Ensuring students arrive safely at school each day is our top priority. To enhance our existing absence-check procedure, we have introduced a new, more efficient student absence reporting system from SchoolMessenger.

Families can report absences in advance using a mobile app, website, or toll-free phone line. These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This system was launched in select schools earlier and is now being implemented across other OCDSB schools. 

Why are we using School Messenger?

• Enhances student safety.
• Helps families report student absences easily. 
• Helps schools respond quickly to unexplained student absences. 
• Makes notifications to families faster. 

How to use School Messenger?

There are three ways you can report student absences: App / Website / Toll-free phone 1-800-920-3897

Downloading the School Messenger APP on your mobile device is a simple and easy use as well, the school messenger shares all emails sent through the school and school board.  All information is shared here anytime for your use.  It is an easy way to keep with the information being continuously shared within your school.

Important: Use the email address your student’s school has on file when creating your account for the app/ website. 

1. App: Install the free SchoolMessenger app on your mobile device via Apple’s App Store, Google’s Play Store, SchoolMessenger web portal or access it from within the OCDSB app. Open the app and select Sign Up to register. After registering, select Attendance from the menu, then Report an Absence and follow the instructions.
2. Website: Visit go.schoolmessenger.ca. Select Sign Up to create your account. Once registered, select Attendance from the menu, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
3. Toll-free Phone: Call 1-833-202-1417 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system and follow the prompts.

Helpful Information:

• If the student is going to be late, select Full Day and then select Late. All students who are going to be late are marked as absent for the full day until they arrive and sign in through the school office. You can add a comment to give an approximate time of arrival.
• Same-day absences for elementary and intermediate schools can only be reported until 30 minutes after the school start time. After that, please email or call the school directly.
• Same-day absences for secondary schools can be reported until 4:00 p.m.
• Absences can be reported in advance for any school day in the school calendar.
• If the student is marked absent and the absence hasn't been reported in advance, our SchoolMessenger system will attempt to contact you multiple times until you confirm and explain the absence. You can respond to the call out.  If a designated contact can't be reached, school staff will follow up. To avoid these notifications, please report your child's absence or lates in advance.

Resources:

Watch: How To Create a School Messenger Account

Watch: How to Use School Messenger to Report Absences (App and Website)

Frequently Asked Questions

For more information, please visit ocdsb.ca/SafeArrival.