Student Absence Reporting System

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has launched a new, more efficient absence management system across schools called SchoolMessenger SafeArrival. This system allows you to use a mobile app, a website, or an interactive toll-free phone line to report an absence in advance. It enhances student safety, verifies absences in a timely manner, and improves notification time with parents and guardians.

Please note that on and after the implementation date, the SchoolMessenger SafeArrival system will be the only way you can report your child’s absence.

These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If your child is marked absent and the absence hasn’t been reported in advance, our SchoolMessenger system will attempt to reach you to confirm the absence.

What should I do next?
Please sign up for the SchoolMessenger Safe Arrival system if you haven’t done so already.

How do I do that?
You can do it in two ways:

1.  Through the OCDSB app

a)  Download the free OCDSB app. It’s available on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store

b)  Open the OCDSB app. Scroll to the bottom and you will see SchoolMessenger app on the right

c)  Open the SchoolMessenger app. Tap on Sign Up. Enter the same email address that you have provided to your school*. Choose your password. Select Location as Canada. Tap Sign Up. You will receive a verification email. From this email, click the link to verify. This will open in a browser where you will be prompted to enter your login details. Log in and confirm your details 

d)  You are all set up and ready to use the SafeArrival system.

 

2.  Through the SchoolMessenger web portal

a)  Click here to access the SchoolMessenger web portal.

b)  Click on Sign Up (top right of the page). Enter the same email address that you have provided to your school*. Choose your password. Select Location as Canada. Click Sign Up. You will receive a verification email. From this email, click the link to verify. This will open in a browser where you will be prompted to enter your login details. Log in and confirm your details.

c)  You are all set up and ready to use the SafeArrival system.

*You must enter the email address provided to your school or you will not be able to use this app.


Reporting an Absence

There are three ways you can report your child’s absence.

1.       Using the OCDSB /SchoolMessenger App (Smartphone/Tablet)

2.       Using the SchoolMessenger web portal

3.       Using a toll-free phone

The infographic below gives you a step-by-step procedure on how to report your child’s absence. (Click the infographic for a downloadable PDF of the same)

Reporting an Absence

Click here to read more about SchoolMessenger SafeArrival on the OCDSB website.

Thank you for your patience and consideration as we implement the SafeArrival system.


Resources:

SchoolMessenger SafeArrival postcard

Using the SchoolMessenger App for SafeArrival

Video Tutorial on how to report absences

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