SchoolMessenger and SafeArrival
At Kootenai Classical Academy, one of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all our students arrive safely at school each and every day. To enhance our existing absence-checking procedure, we are using a reporting system called SafeArrival. This system reduces the time it takes to verify student attendance, makes it easy for you to report your child’s absence, and easy for staff to respond to unexplained student absences. Families are encouraged to view the attached documents and download the Safe Arrival app prior to your student attending KCA. Families will be asked to use one of the three methods listed below to report if their child will not be in attendance on a particular day.
With SafeArrival, you are asked to report your child’s absence in advance using any of these 3 convenient methods:
1) Using your mobile device, download and install the School Messenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
2) Use the SafeArrival website (http://home.schoolmessenger.com/). The first time you use the website, select Sign Up to create your account. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.
3) Call the toll-free number (888) 907-3732 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. For extended absences, please send an email to attendance@kootenaiclassical.org and Krystal.Hansen@kootenaiclassical.org. The system does not offer an option for a partial day absence. If your child will be absent for any part of the day, please enter as a full day absence and our Attendance staff will make any attendance changes when your child arrives at school and signs in at our office. Safe arrival notifications will be sent home approximately 8:30am daily.
In addition, we 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 our system is unable to reach the designated contacts, office staff will follow up.
If you report your child’s absence in advance using the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or mobile app, you will NOT receive these notification. Please email Ashley.Rice@kootenaiclassical.org right away if there is a problem or concern.
Key facts about school attendance:
If your child is 20 minutes late every day, he/she will have missed 9 days of instruction by the end of the year.
If your child misses only two days of school per month, he/she will have missed almost a month of instruction by the end of the school year.
Students who are absent 15 days of school each year will have lost one year of instruction by the end of 12th grade.
Students who attend school regularly tend to be more engaged in their learning, feel more connected to the school and have better academic outcomes than students who miss a lot of school.
Supporting good attendance:
Families can support good attendance at school by doing the following as a family:
setting up a regular bedtime and morning routine;
getting clothes and backpacks ready the night before;
encouraging a positive attitude about school;
communicating regularly with your child’s teacher;
talking with your child about his/her school day;
taking part in school events and activities to show your child that you value school and education;
planning vacations and appointments around the school schedule whenever possible; and
making sure your child goes to school, unless he/she is truly sick.
