School Messenger has several student lists available to use in the system based on criteria such as grade level, or school attended (Example: All High School Students). This document explains how to send a phone call or email to a custom student list by uploading a file into School Messenger.  If you want to send an alert to a system list that has already been created (Ex. All High School Students, All 7th Grade Students, etc...) please follow the steps in the article titled School Messenger - Sending an Alert.

 

Phone call method:  If your message is urgent, such as school delay, cancellation, water main break, school ending early, late bus, accident, etc, a phone call would be more immediate. 

 

Email method:  If your message is not time urgent and more informative, an email may be the best method.  

 

Before you start, you will need a CSV file containing ONLY the student ID number for the students you wish to contact. 

 

1. Log in to School Messenger. There is a shortcut for School Messenger on the USCSD Staff Links page. If you are unsure of your login credentials, please submit a helpdesk ticket. 

 

2. Click the large red button labeled New Broadcast [1] near the top right corner of the Dashboard page. 

 

 

3.  On the Subject & Recipient page, first enter a Subject [1] that best describes the reason you are sending the message. Next select "General" from the broadcast Type [2] dropdown menu. Next, click the Add Message Recipients [3] dropdown menu and select Upload List [4].  If you are using an already created list in the system, choose Saved Recipient Lists (for example, any school, grade level, etc. ). 

 

 

4. On the Upload List dialogue box, select ID# Lookup [1]. Click Browse [2] and select the saved csv file that contains only the student ID numbers. Lastly, click Next [3]. 

 

 

5. School Messenger will look up the contact information in the system for the students listed in the CSV file that you uploaded and list the student names that were a match. Verify the total number of students matches the uploaded file then click Add Selected Recipients [1]. 

 

 

6. Verify the Count [1] matches the number of student ID numbers in the uploaded CSV file and click Continue [2]. 

 

 

7. To send a phone message, click Phone [1] on the Message Content Screen. To send an email instead of a phone message, skip ahead to step 10. 

 

 

8. Enter your number into the Recording [1] field and click Call Now to Record [2]. An automated assistant will call the number that you enter. Follow the prompts as directed in the phone call and record your message. 

 

 

9. After recording your message and ending the phone call, the screen will update to reflect that a message has been recorded. Click the Speaker Icon [1] to listen to your recorded message. If you are satisfied with the recording, click Save [2]. 

 

 

10. To send an email message, click Email [1] on the Message Content screen. Enter all appropriate information such as From Name, From Email, Reply To Email, and Subject [2]. Make sure to use appropriate information in these fields so any email replies get directed to the correct person. Lastly, enter the body [3] of the email in the bottom text box and click Save [4]. 

 

 

11. You are taken back to the Message Content screen. Verify that the appropriate message types have been entered and click Save [1]. 

 

 

12. Verify all the information is accurate on the Review & Send screen and click Send Now [1].