The CircleTime™ Mobile App promotes communication between administrators/staff and parents. Messages can be sent from the center to families using the app as Broadcasts (one-way messaging from the center) or two-way messaging (between staff and families). Plus, you have the added bonus of sending information directly to a parent's mobile phone, proven to be one of the best ways to communicate effectively.
- Send special announcements that affect all sites and families.
- Allows parents to communicate directly with their child's teacher or other staff members.
- Encourage staff to share messages, photos, and videos with families.
- Keep parents in the loop about what's happening at the childcare facility.
Messaging from Jackrabbit Care to parents using the CircleTime app is included in your monthly fee.
Messages, photos, and videos sent to families are available to view in both the CircleTime mobile app and Jackrabbit Care and are never deleted.
Owner/Administrators - Send Messages to Families
As an Owner or Administrator, you automatically have the permissions to send both a Broadcast (to all sites) and/or a two-way message to families enrolled at your childcare facility.
Go to Family Accounts (left menu) > View Messages.
Note: Be sure you have the right site selected at the top of the page.
Send a Broadcast Message
- Click the Broadcast message card to open the thread and add a message to be delivered to everyone using the CircleTime mobile app.
- Do the following actions when broadcasting a message:
- Type the message in the bottom field.
- Click the + button
to attach photos or videos.
- Click Send to deliver the message to all families using the app.
to attach photos or videos.
Send a Two-Way Message
- Click a specific family card to open the thread and add a message to be delivered to a family through the CircleTime mobile app.
- Do the following actions when sending a message:
- Type the message in the bottom field.
- Click the + button to attach photos or videos.
- Click Send to deliver the message to the family using the app.
Once a message is sent to a specific family, they can respond to the message they received through the app.
An Owner or Administrator can also Enter Class Mode and message families from Programs & Classes (left menu) > Programs & Schedules card > View All Classes > Enter Class Mode > Messages tab.
User-based Permission for Teachers to Send Messages
Teachers with assigned User-based Permissions can send messages and communicate directly with the families of children in their classes. Messages can include text, photos, and videos.
- An Owner must enable the user-based permission Send Message to allow a teacher to access and use the messaging feature. Enable this permission by going to Teachers & Staff (left menu) > Profiles card > View All Team Members > Select the staff member's card > Permissions tab > Send Message and move the toggle to the right.
Teachers - Send Messages to Multiple Families in Class Mode
- Go to Dashboard (left menu) > Enter Class Mode > Messages tab.
Note: Be sure the right site is selected at the top of the page. - Click Message All Families or the Actions menu
> Send New Message.
Message All Families A window appears where you can compose a message containing text or a media file. The message will be sent to all families in the class.
Actions Menu > Send New Message
Using the Send New Message option gives you multiple options for messaging.
- Use the Select All button to select all the families in the class.
- Use the drop-down menu next to Show to filter for and select specific families to send the message to.
- Use the checkboxes on specific family cards to choose who the message should be sent to.
Once families are selected, the Start New Message button is enabled. Clicking it opens a window where you can compose a message containing text or a media file. The message will be sent to all selected families.
> Send New Message.
The sent message will appear in each of the family message threads on the Messages page > Inbox tab.
Teachers - Send an Individual Family Message
- Go to Dashboard (left menu) > Enter Class Mode > Messages tab.
Note: Be sure the right site is selected at the top of the page. - Click on a family card to send the message to that specific family.
- Do the following actions when sending a message:
- Type the message in the bottom field.
- Click the + button to attach photos or videos.
- Click Send to deliver the message to the family using the app.
- The sent message will appear in the family's message thread on the Messages page > Inbox tab.
Help is just a few clicks away! Go to Jackrabbit Care Support - Resource Center to select the help option that works best for you.
