17 Mar 2015
Attendance Management System
You will have noticed that some parents have been receiving notifications for absences via email. In response to feedback about this process, we have reverted back to sending SMS messages for whole day absence and for students arriving late.
We are limited to 160 characters per SMS. Otherwise we are charged double for each message that is sent out. This is a standard operation and was the same as the previous attendance management system. As a result the message provides limited information. We have therefore decided that it would be beneficial to explain part of the message. The message you will receive is as follows,
EBHS: {student_first_name} {student_surname_initial} marked absent on {absence} - To explain his absence, reply to this SMS. Please do not save number.
When we SMS, please DO NOT save the number as the SMS you receive is tied to a specific attendance date/incident and, therefore, your response is directed tp that SMS number only. Please DO NOT use that SMS number for other responses or queries.
Parent Portal
We plan to release a new parent and student portal this term. We are doing this because the new portal has the ability to provide more timely information to parents in terms of their sons' attendance and progress at school. In order for this to be effective we need to ensure that all parents update their details with the school. If you have not updated your details recently and think that they may not be up to date, please contact the school to provide it. Update forms are available through the Front Office and attached to most newsletters so you can download a copy and send it in with your son or bring it in in person.
When we release the parent portal you will receive an email and a code for logging into the portal. We will increase the features over time once we have tested them and had feedback.