Recent Groups

A: You can check yout Spam Folder. Since the message will be coming from a new address ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) depending on your security choices your system may block the email. Select This is not Spam in your mailbox. This will ensure the flowless receipt of further messages.

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Q: What part of my profile becomes public and visible for other users?

A: The only part of your profile that becomes public is your Username that you choose upon your registration. Everything else, including your private email address, remains private while you can still receivie messages and notifications in your private mailbox. This topic is also covered in the Demonstration Videos entitled Joining the SPC Community (Registration), Understanding Profiles, and Mailbox and Chat Features.

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Q: How can I upload my profile image, replace the current profile image with the new one, or completely remove the previously uploaded image?

A: Select the My Profile and Groups tab under the SPC User Menu (on the left side of the screen), then choose Upload Profile Image.

a) To upload the image from the Image Gallery simply choose one of the available images and then select the Confirm Choice button;

b) To upload an image from your personal files the image should be already resized and saved in a convenient location on your computer (e.g., on your desktop). (You can familiarize yourself with the process of Resizing the Files by reading through one of our FAQ Question/Answers below.)

Once the file is ready first follow the above steps (My Profile and Groups, Upload Profile Image), then gain an access to the file by choosing Select File (or Browse – these may vary depending on the server you are using). Select the location of your file in the newly opened window (e.g., Desktop, on the left side of the window), then click on the chosen file name (right side of the window), click Open, and then select the Upload button on your profile page. On the top of the page the message will be displayed for you stating that your image was successfully uploaded.

To replace the existing image with the new one follow exactly the same steps as above.

You can also update or remove your image by going to My Profile and Groups, choosing Edit, and then selecting either Update Your Image (and Update button), or Remove Image (in the latter case your previously uploaded image will be removed and replaced by the SPC default image).

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Q: How can I upload a Group Logo, and how can I replace the existing logo with the new one?

A: You can only upload the logos for those groups of which you are a manager (i.e., you started the group, or were given the manager’s responsibility for an already existing group). Similarly to the process of uploading your Profile Image, the file should be already resized and saved on your desktop or another, convenient for you location on your computer. (You can familiarize yourself with the process of Resizing the Files by reading through one of our FAQ Question/Answers below.)

Once the file is ready, go to the actual Group and select Edit Group Settings. Scroll down the page and gain access to your personal files by choosing Select File (or Browse – these may vary depending on the server you are using). Select location of the to-be-uploaded file (e.g., Desktop - on the left side of the newly opened window), then left-click on the file/image of your choice (on the right side of this newly opened window), select Open and then choose the Submit button. On the top of the page you will see a message stating: “Group details were successfully edited.”

You can follow the exact same steps if you wish to replace the group logo by a new one.

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Q: How can I resize the file before uploading it as a profile image or a group logo?

A: Different programs can be used for resizing the images. GIMP is the one preferred by many of the users, therefore, below we will describe the process using the example of GIMP. Download GIMP (or another program of your choice). Save the to-be-uploaded image on your desktop (or another convenient for you location on your computer). Right-click on the icon of the image (on your Desktop), select Edit with GIMP. In the newly opened window select: Image, then Scale Image, and yet in another new window change the existing width of the image to 100 or 150 (200 max). Click on the chain-like icon next to the width, then choose Scale button on the bottom of the window (height will be automatically and proportionally readjusted). In the previously opened window choose File, then Save. In yet another new window also select Save. You can then close all of the GIMP windowss. Your image will be ready for being uploaded as a group logo or your personal profile image.

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Q: How can I update the inofrmation on my profile (i.e., my username and email)?

A: You can easily update your profile information by going to My Profile and Groups, selecting Edit, and choosing Contact Info. from the drop-down menu. Simply edit the desired fileds and then check the Update button .

Remember: your personal email is not being disclosed to any of the other users. The reason you need to keep this filed updated is to receive the messages and post notifications.

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Q: How does one become a Group Manager, and what are Group Manager’s responsibilities?

A: You become a Group Manager if you start the group of your own, or if the managerial responsibilities are transferred to you by the previous manager.

It is the Group Manager’s task to choose the group type, name and brief description (i.e., focus and purpose) of the group upon creating it. If the group you are managing is defined as Approval to Join type, then as a group manager you will also have to approve the new members who attempt to join. This process is very simple: as new members attempt to join the to-be-approved type of group you as a manager will receive a notification in your personal mail box: “This email is your confirmation that … has joined the group (Group name)” You can then go to the actual group page and select Manage Pending Users under the Manager’s Tasks. Your page will display the following message: “New users have joined your group – please activate them”. Choose OK to approve them. The list of all pending users will be then displayed on your screen. You can select Activate User or Delete (in case you believe that this particular user has tried to join the group in error).

As a group manager with SPC you also have some special opportunities: you can upload/update group logo, group name and description, and email all in group. You can also transfer managerial responsibilities to another group member if you wish so.

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Q: How can I transfer my responsibility as a Group Manager to another user?

A: The person to whom you would like to transfer the responsibilities of a Group Manager should be already a registered member of this particular group. The process itself is very simple: open the actual Group, select Group Members, and find the name of the person to whom you are transferring managerial responsibilities. Next to this user’s name you will see three options: Delete, Make Inactive, and Transfer to New Owner. Choose Transfer to New Owner. A new message will pop up on the screen asking you to “Please confirm you want to TRANSFER this group to the selected user.” Answer Yes. The message displayed on your screen will then confirm that: "The ownership of this Group has been transferred!"

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Q: How can I update Group Settings such as Group Type, Group Name, Group Description and Group Logo?

A: Only the designated group managers will be able to update the group settings. The process of uploading/updating Group Logo is described separately in another Question/Answer of our FAQ section. To upgrade the rest of items among the Group Settings: Go to My Groups and choose Edit Group Settings. Here you can update Group Type by using the drop-down menu (e.g., Open to all, Approval to Join, and Invite to Join), and also make changes in Group Name and Group Description (i.e., About Group section) by simply deleting the previous text, typing in the new one, and selecting the Submit button on the bottom of the page. On the top of the page you will then see the message stating: “Group details were successfully edited.”

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Q: How can I distinguish from each other School-Related Groups with the same names/numbers in different cities (e.g., P.S. 100 Group in New York from P.S. 100 Group in Los Angeles)?

A: Group managers who are creating new School-Related and Grade-Specific Groups are prompted to by all means specify the School Location (City and State) in the Group Name. The above is being emphasized on the relevant SPC page during the process of creating a new group, and is again reiterated in the related Demonstration Video entitled: How to Use the SPC Groups. When choosing School-Related or Grade-Specific Groups to join carefully review the title: it should identify the exact location of the school (e.g., P.S. 144, Forest Hills, NY; or The Kew-Forest School, 2nd Grade Class, Forest Hills, NY). If you notice that the above identifying information is missing from the Group Title, please email the group manager and notify the SPC administration by emailing us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . You can easily do so by going to the Contact US tab on the SPC menu.

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Q: When and How do the names of Grade-Specific Groups get updated as children move up to the next grade at the end of each school year?

A: Group managers should update the names of School-Related/Grade-Specific groups at the end of each school year (see Q.10 for details). Theupdated group will then appear in My Groups section of your page under the new name. If you notice that by the end of the school year the name of your Grade-Specific Group was not upgraded it may be helpful to email your reminder to the group manager.

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Q: Does my private email address become available to other SPC users (considering that through SPC I am able to receive private and quick messages, as well as email notifications about new posts in my private mailbox?

A: The SPC system is set up in a way where your personal email address (the one you had used during the registration) never becomes available to anyof the other users, while you can continue receiving your messages, notifications, etc. in your personal mailbox.

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Q: What if I repeatedly receive undesired messages from a particular subscriber? Can I block that particular sender while I continue receiving mail from others?

A: Yes. You can report the user who does not abide by the rules of the SPC community by selecting the Moderation, Report User button on the My Menu Tab (this is also described in the Demonstration Video entitled Profiles). You can also block a specific user by simply opening any message from that particular subscriber and using the Block User feature. (Here you can also unblock the user that you may have blocked in error).

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Q: How can I unsubscribe from receiving email notifications about new SPC posts of the groups I belong to, and how can I reactivate this function if I decide to do so at a a later time?

A: You can unsubscribe from the notification function through your Mailbox. (This topic is also covered in the Demonstration Video entitled Mailbox and Live Chat). On the top right side of the page you will notice a drop-down menu. Choose: Email notification only when offline. Click Update button on the left side of the page. When you unsubscribe you will be still able to check all of the posts and reply to them as you log into the SPC, however the notification of any posts, including private and quick messages will be discontinued. If at a later time you choose to subscribe for the notifications again you can repeat the above steps and choose: Email notification of new messages and then click on Update.

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Q: How can I "Unjoin" the Group?

A: If you choose to "unjoin" the group simply open the group, select Unjoin the Group option, and answer Yes when you are asked whether you "really want to leave this group?"

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Q: Does SPC provide an opportunity for advertising?

A: Yes. For advertising purposes SPC may be contatced at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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