Latest news with #SharleneBarnes
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
How New Zealand schools can respond better to lockdowns
School lockdowns in New Zealand feel like they're much more common these days. So, in events like these, or when there's a natural emergency - how can schools communicate quickly with parents and the wider school community? Sharlene Barnes created a free app called Skool Loop, which more than 1300 kiwi schools already use. She says what was once considered an extraordinary emergency is now a regular occurrence and hopes more schools will take advantage of what the free app offers. Children at Arakura School in Lower Hutt line up for free lunch, on 18 March, 2024. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Techday NZ
29-05-2025
- General
- Techday NZ
NZ schools urged to boost emergency communication plans
School communities across New Zealand are being urged to prepare for emergency events, as lockdowns are becoming a regular occurrence in the country's educational landscape. Recent incidents in May, including a lockdown at Peninsula Primary in Te Atatū following the appearance of a naked intruder on school grounds and multiple Papakura schools reacting to a nearby serious assault, have underscored the prevalence of emergency situations facing schools. The frequency of such events has prompted renewed calls for systematic preparation in the education sector. No longer limited to rare or exceptional circumstances, emergencies such as security threats and natural disasters now require ongoing readiness and robust communication strategies. Sharlene Barnes, the Kaikoura-based Chief Executive and Founder of the school community communications platform Skool Loop, reflected on this shift. "What was once considered an extraordinary emergency is now a regular occurrence that schools, parents, and communities face," says Barnes. Barnes emphasised the importance of prompt and clear messaging during emergencies. "When an emergency happens you don't want to be scrambling to get information out. It's a safety issue of course, but it's also a tremendous source of stress and anxiety for the entire community. Parents, grandparents, local businesses—everyone connected to that school—needs to know what's happening, and they need to know as soon as possible." The scope of emergencies requiring rapid school-wide communication has noticeably broadened, incorporating not just traditional fire drills or severe weather but also security threats and other critical incidents. Each of these demands an instant and comprehensive reach to every community member. "When crisis situations unfold, the priority is getting accurate information to everyone who needs it as quickly as possible," says Barnes. "So when an emergency happens, you want the ability to instantly push mobile notifications to their entire community, as well as to present up-to-the-minute information on the homepage of the school website, because that's where people will be looking to find out what's happening." Barnes' perspective is shaped by personal experience: the Skool Loop app was developed after she struggled to reach her son's school during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, due to the failure of communication systems. Her journey on foot through hazardous conditions to ensure her child's safety made her acutely aware of the need for reliable emergency channels. This led to the creation of a platform designed to deliver information via multiple channels, including instant push notifications that reach users wherever they are. The platform also enables access to critical information without requiring users to use their own mobile data, and integrates emergency banners into school websites for centralised updates. "We've designed our system so that both the app notifications and the school website work seamlessly together during emergencies," explains Barnes. "When a crisis hits, schools need technology that works instantly, without requiring technical expertise from stressed staff members." The Skool Loop platform is currently seeking SST 4 accreditation, described as the highest available security certification, aiming to ensure that both school and family data remain secure under high-pressure conditions. During Cyclone Gabrielle, more than 500 schools utilised Skool Loop to communicate urgent messages to hundreds of thousands of parents through push notifications over a week-long period. The platform is designed to remain operational even when phone systems are down, and allows access to vital updates from any internet-enabled device if a person's own phone is lost or damaged. The usability of the Skool Loop platform is a core focus, ensuring that all school staff can activate emergency communications quickly and efficiently, without requiring advanced technical training. This approach has been tested in a range of real-world emergencies, from security-related lockdowns—such as the 2022 Taupiri School incident—to major natural disasters, demonstrating the platform's functionality during crisis scenarios. A key lesson from recent events is the necessity for communication strategies that extend beyond just parents or caregivers. Barnes highlights the changing dynamics of family and community in modern New Zealand. "Our app is open to the whole community, not just the small community of parents," explains Barnes. "This includes aunties, uncles, grandparents—everyone. It reflects the realities of modern families and communities." Schools, especially those in rural areas with limited resources, face additional budgetary pressures, often forcing difficult choices regarding spending on essential services. "When every dollar counts in a school's budget, you shouldn't have to pay three or four thousand dollars for communication with your community," says Barnes. "That's why we provide Skool Loop free to all New Zealand schools." She adds, "This is especially important for smaller rural schools, who still have the same emergency communication needs as larger urban institutions, but often significantly fewer resources available." Barnes emphasises the importance of early preparation for emergencies, noting that having effective communication in place can help prevent further stress during an incident. "Setting up those systems doesn't have to be difficult or expensive," says Barnes. "It just means acknowledging that these situations will continue to occur, and taking steps to ensure that you have a communication system in place that you can activate instantly." "We can't prevent every emergency, but we can absolutely control how well we communicate when they happen." Skool Loop's platform is used by over 1,300 schools in New Zealand, providing a cost-free method for educational institutions to manage emergency communications effectively.
Scoop
26-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
School Lockdowns ‘The New Normal': Kiwi School Communities Urged To Prepare Ahead Of Emergency Events
Press Release – Skool Loop From security threats to natural disasters, today's educational institutions face a challenging reality: emergency situations are no longer unexpected events. They are regular occurrences that require systematic preparation. May's high profile school lockdowns—Peninsula Primary in Te Atatū responding to a naked intruder on school grounds, and multiple Papakura schools securing their premises after a nearby serious assault —are a stark reminder of an uncomfortable truth: emergency lockdowns have become the 'new normal' in New Zealand education. From security threats to natural disasters, today's educational institutions face a challenging reality: emergency situations are no longer unexpected events. They are regular occurrences that require systematic preparation. The Changing Emergency Landscape 'What was once considered an extraordinary emergency is now a regular occurrence that schools, parents, and communities face,' says Sharlene Barnes, the Kaikoura-based CEO and founder of school community communications app, Skool Loop. 'When an emergency happens you don't want to be scrambling to get information out. It's a safety issue of course, but it's also a tremendous source of stress and anxiety for the entire community. Parents, grandparents, local businesses—everyone connected to that school—needs to know what's happening, and they need to know as soon as possible.' The types of emergencies requiring immediate school-wide communication have expanded beyond traditional fire drills and severe weather warnings. Security threats, natural disasters, and other critical incidents all demand instant, comprehensive communication that reaches every member of the school community simultaneously. 'When crisis situations unfold, the priority is getting accurate information to everyone who needs it as quickly as possible,' says Barnes. 'So when an emergency happens, you want the ability to instantly push mobile notifications to their entire community, as well as to present up-to-the-minute information on the homepage of the school website, because that's where people will be looking to find out what's happening.' Born from Crisis Barnes developed the Skool Loop app following her own experience during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, when communication systems failed and she was forced to run—barefoot and through dangerous conditions—to reach her son's school. Having experienced first-hand the critical importance of reliable emergency communication, she created a platform that would ensure that no Kiwi parent would have to face that uncertainty again. The Skool Loop platform incorporates multiple channels of information delivery, with instant push notifications providing immediate alerts to mobile devices, ensuring critical information reaches people wherever they are. The platform also operates on a zero data system, allowing parents to access critical school information without using their personal mobile data. Simultaneously, when a lockdown event occurs, emergency banners on school websites serve as centralised information hubs for those seeking updates and additional details. 'We've designed our system so that both the app notifications and the school website work seamlessly together during emergencies,' explains Barnes. 'When a crisis hits, schools need technology that works instantly, without requiring technical expertise from stressed staff members.' The platform maintains strict security standards and is currently pursuing SST 4 accreditation—the highest level of security certification available—ensuring that sensitive school and family information remains protected even during high-stress emergency situations. Comprehensive Emergency Communications During Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island, more than 500 schools used Skool Loop to communicate with hundreds of thousands of parents through push notifications over the course of one week. The system's design ensures functionality even when traditional phone services are disrupted, and parents can access critical information from any device if their personal phone is lost or damaged during an emergency. The Skool Loop platform has been built specifically for educational environments, ensuring that emergency communication tools are user-friendly enough for any staff member to activate quickly and effectively, without requiring extensive training or technical knowledge. This proven reliability during real-world emergencies, from security lockdowns like the 2022 Taupiri School incident to major natural disasters, demonstrates the platform's capability to handle any crisis situation schools may face. Whole-Community Approach One of the most critical lessons learned from recent school emergencies is that effective communication shouldn't be limited to only parents and primary caregivers. Modern family structures and community connections mean that emergency information must reach a much broader network of people who need to know immediately what's happening. 'Our app is open to the whole community, not just the small community of parents,' explains Barnes. 'This includes aunties, uncles, grandparents—everyone. It reflects the realities of modern families and communities.' Alongside these communication challenges, school budgets are under increasing pressure, with principals sometimes needing to make difficult decisions about where to allocate limited resources. 'When every dollar counts in a school's budget, you shouldn't have to pay three or four thousand dollars for communication with your community,' says Barnes. 'That's why we provide Skool Loop free to all New Zealand schools.' 'This is especially important for smaller rural schools, who still have the same emergency communication needs as larger urban institutions, but often significantly fewer resources available.' Preparedness as Priority As school lockdowns and emergency situations become more common, the onus is on schools to prepare their communication systems before an emergency occurs—rather than scrambling to respond during a crisis. 'Setting up those systems doesn't have to be difficult or expensive,' says Barnes. 'It just means acknowledging that these situations will continue to occur, and taking steps to ensure that you have a communication system in place that you can activate instantly.' 'We can't prevent every emergency, but we can absolutely control how well we communicate when they happen.' With Skool Loop's free platform already trusted by over 1,300 schools, there's no cost or risk to upgrading your emergency communication capabilities. Contact us to get started. About The Skool Loop App Founded in 2013 by Sharlene Barnes in Kaikoura, The Skool Loop App serves over 1,300 schools across Australia and New Zealand with more than one million users. The platform provides comprehensive school communication solutions including emergency notifications, push alerts, and integrated school websites. As the first school communication app in the Australia/New Zealand market, Skool Loop has 13 years of continuous development focused specifically on educational community needs. The platform is available free to all New Zealand schools.
Scoop
25-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
School Lockdowns ‘The New Normal': Kiwi School Communities Urged To Prepare Ahead Of Emergency Events
May's high profile school lockdowns—Peninsula Primary in Te Atatū responding to a naked intruder on school grounds, and multiple Papakura schools securing their premises after a nearby serious assault—are a stark reminder of an uncomfortable truth: emergency lockdowns have become the 'new normal' in New Zealand education. From security threats to natural disasters, today's educational institutions face a challenging reality: emergency situations are no longer unexpected events. They are regular occurrences that require systematic preparation. The Changing Emergency Landscape "What was once considered an extraordinary emergency is now a regular occurrence that schools, parents, and communities face," says Sharlene Barnes, the Kaikoura-based CEO and founder of school community communications app, Skool Loop. "When an emergency happens you don't want to be scrambling to get information out. It's a safety issue of course, but it's also a tremendous source of stress and anxiety for the entire community. Parents, grandparents, local businesses—everyone connected to that school—needs to know what's happening, and they need to know as soon as possible." The types of emergencies requiring immediate school-wide communication have expanded beyond traditional fire drills and severe weather warnings. Security threats, natural disasters, and other critical incidents all demand instant, comprehensive communication that reaches every member of the school community simultaneously. "When crisis situations unfold, the priority is getting accurate information to everyone who needs it as quickly as possible," says Barnes. "So when an emergency happens, you want the ability to instantly push mobile notifications to their entire community, as well as to present up-to-the-minute information on the homepage of the school website, because that's where people will be looking to find out what's happening." Born from Crisis Barnes developed the Skool Loop app following her own experience during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, when communication systems failed and she was forced to run—barefoot and through dangerous conditions—to reach her son's school. Having experienced first-hand the critical importance of reliable emergency communication, she created a platform that would ensure that no Kiwi parent would have to face that uncertainty again. The Skool Loop platform incorporates multiple channels of information delivery, with instant push notifications providing immediate alerts to mobile devices, ensuring critical information reaches people wherever they are. The platform also operates on a zero data system, allowing parents to access critical school information without using their personal mobile data. Simultaneously, when a lockdown event occurs, emergency banners on school websites serve as centralised information hubs for those seeking updates and additional details. "We've designed our system so that both the app notifications and the school website work seamlessly together during emergencies," explains Barnes. "When a crisis hits, schools need technology that works instantly, without requiring technical expertise from stressed staff members." The platform maintains strict security standards and is currently pursuing SST 4 accreditation—the highest level of security certification available—ensuring that sensitive school and family information remains protected even during high-stress emergency situations. Comprehensive Emergency Communications During Cyclone Gabrielle in the North Island, more than 500 schools used Skool Loop to communicate with hundreds of thousands of parents through push notifications over the course of one week. The system's design ensures functionality even when traditional phone services are disrupted, and parents can access critical information from any device if their personal phone is lost or damaged during an emergency. The Skool Loop platform has been built specifically for educational environments, ensuring that emergency communication tools are user-friendly enough for any staff member to activate quickly and effectively, without requiring extensive training or technical knowledge. This proven reliability during real-world emergencies, from security lockdowns like the 2022 Taupiri School incident to major natural disasters, demonstrates the platform's capability to handle any crisis situation schools may face. Whole-Community Approach One of the most critical lessons learned from recent school emergencies is that effective communication shouldn't be limited to only parents and primary caregivers. Modern family structures and community connections mean that emergency information must reach a much broader network of people who need to know immediately what's happening. "Our app is open to the whole community, not just the small community of parents," explains Barnes. "This includes aunties, uncles, grandparents—everyone. It reflects the realities of modern families and communities." Alongside these communication challenges, school budgets are under increasing pressure, with principals sometimes needing to make difficult decisions about where to allocate limited resources. "When every dollar counts in a school's budget, you shouldn't have to pay three or four thousand dollars for communication with your community,' says Barnes. 'That's why we provide Skool Loop free to all New Zealand schools.' 'This is especially important for smaller rural schools, who still have the same emergency communication needs as larger urban institutions, but often significantly fewer resources available.' Preparedness as Priority As school lockdowns and emergency situations become more common, the onus is on schools to prepare their communication systems before an emergency occurs—rather than scrambling to respond during a crisis. "Setting up those systems doesn't have to be difficult or expensive,' says Barnes. 'It just means acknowledging that these situations will continue to occur, and taking steps to ensure that you have a communication system in place that you can activate instantly.' 'We can't prevent every emergency, but we can absolutely control how well we communicate when they happen.' With Skool Loop's free platform already trusted by over 1,300 schools, there's no cost or risk to upgrading your emergency communication capabilities. Contact us to get started. About The Skool Loop App Founded in 2013 by Sharlene Barnes in Kaikoura, The Skool Loop App serves over 1,300 schools across Australia and New Zealand with more than one million users. The platform provides comprehensive school communication solutions including emergency notifications, push alerts, and integrated school websites. As the first school communication app in the Australia/New Zealand market, Skool Loop has 13 years of continuous development focused specifically on educational community needs. The platform is available free to all New Zealand schools.
