Change to reporting for inclement weather days

Limestone Learning Foundation
Change to reporting for inclement weather days
Posted on 11/27/2019
Image of a school bus graphic with information about attendance reporting

The Limestone District School Board uses the SafeArrival system for parents/guardians to report student absences. This can be done one of three ways: the SchoolMessenger App on your mobile device; the SchoolMessenger website portal; or the toll-free number automated phone system at 1-855-257-9349.

In past years when school buses have been cancelled due to inclement weather, parents/guardians of bused students were not required to report their absence. Only parents/guardians of walkers who chose not to come to school were to report absences.

New for 2019-2020: All parents/guardians are asked to report their student’s absence regardless of the reason, including during bus cancellations. Often, bused students find alternative ways to school and we want to ensure we know the whereabouts of every student to ensure their safety and well-being. Knowing who is supposed to be at school will allow school office staff to best ensure all students are accounted for. Students are asked to ensure they report to their first period class for attendance.

Select:

  • Bus cancellation as the reason for absence if your student is bused
  • Inclement weather as the reason for the absence if your student walks but chooses not to attend

If your student is marked absent and the absence hasn’t been reported in advance, our new SafeArrival system will attempt to reach the student’s priority contact (parents/guardians) by telephone to confirm the absence. If you receive a call regarding your student’s absence, you can enter the reason for the absence (bus cancellation or inclement weather) during this call.

The new SafeArrival system makes it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduces the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and responds to unexpected or unplanned student absences. This time savings makes it faster and more efficient to account for all students and their safety.

On inclement weather days, sometimes the daily plan is amended but learning continues as many students can, and do find alternative ways to school (Kingston Transit, family drop off, walking). In schools where there are significant walk-to populations, an inclement weather day doesn’t usually affect the curriculum plan. In others, almost all students might be (school) bused. In these cases, educators make the necessary adjustment to adjust their lesson plans for who is in attendance.

We recognize this is a change in practice but one we are making to ensure student safety and well-being. Thank you for your support and understanding.


The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.