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School-to-Home Communications

Website

You can find a variety of information on our websites. The websites have a consistent template for users to easily find information regardless of which website they are on. Use the "Our Schools" option at the top of the district or any school website to access school websites.

On-screen alerts may be added to the district and/or school website(s). When you first visit the site, a window will appear, and you will need to read the information before proceeding. 

Mass Notification System

Grand Forks Public Schools uses a school system-wide notification system to communicate with families and employees quickly through multiple channels. These systems seamlessly work with our student and employee information systems, so we can personally contact families and employees with vital information.

To receive timely information, families should ensure the contact information (including all phone numbers, email addresses, and physical address(es)) is accurate and up-to-date in the PowerSchool system (https://grand-forks.ps.state.nd.us/public/home.html). Please note: once information is changed in PowerSchool, it takes up to 24 hours to update within the mass notification system.

Telephone

The school/school system sends telephone calls for school cancellation/postponement information and/or during an emergency. In the event of an emergency, the Blackboard system will call every number stored in the PowerSchool system.

If you miss any part of a message, please stay on the line and press the star/asterisk (*) key to hear the entire message again. You can also call 1-855-977-0602 and listen to the last five messages sent to you via the mass notification system.

Email

The school/school system will send emails with information (ex: newsletter, intramural schedule, etc.) to you as needed. This includes attendance notification (i.e. informing you that your child has been reported with an unexcused absence).

SMS/Texting Notifications

During registration, you were asked if you would like to provide your cell phone number to receive text messages. In providing your phone number, you indicated your willingness to receive text messages from Grand Forks Public Schools. Please check with your cell phone provider for any possible charges when using their text messaging service. Grand Forks Public Schools is not responsible for any charges you incur from your cell phone provider for receiving text messages.

Those who opted in will receive messages including, but not limited to, calendar reminders (ex: holidays, elementary early out, etc.), weather-related announcements, and emergency notifications.

The number you will receive these notifications from is 60680 (a shortcode). Please save and program that number as Grand Forks Public Schools so you can quickly recognize it. If you did not provide your cell phone number at registration and would like it added, please update this information in PowerSchool or contact the secretary at your student's school.

The SMS/text messaging option will be used in addition to our current communication methods. At this time, we anticipate you will receive an average of 3-4 messages per month.

If you accidentally opt out of telephone calls/text messages, you can opt in by:

  • Phone calls: Call the Blackboard Phone Hotline at "855-502-STOP (855-502-7867)" from the phone line that has been opted out.

  • Text (SMS) messages: Reply START to "60680" from the phone line that has been opted out for non-emergency messages. Reply START to "54968" for emergency messages.

  • Contact your school secretary for assistance.

Newsletters (Smore)

As part of our continued work in adhering to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and web accessibility standards, Grand Forks Public Schools uses Smore for school-to-family newsletters. Smore is a web-based newsletter program that works seamlessly on tablets, smartphones, and computers. It is customizable (design, background, fonts, colors), and has a variety of features available, which includes language translation and contrast adjustment.

Smartphone App

Mobile apps are an easy way to provide on-demand access to information that drives student success. This app is for anyone who would like to access news, calendar events, and resources about Grand Forks Public Schools on their smartphone.

To download the app from your device:

Once the app is installed, it will ask you if you would like to receive push notifications (pop-up notifications that will display on your phone). If you would like to, answer “yes.”

To follow your student’s/neighborhood school(s) to receive notifications and access news, calendar events, and resources:

  • Open the Grand Forks Public Schools app.

  • Click on the “Settings” icon (located in the upper right-hand corner).

  • Click on “Follow schools” and select the school(s) you would like to follow.

  • Under each school, please make sure you have marked “Receive Inbox Messages” and also have marked any other item(s) you would like to receive.

Social Media

Grand Forks Public Schools maintains school-system-level Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter accounts.