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Features FAQ

Communication | Calendars | Location Management | Elections
Community Service | Discussion Groups | Mobile App
  • Communication – Email, SMS Text Message and On-line Newsfeed

    1. How are notifications distributed on PlanetHS?
    2. Who may create a notification on PlanetHS?
    3. Who will send notifications to me on PlanetHS?
    4. How do I choose a school and then follow a club, class or team?
    5. Can students send emails, text messages on PlanetHS?
    6. Will I receive Email or Text Message Notifications?
    7. What type of text messages will I receive?
    8. As a teacher, my district does not allow me to text message students because there is no record of the message sent from my cell phone. How is PlanetHS different?
    9. What records are maintained for messages sent on PlanetHS?
    10. Can I send notifications from my cell phone?
    11. Can the students that are club officers, team captains or interns send notifications?
    12. How is the distribution determined for each notification?
    13. Am I able to create custom User Groups for receiving notifications?
    14. Can media or documents be sent with email on PlanetHS?
    15. Are there different templates available for emails?
    16. Our school has a web master that controls everything on our school's web site and all emails sent by our school. Can PlanetHS work with our system?
    17. Will members be able to reply to my notifications?
    18. Can I receive messages from outside organizations related to a club, class or team that I am following?
  • Calendars

    1. What calendars are on PlanetHS?
    2. Who adds events to these calendars?
    3. How is my calendar on PlanetHS personalized?
    4. How do I know if an event has been scheduled or updated?
    5. Can I receive automatic updates to my calendar on my smart phone and electronic calendar on my computer?
    6. Am I able to export my calendars' events from PlanetHS?
    7. Can I Import calendar events?
    8. Can repeating events be scheduled?
    9. Can I add media to an Event?
    10. Do class events show on the School Calendar?
    11. Can events from outside organizations related to a club, class or team that I am following be added to that club/class/team's calendar?
    12. Can I classify events into different types of events?
  • Location and Services Management

    1. What types of resources may be reserved?
    2. How does the reservation process work?
    3. Can I tell if a resource is available before requesting a reservation?
    4. What services may be requested?
  • Elections – Surveys, contests and polls

    1. How may schools use this feature?
    2. Who can participate in the Survey, Poll, Election or Contest?
    3. How do I make sure the students only vote once?
    4. Can I add a photo, video or document to an Election?
    5. Will the students see the results of an election?
  • Community Service Hours Management – Community Interacting with Volunteers' Interests Center (CIVICenter)

    1. Who creates a community service event?
    2. Who approves a community service event before it is viewed on PlanetHS?
    3. How are students notified of new Community Service Events?
    4. Are records maintained for students Community Service Hours?
  • Discussion Groups

    1. Can any club/class/team have discussion groups?
    2. Is there a moderator for discussion groups?
    3. Is every comment approved before it is viewable by the group?
    4. How is objectionable activity in a discussion group managed?
    5. Can media be added to a discussion group?
    6. Is there an audit trail for discussion groups?
  • Mobile app

    1. What features are available on the PlanetHS mobile app?
    2. Can notifications be sent from the PlanetHS mobile app and by whom?
    3. Can media be uploaded to PlanetHS from the mobile app?
    4. How is uploaded media from the mobile app approved?
    5. What types of smartphones are supported?
FAQ Guides
  • General FAQ
  • Schools, Clubs, and Organizations
  • Features
  • Media and Live Streaming
  • Fundraising and Advertising
Need Help? Contact US
  • schoolsupport@planeths.com
  • Help Docs





Communication – Email, SMS Text Message and On-line Newsfeed

How are notifications distributed on PlanetHS?

By creating one simple notification, distribution is supported through email and SMS text messaging, plus every notification is posted on the newsfeed of each recipient, as well as the newsfeed of the source (club, class, team or school).

Who may create a notification on PlanetHS?

Notifications may be school level or by an approved sponsor or leader of a specific club, class or team.

Who will send notifications to me on PlanetHS?

You will choose who may send notifications to you. Email and SMS text messages will come from your chosen school, as well as from the clubs, classes and teams that you have chosen to "follow". Your school will send you an email each Wednesday with updates on the events scheduled for the next week. PlanetHS may occasionally send a notification to you updating you on new features or enhancements to the PlanetHS program.

How do I choose a school and then follow a club, class or team?

When you create your account on PlanetHS, you will designate your school. Once your account is created, you may navigate to the clubs, classes and teams in your chosen school. Within the information box located in the upper left area of each club, class or team page, there is a "Follow" button. By selecting the "Follow" button, you will choose to be designated as a Member or a Fan. You will then receive all notification sent to your chosen designation (Member or Fan), plus events scheduled for that club/class/team will now appear on your personalized calendar.

Can students send emails, text messages on PlanetHS?

Every notification sent on PlanetHS is sent by a school authorized person. There are no student to student emails or text messages on PlanetHS.

Will I receive Email or Text Message Notifications?

Each student, parent and teacher decides how they want to receive notifications – email, SMS text message, or both. You will always be able to access your personalized newsfeed on PlanetHS that will contain your notifications, events and media. You may change your settings at any time in your personal profile.

What type of text messages will I receive?

True SMS text messaging, not the less reliable email to text message system used by other services.

As a teacher, my district does not allow me to text message students because there is no record of the message sent from my cell phone. How is PlanetHS different?

Every text message and email is fully documented and a record permanently archived.

What records are maintained for messages sent on PlanetHS?

The record shows the author, the approver, every recipient, the mode of delivery (text message or email) to each recipient, all content of the message and the relevant date and time associated with each of the above details.

Can I send notifications from my cell phone?

Teachers may send notifications from the PlanetHS mobile app when on field trip with full documentation, just as if sent from a computer, that recipients will receive as either text message or email, depending upon their selected preference.

Can the students that are club officers, team captains or interns send notifications?

The school, as well as every club/class/team, may designate students as Leadership. Those students may draft notifications that go into a pending status until the school authorized person approves the message for distribution.

How is the distribution determined for each notification?

Notifications sent on PlanetHS are easily customized to reach specified audiences. School level notifications may be sent to everyone with an account specifying that school as their school. Clubs/classes/teams may send notifications to just its members, its fans, the preselected Leadership group, a custom User Group of individuals created by the sponsors, or to individuals. Notifications from schools and clubs/classes/teams may then further define the intended recipients by

  • Types – students, teachers or parents
  • Gender
  • Graduation Year

Am I able to create custom User Groups for receiving notifications?

Yes, schools and each club/class/team may create as many User Groups as they wish. Notifications may then be sent to those in User Groups by merely selecting the User Group when sending a notification. This is great feature for communication with committee members or other sub-groups.

Can media or documents be sent with email on PlanetHS?

  • Yes, the body of emails contains a Rich Text editor which allows the inclusion of photos, hyperlinks, importation of Word docs, spell check, selectable fonts and many more customization features.
  • Additionally, media (photos, video clips and documents) may be appended to the email

Are there different templates available for emails?

Currently there are two templates available. We plan to work with schools, clubs and teams to develop more templates. We welcome your input.

Our school has a web master that controls everything on our school's web site and all emails sent by our school. Can PlanetHS work with our system?

PlanetHS is designed to be flexible so that the program will comply with the existing policies of schools and school districts. PlanetHS is designed to delegate the responsibility for communications and scheduling to the teachers and coaches most directly involved with the students in order to avoid overloading any one person. However, each school may apply up to three levels of approvals on a club by club basis and for specified activities (messaging, scheduling, media etc.) in order to comply with the policies of the school.

Will members be able to reply to my notifications?

Yes, Members have the ability to reply to email notifications with full documentation. We do not currently support replying to SMS text messages.

Can I receive messages from outside organizations related to a club, class or team that I am following?

Yes. In order to create the most efficient, controlled communications possible, PlanetHS has created a system for communication by an organization that reaches multiple schools simultaneously. Each organization's presence has to be created by PlanetHS – no organization may add itself to PlanetHS. For example, if an athletic conference has a direct presence created by PlanetHS and your team has chosen to "subscribe" to that conference, then the conference may send messages that will reach your team and every one that is following that team as part of the designated audience (a message from the athletic conference to just the parents). Similarly, the National Honor Society may send messages that will reach the NHS chapter in each school on PlanetHS.

Calendars

What calendars are on PlanetHS?

A school level calendar with events involving the entire school is the base calendar. Each club/class/team maintains a calendar so that those most directly involved may keep all events scheduled and updated. No multiple entries of events are required; the PlanetHS software then merges all of these events into one master school calendar. There is both a grid view and a list view available for every calendar.

Who adds events to these calendars?

Each school authorizes one or more individuals to have the authority over each club/class/team (the "sponsor"), as well as the school coordinator(s). Sponsors enter events for their club/class/team. Each sponsor may designate members of a leadership group that may create event entries that are pending until a school authorized person approves the pending event to be viewable on the calendars.

How is my calendar on PlanetHS personalized?

Each person with an account on PlanetHS has a personalized calendar that includes all school level events and the events of the clubs/classes/teams that you have chosen to "follow". No more searching through events that do not pertain to you as your calendar will only have events from the Clubs, Classes and Teams you have chosen to follow! You may always view the school level calendar that contains all events.

How do I know if an event has been scheduled or updated?

When an event is scheduled or updated, the person approving the event entry is given the option of sending a notification to everyone "following" the relevant school or club/class/team.

Can I receive automatic updates to my calendar on my smart phone and electronic calendar on my computer?

Yes, a great feature of PlanetHS is that automated updates may be integrated into your existing Google or other online/smartphone calendars using iCal standard (iPhone, Blackberry, Windows, Outlook and more). By simply adding the URL of your personalized PlanetHS calendar to your current smartphone calendar, your current calendar will stay updated with all of your events from PlanetHS.


Google Calendar

  • Log into your Google calendar (http://calendar.google.com/)
  • In the pane in the lower left of the window, click the downward pointing triangle to the right of the "Other calendars" label.
  • Select "Add by URL..."
  • Enter the URL of the ICS feed in the "URL:" field
  • Click "Add Calendar"

iOS

  • Go to the Settings icon and choose "Mail, Contacts, Calendars"
  • Select "Add Account..."
  • Select "Other" at the bottom of the list
  • Select "Add Subscribed Calendar"
  • In the "Server" field enter the URL of the ICS feed and then click the "Next" button
  • A detailed dialog window will open. Enter a meaningful description in the "Description" field
  • Click the "Save" button

Microsoft Outlook 2010

  • Open Outlook 2010
  • Go to your calendar and then click the "Home" tab on the Ribbon
  • Click the "Open Calendar" button in the Ribbon and choose "From Internet..."
  • Enter the URL of the ICS feed
  • Click the "OK" button
  • A dialog will popup asking you if you want to "Add this Internet Calendar to Outlook and subscribe to updates". Click the "Yes" button

Outlook 2007

  • Open Outlook 2007
  • From Tools menu select Account Settings
  • Click on the Internet Calendars tab
  • Click the New button
  • Enter the URL of the ICS feed then click Add
  • In the Subscription Options dialog box, you can optionally rename the calendar. Make sure the box is checked in the Update Limit section.

Mac OS iCal

  • Open iCal
  • In the menu bar, open the "Calendar" menu and choose "Subscribe..."
  • Enter the URL of the ICS feed in the dialog then click the "Subscribe" button
  • A detailed dialog window will open. At the bottom of the window, change the "Auto-refresh" field to "Every day".
  • In the "Name:" field enter a title that is meaningful to you
  • Click "OK"

Yahoo Calendar

  • Go to http://calendar.yahoo.com/subscribe (it will prompt you to log in if you haven't already)
  • In the "Email or iCal Address:" field, enter the URL of the ICS feed
  • Click the "Next" button
  • In the "Display as:" field, enter a title that is meaningful to you
  • Click the "Save" button

Am I able to export my calendars' events from PlanetHS?

Yes, you may also export the individual calendar events from your personal calendar, school calendar & club/class/team calendar.

Can I Import calendar events?

Yes, the school authorized individuals at both the school and club/class/team levels can import events using an iCal format. Events go into pending status before appearing on relevant calendar. When importing iCal files that contain multiple events, you are provided with the option of approving the events individually, or collectively.

Can repeating events be scheduled?

Repeating events may be scheduled weekly, monthly or on multiple specified dates.

Can I add media to an Event?

Media (photos, video clips and documents) may be appended to events.

Do class events show on the School Calendar?

Class events do not show on school calendar by default, but your school may elect to have any, or all, class events appear on the school calendar.

Can events from outside organizations related to a club, class or team that I am following be added to that club/class/team's calendar?

Yes. In order to create the most efficient, controlled communications possible, PlanetHS has created a system for communication by an organization that reaches multiple schools simultaneously. Each organization's presence has to be created by PlanetHS – no organization may add itself to PlanetHS. For example, if an athletic conference has a direct presence created by PlanetHS and your team has chosen to "subscribe" to that conference, then the conference may schedule an event that will reach your team's calendar and every one's personalized calendar that is following that team (tournament games scheduled by the conference will reach the calendar of every team in the conference, as well as the calendars of the players and their parents). Similarly, the National Honor Society may schedule its conventions and those events will be added to the calendars of the NHS chapter in each school on PlanetHS.

Can I classify events into different types of events?

When an athletic event is scheduled, it may be classified as a standard, game or practice event. Tabs will appear at the top of the newsfeed if there are event types used by that team so that you may easily see the game schedule or practice schedule. PlanetHS will develop additional event types for clubs, classes and teams based upon user requests.

Location and Services Management

What types of resources may be reserved?

The School Coordinator can set up locations, equipment or any resource belonging to your school that needs an approval for reservation. For example: auditorium, media center, gymnasium, Computer Lab, video equipment, etc. The School Coordinator will designate who approves the reservation request during this initial set up process – typically the same approval process that you now use.

How does the reservation process work?

When creating a school level or club/class/team event the list of locations will show on your screen. Simply check the box for the location requested and PlanetHS will automatically send the appropriate request to the person responsible for approving the location you requested. You will be notified when your request has been approved or denied. Once your request has been approved, the event will show on your Club Calendar.

Can I tell if a resource is available before requesting a reservation?

Yes, each reservable resource has its own calendar that is viewable via a link during the event scheduling process. You will also see items that are awaiting approval for your specific location.

What services may be requested?

The School Coordinator may set up services that may be requested in conjunction with an event. Some common services include the participation by Principal, Media Specialist, ticket sales, Custodian, etc. The School Coordinator will designate individuals to approve each service request. Events will not appear on the relevant calendars until the requested services have been approved.

Elections – Surveys, contests and polls

How may schools use this feature?

Schools may use this feature for student council elections, homecoming court nominations, art contests, music contests, polls of student opinions, survey of parent preferences, election of team captains, and many more applications.

Who can participate in the Survey, Poll, Election or Contest?

Voting access may be made broadly to everyone from a school, to just members of a club/class/team or to subsets of those groups defined by gender and graduation year. For instance, a survey of just the senior boys seeking their preference for the senior trip.

How do I make sure the students only vote once?

Schools may choose to send a verification email to each email address to validate the address as an authentic email address associated with a student's account on PlanetHS along with their student ID. Additionally, elections may be configured to require students to input their ID number prior to voting which is compared to the ID on file that matches the number from the verified email.

Can I add a photo, video or document to an Election?

You may add Media (photo, video or document) to each question. You can attach a campaign speech for each candidate running for office or a picture for an art contest.

Will the students see the results of an election?

Elections, contests surveys and polls have multiple options to determine if and when the results are seen. The options of viewing the results upon voting, after the election has ended or only to administrators.

Community Service Hours Management – Community Interacting with Volunteers' Interests Center (CIVICenter)

Who creates a community service event?

The organization that is hosting the community service event – an animal shelter, recycling group, Red Cross and any other organization (inside or outside of the school) that has previously been hosting community service events

Who approves a community service event before it is viewed on PlanetHS?

Once the event is created, the person designated by the school (typically a guidance counselor) will receive notice of the pending item. The event is only viewable on PlanetHS.com after the event has been approved by the school authorized person.

How are students notified of new Community Service Events?

Students may "follow" organizations in the CIVICenter just as they "follow" clubs/classes/teams and notifications of new events will be distributed, in addition to the events appearing on the calendars.

Are records maintained for students Community Service Hours?

A record is kept of the service hours for each student with an account on PlanetHS. Each student may also set a personal goal for community service hours for the school year. Monthly notices will be sent to each student with the status of their service hours and their progress in reaching their goal. Reports may be created at any time for individual students, hosting organizations and for the entire school.

Discussion Groups

Can any club/class/team have discussion groups?

Yes, the Club, Class or Team Sponsor has the ability to set up a discussion group. The School Coordinator may set up a school level discussion.

Is there a moderator for discussion groups?

Yes, the sponsor or coordinator who set up the discussion will be the moderator.

Is every comment approved before it is viewable by the group?

Each comment is not pre-approved but PlanetHS has profanity and URL filters to block inappropriate language and websites. Participants have an easy "Report" button to report any comments they feel are inappropriate. The reports are sent immediately to the moderator for review and/or removal of the comment.

How is objectionable activity in a discussion group managed?

Participants of the discussion have the ability to easily report a comment they feel is questionable or inappropriate. The report is sent immediately to the moderator for review or removal.

Can media be added to a discussion group?

The Moderator has the ability to add a photo, video or document to the discussion when setting up the discussion guidelines.

Is there an audit trail for discussion groups?

Yes, there is an Audit log for each comment posted for every discussion created on PlanetHS.

Mobile app

What features are available on the PlanetHS mobile app?

Most every feature that is available to students and parents on the full site is available on the mobile app

  • View live streaming events, video clips and photos
  • Personal newsfeed is updated in real time
  • Newsfeeds for the school and every club/class/team are updated in real time
  • Media may be uploaded

Can notifications be sent from the PlanetHS mobile app and by whom?

Yes. By the school administrators or class, club, or team sponsor.

Can media be uploaded to PlanetHS from the mobile app?

Yes. Media can be uploaded directly from your mobile device. Media uploaded from a mobile device will go into a pending status for approval by the club, class or team sponsor.

How is uploaded media from the mobile app approved?

The uploaded media from the mobile app will go into a pending status for the club, class or team sponsor to view and approve or deny. Media will never go live to the site without proper approval from a school staff member.

What types of smartphones are supported?

Android devices are supported. Devices using iOS will be supported soon.



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