Embedded Files
Rarely use Design Mode! THIS IS IMPORTANT! Webmasters should rarely turn Design Mode on in SchoolMessenger. When entering content onto a page in your website template, go to ‘Page Options’, then ‘Check Out & Edit Page’ in the toolbar. Design Mode is only turned on when adding a new portlet such as tabs, calendar, document container, or photo gallery.
Custom domain names… Does your school want a custom domain name such as www.duncanmiddle.com or www.atlanticcommunityhighschool.org? If yes, submit a Service Request in eSupport & provide your desired domain name. IT will purchase & maintain the rights to that or a similar name (if your chosen name is not available).
Avoid PDFs where possible... For the best user experience when visiting your website, PDF documents should be rarely used. Instead of uploading a 1- or 2-page document or flyer about your school’s dress code, upcoming band concert, or list of school staff email addresses, enter that content directly onto a web page. Visitors to your website, especially those on a mobile device, look for information with the least possible clicks & without a requirement for third party software such as Adobe Reader. An exception to this is when the PDF is many pages or is a complicated format such as a newsletter.
Quick Link boxes…. The 1st 4 Quick Link boxes in the center of your school's home page should be:
- 1st Quick Link box: School Calendar
- 2nd Quick Link box: SIS Parent Gateway (http://www2.palmbeachschools.org/focuslanding/).
- 3rd Quick Link box: School Cash Online (https://palmbeach.schoolcashonline.com/Home/SignIn)
- 4th Quick Link box: Adult & Community Education. If your school has a night adult education program, this box should link to your adult ed web pages. If your school does NOT have a night adult education program, this Quick Link box can link to something else, such as Find My School or Find My Bus.
Page renaming warning… Do not rename SchoolMessenger template pages such as School Info, Athletics & Activities, and Students & Parents. If renamed by a school webmaster, the link to the tab will break.
Have you downloaded the District mobile app yet? If no, go to your App Store and search on “School District of Palm Beach County” or “Palm Beach County Schools” and download the app. Phase 2 of the app was deployed before start of school in August and includes specific content from each school’s SchoolMessenger website. Students, parents, community members, and employees who download and use the app will then receive regular push notifications alerting them to your important school events, announcements, and messages. Be sure to encourage and market the download & use of the District mobile app!
Image Tips
- Click on “How To’s” at the top of this SchoolMessenger Resource Center for specific step-by-step instructions on adding an image to your website.
- All banner images must be 1057 x 554 in size & can be no larger than 100 KB.
- Images on your website should not be GIFs because GIFs are not ADA compliant. [After blinking/moving for 3 seconds, a GIF can cause a seizure in a person who suffers from seizures.]
- If you add text to an image on your website, that same text must be entered in the Alt Text field. This is required for ADA compliance.
- The Alt Text field must include text that fully explains what is going on in the image. Individuals using a screen reader will not understand 2 word descriptions. Good examples include:
- Students visiting the Lincoln Memorial (not ‘D.C. trip’)
- Choir singing at equestrian event (not ‘image 3456’)
- Student receiving Outstanding Achievement in Math Award (not ‘school award’)
- When inserting an image on a web page, enter a percentage sign (%) after your number in the Width field & leave the Height field blank. If inserting the image into a news article, an announcement, or the School Update section, click on Image Alignment.
- NOTE: This applies to all images except for home page banner images.
For ADA* compliance, all videos on all public-facing District or school websites must be closed captioned. YouTube is the recommended repository for videos that will be embedded into a SchoolMessenger web page. Each school has a YouTube channel that can be used to store their videos. Questions relating to a school’s YouTube channel should be directed to Evelyn Olivera-Silva.
Current VodCast videos that are not closed captioned can be migrated to YouTube & then closed captioned. For assistance with that, submit a Service Request in eSupport. In the eSupport Service Category, select the “Web Content Management System” category under the “Web and Collaboration” heading.
*ADA = the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Web page headings must be in upper & lower case, not all caps.
SchoolMessenger “Forms” Do’s & Don’ts
SchoolMessenger “Forms” Do’s & Don’ts
The SchoolMessenger software includes the ability to create & post a “form” to your website. If you are contemplating using this feature, please abide by the Do’s & Don’ts below.
Do create & post on your website a simple, easy SchoolMessenger “form” for:
- Secondary Student Schedule Change Request
- Secondary Student Course Request
- Secondary Student Guidance Counselor Meeting Request
Don’t create & post on the school website a SchoolMessenger “form” when it:
- duplicates an existing District PBSD form
- requires a parent or school employee signature
- must be filed in the student’s cumulative folder, ESE file, or ELL file
- requires translation into 1 or more languages
- involves other schools or departments
- has a legally binding impact
- requires long term, or greater than transitory, retention
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