【IMPORTANT】NEW COMMUNICATION APP FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Since last May we, as PTA board members, have been discussing how to improve and enhance the communication with parents and guardians of children attending Seishin Elementary School. 

One way to do it is the implementation of smartphone app that allows us to contact and deliver information directly to the parents and guardians, instead of delivering printed letters or hotto-mail (ほっとメール）which has to go through the school server first.

We tried several apps in the market, including the ones free of charge and required payment/subscription. We have found one called Codmon, which seems to fulfill our needs and can be used within our yearly budged.

By using this app, you can receive information directly without worrying about whether your child remembers to take home and give you the letters.

Also, for future board members, it will help to reduce their workload since they no longer need to go to school during the day and print out hundreds of papers for children to take home.

January to March 2022 will be our free trial period during which we have a full access to the Codmon app so we can all try and decide whether to implement the app or not.

You will soon receive a handout with guides on how to instal and register Codmon on your smartphone. Please follow the guides and start using the app.

We will send out a questionnaire in early May to ask you whether you agree to and approve the official implementation of the app.

For more information, please refer to PTAによる保護者連絡用アプリ「コドモン」導入のご案内 (Japanese only).

■About the app

「Codmon」
The app was initially developed for kindargardens and preschools, however, recently it has been adopted by many elementary and junior high schools. We have tried and compared many other apps but decided on Codmon because it is very easy to use and is within our yearly-budged.

■Why we decided to use the app

1. Direct delivery of information

We all know that children often forget to bring home or give parents/guardians the letters and documents they got from school. By using the app, you no longer need to worry about not receiving the information in timely manner.

You can relax and wait for the notification of the app. Codmon can be registered not by parents but by other family members such as grandparents.

2. Increased efficiency in time and effort

Whenever submission is required, such as taking a survey, board members had to go and visit school during day time to collect the papers from the teacher. Hence delay in submission means they need to go twice or even more.

Furthermore, printing is one of the heavy burdens for board members as it has to be done in the weekdays during the day time while school is open. 

We also have heard comments from parents and guardians such as "It is a waste of paper" or "It's so hard to be organized with many notes and letters all the time." 

If we can deliver letters and information through the app (and emails), it will surely increase efficiency for both board members and parents/guardians. 

A cut in the time and cost, easy to make corrections on the digital documents. Board members no longer need to make time during weekdays in day time.

3. Closing the digital divine

Whenever information is delivered in the app, you may receive the same contents through the email that you registered when you installed the app. Therefore, even if you don't have the smartphone, as long as you have an email address you may check the information delivered in timely manner.

Furthermore, Codmon app allows you to change the language on the app to English or Portuguese. We have more and more parents and guardians whose first language is not Japanese. Although the information itself will be sent out in Japanese, it can easily be copied and be translated (using google or other apps of choice) .  

*Important note: Currently, Codmon doesn't allow to copy of the letters/characters on the app. You need to make sure that you change the setting so that you receive the information in both the app and the email. (Setting: Others (Menu on bottom right) -> Notification -> Your child's name -> News -> Make sure to select "both")

You can receive information both through the app and the email. You may also refer to the past letters just by opening the app!

■ A comment from the Principal

Throughout the process of selecting the app, we have worked and communicated closely with the school. Here below is a comment from the school principal that supports the implementation of the app, Codmon.

" We, as Seishin Elementary School, think of PTA as our important partner that together supports the healthy growth of the children. We heard that by implementing Codmon, there will be merits to both school and parents/guardians, including improved communication and decrease in workload for PTA board members. We strongly hope and believe that Codmon helps to enhance the future activities of PTA. We thank you always for your cooperation."

■ How to start 

To start using the app is nice and easy!

1) Download the app by clicking one of the below on your smartphone:

Apple Store: https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/id1005539404

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codmon2&hl=ja

Or, you may also access from PC: https://parents.codmon.com/

2) Register using the ID and password, created for each child by administrator (PTA board member) and are indicated on the letter titled 保護者用スマートフォンアプリのご案内.

For more information, please check here.

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If you have not received the ID and password, or have any questions or concerns about Codmon, please contact us at seishinptahonbu@gmail.com