critical information.
• Absence Notifications: With text messaging, parents can quickly inform the school about their child's absence or late arrival. This feature streamlines the communication process, making it easier for parents to keep schools informed and for schools to track attendance.
• Timely Announcements: From changes in school schedules to updates on policies and procedures, text messaging allows schools to disseminate important announcements efficiently. It ensures that vital information reaches the intended recipients promptly, minimizing miscommunication and confusion.
• Event Reminders: Schools often have a variety of events, including parent-teacher conferences, sports competitions, and extracurricular activities. Text messaging enables schools to send event reminders to parents and students, ensuring that important dates and details are easily accessible.

Points of Note:

• Please note that this product is currently only available to schools based within Australia. Support for additional countries may be included at a later date.
• Text Messaging does not support the sending or receival of images.
• Like Emails, Text Messages cannot be modified once sent.

To enable Text Messaging as a feature for your account, you will need to login to the Schoolzine Control Centre.

1. Login to your Control Centre
2. Select the 'Text Messages' option from the side menu
2. If you are eligible to use this feature, you will be shown the following screen:

3. Ensure you read and understand the costs associated and are authorised to agree to these costs. Costs shown are in AUD.
4. Tick the tickbox and then click 'Turn on Text Messaging'
5. Allow a moment for the system to fetch your new number and setup the feature

Before you're able to begin sending Text Messages to your community, you will need to add the mobile numbers you wish to send to. To do this, we recommend the use of the 'Import Contacts' functionality.

To import your contacts, create an Excel spreadsheet with the contacts' First Name, Last Name, Email Address and Mobile number in seperate columns. Ensure there is only one contact per row, then save your file as a CSV (comma delimited) file.

Lastly, import your contacts via the 'Contacts' page in your Control Center.

For further information, view our Importing Contacts Article:

To send Text Messages to your community, you will need to login to the Schoolzine Control Centre.

1. Login to your Control Centre
2. Select the 'Text Messages' option from the side menu
3. Click the 'Send Text Message' button at the top left of the page
4. Select the 'SMS' Channel then click 'Next'
5. Populate the Message Name, update the Send Date and Send Time (if required), then click 'Next'.
6. Populate your text message in the Message Content section and then select 'Next'.
7. Select your recipients, then click 'Next'.
8. Review your message content then click 'Complete & Send'.

Points of Note:

• Text Messaging only supports the use of text.
• A maximum character limit of 459 is imposed.
• Send blocks are 153 characters, each block represents one credit. Messages over 153 characters will incur multiple credits.
• It is not possible to edit a Text Message once sent, so please ensure you check the content before sending.

You can view your Sent and Received Text Messages via the Schoolzine Control Centre. Messages are stored in chronological order (most recent first) and their sent/received date-time is visible.

1. Login to your Control Centre
2. Select the 'Text Messages' option from the side menu
3. Received Messages are shown in the table atop the page
4. Sent Messages are shown in the table at the base of the page

Field Descriptions:

• Name - The name of the contact the message was sent to, or received from.
• Mobile - The mobile number of the contact
• Message - The content of the text message sent to, or received from the contact
• Sent Time - The date-time that the message was sent or received

What is our school mobile number?

You are able to view your School's mobile number via the 'Text Messages' menu item. Your number, as well as your total send messages value, can be seen at the top right of the page.

Can our school name be shown instead of a number?

This functionality (Alpha Tags) is not currently supported, as it is primarily used for one-way communication and does not support replies.

Can we send or receive images via Text?

The Text Messaging product does not support the use of Images.

Can we include links/urls in Texts

Yes, links/urls can be sent via the Text Messages product. The links may not appear as hyperlinks when creating the message, but the receiving device will recognize the text is a link/url.

Can we change our mobile number?

Schoolzine has the capacity to change your mobile number under extenuating circumstances. Please contact the Support Team to discuss this.

Can we use our existing number (from another provider)?

Porting of existing numbers may be possible, depending on the carrier. Please contact the Schoolzine Support Team to discuss this.

Can we edit a sent Text Message?

Text Messages are similar to emails, once they are sent, they are housed on the receiving device and therefore cannot be altered.

When will we be invoiced?

Number rental is invoiced annually. Text Messages are invoiced monthly, in arrears.

How do we disable/cancel this product?

If you wish to cancel your subscription to this product, please contact the Support Team.