---
title: Sending a message with Communicate
description: Write a message once and send it by email, SZ App, SMS, newsfeed or social media, now or at a time you choose.
url: "https://schoolzine.com/docs/sending-a-message-with-communicate/"
updated: "2026-10-21"
category: Communication
tags:
  - communicate
  - email
  - messages
---

# Sending a message with Communicate

Communicate lets you write one message and send it to families and carers on the channels they use: email, an SZ App notification, an SMS, your newsfeed or your school's social media. You can send it straight away or schedule it.

## Find Communicate

In the Control Centre, select **Communicate** from the menu. The page lists your recently edited messages and how your last email performed. From the toolbar you can start a **New Message** or manage your **Email Templates**, **Social Post Templates**, SMS and newsfeed.

![The Communicate toolbar](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-toolbar.png)

## Create a message

A new message has five steps: **Channels**, **Message Details**, **Message Content**, **Recipients** and **Review & Send**. Click **Save** at any step to come back to it later. Saved messages show as **Draft** on the Communicate page.

### 1. Choose your channels

Click **New Message**, then click each channel you want to use. A tick shows on the ones you've selected. **Send to All** picks every channel at once.

![Choosing the message channels](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-channels.png)

Channels that aren't turned on for your school are greyed out. Contact our Customer Success Team if you'd like one switched on.

Click **Next**.

### 2. Message details

Give the message a **Message Name**. Families don't see this, so pick a name that helps your team find it later, such as "Athletics Carnival reminder".

Set the **Send Date** and **Send Time**. Leave them as they are to send as soon as you finish, or choose a later date and time to schedule the message.

![The Message Details step](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-message-details.png)

### 3. Message content

You fill in content for each channel you chose. For email there are three parts.

**Email Detail**: the **Email Subject**, plus the **From Email** and **From Name** that families see. Click **Show Authorised** to pick from your school's approved sending addresses. Expand **Edit Email Preview Text** to set the short line that many inboxes show under the subject.

![The Email Detail step](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-email-detail.png)

**Email Template**: choose a starting design. **Blank Template** starts from scratch. Use **Preview Template** to see a design at full size first.

![Choosing an email template](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-email-template.png)

**Email Content**: write your message in the editor. The template already has your school's logo and contact details.

![Writing the email](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-email-content.png)

Use the **Wildcards** menu to personalise the email. For example, choose **Contacts → First Name** and each family sees their own name where you put it.

![The Wildcards menu](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-wildcards.png)

### 4. Recipients

Choose who receives the message.

- Under **Add or exclude groups**, pick one or more groups, then click **Add Group**. Each group shows how many email addresses it has.
- Under **Add or exclude contacts**, search for a person by name, email or mobile and click **Add Contact**.
- Use **Exclude Group** or **Exclude Contact** to leave people out.

![Adding a group to the recipient list](https://schoolzine.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/10/communicate-recipients.png)

> **Important:** When you exclude a group, everyone in it is left out, even if they're also in a group you've added.

Only active groups, and contacts who are active and subscribed, appear in the lists.

### 5. Review and send

Check the summary of your message and use the **Email Preview** and **Recipient List** tabs to make sure it all looks right.

- Click **Send Test Email** to send a copy to yourself first.
- Click **Complete & Send** to finish. If you set a later send time, the message is scheduled and sends at that time. Otherwise it goes now.

> **Tip:** Always send yourself a test email first. It's the easiest way to catch a typo or a broken link before families see it.

## Related articles

- [Sending a Quick Send message](https://schoolzine.com/docs/sending-a-quick-send-message/)
- [Creating a group and adding contacts](https://schoolzine.com/docs/creating-a-group-and-adding-contacts/)

## Need a hand?

Our Customer Success Team is here to help. Call **1300 795 503**, email **support@schoolzine.com** or start a live chat in your Schoolzine account.