PowerSchool Email and Outlook

Colleagues,

     I have spoken to some of you about this, but I have failed, up to this point to send out a mass email about PowerSchool emails.  I apologize for this. 

PowerSchool email does not work at this time.  I know the IT department has put in a lot of work on this problem in the last few weeks. It does not look like there is a solution in sight as the company that operates PowerSchool (Pierson) claims nothing is wrong on their end.  Many parents get the emails, but it gets kicked to their spam or blocked altogether.  Again, there is no solution to this at this time. 

The way I see it, you have a couple options:

1. Create a new “Group” in Outlook containing the parents’ emailsàthis means a lot of cut & pasting from PowerSchool.
2. Create a Google website with updated information.  Send your students home a slip of paper with the URL (web address) on it and post the URL onto your LM staff website.

Full disclosure: I love the idea of teachers having a Google site with a daily blog telling what happened in class each day.  I did this as a classroom teacher and it TRANSFORMED my class and my work day.  Absent students and parents were able to get onto the blog and see notes, assignments, and due dates.  I created “Screencasts” of my notes and instructions for larger projects.  (screencasts, by the way are very easy to do for any of you).  Kids and parents were able to access the information when they were absent or “forgot” information in class.  I used my student computer in my classroom to have students get onto the blog and work when they were behind and ask questions if something wasn’t clear. Also, if I had a sub I could post information or a screencast there to guide the substitute or students while I was absent.

If you are interested in part or all of that, I would LOVE to help you out.  If a large enough group of you would be interested, I’d love to stop in during your team prep or another convenient time to get you started and provide continuing support.