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Create a new bell schedule

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A Bell Schedule defines when bells ring and are made up of default and exception schedules. Default schedules are the bell schedules for the majority of the school year. Exception schedules are the schedules for the days that are to be different from the default schedules.

Step 1: Create the new bell schedule

During this step, you will create a new bell schedule. Once a bell schedule is created, it can then be assigned to a bell controller relay.

  1. Go to Scheduling > Bell/Timer Schedules.

    If you have an existing schedule that is similar to the new schedule you are creating, you can copy an existing schedule.

  2. From the bottom of the list, select + New.

  3. Enter the Name of the schedule.

  4. Select a Business Unit. By default, assigned to the account Business Unit.

Step 2: Add a default schedule

During this step, you will set up the default schedule as the bell schedule for the majority of the school year. If you have bell schedules that vary by the day of the week, you will need to create a default schedule for each of the schedules.

  1. Enter the Schedule Name.

  2. Select each day of the week the schedule is to be effective on.

  3. From the School Year From, set the date range the schedule is effective; [the start date] to [the end date].

  4. Select a display color for the schedule. The color is displayed on the schedule calendar and the School Calendar Report to identify the schedule's effective dates.

    schedules-zone-default-schedule.png

  5. Add the schedule's periods, select Add Period(s). A schedule can have up to a maximum number of 48 events, in which a single bell is an event. If you use both start and end bells, you can only set up to a maximum of 24 periods resulting in 48 events. If you are only using start bells, you can set up to 48 periods.

    schedules-add-period.png

    You can set the schedule to automatically generate repeat periods or create each individual period. If you only want the bells to ring at the start of a period, select Use Start Bell Only.

    How to automatically generate the period schedule...

    How to create each individual period...

    If each period is the same length in time and the time between each period is the same, you can create all periods at one time.

    Selecting the Repeat For checkbox automatically creates the number of periods entered with the same interval in minutes between each of the periods. This eliminates having to add each individual period.

    1. Select checkbox Repeat for and enter the [number of periods] with a [minute value] interval between each period.

    2. To have only start bells, select Start Bells Only.

      When selected, the schedule only generates a start bell for each of the periods.

    3. Enter the Period Prefix.

      The name of each period is automatically appended with the number value.

      For example, if you entered Daily Period, each period name would be Daily Period 1, Daily Period 2 and continue with the same naming sequence for each period.

    4. Select Save.

      All periods are created. You can edit the periods as needed.

    Complete the steps below to create individual periods.

    1. Set the Start Bell time and Ring Type.

      The start bell defines when the bell rings at the beginning of the period.

    2. Set the End Bell and Ring Type.

      The end bell defines when the bell rings at the end of the period.

    3. To enable only start bells, select Start Bells Only.

      When selected, the schedule only generates a start bell for each of the periods.

    4. Select Save.

    5. Repeat this procedure as needed to create additional periods.

Step 3: Add an exception schedule

During this step, you will create an exception schedule for those days the bells are to be different from the default schedules or when you do not want any bells to ring during a time period when school is not in session. An exception schedule's effective date or date range is set by its assignment date range.

  • When periods are added to an exception schedule: bells will ring during each period set in the schedule for the assignment date ranges and will override all default schedules.

    For example, you have a winter and spring exam schedule that both have the same bell schedules. You would create two assignments in the exception schedule, one for the winter exam dates and one for the spring exam dates.

    If the schedules are different for the winter and spring exams, you would then create two separate exception schedules.

  • When periods are not added to an exception schedule: bells will not ring during the date ranges set in its assignments. For example, you may not want bells to ring during spring or summer break or when school is not in session.

  1. From the bottom menu, select Add Exception.

  2. Select a display color for the schedule. The color is displayed on the calendar view to identify when the exception schedule is effective for each day of the month. Do not set the color the same as a default schedule, you want the color to identify the type of schedule.

  3. Enter the Schedule Name.

  4. From Add Assignments, enter the Description of the exception, date range the schedule is to be effective and select Add To List. Verify the assignment is listed.

    schedules-add-exception-1.png

  5. If you need to bells to ring during the assignment date range, select Add Periods(s). If you do not want the bells to ring for the assignment date range, do not add periods.

    You can set the periods to autogenerate or create individual periods.

  6. Select Save.

    The exception schedule overrides the default schedules for the date range set in its assignment.

Step 4: Download schedules to the bell controller

Bell schedules are stored locally on a Bell Controller device. A Bell Controller checks-in in hourly to OneVue to download pending schedule updates. You can optionally initiate a manual check-in to download the schedule updates immediately. A manual check-in is initiated by pressing and quickly releasing its check-in button button-check-in.png (up arrow).

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