Why Use In-App Messaging?
Mazhali’s messaging keeps your communication with teachers and school staff:
- Private: Only you and the recipient see your messages
- Professional: Creates a record of conversations
- Safe: No need to share personal phone numbers
- Organized: All school-related messages in one place
Who Can You Message?
You can message:
- Your child’s class teacher(s)
- The school admin
That’s it—you cannot message other parents, and parents cannot message each other through Mazhali.
How to Send a Message
Step 1: Open Messages
Tap the Messages tab at the bottom of the app.
Step 2: Start a New Message
Tap the compose icon (usually a pencil or “+” symbol) in the top-right corner.
Step 3: Select a Contact
A list of your child’s teachers and the school admin appears. Tap the person you want to message.
Step 4: Type Your Message
You can write up to 2,000 characters (that’s plenty). Just start typing. Use line breaks to organize your thoughts.
Step 5: Send
Tap Send. Your message is delivered instantly.
Reading Replies
When someone replies, you’ll see:
- An unread badge (usually a red dot) on the Messages tab
- A notification on your phone (if notifications are enabled)
Tap the conversation to read the reply.
Push Notifications for Messages
If you’ve enabled notifications, you’ll get a notification every time someone replies to you—even if the app is closed. You won’t miss important messages from your child’s teacher.
To enable notifications:
- Android: Settings > Apps > Mazhali > Notifications > enable
- iPhone (iOS app coming soon): If using Mazhali as a PWA in Safari, allow notifications when prompted by your browser
Who Can See Your Messages?
In the app, each conversation is private between you and the person you’re messaging. Your conversations with the teacher are separate from your conversations with the admin.
Message Tips
Be respectful and professional: Teachers appreciate kindness and clarity.
Keep it brief: Teachers are busy. Shorter messages get faster replies.
Send during school hours if urgent: Teachers check messages throughout the day. Late-night or weekend messages may take longer to answer.
Be specific: Instead of “How was he today?”, try “How did my son do on the playground today?”
What If You Need to Reach Someone Urgently?
If it’s an emergency or time-sensitive issue, call the school directly. Messaging is asynchronous—not real-time—so don’t rely on it for urgent matters.
Examples:
- Your child is hurt or sick at school
- There’s been an incident or accident
- You need to pick up your child immediately
Common Reasons to Message
- Acknowledgments: “Thanks for the update!”
- Clarifications: “Can you explain what happened during snack time?”
- Updates about home: “He was very tired, may have needed more sleep”
- Questions about activities: “What did he do in outdoor play?”
- Administrative: “When is the next field trip?” / “What time does pickup start?”
- Thanks: “I loved the photo from today’s art class!”
In-app messaging keeps you connected and ensures your communication is organized and documented. Use it to build a strong partnership with your child’s teachers!