How to: Create or Edit Message Templates

Modified on Tue, 5 May at 4:48 PM

Message templates are located at Administration -> Edit Message Templates.

To EDIT a Message Template

Custom Message Templates: click on the yellow edit folder for that message template.

System Notification Templates: click on the edit action for the available message type.

Once finished editing, click on "Save Message Template".

To CREATE a Message Template

1. Click on "Add Message Template".

2. Name the template, select the template format and click "Add Message Template".

Note: The name is only visible by staff. A format must be selected or the template will not be able to be sent.

3. Add the message content to the template and click "Save Message Template".

If creating an email, you must include a Subject.

Note for SMS: you cannot include any emojis in SMS messages. Any SMS with emojis will not send.

Message Template Formats

Message templates can be created as an:

- SMS

- Email or

- Push Notification (SimplyPortal App).

Custom Message Templates can be used for bulk or individual communications. They will remain in your list until you delete them, so instead of creating a new message every time for a communication you send regularly, you can edit the existing template each time.

System Notification Templates are linked to a system function - e.g. Statement emails, Make-up Reminders, Teacher Replacement Notifications, Payment Reminders. These templates can be edited but cannot be created or deleted. System templates only be sent via the specific system function, they cannot be sent via communication campaigns.

Common Merge Fields

Any wording within %% will pre-fill that field's content.

Commonly used fields that will populate in both custom and system message templates are listed below:

Merge field to include in message template	Content filled when used
%%FAMILYNAME%%	The Family Contact Name.
%%CURRENTENROLMENTS%%	The current enrolments of each Student in the Family.
%%CURRENTENROLMENTSWITHAREA%%	As above, also including the teaching are of the Class.
%%COMPANYNAME%%	Company Name.
%%COMPANYEMAIL%%	Company Email Address.
%%COMPANYTELEPHONE%%	Company Telephone Number.
%%SITEID%%	Your Site ID (e.g. for the portal location code).
%%CurrentWaitingListRequests%%	Lists a family's current Waiting List Requests.

Adding an attachment to an E-mail (attachments cannot be saved to the finance-related system messages)

Creating Email & SMS Campaigns

Push Notifications - SimplyPortal App

Template Toolkit

Last updated: 05 May 2026