**WBCH offers this space to area school superintendents to highlight news in their districts. This posting is from Maple Valley Superintendent Michelle Falcon, written by guest contributor Technology Director Tracy George:

 

“To Our Maple Valley Families,

We have recently implemented a new school notification system called SwiftK12. It is loaded with new features that will make it easier for us to keep in contact with your family.

To guarantee the notification system is used efficiently, we will need to confirm your contact information is accurate and up-to-date at all times. SwiftK12 allows our school to send messages using phone, email and SMS text messaging.

 

Our automated phone messages will come from the hotline numbers. If you call back to that number, the message will be repeated to you. You can still call any of our building offices at their published numbers below to speak directly with our office staff.

 

DISTRICT OFFICE                            Hotline: 517.615.1141            Office Number: 517.852.9699

MAPLE VALLEY JR/SR HIGH        Hotline: 517.615.1142            Office Number: 517.852.9275

MAPLEWOOD SCHOOL                  Hotline: 517.615.1143            Office Number: 517.726.0600

FULLER ELEMENTARY                  Hotline: 517.615.1144            Office Number: 517.852.9468

PATHWAYS HIGH SCHOOL           Hotline: 517.615.1145            Office Number: 517.852.2322

 

Text messages will be sent from abbreviated versions of the school name. Please note you will not be able to reply to text messages sent from the school.

 

SwiftK12 is integrated with the existing PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you log on to the Parent Portal (browsers that work best are Google Chrome or Firefox) you will now see a new link called SwiftReach SwiftK12 on the left navigation pane under Alerting.

 

You will be able to see all the contact information our school has listed for you by clicking on the Contact Information button in the top navigation.

 

Within the Alert Preferences section of the Parent Portal, you will be able to choose your communication preferences based on message category, such as School Closures or Attendance, as well as message type (email, voice and/or text message) by placing a checkmark into the aligned contact fields.

You may opt-out of any message category except for Emergency Messages.

 

Please Note: Setting up your parent preferences is your responsibility. You will receive messages to every contact field shown in Alert Preferences until updated in the parent portal. Tolls and charges associated with receipt of messages from the school are your responsibility and not the responsibility of the school.

 

Please be sure to set your unique preferences if there are any numbers or addresses to which you do not like to be contacted. All phone numbers and email addresses must be in a valid format to save properly.

 

Emergency messages are always sent with all three message types (email, text, and voice calls) and to every contact field shown even if you have opted out. We cannot change this. Emergency messages will be labeled as such so you will know it is an actual emergency.

 

If you do not have access to the Parent Portal, you may contact Kelly Zank, District Registrar, at 517.852.9699 ext. 1006 for your login information. If you have any additional questions, please contact Tracy George, Technology Director, at tgeorge@mvs.k12.mi.us.

 

We hope you appreciate this new SwiftK12 school notification system and the flexibility it will provide for you and your family.”