This year, getting news and information from your child’s school will be as simple as checking your cell phone. Today, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) launched a text messaging platform within the AlertNow rapid notification system. In addition to phone calls and emails, your child’s school and the division now has the ability to send text messages to your cell phone.

This convenient and effective communication tool will further enable parents to stay connected with the division. For example, should schools be closed or delayed due to inclement weather or any other condition affecting normal school operations, parents may be advised by phone, email and text message through AlertNow.

You should have received a text message today to confirm you want to receive messages from VBCPS.  All confirmation text messages and subsequent alerts come from 23177 or 63079.

If you don’t want text messages sent to your phone, you simple have to reply “STOP VBCPS” to opt-out. You may opt-out at any time during the school year. If at any point you decide you want to opt back in to receive text messages, simply text “SUBSCRIBE VBCPS” to 23177 or 63079. Please note that the opt-out/opt-in feature is only available for text messaging.

If you do not receive a text message and want to be enrolled for this feature, you may need to verify with your child’s school that they have the correct contact information for you listed. And remember, if your contact information changes during the school year please be sure to update your phone number and email address with your child’s school.

More information regarding text messaging and AlertNow can be found at http://www.vbschools.com/AlertNow/textmsg.asp.