Finalsite Chat is a secure, real-time communication feature built into the Finalsite Mobile App that brings students, parents, and staff together in dedicated chat rooms organized by Academic Class, team, or custom group. Rooms are populated automatically from SIS data and moderated by school admins.
💡Quick answers
- What is Finalsite Chat? A secure real-time messaging feature in the Mobile App that lets students, parents, and staff communicate in rooms organized by Academic Class, team, or custom group.
- Who moderates Chat rooms? School admins configure and moderate Chat rooms; they can set who is included, manage messages, and archive rooms at the end of the school year.
- Is Finalsite Chat available on both iOS and Android? Yes; Chat is accessible through the Finalsite Mobile App available on both platforms.
- Can Chat messages be sent outside of the mobile app? No; Chat is a mobile-app-only feature and is not accessible from the website or Composer admin interface.
The Chat feature brings your school community together in a secure, real-time communication space directly on your mobile device. Whether you are a parent coordinating with a teacher, a student participating in a club, or a staff member collaborating on a project, Chat provides a professional and moderated environment to stay connected and informed without searching through your email inbox.
In this article
- App deployment process
- Get started with chat
- Send and receive messages
- Engage in a conversation
- Manage your chat experience
- Report content and maintain safety
- Access advanced features (school leaders only)
- Follow best practices for chatting
App deployment process
Together with your deployment team, you will customize your app's look and feel to match your district and school branding.Â
Contact your Client Success Manager or email clientsuccess@finalsite.com for more information on how to get started.
Learn more how to manage the Chat feature in the article, "Finalsite Chat master guide." Â
Getting started with chat
Get logged inÂ
Before you start chatting, download the app and get logged in!
Must be logged in to use Chats feature
Your community may use your mobile app without being logged in, as their phones allow for certain preferences to be saved. However, it's important to remember that it's not possible for any user to see the Chats feature on a device unless the user is logged in.Â
Tour the Chat home screen
The chat home screen is where it all begins!
- Chat Rooms you have been assigned to are in the top half of the screen.
- Direct Messages are in the bottom half. Â
Send and receive messages
Communicate with direct messages: Reach out 1:1 to individuals within your school community with the Direct message feature.
Participate in a chat room: Engage in group conversations with grade levels, clubs, or athletic teams.
Scan QR codes to join: Enter new rooms instantly by scanning a code provided by a room owner.
Engage in a conversation
Reply and use emojis: Use threads to keep responses organized and emojis to add tone to your messages.
Share rich media: Send links, photos, and files directly from your mobile device gallery or folders.
View read receipts: Check the status of your messages to see who in the room has viewed your updates.
Manage your chat experience
Mute or unmute a room
Mute or unmute a room to control your notifications. Silence notifications for high-traffic rooms without leaving the conversation.Â
Tap on the room name in the top banner. A new window will open up where you can then toggle next to Mute.Â
Change your mind? Re-enter the room and select Unmute conversation to start receiving push notifications again.Â
Leave a chat room
Click Leave room when you decide you no longer want to be a member of a chat room. Exit any room that is no longer relevant to you to keep your home screen organized.
Report content and maintain safety
Flag inappropriate messages: Use the report button to immediately alert administrators to any content that violates school policy.
Understand moderation: Learn how school leaders review reported communication to keep the environment safe in the article, "Chat for families: Understand security and privacy in Finalsite Chat."Â
Access advanced features (school leaders only)
Assign chat roles, create rooms, and manage members: Control who can start chats or join specific rooms.
Moderation panel: Review flagged messages and manage blocked members.
Set custom notifications (Quiet hours): Set a notification schedule to ensure the community isn't alerted late at night.
Room customization: Edit room names and manage large-scale membership.
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