Read and reply to a parent message

Messages from parents are usually simple ("Sally forgot her water bottle today?") or occasionally urgent ("Medical update: new allergy"). Handle them promptly — most families appreciate a reply within an hour or two.

Open your messages

1. Open the app → Messages tab (paper-airplane icon, bottom nav).
2. Every conversation you're part of is listed, newest first: families, and any colleagues you message directly.
3. A row with a teal count badge has messages you haven't opened yet.
4. Staff-only announcements live on the Team Messageboard, which is on the Dashboard tab rather than here.

Screenshot pendingMessages list in the staff app

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1. 1New — start a conversation with a parent or a colleague
2. 2Search — filter by parent name or keyword
3. 3Unread count — a teal badge on the row means you haven't opened it
4. 4Preview of the last message — decide priority at a glance

Reply

1. Tap the conversation.
2. Type in the box at the bottom, or tap 📎 to attach a photo.
3. Tap Send.

Messages are delivered instantly if the parent has the app open, or via push notification if not.

Start a new conversation

Tap the square-with-pencil compose icon at the top-right of the Messages tab. The New Message picker lists everyone you can message:

Screenshot pendingNew Message picker — Support, Staff, Parents sections

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1. 1Search contacts — filter by name across every section
2. 2Support — NestliCare Support as a catch-all direct channel
3. 3Staff — your fellow teachers and directors, with their room. Tap to start a staff-only 1:1. Scroll further for Parents: every parent of a child in your rooms
4. 4New group message — one thread with several people at once

Tap a row to start the thread. If the parent has a co-parent in the system, you'll see an option to include them (a Family conversation instead of Direct).

Read receipts

A checkmark next to your message means the parent has seen it. If it's been a day and there's no checkmark, assume they haven't read it — a phone call might be warranted for anything urgent.

Conversation types

• Direct: 1:1 with a single parent. Most common for teachers.
• Family: all parents on a single child. Useful when both parents want to be in the loop.
• Room: broadcast to every parent in a classroom. Rarely initiated by teachers — usually admins send these.
• Group: custom mix. Used for coordinating between teachers + families on specific topics.

You can't change a conversation's type after it starts. If a parent messages you directly and you realize it concerns the family's other parent too, either loop them in a new family conversation or tell them to add their co-parent via the parent app.

What parents see on their side

They get a push notification (if they have them enabled), the message lands in their Messages tab, and the unread badge updates. They can reply inline — no separate thread.

Troubleshooting

"Can't find a parent to message." Your "staff contacts" list only shows parents with children in your assigned rooms. If you need to message a parent outside your room, an admin has to create the conversation — or add you to that child's room temporarily.

Message shows as sent but parent says they didn't get it. Push notifications may be off on their side. The message is still in their app — ask them to open it directly.

Sent something by mistake. Tap the message, Delete. It disappears from both sides, but a "Message deleted" placeholder remains in the thread so the conversation still makes sense.

Can't edit a sent message. Correct — we don't support editing. Delete and resend, or send a correction in a new message.

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