At the recent Hatching at DFW Kamalia Impressed and her brother, Arillon, didn't. Their parents didn't come to the Hatching, so I'm wondering, would they know what happened? Does the Weyr formally tell candidates' parents whose children have Impressed? None of them have a firelizard. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think firelizards can send messages to people they don't know. So, how/when would their parents learn about the Hatching?
I'm sure the candidates and weyrlings whose parents didn't come are given an opportunity to communicate with their families the outcome of the Hatching, probably by firelizard or at least by runner. Even if they can't send the message directly by firelizard, they would have someone in the area or a nearby runners station that they could send the message to and it can be delivered.
The other option might be that drum messages might be sent, or even a message passed by the Watch dragon if their home Hold was big enough.
I could be wrong, but...
I've always assumed that there was a system of runners (mayhaps administered by Harper Hall), that kept the various Major and semi-major locales in touch.
Probably not particularly speedy, and probably requires some minor holders to go to a larger location to "pick up their mail".
My ΒΌ marks worth
Thanks for the feedback! Now I know that the parents will get the message somehow, whether that happens quickly or not.
The books mention a runner system of runners who carry messages, so that seems the most likely way that doesn't involve flits.