Report an Absence

SafeArrival is an absence management system that improves student safety and makes it easy for you to let the school know about your child’s absence.

Absences can be reported in advance:

• 24 hours/day

• 7 days a week

• For any school day in the school term 

• Up to the cut-off time on the day of the absence (this may vary by school). 

Whenever an absence is reported or updated, you will receive a confirmation notice by email and/or text message (assuming you have provided your contact information to the school).

If you don’t report your child’s absence in advance, the automated notification system will try to contact you (using your communication preferences if you have set them up in the SchoolMessenger Home app). This may include push notifications to the app, email, SMS text messages, or phone calls. You will be asked to provide the reason for your child’s absence immediately. You may do so using the phone line, website or mobile app.

Get the app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.

• Tap Sign Up to create your account (If you previously used the blue SMApp you can sign in with the same credentials.)
• If signing up for the first time there will be an email verification step. Please use your email address that is already on file with the school.
• Select Attendance from the menu, and then select Report an Absence.

• Go to the website https://home.schoolmessenger.ca 

• Click Sign Up to create your account. (If you previously used go.schoolmessenger.ca you can choose Log in with the same credentials.)

• If signing up for the first time there will be an email verification step.

• Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence.

How do I use the Toll-Free Phone Line?

When you call the toll-free phone line (833) 326-7959, follow the instructions for reporting an absence. 

If the phone number you are calling from matches a phone number on file with the school for your student(s), you will hear your student’(s) name(s). If the system doesn’t recognize your caller ID, you will be asked to enter the student’s home phone number.

If you have difficulty using the toll-free phone line, please consider using the SchoolMessenger mobile app or website. Otherwise, contact the school directly.

If an absence is not explained within approximately 20 minutes of the time that the school starts the notification process, school staff will follow up to make sure that your child is safe. If you try to explain an absence using SafeArrival but are then told that it is past the cut-off time, please contact the school directly.

If you don’t want to receive notifications when your child is absent, be sure to report your child’s absence in advance. 

If you do receive notifications of your child’s absence, be sure to provide the reason as quickly as possible, using one of the methods listed above or during the phone call notification itself.

Why do I Need a SchoolMessenger Home App Account?

A SchoolMessenger app account is not required to use the toll-free phone line to report absences. However, we strongly recommend that you provide your email address to the school and set up your SchoolMessenger app account. This allows you to review and update absences, review your contact information and communication preferences and more.

Please see related SchoolMessenger app documentation for setting up your account, resetting your password, reviewing contact information, and specifying communication preferences. Once you have set up your account, choose ATTENDANCE from the menu.

If you cannot set up your account, you do not see the ATTENDANCE option, or you do not see your child(ren) listed in your account, please contact the school directly to check that your correct email address is associated with your child(ren) and that you are correctly tagged as a guardian with SafeArrival access..

Regular school attendance is the key to school success. If your child’s absence impacts school progress, the school will contact you in order to work together and develop a plan for student success.

Students planning extended absences (non-medical), must fill in an MCHS Non-Medical Absence Form that is to be completed at least a month prior to the absence. Students are responsible to maintain their academics while away.