St. Christopher School
September 2026
St. Christopher Info
1195 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga ON, L5J 2W1
905 822-0721
Email: St.ChristopherInfo@dpcdsb.org
Principal - I. Sauve
Vice Principal - L. Sasso
Secretary -T. Lanceta
Trustee - Herman Viloria (Mississauga Ward 2)
Superintendent - D. Radic
Parish - St. Christopher's Parish
Priest-Fr. Steven Kwon
St. Christopher School Hours
Supervision Begins 8:00 a.m.
School Begins 8:15 a.m.
Recess (a.m.) 9:38-9:53
Lunch : 11 :16-12:16
Recess (p.m.)1:39-1:54
Dismissal: 2:45 p.m.
St. Christopher's Parish
1171 Clarkson Road North
Mississauga, ON
L5J 2W1
telephone: 905.822.1171
email:stchristophersmi@archtoronto.org
Prayer for a New School Year
We give you praise, O God,
For everything that is new and beautiful,
For everything which holds promise and brings us joy.
Bless us as we start this new year with our friends and teachers.
Help us to make the most of every chance we have to start afresh.
May we show love to one another and to all.
May the new beginning of this school year remind us
That you give us chances to start over again and again.
Help us to forgive others as we receive your forgiveness.
Help us to learn and to work together.
Help us to listen when we should and to know the best words when we speak
And when it is better not to speak.
We thank you for our friends.
Help us to be good friends this year.
Help us to be patient with ourselves and with others.
Bless our school and keep us safe.
Be with us as we travel each day.
Help us to be aware of your love shown to us in the people around us.
Bless all those who care for us.
In school and at home.
Help us show our care for them and to say sorry when we need to.
May the Blessed Mother Mary protect us
And help us to live as well as we can.
Giving thanks and glory to God as she did.
Morning and School Dismissal Procedures
School starts at 8 :15am and all late arrivals have to sign in at the Main Office.
Just a reminder teacher supervision begins at 8 :00am to 8 :15 am.
School finishes at 2 :45pm
First Day of School Procedures
We are excited to welcome our students back to school! To help ensure a safe and smooth start to the year, please review the following procedures for the first day of school.
Supervision Begins: 8:00 a.m.
Student Drop-Off Time: 8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
Kiss & Ride
Kiss & Ride procedures will remain the same as last year.
- Please follow the directions of the staff member at the crosswalk and the staff supervising the Kiss & Ride area.
- New families are encouraged to refer to the newsletter for detailed Kiss & Ride procedures and expectations.
Bus Students
Students in Grades 1 to 8 should proceed to the back of the school upon arrival, where teachers will be waiting with grade-level signs.
- Please have your child line up with their new teacher.
- Support staff will be available to assist any students who are unsure of where to go.
Walkers and Students Being Dropped Off
Students who walk to school or whose families park and walk them to the school should also make their way to the back of the school. Teachers will be waiting with grade-level signs.
- Please have your child line up with their new teacher.
- Support staff will be available to assist any students who are unsure of where to go.
A Few Helpful Reminders
Staff members will be available throughout the morning to help all students find their teachers and classrooms.
Please ensure your child:
- Brings their lunch, snacks, and indoor shoes.
- Knows their end-of-day dismissal plan and how they will be getting home.
We look forward to a wonderful first day and a successful school year ahead!
September: Faith
In September, we celebrate the virtue of faith.
A Faithful person…
- prays whenever they can
- learns from Scripture stories
- assumes that there is good in everyone
- knows that we are all loved by God
Administrator's Message
As we begin a new school year, it is with great excitement and gratitude that we welcome all of our students and families to St. Christopher Catholic School. Whether you are returning to our school community or joining us for the very first time, we are delighted to have you with us. We extend a special welcome to our new students and families, particularly our Junior Kindergarten learners as they begin this important and exciting educational journey.
At St. Christopher, we are proud to be a faith-filled, inclusive, and caring community where every child is known, valued, and encouraged to reach their full potential. Our dedicated staff is committed to creating safe, engaging, and supportive learning environments that foster academic excellence, personal growth, and spiritual development. Together, we strive to nurture the gifts and talents of each student while helping them become compassionate, responsible, and faith-filled leaders.
We are also deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our Catholic School Council and parent community. Their partnership and commitment continue to enrich the educational experiences of our students and help make St. Christopher a remarkable place to learn, grow, pray, and belong.
As we look ahead to a year filled with new opportunities, meaningful learning experiences, and celebrations of faith, we encourage all families to remain connected through our school communications and to actively participate in school life whenever possible. Strong partnerships between home, school, and parish are essential to student success, and we look forward to working together throughout the year.
On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you a blessed and successful school year. May God continue to guide and strengthen our community as we learn, grow, and journey together in faith.
A special thank you is extended to the teaching staff who have been working diligently over the past few weeks preparing classrooms and curriculum for students. A heartfelt thank you is extended to our office staff, Ms. Lanceta and our custodian Mr. Yeboah, who have spent many hours preparing our school for the new year.
St. Christopher Staff for 2026/2027:
Mrs. Sonya Cassim-Smith - JK/SK-A
Mrs. Greta Kacaj, DECE - JK/SK-A
Mrs. Megan Hewitt - JK/SK-B
Mrs. Mara Daminato - DECE - JK/SK-B
Ms. Lisa Gabrielli, Grade 1
Mrs. Jacqueline Coletta - Grade 1/2
Ms. Kimberley Dollimore - Grade 2
Mrs. Shelley McNeilly - Grade 2/3
Mrs. Michelle Smerilli - Grade 3/4
Mrs. Dana Marshall - Grade 3/4
Ms. Michelle Moreira - Grade 4/5
Mrs. Megan Russo - Grade 5/6
Mr. Lucas De Melo - Grade 6/7
Mrs. Sonya Horvat - Grade 7
Ms. Lisa Bertolo - Grade 8
Mme. Susan Dufton - Grade 5EF
Mrs. Carrie Buday - Grade 6EF
Mme. Erica D'Onofrio - Grade 7EF
Mr. Christopher Carrabs - Grade 8EF
Mme. Corina Alcasid - French-as-a-Second-Language
Mrs. Heather Dewsnap - Special Education & Special Education Resource Class
Mrs. Kathleen Cardoso - Special Education
Mrs. Maria Peters - Special Education Resource, ESL/ELL, Planning Time
Ms. Sandra Mylnarczyk - Teacher-Librarian, Planning Time
Mrs. Milka MacFarlane - Planning Time
Mrs. Maria Chiappetta-Trujilo - Planning Time
Mme. Ashwinee Saldanha - Planning Time, Extended French Planning Time
Mrs. Anna Jankowski - Educational Resource Worker
Mrs. Sheila Almazan - Educational Resource Worker
Mr. Faheem Nabi - Psychology Consultant
Mrs. Frances McKillop - Speech Pathologist
Ms. Amanda O'Connor - Child and Youth Care Practitioner
Ms. Punitha Manoharan - Social Worker
Mr. James Yeboah-Asuamah - Head Custodian
Mr. Kushan Wanduragala - Evening Custodian
Ms. Trisha Lanceta - Head Secretary
Mrs. Lucia Sasso - Vice-Principal
Mrs. Isabel Sauve - Principal
Our best wishes for a very successful school year!
I. Sauve & L. Sasso
Catholic Education Week :'Becoming Artisans of Peace'
“We must fan the flame of hope that has been given to us.”
(Letter on the Jubilee Year of Hope, February 11, 2022)
The theme chosen for the upcoming 2027 Catholic Education Week is: Becoming Artisans of Peace.
Catholic Education Week will run from May 2-7, 2027
Dogs on School Property
Please remember that from 8: 00 a.m. to 3 :00 p.m. dogs are not allowed on school property. This includes small dogs being carried. Please be respectful of the fact that some of our students have a fear of dogs. We thank you for your continued understanding and support.
MEDICAL ALERT– Sabrina’s Law (Anaphylaxis)
Sabrina’s Law is an Act to protect anaphylactic pupils in publiclyfunded schools in Ontario. Named “Sabrina’s Law” in honour of anOntario student who died following an anaphylactic reaction in2003, this law requires that every school board establish andmaintain an anaphylaxis policy. If your child has a severe allergic reaction to peanuts, peanut by-products, bee/wasp stings etc., please let the school know as soonas possible. It is essential that the information you provide us withis accurate and up-to-date. There are various forms which need tobe completed by you and your family doctor if it is necessary to store and dispense an EPI-pen orany other medication at school.
We continue to have both students and staff with severe, life threatening allergy to certain foods, such as peanuts and nuts. This is a medical condition that may cause severe and life threatening reactions to certain allergens within minutes. Although this may or may not affect your child’sclass directly, we require your continued cooperation in sending foods to school with your childthat
are free from peanuts, nuts or their by-products.
Please do not send food products to be shared in your child’s classroom. If you would like your child to share their special day/birthday with their classmates, we suggest that you consider non-food items such as pencils or stickers.
Letters have been sent home with the students whose classroom members have specific allergies. Please check with your child, and in their backpack, for letters regarding the type of allergy and products to avoid in your child’s classroom.
Please pay careful consideration to school lunches and snacks while continuing to refrain from sending in items that are made of, or contain, nuts orpeanuts. We offer our heartfelt thanks for your support in making our school a safer environment for all.
Kiss & Ride, School and Visitor Parking
- When arriving by car, please enter the school grounds by the entrance on Clarkson Road (adjacent to the church, where the school sign is located). Drive up the driveway and left at the stop sign (Please DO NOT drop off your child here)
- Continue driving to the Kiss & Ride Lane, following the direction of Staff on duty. Three vehicles can fit safely in the Kiss & Ride Lane. All other vehicles, please wait patiently until you are signaled by the staff member on duty to pull up to the Kiss &Ride area to drop off your child.
- Once in the Kiss & Ride Lane, your child (ren) MUST be able exit the vehicle independently from the passenger side of the vehicle. Please note that parents/guardians cannot park in the Kiss& Ride Lane or exit their vehicle to assist their child (ren) out of vehicle. If you child cannot exit the vehicle independently, then kindly park your vehicle in the church parking lot and assist your child there, then walk to the school crosswalk by the Kiss & Ride and release your child there.
Driving in and parking your vehicle to drop off your child(ren)
If you are intending to walk your child from your parked car, please follow the following procedures:
- Enter the parking lot of the church or the school driveway and park in the designated parking spots in the church parking lot.
- Do not park in any spots with a pylon.
- Walk your child to the Crosswalk area that joins the church and the school. You will see a staff member on duty with a stop sign and wearing a safety vest. Please follow the directions of the staff member at this crosswalk.
- Parents/Guardians are not to cross in the middle of the live Kiss & Ride Lane or Drive Thru lane as it is unsafe.
- Walk your child to the crosswalk and they can independently cross under the supervision of the staff member on duty.
- If you do decide to accompany your child across the crosswalk to the school side, please note you can only go as far as the Kiss & Ride sidewalk area. All other areas are for buses, students and staff only.
Picking up your child at Dismissal:
Follow the same procedures for Kiss & Ride arrivals.
- If parking your car, then follow the same procedures and then after exiting your vehicle, parents/guardians can wait where the pylons are until students are dismissed by a staff member to cross the crosswalk area.
- To avoid congestion, please do not cross the crosswalk to the school side. Your child’s teacher will ensure that your child is released to you once they see you waiting on the pylon side of the parking lot.
STOPR-Courtesy Transportation Request
STOPR has established a procedure for granting courtesy seats. These seats must not, under any circumstances, result in additional costs or a longer bus trip, and must not create precedents or penalize students who already ride the bus. Courtesy students must be assigned to existing bus stops. STOPR will not accept requests for additional stops or for altering the existing bus route. STOPR will not grant courtesy seats on Special Education buses.
Courtesy transportation is assigned on an annual basis. Requests for courtesy transportation must be submitted to the school, by the parent/guardian each year, using Courtesy Transportation Request Form.
A courtesy seat may be granted if all the following conditions are met:
1. a seat is available on the bus:
- for single school runs, seat availability is the difference between maximum allowed riders and assigned riders.
- for integrated bus runs, seat availability for each involved school will be determined, by STOPR staff, based on percentage of eligible riders from each school and communicated to each school;
2. the bus stop already exists in the current school year.
3. the bus run is not a school-to-school transfer run.
The school Principal may approve students to courtesy seats taking into consideration the following conditions:
1. student age;
2. distance from home to school;
3. date and time request was received;
4. enrolment stability;
5. maximum allowed riders
On a yearly basis, the school administrator will inform the parent/guardian when a seat has been granted and the parent/guardian has signed the Courtesy Transportation Request.
During the school year, courtesy transportation may be withdrawn at any time for any of the following conditions:
1. seating is required for eligible students
2. altering the route is necessary
3. student behaviour is unacceptable
Courtesy Request Forms are due to the school office September 30, 2026 by 3:00pm.
* Please note that submitting a Courtesy Seat Request Form does not guarantee a seat on the school bus.*
Asthma Friendly School Ryan's Law
Ryan’s Law is an Act to protect Asthmatic pupils in publicly funded schools in Ontario. If your child has asthma, please let the school know immediately. It is essential that the information you provide us with is accurate and up to date
Ryan’s Law introduced policies and procedures that:
- Allow your child to carry his/her asthma reliever (rescue) inhaler (with your permission).
- Reduce your child’s contact with asthma triggers.
- Develop an individual plan for every student with asthma, including recommendations from their health-care providers and current emergency contacts. This will be kept on file at the school.
If you have more questions about Ryan’s Law ?
Call The Lung Association Lung Health Information Line at 1-888-344-LUNG (5864), email
info@on.lung.ca, or visit www.RyansLaw.ca
Storage/Administration of Medication
If a child is required to bring medication to school, procedures regarding the administration of medication shall only be adopted:
- when requested by the parents/guardians; and
- when authorized by a physician; and
- when medication must be provided during school hours.
Parents are responsible for ensuring that all medication and forms are updated annually. If your child requires medication, please have all pertinent forms completed and returned with the medication to the office as soon as possible. All medication will be housed in a safe location. Medication must not be kept in the child’s possession or in the classroom except for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.
It is highly encouraged that students who have an anaphylactic allergy or who have asthma, keep their epi-pen and/or inhaler on their person at all times. If able, it is recommended that your child bring two EpiPens and/or two asthma inhalers to the school. This would allow your child to keep this medication on their person as well as ensuring that the school office has an additional set of medication.
Please note that school staff cannot dispense medication of any kind without the proper physician authorization and a properly labeled container, (i.e. prescription bottle or original over the counter container).
Students should not be self-administering medication (i.e.: Tylenol, Advil, Benadryl, cough syrup, eye drops. etc.) at school. For all non-prescription medication, at GF 035 must be completed and sent to the school.
Vaccination Clinic October 1 (Gr.7 & 8)
First Communion & Confirmation 2026-2027
If you child is in Grade 2 and Grade 7 this year and would like to receive their Sacrament of First Communion (Grade 2) and Sacrament of Confirmation (Grade 7), please contact St. Christopher's Parish.
Please see the information that was sent out via School Messenger regarding sacraments for the 2026/2027 school year.
The Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations
The Graduate is expected to be:
- A discerning believer formed in the Catholic Faith community who celebrates the signs and sacred mystery of God's presence through word, sacrament, prayer, forgiveness, reflection and moral living.
- An effective communicator who speaks, writes and listens honestly and sensitively, responding critically in light of gospel values.
- A reflective, creative and holistic thinker who solves problems and makes responsible decisions with an informed moral conscience for the common good.
- A self-directed, responsible, lifelong learner who develops and demonstrates their God-given potential.
- A collaborative contributor who finds meaning, dignity and vocation in work which respects the rights of all and contributes to the common good.
- A caring family member who attends to family, school, parish, and the wider community.
- A responsible citizen who gives witness to Catholic social teaching by promoting peace, justice and the sacredness of human life.
Picture Day
Picture Day will be Monday September 28, 2026. Picture Retake Day will be Monday November 2, 2026.
Orange Shirt Day
St. Christopher School will be participating in Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday September 30, 2026. Students are invited to wear orange on this day.
Catholic School Council
Communication between home and school is greatly enhanced by parental involvement with the Catholic School Council. Please note that our Council is comprised of parents, school staff as well as community and parish representatives. The aim of the Catholic School Council is to support school activities and students through involvement and fund raising. The School Council also provides a forum for parents to meet and share information and ideas concerning the school community.
A reminder that if you are interested in volunteering within the school in any capacity, a Valid Criminal Reference Check (CRC), with Vulnerable Sector and Local Records Check completed by Peel Regional Police is required. The cost is $35. Please note that there may be some time required to process a CRC, thus waiting for an announced volunteer opportunity to obtain your CRC may not provide sufficient time for processing. Once the school has a valid CRC on fi le, we will not need a new CRC yearly, rather, a yearly Offence Declaration will suffice.
Thank you,
St. Christopher Catholic School Council
2026-2027 St. Christopher Elementary Catholic School Council:
Welcome back to the dedicated and hardworking members of our Catholic School Council !
Please consider joining our Catholic School Council for the 2026-2027 year.
September 18, 2026 Nomination Forms for the 2026-2027 school year are due by 3:00pm in the school office. Please see below for self-nomination information and form Catholic School Council dates will be shared in the near future.
If you would like to attend our first School Council Meeting will be on Monday September 21, 2026 at 3:00pm in the school library.
All parents / guardians are always most welcome to attend.
DPCDSB SafeVoice Safe Schools Tool
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) is committed to the safety and well-being of all students. To support this, DPCDSB offers SafeVoice, a confidential Safe Schools Tool for students to share concerns about bullying, harassment, discrimination, or other issues.
Students can access SafeVoice from the DPCDSB homepage, the Student Portal, their school website, or directly at dpcdsb.org/SafeVoice. The form allows students to provide information about incidents they’ve experienced or witnessed, including details about who was involved and when and where it took place. Students may choose to remain anonymous or include their name and contact information if they wish to be contacted directly by a school administrator.
All submissions are reviewed by the school Principal and Vice-Principal, unless a concern involves a Principal or Vice-Principal, in which case it is directed to the Superintendent.
SafeVoice is one of the many ways DPCDSB works with students, staff, and families to foster safe, caring, inclusive, and faith-filled school communities. If you need to share information about a crime, please contact Crime Stoppers, Peel Regional Police, or the Ontario Provincial Police.
If you have questions, please contact your school Principal or Vice-Principal.
Combined Grades Information
Please see the attached for more information regarding combined grades.
Concussion Protocol
As per Ministry of Education direction, our Board has a Concussion Protocol in place. Again, this school year, ALL students who sustain a head injury during the school day, however minor, will receive a Concussions Are Serious pamphlet to take home. We ask parents/guardians to review this pamphlet and seek medical attention for your son/daughter if you feel it is required. As in previous years, all head injuries will be logged and reported to parents/guardians directly. We ask that you please inform the school as soon as possible if and when your son/daughter sustains a concussion as a result of a school incident or as a result of an activity outside of school.
Questions or concerns regarding this policy should be directed to the Main Office.
Your cooperation and assistance in this regard are appreciated.
Emergency Protocol
Emergency response procedures in the event of a fire, bomb threat, serious accident/injury or an intruder have been established and are revised on an ongoing basis. Each school within the DPCDSB is required to hold 9 emergency procedure drills over the course of the year.
These drills consist of three fire drills per term, one lockdown drill per term, and 1 hold and secure drill per year. During these drills staff review all emergency procedures with students to ensure all children are safe in the event of a real emergency.
In the event that it is necessary to evacuate the school, our site for relocation is
St. Christopher Church : 1171 Clarkson Road North
Student Handbook for Elementary
This is a reminder that the updated Student Handbook for Elementary is now available on the DPCDSB main website. Please click the link below:
EQAO Primary and Junior Assessments
All grade 3 and 6 students will have completed EQAO in May. We would like to thank the staff and students for their work before and during this provincial EQAO testing. Thank you also to the parents for their efforts in assisting with their EQAO preparation and ensuring their child’s attendance during the assessment. Results of these assessments will be used to define school goals and refine improvement strategies. Results will be available at the school in the fall 2026.
We, again, would like to congratulate our grade 3 and 6 students for persevering and trying their best !
Password Reset Tools
You can now reset your password remotely by registering for the Password Reset Tool. You must know your old password to create a new one.
To reset your password remotely you must first register with the “Password Reset Tool”, which you can do by following one of these two steps:
Students: students.dpcdsb.org and select Password Reset. Once you are registered, please follow the Password Reset Instructions
Mark Your Calendar
Open House/ Curriculum Evening will take place at St. Christopher school on Thursday September 24, 2026 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Kindergarten Registration
The DPCDSB offers the Kindergarten program in 125 Catholic elementary schools in Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Bolton and Orangeville.
Parents/guardians can register online at dpcdsb.org
Registration is open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents. Kindergarten students must be at least four (4) years of age by December 31, 2024.
The following documents are required to complete the registration process:
- Proof of age of the child
- Original Roman Catholic baptismal certificate (for child and/or parent/guardian) or original baptismal certificate from a church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome or an Eastern Catholic Church.
- Immunization Reference #’s from the local Public Health Unit
- Proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
- Proof of home address
- Proof of English Separate School Support
Please refer to the Register for School webpage for accepted forms of documentation.
Inquiries about home school locations/boundary areas should be directed to the DPCDSB Planning
Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24440.
For more information, parents/guardians should contact their local Catholic school, visit dpcdsb.org or call DPCDSB’s Admissions Department at 905-890-1221.
Welcome Back to School! September School Health Info
Dear families,
Road safety is an important topic, especially coming back to school. To ensure a safe arrival, remember to :
- Choose active transportation (e.g., walking or cycling) whenever possible. This helps the environment too! If you live too far to walk the whole way to school, consider parking 5 minutes away to avoid traffic and get some bonus exercise into your day.
- Follow all road signs when driving and obey the school drop-off and pick-up rules.
- Stay clear of fi re hydrants, driveways, crosswalks or the Kiss and Ride areas when parking.
- For those who ride a school bus, visit www.STOPR.ca for more information.
Please visit the following sties to learn more:
- Safe school travel info sheet
- Walk and Roll to School Guide
- Family Cycling Handbook
- Peel Region’s Active Transportation website
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA)’s website has activities, videos, and an ArcGIS Storymap with information about active transportation in Peel Schools.
If you have any questions about the resources above, or would like more information, reach out to
We look forward to another excellent year of learning!
School Cash Online Payment
To reduce the handling of cash, St. Christopher will continue to use and promote the School Cash Online Payment System. The Online Payment System is a secure and electronic method to pay for school related fees.
International & Indigenous Languages Elementary Programs
Elementary International and Indigenous Languages are available for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. No prior language experience is necessary. International and Indigenous Languages programs comply with the Ministry of Education curriculum and will be of interest to students who wish to preserve their language and cultural heritage and also to those who wish to study the language and heritage of another culture. Students attending schools outside of the DPCDSB may also register for these programs.
By directing your tax support to the Separate (Catholic) School System:
- You may vote for Catholic School Trustees in Municipal elections
- Your children may attend Catholic elementary schools
- You show your support for the Catholic school system
To verify that you are registered as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter:
- Check the assessment section of your Tax Bill or Property Assessment Notice
- Check your Voter Information Card received during an election year (2022)
Have you moved?
Even if you have been an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter in the past, the designation DOES NOT follow you when you relocate. By default, your property taxes support your municipality's English public school board. Every time you move or if there is a change of ownership, it is essential that you register yourself as an English Separate (Catholic) school supporter.
To register as an English Separate (Catholic) School Supporter or change your Direction of School Support, please contact the DPCDSB Admissions Department by phone at 905-890-0708 ext. 24512 or by email at admissions@dpcdsb.org.
Learn More:
- Visit the Direction of School Support webpage
- Watch our Direction of School Support video
Important Dates to Remember
September 2026:
2- PA Day
3- PA Day
7- Labour Day
8- First Day of School
18- CSC Nomination Forms due to the office by 3:00pm
21–25- Truth and Reconciliation Week
Scholastic Book Fair
21- First CSC meeting for 2026/27
24- Open House 6:00-7:30
28- Picture Day
30- Orange Shirt Day
Reporting Student Absences
Whether it’s a medical appointment, an illness or other important event, there are times when students may need to be away from school. The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District school board uses School Messenger's Safe Arrival system for parents to report their child(ren)’s absences. Using the SafeArrival system, parents will be able to report daily or future absences in one of three ways:
Web:
- Go to the SafeArrival website at go.schoolmessenger.ca
- Select Sign Up to create your account. (Only needed for the initial setup, after that you will click on login).
- Select Attendance.
- Select Report an Absence.
App:
- Download and install the SchoolMessenger app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. Please note that SafeArrival uses the SchoolMessenger app.
- Select Sign-Up. (Only needed for the initial setup, after that you will click on login).
- You will be prompted to enter your email (same email address your school has on file) and create a password.
- The system will send a link to the same email address the school has on file, please click on the link you have received in your email to activate your account.
Phone:
- Call the toll-free number 1-844-435-3440
- Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence.
- If the system doesn’t recognize your caller ID, you will be asked to enter the student’s home phone number or any phone number for the guardian that is on file with the school.
Parent Notification of Unexplained Student Absences
Elementary Schools: If your child's absence is not reported in advance, the SafeArrival automated notification system will contact you by email / text (SMS) / phone to inform you of your child's absence and will provide an opportunity to verify the absence. By reporting your child's absence in advance on the SafeArrival SchoolMessenger mobile app, SafeArrival website (go.schoolmessenger.ca) or 1-844-435-3440 (toll-free number), you will not receive a notification.
How to Create a SchoolMessenger Account:
- Click on the Apple App Store or Google Play icon.
- Enter SchoolMessenger in the Search bar and click 'Get" or "Install" to download the App
- Once installed click 'Open'
- Click 'sign up' to setup your account
- Enter the email address you have on file with your child's school
- Create a password using at least 6 characters, including one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter and one number
- Set the location to Canada
- Click the 'sign up' button
- Open your email and click on the link provided to complete the registration process
- Login with your email address and the password you just created and make sure the location is still set to Canada
How to Report an Absence Using the SchoolMessenger App:
- Open SchoolMessenger
- Login to your account with your email and password
- Click the menu icon at the top left (three horizontal lines) and select 'Attendance'
- Click the plus sign beside 'Report an Absence' at the bottom right
- Select your child's name
- Select the type of absence you would like to report
- Check a box for the reason for your child's absence
- Select the date of absence (and expected time of arrival if reporting a late arrival), then click 'Send'
- Once sent, the reported absence will appear under 'Attendance' for your child.