Instructional Video: How To Receive Text Messages From MISD

Hello Mercer Island School District Community,

Halloween has passed and means that winter weather is right around the corner. And with winter weather comes possible school closures or delays.

One of the ways we communicate to the community that school will be delayed or cancelled is by text messages from our SchoolMessenger platform.

SchoolMessenger connects with Skyward to pull the appropriate cell phone numbers to text from a “Text Contacts” tab in Skyward. If your cell phone number is not in the “Text Contacts” tab you will not receive a text message. If your cell number is in the “Phone Contacts” tab you will also not receive a text message.

MISD Student Information Services Coordinator Jiovanna Koceski has created an instructional video that explains how families can confirm their cell phone numbers in the “Text Contacts” tab to ensure they will receive text messages. 

Watch Instructional Video On How To Receive Text Messages

The District communicates information on school closures and delays in a variety of ways besides text messages, as listed below.

• Our Weather and Snow Closure Information page on our website explains the District’s inclement weather plan, how we decide to delay or cancel school, and is updated when a cancellation or delay of school is announced.
• FlashAlert- FlashAlert is the platform School Districts use to communicate school closure information to local TV and radio stations. You can sign up to receive a FlashAlert email and/or text from MISD. You can download the FlashAlert mobile app on iOS or Android and enable the app to send you push notifications on school closures and delays. 
• Email- We will send an email through our SchoolMessenger system to District families about closures. 
• Websites- MISD websites will have a Page Pop, which is the first page a user sees, display information. 
• Social Media- MISD social media platforms will be updated with information. X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
• Local Media- Local radio and TV stations also will provide information regarding school closures.
• Besides the instructional video linked above we also have written instructions on how to confirm your cell phone number to receive text messages.
  • To receive text messages, first, we recommend you log-in to your Qmaltiv account, select “Menu -> Family -> Skylert Information” to verify your cell phone number is listed correctly to receive text messages. The instructions on this Opting In for Test Messages instruction sheet (PDF) show you how to confirm your cell phone number. Once you have verified your number you can text “Y” to 67587 to receive notifications from School Messenger, as these instructions show (PDF). 

We encourage families to ensure you are able to receive text messages from the district as this is the quickest way you will learn about a closure or delay.