New chat, broadcasts and ConnectX messages

The office does not have to wait for a family or member of staff to write first. New chat opens a one-to-one conversation with any active student's family or member of staff, or a broadcast room that writes to a whole group at once. ConnectX can also be ticked as a channel for bulk messages in Communication, and chosen for the school's automatic messages.

Before you start#

• You can open JPRAXC ConnectX in the School ERP. See The ConnectX desk in School ERP.
• The person you write to needs a portal account, as a parent or as staff. ConnectX needs no mobile number, e-mail address or message credit.

Start a one-to-one chat#

1. Open JPRAXC ConnectX and click New chat.
2. In How, choose One-to-one — one person's conversation.
3. In Write to, choose A student (writes into the parent portal) or A member of staff (writes into the portal for staff).
4. For a student, choose the Class, then the Section. For staff, choose the Staff group: Teaching or Non-teaching.
5. Choose the Name.
6. Click Open chat.
7. Write your message and click Send.

The conversation opens in the same thread the person reads in their own portal and app, so their answer comes back into it.

Open a broadcast room#

A broadcast room sends one message to everyone of a kind. Each person receives it in their own conversation as a message from the school, and replies come back one to one.

1. Open JPRAXC ConnectX and click New chat.
2. In How, choose Broadcast — everyone of a kind, each in their own conversation.
3. In Write to, choose students or staff.
4. Narrow it down, or leave it wide:
   • Students: choose a Class and Section, or leave All classes / All sections.
   • Staff: choose Teaching or Non-teaching, or leave All staff.
5. Click Open broadcast room.
6. Check the list of people in the room.
7. Write the message. Attach a file or record a voice note if needed.
8. Click Send to all (the button shows how many people it reaches).

Send a bulk message on ConnectX from Communication#

Use this when the same message should go out on several channels, for example ConnectX and SMS together.

1. Open Communication.
2. Under Create communication queue, in Channels, tick JPRAXC ConnectX — into their portal. Tick other channels too if needed.
3. Choose the Audience, for example One class or section, Students with fees due or Teaching staff.
4. Pick a Template or write the Message.
5. Click Build recipient queue.
6. Review and send the batch as described in the School ERP guide on notices and communication.

Sent on ConnectX, the message goes into each family's or member of staff's own ConnectX conversation, where they can answer the school.

Choose automatic messages for ConnectX#

ConnectX has nothing to connect or pay for. You only choose which of the school's automatic messages also go out on it.

1. Open General Settings.
2. Click JPRAXC ConnectX Configuration.
3. For each automatic message, choose Yes or No.
4. Click Save JPRAXC ConnectX configuration.

Good to know#

• Class teachers can broadcast to the families of their own section from the Staff app. See ConnectX and Class Broadcast (Staff app).
• A student who leaves the school, or an inactive staff member, is not offered in New chat.
• Use ConnectX for everyday school messages. Use SMS, WhatsApp or e-mail for people who do not use the portals or apps.

Troubleshooting#