SafeArrival Introduction to Parents
Dear Parents/Guardians,
At the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, one of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all our students arrive safely at school each and every day.
To enhance our existing absence-checking procedure, we are introducing a new, more efficient student absence reporting system called SafeArrival. This new system will reduce the time it takes to verify student attendance, make it easy for you to report your child’s absence and easy for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.
With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:
- Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app (SM Home) from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the link at SchoolMessenger – (Multicolor App)).
- The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
- Use the SafeArrival website, SchoolMessenger. The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
- Call the toll-free number 1-833-251-3283 to report an absence using the automated phone system.
These options are available 24 hours/day, 7 days a week. Future absences can be reported at any time.
In addition, we will use the SchoolMessenger Communicate automated notification system to contact parents whose child is absent when the absence was not reported in advance. The automated notification system will attempt to contact parents at multiple contact points until a reason is submitted for the absence.
If you report your child’s absence in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or mobile app, you will NOT receive these notifications.
Starting September 4th, please report absences in advance using SafeArrival instead of sending notes or calling/emailing the school.
Starting September 4th, staff will begin using the SafeArrival notifications to let you know if your student is absent (when you haven’t reported the absence in advance).
If you have children attending other schools, please continue to report absences using the existing procedures for those schools.
Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we implement this new system.
Click the below links for additional informational videos and instruction in various languages:
SchoolMessenger – SafeArrival (wcdsb.ca)
SchoolMessenger App for Parents Mobile Guide
Absences of 18-Year-old Students
Students who are 18 are required to verify their own absences in a timely manner. Administration reserves the right to rescind this privilege at any time. Verified absences would then need to be provided through a parent/guardian or doctor’s note. Further attendance issues may result in the withdrawal from RCSS.
Truancy
Being absent from class without parental or school approval.
If a student leaves the school without signing out, it is considered a truancy. If a student is in school and not in class, it is considered truancy. This truancy can not be cleared by parental approval.
Punctuality
Promptness is an important attribute both in the school and in the workplace and serves as a positive indicator of respect for others. When a student is late for class, it interrupts the learning of other students.
Late Arrival
Students that arrive late should go directly to their classroom. Parents/Guardians will be notified by automated message when their student is late for one or more classes.
Leaving School During the Day:
Students who are on school property are expected to be in class. If it is necessary for a student to sign out during the school day, they must report to the Attendance Office. Contact from a parent/guardian stating the reason and time is required before the student may be signed out. Parents/Guardians may not sign their student out to work in the library or remain anywhere on school property.
Should an emergency arise, or a student becomes ill, they need to report to the Attendance Office and a parent is notified before leaving the school.
Students with unassigned time may leave the school but should conduct themselves in accordance with the code of conduct.
Extended Holiday
Parents are discouraged from permitting absence for any reason other than illness or emergency. Parents who choose to remove their student from school for more than 15 school days must complete and submit an “Intent to be Absent” form available at the Attendance Office at least one week prior to the absence. Before their departure, students are responsible for making arrangements with their teachers to submit assignments due during the scheduled absence. Please be mindful that accumulated absences will influence academic progress.
Final Evaluation Attendance
Final evaluations for a course may include more than one assessment strategy and are often completed during class time in the few weeks leading up to the Final Evaluation Days. Withdrawing a student during these evaluation periods is strongly discouraged (and may result in a zero for all or part of the final evaluation activities). Exam deferral MAY be considered for extenuating circumstances. No summative evaluations will be written prior to their scheduled time. Students should contact their Guidance Counsellor to complete the alternative final evaluation form. If a student is ill during the final evaluation, they will require a medical note.
