Messages is one list. Tabs narrow it: People (your one-to-one conversations — the default), Groups (the group messages you sent and the ones sent to you), Staff (channels), and Archived once you've archived something. Anything waiting on your reply is tagged Needs your reply and sits at the top.
- Open Messages. Turn on Unread only (above the search) to see just what's new.
- Answer anything tagged Needs your reply. A reply anywhere in your conversation with that person counts, and a message with no question in it clears once you open it. If nothing more needs saying, mark it Done (the ✓ on the row, or Done in the conversation) — it leaves your queue until they write again.
- On DMs, a banner shows announcement replies waiting on you — open it to jump to them. Each announcement row shows "N awaiting".
- Use a row's ⋯ to Pin to top, Mute notifications, Mark unread, or Archive. On a phone, swipe the row.
- Search people and messages (press / to jump there) — it matches names, children's names and message text.
The Messages inbox — the DMs, Announcements and Channels filters, with a Needs your reply row on top.
Archiving a conversation tucks it away; it comes back when someone writes. Archiving your own announcement also files its replies. Under Announcements, choose Clear on ones sent to you, or "Clear N older than 30 days" at the bottom to tidy up.
Parent rows name the child and grade ("Parent of Ezra (Gr 4)"), so you know who you're talking to before you open it.