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Absence Reporting (SchoolMessenger)

​The Halton District School Board is committed to providing timely, effective communication to parents/guardians and students.​ The HDSB utilizes a Student Absence Reporting System called SchoolMessenger.​ This is the system used for:

  • Reporting student absences.
  • Receiving all messages and phone calls from your child's school and the HDSB.

Families receive instructions on how to register for SchoolMessenger when they register for school. ​All families must register for SchoolMessenger to report student absences online and set communication preferences for receiving messages from your child's school and the HDSB.​

How to Report Student Absence

The SchoolMessenger​ system is accessible 24 hours, seven days a week to report future absences and late arrivals.  

​Set Your Communication Preferences

​Choose how you want to receive​​ messages from your child's school and the HDSB:

  • Email
  • HDSB Mobile App
  • Text Message
  • Phone

Opt-in to receive text messages from the HDSB​

If you provided your child’s school with a mobile phone number upon registration, you were sent a text message from SchoolMessenger providing you with the opportunity to opt-in to receive text messages from the HDSB. The text message requested that parents/guardians reply “Y” to opt-in to receive attendance text notifications. 

  • If you replied “Y” to the text message, you are subscribe​d to receive notifications by text about your child’s attendance.
  • If you did not reply to the text message, you will not receive notifications by text from the HDSB.​

No repeat invitations to opt-in will be sent. If you wish to receive text message attendance notifications, please update your communication preferences on the SchoolMessenger website or app once you have created your account with SchoolMessenger. 

How We Connect with You: School and Board Updates

The Halton District School Board relies on SchoolMessenger to communicate with parents/guardians. This system enables schools to send messages by email, mobile app notification, text message, or by phone call. 
​ 
Parents/guardians are asked to provide their child’s school with a current email address and phone number for these types of messages. ​​

FAQs on Receiving Messages

Frequently asked questions about receiving messages from your child’s school and the HDSB

The SchoolMessenger system sends absence messages to inform parents/guardians of unexplained student absences. Parents/guardians can choose how they want to receive these messages by setting their communication preferences in SchoolMessenger. Options include communication via email, app notification (through the HDSB Mobile App), text message or phone call.  

If you do not wish to receive messages, or wish to reduce the number of messages you receive, please ensure you report your child’s absence ahead of time. You can also set your communication preferences for receiving different types of messages by logging into your SchoolMessenger account. 
For further information about absence messages, please contact your school.​

Please confirm the following:

  • That your child’s school has a correct/current email address and phone number for you
  • That you have set your communication preferences (within SchoolMessenger) to receive messages from SchoolMessenger
  • That security settings on your device/mail settings are not preventing you from receiving messages
Please contact your school if you are still not receiving school or HDSB messages. 

Please contact the school and provide them with your current information.

On the bottom of every email sent through SchoolMessenger, there is a footer with a link to either subscribe or unsubscribe. You can also set your communication preferences for receiving different types of messages by logging into your SchoolMessenger account. 

Check your communication preferences by logging into your SchoolMessenger account on the app or website. ​

Please contact the school that issued the message/phone call if you continue to receive these messages. 

This varies from school to school.​

  • Absence messages and phone calls are issued in the morning for elementary and secondary students. Secondary student absences and lates are also communicated in the evening. Parents are able to modify their communication preferences from within their SchoolMessenger account. 
  • Informational messages are generally issued at the end of the day. 
  • Urgent messages such as a school closure are communicated prior to the start of the school day. 
  • ​Inclement weather or bus cancellations affecting multiple or all schools are emailed only by 6:30 a.m. 

FAQs on Reporting Student Absences

Frequently Asked Questions on reporting a student absent

Wai​t for the automated email, app notification, text or phone call (depending on your SchoolMessenger communication preferences) that the school will launch once the attendance report has been completed for the day. Parents/guardians will have an opportunity to provide a reason for the absence when they receive one of these notifications.

Please ensure that the email you are logging in with is the same email your child’s school has on record. Please contact your child’s school to confirm or update your contact information. In the meantime, please use the toll-free phone number to report absences/lates for your child: 1-877-409-6310.​

Extended Absence Protocol

Please complete this 2-step process if your student will be away for 4 or more consecutive days:

  1. Parent complete the Extended Absence Form.  No attendance will be recorded until submitted.
  2. Student brings Course of Study page to each of their teachers BEFORE the absence, then submits to the Main Office once completed.  (Also available in the Main Office)

Taking a planned, extended, non-medical leave from classes (i.e., absent for 4 or more consecutive days) during the school year poses many challenges as far as a student’s education is concerned.  From reasons ranging from embarking on a personal vacation to attending to matters overseas, families must weigh all of the factors that will impact a student’s success when they are absent from school. There are challenges when it comes to keeping open lines of communication between teachers and students during an extended absence. Regular attendance is a factor that contributes to student success and achievement. Since each course requires 110 hours of instructional time, prolonged absences from class learning can impact a student's learning outcomes.  As a result, there is no way to duplicate the classroom learning experience when a student is absent from school.

Please also note that the Halton District School Board’s position on extended absences states that, “To maximize student achievement, the loss of learning time during the academic year as a result of vacations or other discretionary reasons should be avoided.”

In order for students to earn credits in the courses they are enrolled in, they need to demonstrate their learning according to a number of overall and specific expectations that make up the curriculum.  When students are absent for an extended period of time, they will miss out on the sequencing of the assessment and feedback cycle that helps to solidify learning before an evaluation occurs that would go towards their mark.  In other words, their learning and mark in a course can be impacted when they are away.  In fact, achievement data reveals that students who do not complete and submit ALL their work for feedback (assessment) and grading (evaluation) are likely to have lower final grades, and in some cases put their credit in jeopardy.   

Student Responsibility:

  • Student(s) are required to obtain school work prior to leaving. Teachers must be given a minimum of one (1) week notice prior to leaving to arrange school work. Students are to print out and have their teachers fill out this Course of Study form, and then bring the completed form to the Main Office.
  • Students are expected to access their education daily, but asynchronously, and keep in regular contact with their teachers while away.
  • When student(s) return to school, extra time and support may be required by parents/guardians to help your student(s) catch up on important concepts missed. Students are expected to submit all assignments and work that was arranged prior to travel on the first day of returning to school. Any tests and assigned presentations missed must be completed within the first 10 school days of returning, as negotiated between the teacher and student.

Teacher Support:

  • Teachers will provide curriculum work to students who are on an extended absence via Brightspace.
  • Students are required to log in daily while they are away from school and follow along with their classes.
  • Academic support refers to preparation of coursework that may or may not be identical to class work, but may include parallel assignments and the course of study still defined by curriculum expectations.  
  • Parents may need to arrange for a tutor to provide instruction of key learnings. 
  • Teachers are not required to provide synchronous instruction for students on extended absences.

Performance Tasks:

  • The dates on which performance tasks are completed are not flexible and accommodations may not be possible. 
  • Students who are absent for performance tasks because of an extended absence, may get a mark of zero.   

Exams: 

  • Compulsory final examinations will be held in most subjects at the conclusion of each semester. Should your student be absent during Exam time, please complete the Exam Conflict Form and the appropriate Vice Principal will make every effort to reschedule the exam time.  
  • Students who are absent for Final Exams because of an extended absence, may get a mark of zero.  

Participation-based Activities (term work, performance tasks):

  • In courses where there is a participation-based activity that requires the student to be present, the absence will result in an alternative assignment that mirrors expectations, however will not be as rich and authentic as the actual in-class activities.
  • When the student returns to school, coursework will be handed in to teachers.
  • If the work is not submitted, then a mark of zero will be entered for the outstanding coursework.

Learn How to Get Messages & Report Absences

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