The SMS function allows the school to communicate with Parents, Staff Members, Learners, Debtors, Channels and own numbers. Use cases include discipline, sport events, outstanding debts and general communication.

My School > Communication > Send a message > SMS

• SMS messages support up to 612 characters (maximum 4 parts). Messages over 160 characters are split into parts and billed per part.

• The Communication+ module supports SMS to additional countries. The system uses the calling code on the recipient’s profile to determine routing. Note that recipients in many countries cannot reply to d6+ messages.

How do I send a new SMS?

Select the audience, choose a date and time to send, choose to send the same SMS to all or according to preferred language, and type the message. Each audience type has specific selection options:

SMS to Parents

Choose which parents should receive the SMS. Options include: select families by code; parents of selected learners; parents with learners in specific grades or waitlists; parents with learners in specific classes. Select gender (male/female/both) as required. Move selections from left to right using the arrows.

SMS to Learners

Choose between: Current learners, Left learners (Alma Mater) or Registered/Waitlist learners. Filter by grade or class, and select gender. Move selections to the right using the arrows.

SMS to Debtors

• Choose to use a pre-populated template: either send the debtor’s reference number, or send the family code and outstanding balance.

• Filter by: All debtors; only families with children still in school; or only families with no children in school.

• For outstanding balances: choose to include an age analysis (with date filter) and/or send with balance amounts.

• Alternatively, choose specific families or debtors by billing category.

SMS to Staff Members

Choose All staff members or Choose categories. Select categories or individual staff members and move them to the right.

SMS to Channels

Choose All channels or Choose channels. Select from the left-hand block and move to the right.

SMS to Own Numbers

Enter a number in the block provided and click Add. Use the arrows to re-allocate or remove incorrectly typed numbers.

Frequently asked questions

How many characters can one SMS contain?

Up to 612 characters (4 parts). Messages over 160 characters are split into parts and billed per part — not per SMS. Always check the character count before sending to manage costs.