RETSD Launches Emergency Notification System

Yesterday, River East Transcona School Division successfully launched its emergency notification system with a test message sent divisionwide to over 21,000 parents, guardians, and emergency contacts, as well as over 3,000 division staff.

This new tool will help the division convey timely, focused communications to thousands of recipients by text, phone, and email. It will be used exclusively in the event of an emergency or when time-sensitive notifications must be communicated.

“In 2022, it’s critical that school divisions can connect with parents quickly during an emergency. It’s an expectation they now have, understandably,” says Amanda Gaudes, senior communications co-ordinator. 

Typical scenarios in which the division might use their emergency notification system are during an evacuation, a hold-and-secure, a lockdown, a divisionwide bus cancellation due to inclement weather, and a divisionwide closure.

The test message sent to recipients yesterday read as follows: This is a TEST of River East Transcona School Division's emergency notification system. Do not be alarmed; this is not a real emergency. This test is to confirm the system is operational and fix any issues, ensuring it will work properly during an actual emergency. No action is required. You are receiving this as a parent, guardian, staff member, or emergency contact of a student.

“We’re pleased to share that our test was a success,” says Mark Bruce, assistant superintendent of human resources. “It gave us insight into how this tool can help us share critical, time-sensitive information, to keep everyone informed in a way that’s more accessible to them.”

For more information, contact Amanda Gaudes, senior communications co-ordinator, at 204.667.7130 or communications@retsd.mb.ca.