Using the Skyward Message Center

The Skyward Message Center : 

The Skyward Message Center A Brief Tutorial

Why Use the Message Center? : 

Why Use the Message Center? Communicate with a student or parent within Skyward Use Skyward to e-mail students and parents Broadcast messages to an entire class at one time Broadcast messages to all of your classes at one time Store your parent and student communications all in one place and organized by topic

Begin by logging in to Skyward : 

Begin by logging in to Skyward

Do you have waiting messages? : 

Do you have waiting messages? If you already have waiting messages from parents or students, a yellow exclamation point will appear in the space indicated by the red arrow.

Accessing the Message Center : 

Accessing the Message Center If you don’t have waiting messages, there will be no exclamation point, but you can still get to the message center, but you will have to get there through your gradebook. Click on “My Gradebook,” just as you would if you wanted to enter grades.

Select a class. . . : 

Select a class. . . Click on the class for which you want to send a message. You can send a message to one student, one parent, both, or all of your students and/or parents.

Enter the Message Center : 

Enter the Message Center Once the desired class is open, mouse over “Other Access” and click on “Message Center.”

View your messages : 

View your messages In the Filter Options window, set “Show Messages” to “Current” to show all messages, or “Unread” to show only messages that you have not already viewed. Be sure to click “Apply Filter” to see your messages.

Opening a Conversation : 

Opening a Conversation Now that you are in the message center, you will see any current or unread messages by post date, creator, class, and subject heading. To read the entire message, click the “+” sign indicated by the red arrow.

Viewing the specifics : 

Viewing the specifics To view messages from the sender, click the “+” next to “Message Detail.”

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The message from the sender now appears. Next, you can view responses, as well as check to see if any remain unread. Click the “+” next to “Unread Responses” or “All Responses.” You can also click the “Expand All” link to view all Message Details and All Responses.

No unread responses : 

No unread responses Great! The student has read the response and there are no unread responses remaining. To view the response that the student has already seen, click the “+” next to “All Responses”

Viewing read responses : 

Viewing read responses The responses that have already been read now appear.

Creating messages : 

Creating messages To continue the discussion with another response, click the “Respond to Selected Message” button on the right side of the Message Center.

Responding to a message : 

Responding to a message In the “Detail” box, type your response and click “Save.”

Initiating a new message : 

Initiating a new message Select either the “Add Message for Multiple Classes” or “Add Message for Current Class” buttons. You will still be able to refine your choice and select just those students and parents to whom you wish to send your message.

Compose your message : 

Compose your message Enter a subject heading in the “Message Summary” box and then type your message in the “Message Detail” box. If you would also like to add a handout or worksheet to the message, use the “Browse” button to navigate to your file and then “Upload” it to the Skyward Message Center.

Who can read your message? : 

Who can read your message? Review the options for posting. Do you want parents and students to be able to see your message in Skyward? Then click both boxes. Would you like an e-mail copy of your message to automatically be sent to those students and parents who have registered e-mail addresses in Skyward? Then check those boxes as well.

Scheduling e-mail delivery : 

Scheduling e-mail delivery Your message will be instantly posted to Skyward Family Access, but you can schedule an e-mailed message to be sent at any upcoming date and time.

Selecting recipients : 

Selecting recipients Check or uncheck boxes to select the classes, students, and parents you want to read your message in Skyward.

Send your message : 

Send your message Once you are satisfied with the composition of your message and have selected your recipients, click the “Save” button to post your message. And that’s it. You can now read your messages in Skyward, post responses, and create new messages and e-mails.