Finalsite's new mobile app provides a way for you to strengthen the connection between school and home, providing a streamlined and consolidated hub for parents to chat with teachers, receive important messages, and stay informed. This article will help you to get started for the first time!
In this Article
- Step 1: Download the new mobile app
- Step 2: Log in to your app
- OPTIONAL: Browse without logging in
- Step 3: Click through the setup wizard
- Step 4: Manage notifications
- Step 5: Browse through your new mobile app
Step 1: Download your school or district's new mobile app
Are you an iOS/Apple or Android user? Select your instructions below for how to add the app to your device.
- To download the new mobile app on your iOS/Apple device, start by opening the Apple App Store.
- Search for the app using your school or district name. Your school leader / main website admin can instruct you on how to search for your app.
- Select and download your app by tapping the Get button next to your app and clicking Install if needed. You may need to enter your Apple ID password to authorize the download.
- Open up the app on your device.
If these instructions have changed or are not what you see on your end, click "Download apps and games on your iPhone or iPad" to see more current instructions.
- To download the new mobile app on an Android device, open the Google Play Store.
- Search for the app using your school or district name. Your school leader / main website admin can instruct you on how to search for your app.
- Select the app from the search results and tap to download. Click Install to start the download and install process.
- Review the Permissions and click Accept to proceed.
- Once the app is installed on your Android device, open it directly from the Play Store by tapping the Open button or find the app icon on your home screen.
If these instructions have changed or are not what you see on your end, click "Get Android apps & digital content from the Google Play Store" to see more current instructions.
Step 2: Log in to your app
Enter your Username and then Password.
Don't know your login credentials?
- Select Forgot password to have a reset password link sent to the email address associated with your account. You'll be directed to a Login page where you can Create a new Password.
- Does your district or school use a third-party to authenticate logins? You may be instructed to enter those credentials instead.
OPTIONAL: Browse without logging in
The Finalsite mobile app allows you to browse without being logged in. This is very beneficial for community members who will want to jump right in quickly.
This diagram shows you what the top left corner will look like while logged in vs being logged out:
Logged in or out: What's the difference?
Being logged in allows for the ability to access protected resources such as images and directory information. The logged-in experience also lets users customize events and news preferences. Do you have the Chat feature as a part of your mobile app? Accessing Chat requires that each user be logged in.
However, it's great for your people to know that they can still experience community life even without being logged in.
Step 3: Click through the setup wizard
Now you will click through a series of screens to configure some initial settings.
Language
You may be prompted to Select your language to the preferred language you'd like the app to display. Your language may already be preset, if your SIS language is one of our languages in the list of 30 supported languages. If your SIS and device language are not yet supported, English will be preselected.
Schools
Subscribe to view the content of one or multiple schools if you are on a district app. Toggle on to agree to view the content on your mobile app for a particular school.
Allow or deny notifications
Decide the level of Notifications you'd like to receive on your mobile app. During the setup wizard, select Allow notifications to opt in to notifications, another window will pop up where you can give permission to allow notifications. Select Not now to decline receiving notifications.
Mailing lists
Select the mailing lists to receive push notifications when certain types of messages are sent out.
Step 4: Manage notifications
Once you have gotten through the setup wizard, you can get comfortable and configure your settings so that you are able to see only what you're interested in. These next tasks will help you to decide from a series of options.
Important Note
Notifications can only be received and managed while being logged in to the app. Don't see the ability to manage notifications in your account profile? Speak to a school support staff about being able to log in so that you can manage your notifications.
Three areas to manage notifications
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Notification bell in top right corner
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Account profile in top right corner
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Individual news story when opened up
View notifications in the notification bell
- See a small red bubble? You may not see it yet if you haven't subscribed to any notifications yet or if you have already read your notifications.
- Click the bell to see where your notifications will appear organized by type of notification.
- Once you have subscribed, you will see buttons at the top which allow you to filter and choose what to show in the screen.
- Scroll to read the different types of communication.
Configure overall notifications in the account profile bubble
Not sure which ones you'd like to receive, go to your account profile bubble to see what's available and make a smart selection!
- Click account profile button to open up your settings
- Tap on the Notifications area in the Preferences section.
- Choose the types of alerts you would like to receive.
- Important announcements: Receive notifications for any urgent messaging sent to mobile apps.
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Subscriptions
- School mailing lists: Click to view the mailing lists that are available to subscribe to so that when a message is sent out to that type of list, you will receive a push notification in-app to be able to read it.
-
News: When your district or school posts news items, you can receive a push notification to let you know that this type of news has been posted.
- For example, you may want to subscribe to Athletics News if you have a student athlete. Theater News to be notified about news items regarding theater performances.
Unsubscribe from a news story
Do you ever click on a news story that doesn't pertain to you? Your student is in middle school so you don't need to see news for the elementary campus anymore.
- Click Unsubscribe to no longer receive notifications for this type of news.
- Confirm that you've unsubscribed in your account profile Subscription preferences.
Step 5: Browse through your new mobile app
Now you are ready to jump in and browse to find what interests you most!
- News at the top of your homescreen
- Events in the middle and lower areas of your homescreen
- Bottom toolbar will take you to the individual areas
- Tap the More button to see what else your district or school has waiting for you!
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