Family Messaging & Announcements keep everyone in the loop
Organize school messages, announcements, and private photo sharing in one place.
You can…
- Send direct messages to families and staff.
- Create named groups with selected people.
- Organize school, location, or room audience groups.
- Choose parent-only, staff-only, or combined audiences.
- Publish staff-only announcements or allow replies.
- Follow replies in threads.
- Search messages and older conversations.
- Mention people and react to messages.
- See unread indicators and viewed-message receipts.
- Mute, archive, or leave eligible groups.
- Manage group membership and ownership.
- Share classroom photos after consent and access checks.
Keep everyday conversations organized
Direct messages and groups share one inbox. Replies stay connected to the original message, while search helps staff find an earlier conversation. Families can contact the school staff they are authorized to reach.
Choose who belongs and who can reply
Create a group by selecting people or choosing an audience such as room families. Audience groups follow current enrollments and staff assignments. Set a group to staff-only posting when it is used for announcements.
Consent belongs in the sharing process
Classroom photos need a different workflow from a public social feed. Ashby checks consent and family access so staff can share with the right people.
Keep classroom moments private
Shared classroom photos belong inside the authorized family experience. They are not published on your center’s public marketing pages, and access to a conversation does not grant unrestricted access to child photos.
How it works
- Choose a person, an existing group, or an authorized audience.
- Write your message and review any photo attachments.
- Follow replies and use read indicators, search, or mute controls as needed.
Common questions
Can I send an announcement to a room’s families?
Yes. Authorized staff can create a room-family audience group and restrict posting to staff.
Does joining a group expose all earlier messages?
No. New and returning members have a history boundary. Group membership also does not grant access to unrelated child records or photos.
Is photo sharing enabled automatically?
No. Photo sharing is off by default and depends on the required consent.
Can every group member see every attachment?
No. Photo access is checked separately from group membership. People need the appropriate access to the children shown.
Make more room for care
Bring your team, families, and daily tasks together. Create your free account and set up your program at your own pace.