Your school's content management system makes it easy to create, update, and manage web pages without any technical expertise. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about working with pages on your school website.
Getting Started with Pages
What Are Pages?
Pages are the individual sections of your website where you can share information with your school community. Think of them as digital documents that can include text, images, videos, and interactive elements like forms and calendars.
Accessing Page Management
To work with pages, simply log into your content management system through any web browser. Once logged in, you'll see an intuitive dashboard that gives you easy access to create and edit pages without needing any coding knowledge.
Creating and Managing Pages
Adding a New Page
Creating a page is as simple as sending an email. Click the "Add Page" button in your dashboard and choose from various page layouts designed specifically for schools. You can create pages for departments, classes, events, announcements, and more.
Page Layout Options
Your system offers multiple layout options to suit different types of content:
Hero Layouts: Perfect for highlighting important announcements or showcasing school achievements
Standard Layouts: Ideal for general information pages like policies, procedures, or department overviews
Gallery Layouts: Great for displaying photos from school events or student work
Adding Content to Your Pages
Once you've created a page, you can easily add various types of content:
Text and Images: Simply type your content and drag-and-drop images directly into your page. The system automatically optimizes images for web viewing.
Videos: Embed videos from popular platforms or upload your own content to share announcements, classroom lessons, or school events.
Interactive Elements: Add buttons that link to important resources, staff directory blocks, news feeds, event calendars, and more.
Documents: Embed PDF files directly into your pages so visitors can view documents without downloading them.
Tables: Create organized information displays for schedules, contact lists, or data presentations.
Working with Page Content
Saving Your Work
The system automatically saves drafts as you work, so you never have to worry about losing your content. You can save a page as a draft to continue working on it later, or publish it immediately to make it live on your website.
Publishing and Unpublishing Pages
When you're ready to share your page with the public, simply click "Publish." If you need to temporarily remove a page from public view, you can unpublish it without deleting your work entirely.
Moving and Organizing Pages
You can easily reorganize your website's structure by moving pages to different sections or reordering items in your navigation menus. This drag-and-drop functionality makes it simple to keep your site organized as it grows.
Special Features for Teachers
Personal Teacher Pages
Teachers can create and manage their own dedicated pages to share information with students and parents. These pages can include:
Personal bio and contact information
Class schedules and assignments
Photos of student work and classroom activities
Video lectures or announcements
Links to Google Classroom integration
Connecting with Google Tools
If your school uses Google Workspace, you can easily connect your pages to Google Classroom, sync calendars, and even access Google Analytics to see how families engage with your content.
Parent and Student Engagement
Teachers can invite parents and students to follow their pages, and families can subscribe to receive daily updates directly in their email inbox. This feature helps maintain consistent communication throughout the school year.
Content Best Practices
Keep Content Fresh and Current
Regular updates keep families engaged and informed. Set aside time each week to review and update your pages with new information, upcoming events, or recent achievements.
Use Clear, Simple Language
Write content that's easy to understand for all members of your school community. Avoid educational jargon when possible, and explain terms that parents might not be familiar with.
Include Visual Elements
Pages with images and videos are more engaging than text-only content. Use photos from school events, student artwork, or simple graphics to make your pages more visually appealing.
Organize Information Logically
Structure your content with clear headings and sections. Use bullet points or numbered lists when appropriate to make information easy to scan and understand.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Your content management system includes built-in accessibility features to ensure all families can access your content:
Automatic Accessibility Checking: Every time you create or update a page, the system reviews your content for accessibility compliance
AI-Powered Corrections: With one click, artificial intelligence can automatically fix accessibility issues in your content
Translation Support: Content can be automatically translated to help non-English speaking families access important information
Managing Deleted and Restored Pages
Viewing Deleted Pages
If you accidentally delete a page, don't worry. Your system keeps a record of deleted pages so you can review what was removed and when.
Restoring Pages
Deleted pages can be easily restored if needed. Simply access the deleted pages section in your dashboard and click "Restore" on any page you want to bring back.
Site Navigation and Organization
Adding Pages to Navigation
When you create new pages, you can choose whether to include them in your site's main navigation menu. This helps visitors easily find the information they're looking for.
Creating Sections
You can organize related pages into sections (like "Academics," "Athletics," or "Parents") to keep your website well-structured and easy to navigate.
Forms and Interactive Features
Built-in Form Builder
Create unlimited forms directly within your pages to collect:
Permission slips and field trip forms
Registration information for events or activities
Contact information and feedback from families
Payment collection for fees, donations, or merchandise
Calendar Integration
Embed school calendars directly into your pages, and sync with existing Google or Microsoft calendar systems with just one click.
Tips for Success
Start Simple
Begin with basic pages and gradually add more sophisticated features as you become comfortable with the system. The learning curve is gentle, and you can always build upon your initial efforts.
Collaborate with Colleagues
Encourage multiple staff members to contribute content to different pages. This distributes the workload and ensures diverse perspectives are represented on your website.
Regular Maintenance
Set aside time monthly to review all pages for outdated information, broken links, or content that needs refreshing. A well-maintained website reflects positively on your school.
Mobile-Friendly Content
Remember that many families will view your pages on mobile devices. The system automatically optimizes your content for mobile viewing, but keep this in mind when creating longer pages or complex layouts.
Your school's content management system is designed to make website management as straightforward as possible for educators. With these tools and techniques, you can create an engaging, informative website that serves your entire school community effectively. Remember, the goal is to make information easily accessible to families while reducing the administrative burden on staff.