Emergency Power Announce Test:
Wed, Nov 18, the school will be testing our Power Announce system. Expect to receive a test message at your email, phone and text (if you have designated texting). There is no need to respond to the message or alert liaisons.
This is our procedure for letting everyone know when School Closure happens or emergencies. We call school for the following reasons:
- Roads are closed
- No electricity at MMS Lower Campus
- Emergency services have designated hazardous road conditions and it is deemed dangerous for students and buses to drive to MMS
In 2012, MMS instituted an automated messaging system to notify families regarding emergencies and student absences. This communication tool is vitally important for your child(ren)’s health and safety.
To change the Attendance Notifications, please call the office and ask to modify which numbers/emails will receive this alert. You can also email your preferred number, email or contact mode to: .
About this system:
We have implemented a school notification system called Power Announcement to increase the safety of our campus and our students. This notification system includes new features that will make it easier for us to keep in contact with your family regarding absences and in the case of emergencies. To guarantee the messaging system is used efficiently, we will need to confirm your contact information is accurate and up-to-date at all times.
Power Announcement allows our school to send messages using email, voice, and text messaging. Voice calls will be sent with 408-847-2717 as the caller ID number. You may want to add this phone number to your address book to help you recognize incoming calls from the school easily. Text messages will be sent using a caller ID of 77811. You may want to add this phone number to your address book as well. Please note you will not be able to reply to text messages sent from the school.
By default, phone calls and emails will be sent from the system to all numbers and emails listed for all parents/guardians. You may make a change to this by emailing
Cell phone call and data tolls and charges associated with receipt of messages from the school are your responsibility and not the responsibility of the school
Emergency messages are always sent with all three message types (email, text, and voice calls) and to every contact field shown even if you have asked for fewer points of contact for absence notification. You cannot change this. Emergency messages will be labeled as such so you will know it is an actual emergency. Do not list numbers with extensions as an emergency contact, as the system will not be able to use the number.
To answer a few questions:
Will the system call phone numbers with extensions?
Unfortunately, Power Announcement, like other alert messaging systems, only works with direct-dial phone numbers and is unable to navigate menus or extensions. It is recommended that you provide a cellular number or direct number for the school to contact you during daytime hours.
Will I be called on an absence if I have already excused or contacted the office prior to 9:30 am?
Explained absences for Middle and High School students will receive a confirmation message. Unexplained absences will be called requesting an explanation. Please be sure to inform the school office of the reason, and the expected duration (whole day, multiple days, partial days) either by calling our main number or you can send an email to .
If your family or child will be on an extended leave from the school, please contact the office with the dates of absence so that you do not receive calls each day.
Why didn’t a message play when I said hello?
Power Announcement plays the message as soon as the phone picks up. An error can occur if there is a lot of background noise or the person answering repeats ‘hello’ several times, because the system cannot detect the end of the greeting. If you are in an area with a lot of background noise, it is recommended that you allow the call to go to voicemail or you may select repeat if the message is setup to repeat based on a particular key press.
Why do I have a missed call but either a partial message or no voice mail message at all from the alert system?
Power Announcement attempts to distinguish between a live person and an answering machine using advanced answering machine detection software. The system begins the announcement as soon as the number is dialed. It waits a few seconds for an answer and if one is not detected then the system pauses longer to allow a voice mail greeting to finish playing. If the greeting is especially long, contains music, or has a pause during the greeting, the message may begin to play before the actual recording beep has started. If this is a continuous issue, it is recommended that you record a fresh voicemail greeting being mindful of the length and pauses in your speech. You may also need to adjust the time allowed for messages left if the answering machine is only set to allow a specific length of recording. For any machines that require a mailbox number to be entered, a message cannot be left and you may need to disable this feature.
What if I’m unable to answer the phone?
Power Announcement will leave a message if you have voice mail or an answering machine set up. If the number is busy at the time of the call, they system will attempt to redial you up to the 3 times for attendance and 5 times for an emergency. Each outgoing redial attempt will be roughly five minutes apart. If a message is not delivered by the final attempt, the school will receive a report of a failed attempt. If your answering machine is set to the maximum number of rings or over 30 seconds, then the messaging system will not be able to leave you a message. It is industry standard for all alert systems to wait 30 seconds for an answer.
Will the calls be affected by a Telemarketer screening device?
Telemarketing screening devices may prevent calls from being received because the alert system uses the same technology as automated telemarketing calls. Please check your screening device settings for the best solution. You may be able to set the device to allow calls from specific Caller ID numbers. This would allow you to authorize the school’s numbers for future receipt.
Respectfully,
Ardis Baylor
Registrar
