Messages is one list. Filters across the top narrow it: DMs (your one-to-one conversations — the default), Announcements (the ones you sent and the ones sent to you), Channels, and Archived once you've archived something. Anything waiting on your reply is tagged Awaiting you and floats to the top.
- Open Messages. Turn on Unread only (above the search) to see just what's new.
- Answer anything tagged Awaiting you. 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 an Awaiting you 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.