
WEST HAVEN, May 12, 2015 —
The West Haven Public School District has launched a new cell phone app
that is now available for free download and will give school families
and staff easy access to information they use on a daily basis.
The app is being funded by the University of New Haven as one of the college’s community engagement projects.
“We’re really excited to introduce this new tool for parents,
students and staff, and it’s yet another communication strategy in our
district that will help families stay better connected to their schools
and informed on everything we have to offer,” Superintendent of Schools
Neil C. Cavallaro said. “We’re also very grateful that UNH agreed to
sponsor it and was supportive of us taking advantage of technology to
better communicate with everyone in our district.”
The sponsorship serves as an expansion of the district’s
existing partnership with UNH, which currently allows for half-tuition
scholarships for West Haven High School graduates who attend UNH in a
program called Charge Into the Future and offers a free UNH class to
WHHS juniors and seniors accepted into a program called Charging Ahead.
"UNH is committed to our continued partnership with
the West Haven School District and pleased to be a sponsor for this
project that will enhance communications between the schools and their
students and parents," UNH Associate Vice President Ronald Quagliani
said.
Many school districts offer mobile apps as a way of keeping
their communities up to date on academic programs, school events and
news and important schedule changes, and to give users an option for
accessing school information on a mobile device. Using websites on a
cell phone can be difficult because of the small screen and large amount
of information contained in various areas on a website. Apps can
provide the most sought-after information in a simple format and open
with the push of one button on a mobile device.
West Haven Public Schools’ app was created through
SchoolMessenger, the company that provides the notification system
already used in the district. It is available for iPhones, Android
phones and tablets.
Those interested in downloading the West Haven Public Schools
app can do so by opening their device’s app store and typing in “West
Haven Public Schools.” Once downloaded and opened, the app will ask
users if they want to receive “push notifications.” Clicking “yes” means
a user will receive pop-up alerts for any notifications sent through
the app regarding things like snow days, dismissals or delays, or power
outages.
The app contains school menus, yearly calendars, upcoming
events, news, sports schedules, school contact information, staff
directories, links to teacher webpages, Edward L. Bennett Ice Rink
schedules and program information, a “Quicktip” tipline for anyone with
concerns of bullying, safety or other issues, School Climate Surveys,
and direct links to the Naviance program used by high-schoolers and the
Parent Portal system used by parents.
Users can customize the app to their needs and choose which
schools’ news and calendar events they want to see by clicking a small
image of a gear in the upper right-hand corner of the app.
“Parents today are busier than ever and rely on their
mobile devices to connect them to the information that matters most,”
said Nate Brogan, vice president of Marketing, SchoolMessenger.
“SchoolMessenger allows schools and community members to stay connected
through a robust mobile platform that will continue to evolve based on
their needs.”
The app’s offerings will be updated throughout the year
depending on programs or initiatives occurring in the school district.
For more information, visit whschools.org.
Contact: Communications Director Susan Misur, 203-937-4300 X7114; susan.misur@whschools.org