For notifications, we utilize SchoolMessenger, a service that integrates with Synergy, our Student Information System.
If you are a parent with students in our schools, you have more School Messenger options than the general public, including low lunch balance alerts and attendance alerts.
Please follow the steps below that pertain to your situation, following directions for either A or B.
Please note that SchoolMessenger is just one of the many ways we alert the public about school closings and delays, and should not be relied upon as your sole source of information. Internet traffic and other factors can often delay text message and email transmissions. We also announce school closings and delays on our website (www.fergusotters.org), our Facebook page, on local radio, and via Fargo television stations.
For more information about school closings and delays, please read this article.
Please follow the steps below that pertain to your situation, following directions for either A or B.
A - Community members without a student in our district who wish to receive weather notifications
Please follow these instructions: (View as printable document)
NOTE: We highly recommend performing these steps on a computer, not a mobile device.
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Go to the School Messenger new account page, on this page click on the Sign Up Now link
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Fill out all of the fields
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Remember to check “Accept Terms” box
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Click Create Account
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You'll be redirected to the Activate Account page. Leave that page open as you'll come back to it in a moment
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In a new tab, go check your email
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Select and copy the confirmation code. Go back to the open Activate Account page
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Paste in the confirmation code, and enter the password you entered upon registration. Click Submit
In a few seconds, you’ll be redirected into your account.
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Under the Interests section, uncheck all of the items as you probably only want weather alerts. Click Save.
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IMPORTANT: In the Contacts section, click Add More
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Select how you wish to be notified: Phone Call and SMS Text, or just one of those options. This will determine how you are notified of our Weather Alerts
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Click Next
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Enter your phone number, including Area Code
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Click Next
Carefully follow the steps on the next screen to verify your phone number. (Call 844-380-3893 and enter the activation code displayed on the screen.)
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Click Done to return to your Profile page
Make note of the email address and password you used to create your account, as you will need to to return to your Profile page to make changes to your account.
On this page are three tabs: Messages - Contact Info - My Account
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Messages - see an archive of messages you've received from us
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Contact Info - See which phone numbers you've associated with your account. You can also add or delete numbers here.
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My Account - Change your password, or permanently close your account
Questions? Please contact us at
B - Parents of currently enrolled students
Using SchoolMessenger, we are able to email, message, or call parents of currently enrolled students based upon the phone numbers we have on record in Synergy. This messaging system is our preferred method of communicating with families, as it allows notifications about lunch balances, conference reminders, and absences…so much more than just weather alerts!
You can sign into SchoolMessenger to determine which phone call and email notifications you wish to receive from our automated system.
If you've already created an account, simply visit go.schoolmessenger.com and sign in.
To configure your preferences:
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Click the three lines menu in the top-left corner
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Select Preferences
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Determine how you'd like to be notified for each of the notification categories
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Note: you must include at least one phone number in the Attendance category
You can also manage your notification preferences via the School Messenger app, available in your mobile device's app store.
If you need to register, do this:
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Go to go.schoolmessenger.com
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Click Sign Up
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Enter your email address (must be same one that is used in Synergy, our Student Information System)
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Set up a password according to the requirements. (You’ll receive an email with a link you’ll use to confirm your account)
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Once signed in, click the three lines menu in the top-left corner
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Select Preferences
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Determine how you'd like to be notified for each of the notification categories
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Note: you must include at least one phone number in the Attendance category