Please include the following information in your message:

  • Student’s FIRST and LAST NAME
  • Date of absence
  • Time of absence (please do not indicate period or class, as it gets confusing with the tumble)
  • Caller’s name
  • Brief description of absence (example: ill, family, appointment, vacation, bereavement, etc.)
  • PLEASE NOTE: if a parent/guardian excuses a student from class, the student must leave school property. This includes Conroy Park and the Lookout Field during school hours.
  • PLEASE NOTE: please leave only one message, either by phone or email. It is not necessary to do both.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if my student is ill?

  • Call or email the attendance line preferably before 8am, or the evening before.
  • In the message, simply say the student will be absent due to illness. Please do not describe the illness.
  • If you are unsure if the student is well enough to return to school, please check the Daily Assessment Student Screening Tool located here: https://www.ontario.ca/school-screening/

    My student has covid. How do I know when they can return to school?

    How do I excuse my student to watch sports in the gym/Conroy Park?

    • The only time a student can be excused from class to attend a sports event is if the student’s entire class will be going under a teacher’s supervision.
    • If a parent/guardian signs out a student, the student must leave school property.
    • PLEASE NOTE: Conroy Park and the Lookout Field are considered school property during school hours.

    How do I excuse my student to study/work in the library or cafeteria?

    • The only time a student can be excused from class to work in an alternate location in the school is if a teacher or administrator gives their permission. The teacher or administrator would notify attendance to excuse the absence.
    • If a parent/guardian signs out a student, the student must leave school property.

    Do I need to contact the school if my student will be absent on a snow day?

    • No, it is not necessary to report absences when buses are cancelled due to inclement weather even if the student walks to school.

    What do I do if our family is going on vacation?

    • Students who will be absent for 5 or more days should pick up a blue Extended Absence Form in the main office.
    • Parents/guardians will fill out the information at the top and sign the bottom.
    • The student would then take the form around to each of their teachers, who will fill out information about the work students are responsible for completing during their absence.
    • Once the form is complete, the student should hand it in at the attendance desk in the main office.

    What do I do if my student has an appointment or a family engagement?

    • Call or email the attendance line preferably before 8am, or the evening before.
    • In the message, please provide a brief description of the absence, such as family or appointment. No further explanation of the absence is necessary.

    What do I do if my student is running late?

    • If your student will be arriving late for a class, please call or email the attendance line and indicate the estimated time of arrival, so the correct periods can be excused.
    • If you do not leave an estimated time of arrival, only one period will be excused. PLEASE NOTE: the attendance secretary will not be able to monitor your student’s attendance to see if they are absent for more classes due to high call/email volumes on the attendance line. Only what’s indicated directly in the message will be recorded, unless we receive another call/message indicating more classes to excuse.
    • If the appointment/engagement goes longer than expected, please call back to excuse the next period.

    What do I do if my student has a last minute appointment?

    • If your student has a last minute appointment or family emergency, please call the main number (705-789-5594) upon your arrival at the school to pick up the student. The student will be called out of class at that time and the attendance will be corrected.

      My student is attending a school trip/sports tournament, do I need to notify the school?

      • No, you do not need to contact the attendance line for school events. The teacher/coach in charge of the trip/team will submit the list of students attending to the attendance line.
      • If your student attended an event and was not excused, please leave a message on the attendance line and the secretary will contact the supervising teacher/coach to correct it.

      I think my student was marked absent in error, what do I do?

      • Please leave a message on the attendance line about the suspected error. The attendance secretary will forward the message to the appropriate teacher to confirm the attendance.
      • If the teacher confirms the error, the attendance will be corrected.