Over the past five weeks, I've shared how Darlington is evolving our information systems infrastructure to better serve our educational mission. We've explored our motivations for change, Veracross as our new core database, Toddle as our learning management system, Magnus Health and Reach for student well-being, and practical guidance for navigating these new systems. Today, I'll complete the series by looking ahead to our final transition phase and what to expect in the coming months.
Many have asked about our beloved website, which has been the digital face of Darlington since 1997. I'm pleased to confirm that our current public website will remain throughout the 2025-2026 school year, giving everyone time to adjust to our new core systems before this final change.
During this transition year, we'll be working with Digistorm to develop our new website, which will launch in summer 2026. Digistorm specializes in independent school websites, expanding their capabilities and has recently been acquired by Veracross—making them an excellent long-term partner.
While the public site will remain familiar next year, several behind-the-scenes changes will occur:
Community directories will transition to Veracross portals—dedicated spaces for parents, students, faculty, and alumni
Personalized features like galleries access will continue through the current website
Old portal links will redirect to new Veracross portals
Public elements like calendars and sports events will maintain their current functionality, even as the data sources change
We're excited about the opportunity to reimagine our web presence while preserving the functionality our community values. If you have ideas or suggestions for our new website, please share them using our Information Systems Questions form or the website feedback form.
Our photo galleries have documented countless Darlington moments over the years. These will remain accessible through the current website for the upcoming school year before transitioning to Vidigami in 2026.
Vidigami offers several advantages:
Enhanced organization with intelligent tagging
Improved search capabilities
Better privacy controls
Mobile-friendly browsing and uploading
We're committed to preserving every cherished memory during this transition. Before the migration, we'll provide a simple way for community members to download their associated photos and videos. To learn more about this platform, visit Vidigami's website.
If you're a returning parent, you should have received an email on Monday with instructions for setting up your Veracross account. This is your gateway to accessing the Parent Portal and beginning Magnus Health forms for the upcoming year. While the initial setup link expires after 72 hours, clicking it after expiration will trigger a new email with an updated link.
Here's a timeline of what to expect:
May-June 2025: Account setup, Portal access, and Magnus Health forms
July 2025: Reach implementation for boarding and emergency management
August 2025: Back-to-school orientation with sessions on new systems
Fall 2025: Full implementation of Veracross, Toddle, Magnus, and Reach
Throughout 2025-2026: Website development with Digistorm
Summer 2026: New website launch and gallery migration to Vidigami
We recognize that any transition requires adjustment. Our technology team is prepared to support you through this process:
Technical assistance: Email it@darlingtonschool.org with questions or issues
Orientation sessions: Scheduled during back-to-school events in August
Tutorial resources: Step-by-step guides and videos will be shared throughout summer
Regular communications: Watch for updates via email and the Parent Portal
When I began this blog series six weeks ago, I shared how Darlington's information systems have evolved from our first website in 1997 to today's sophisticated platform. The coming transition marks the next chapter in this journey—one that will better position our school for the future while honoring our tradition of technological innovation.
While we're moving away from custom development, we're gaining sustainability, reliability, and enhanced capabilities through partnerships with industry leaders. As with any significant change, there will be adjustments, but I'm confident the result will better serve our educational mission.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to our technology evolution over the past three decades—from the early adopters who embraced our first online gradebook to the current faculty preparing for Toddle implementation. Your willingness to innovate and adapt has made Darlington a leader in educational technology.
As we look ahead to next year, I'm excited to see how these systems will enhance our community's experience and support the exceptional education that defines Darlington. Thank you for your patience and partnership through this transition.
Catch up on all blogs in this series:
