Post messages and reply to threads

Open a conversation from Messages, and its history loads and is marked as read.

Send a message

1. Open the conversation.
2. Type in the box at the bottom. The placeholder reads Type a message.
3. Choose send.

In the app, the send button names who will get the message. If you post to the whole school, the app asks you to confirm first, so a message cannot go out on a stray tap. In a read-only channel, a School announcements banner replaces the box. You can still open any post and reply to it.

To add formatting, emoji, GIFs or files, see format messages and add media. To send later, see schedule a message.

If a message does not send

Your message appears right away with Sending… under it. If it fails, for example because your connection dropped, it reads Not delivered · Retry on the web and Not delivered · Tap to retry in the app. Choose it to try again, or choose the small x to discard the message and get the text back in the box.

On the web, unsent messages retry on their own when your connection returns, oldest first, but they are lost if you close the tab. In the app they are saved on the device and keep retrying after a restart.

Reply in a thread

Every post in a channel can have replies underneath it. Direct messages stay flat.

• In the app, tap the Reply bar under a post. It shows a count such as 3 replies. Write in the box labeled Reply in thread….
• On the web, choose Reply in thread under a post, or Show 3 replies to open the ones already there. Hide 3 replies folds them away.

Typing and read indicators

You see a person's name while they are typing. After you send, the web shows Sent, then Read, or Read by and a name. In the app, a direct message shows Seen, and a channel post shows a count such as Seen by 3.

For a school announcement, directors also see how many families have opened it. See check delivery and retry.

React and delete

Choose the smile icon under a message to react with Heart, Like, Smile, Clap or Hug. Choose the same one again to take it back.

In the app, press and hold a message and choose Delete message.

When a child leaves

After a child's enrollment ends, the former parent can still read their old conversations, under a banner that says "Read-only — your child no longer attends this school." They cannot post, reply or react. If they need to reach you, point them to your office or to [email protected].