Announcements and messages

This article shows you how to post announcements to every family and use Messages for everyone, classes, groups and one-on-one chats.

Before you start

• You are a director. The Announcements tool is on in Settings → Tools.

Post an announcement

1. Go to Announcements and click New announcement.
2. Add a Title and Message. Attach up to 3 files, 10 MB each, under Files.
3. Pick a Priority (Normal, Important or Urgent) and check Pin to the top if you like.
4. Check Also email every family (sent from LearningSense) to send an email too. Unchecked, it shows in the app only.
5. Click Post (or Post and email), or Save as draft.

Use Messages

1. Go to Messages. Conversations are grouped into Favorites, Announcements, Everyone, Class discussions, Groups, Direct messages and Earlier terms.
2. Click New message and search by name to message one person.
3. Click New group to start a group, such as your staff. Name it, add people, and click Create group.
4. Type in the box at the bottom. Use Attach a file for files up to 25 MB.

What happens next

• Every family sees a posted announcement in their portal. Drafts stay under Drafts until you publish them.
• Only directors and teachers post in the Announcements channel. Families can post in Everyone, their class discussions, groups and direct messages.
• Teachers post class announcements from their own class page. Teachers can message directors, other staff, and families with a child in one of their classes.
• You can read Everyone, class and group conversations in your program. You can't read direct messages between other people.

Common problems

• Published without email and want to email it now? Click Move to drafts, then Publish and choose Publish and email.
• Posted something by mistake? Use Move to drafts to hide it from families, or delete it.
• Done with a group? Open it and click Leave group. If you manage the group, Delete group removes it for everyone.
• Too many unread badges? Star key conversations into Favorites, or mute busy ones.

Related articles

• Messages and announcements
• Message families and share class materials
• Turn tools on and off, and what each plan includes