Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack School District says it plans to employ a new, more efficient absence-reporting platform called SafeArrival that it says will reduce the time it takes for parents, guardians and caregivers to report a child's absence, while making it easier for SD33 staff to respond to unexplained student absences.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

New absence reporting system for SD33

SD33 to use SafeArrival absence reporting system; parents asked to not call or email school offices

Sep 13, 2023 | 12:42 PM

CHILLIWACK — An automated text message sent to parents and guardians of SD33 students this past Monday, September 11 was not a glitch or a scam.

Instead, it’s part of a new, more efficient absence-reporting platform called SafeArrival that SD33 plans to employ moving forward.

In an email sent to parents this week through the school in which their children are enrolled, the school district says one of its greatest priorities is ensuring that students arrive safely at school each and every day. To improve and enhance its existing absence-checking procedure, SD33 says it is introducing a new system, SafeArrival, that will reduce the time it takes for parents, guardians and caregivers to report a child’s absence while making it easier for staff to respond to unexplained student absences.

With SafeArrival, parents are asked to report a child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 methods:

* Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (or from the links at https://www.sd33.bc.ca/safe-arrival ). The first time you use the app, select “Sign Up” to create your account. Select “Attendance” then “Report an Absence.”

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* Use the SafeArrival website, https://www.sd33.bc.ca/safe-arrival. 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 1-833-698-6567 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.

Earlier this week, parents throughout SD33 received a text link to their cell phone that left some questioning its authenticity.

In an email to Unsworth Elementary parents Tuesday (Sept. 12), Unsworth principal Shawn McLeod clarified that the text was legitimate.

“Many of you have received a text link to your smartphone device that may be causing you some concern or wonder…” McLeod told parents in an email. “First off, this text is authentic and trustworthy, it will set you up to receive messages from Unsworth if your child has an unexplained absence. This was sent to you on behalf of the Chilliwack School District to let you know about the new platform being used to monitor student absences from their school.”

In addition, SD33 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 the system is unable to reach the designated contacts, office staff will follow up.

SD33 says that if parents report a child’s absence in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or mobile app, they won’t receive these notifications.

Moving forward, parents are asked to report absences in advance using SafeArrival instead of sending notes or calling and emailing the school.

“If you have children attending other schools, please continue to report absences using the existing procedures for those schools,” SD33 wrote in its email to parents. “Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we implement this new system.”