Students are no longer able to submit paper forms for an excused absence. Instead, the new process requires parents to use Veracross, Brophy’s new school management system. The goal of this shift is to reduce paperwork, and make the process smoother for everyone.

Previously, students were required to get the signatures of teachers whose class they missed, and submit that to the Dean’s Office. Now, parents are required to fill out a digital form on Veracross, which is then approved by the Dean’s Office.

Brophy’s administration hopes the new process will improve efficiency. “It is much more streamlined of a process,” said Ms. Maya Courtright, Brophy’s attendance coordinator. Students are no longer required to find and get teachers’ signatures, Ms. Courtright said. 

Students seem to be reacting positively to the change as well. “I thought it was pretty convenient,” said Nevin Atodaria ’27, a student who recently used the new system. Atodaria is glad he no longer needs to find each teacher to get the form approved, and he simply had to email his teachers and get his parents to submit a form.

The policy also removes the teachers’ ability to offer comments on or have a physical conversation with students requesting an absence. “The onus is on the students to email their teachers and notify them of their absence, and make up any missed work,” Ms. Courtright said. However, these emails might be less effective than a physical meeting. ““A lot of my emails go unresponded to,” Atodaria said. He noted that it’s nice to have a physical conversation with the teacher, so he can feel confident that they know he will be absent.