Emergency Announcements
SchoolMessenger Communicate is an automated system used by the Puyallup School
District that allows schools within the district to telephone, email, or text families quickly in the
event of an emergency or to provide general school-related
announcements.
This communications system is used to rapidly alert
parents of weather-related school closures or changes in start or
dismissal times. It has the capacity to reach all families in a given
school, or the entire district.
In an emergency, the system is programmed to call the home and work
phone numbers of all parents/guardians listed on the child’s enrollment
card. For general non-emergency announcements, the system calls the home
number or emails the primary address only.
Because of this, parents must keep their children’s enrollment information current throughout the year with correct home and work telephone
numbers and email addresses. To update an enrollment card, contact the school office.
General Phone and Email Announcements
While the system is instrumental in alerting parents to an emergency
situation on campus, SchoolMessenger Communicate is also used for general
non-emergency announcements such as an upcoming open house, report card
mailing information, picture day reminders, and the statewide testing
schedule. The traditional means of communicating with parents is continuing
as before. However, this automated system ensures that the district can
reach every family in a timely and organized manner.
All school leaders, including school principals and other
administrators, have been trained on how to use this message program.
Administrators authorized to make calls, texts or emails on the system do so by using a
computer to enter the message on a special Internet Web site. In the
event of a power outage, administrators can also broadcast a message to
parents using their cell phones. Messages can be sent in English,
Spanish, and other languages.
SchoolMessenger Communicate does not replace current modes of school
communication. Principals are still accessible for meetings and
telephone calls, and parents will continue to receive school newsletters
and other written communications at home.