Sydney Region & The SMS Engine Parent and Staff Alert System Stuart Hasic – June 2007

Sending SMS Messages from a PC Mobile phones are everywhere. More people use SMS than use Companies, organisations and schools have realised that SMS is an effective method for communicating with their customers, members and community Using databases of clients you can send SMS texts from a computer to groups of individuals This has opened a new path for better, more timely and relevant direct communication

Common Uses of SMS Messages The sporting association can send an SMS text to all club leaders to advise of ground closures. The Auto Dealership can send SMS texts to remind customers that their regular service is due. The school can send SMS texts to parents to advise that their child has not arrived at school.

Parent Notification Systems Schools are now using SMS as a method of combating truancy as well as general parent notifications such as: Sick bay alerts, upcoming P&C meetings, sending telephone messages to staff, finding the GA and contacting casuals Schools that have adopted one of these parent-alert solutions are reporting major decreases in truancy of between 50 and 80% There are several different solutions available but the upfront and ongoing costs make them unaffordable for many schools

Sydney Region’s SMS Option By utilising the buying power of Sydney Region, we have negotiated an SMS service for our schools with: No setup or monthly fees (call costs only) Cheapest possible SMS calls at 8.8c each Free powerful Windows and Web software that imports data from OASIS No expiry of SMS credits SMS Replies to school account and to an SMS Inbox at the website

Term 2 SMS Trial The following schools have been participating in a Sydney Region trial: McCallums Hill PS James Cook BHS Dulwich HS Kingsgrove HS Any other interested school is now welcome to start using The SMS Engine [SMS Demonstration]