Just this year, Orono has started using Synergy instead of the old school system, TIES, that everyone was used to. Since the upgrade, the school no longer writes deficiency notes and mails them to parents. Principal David Benson is becoming concerned about parents increasing obliviousness of their students’ grades and absences. The problem is trying to figure out a way to contact parents on a regular basis and get them to be more aware.

“We had TIES for years and Synergy is brand new this summer,” Benson said

Technology and Information Educational Services (TIES) was the old system OHS used for years before Synergy. TIES sent out instant alerts to parents when there was a disturbance in attendance. Synergy, however, does not send out alerts until the end of the day. Synergy has two logins similar to TIES: one for the parents and one for the students. However students were unaware of their logins for TIES. The reason behind getting the upgrade is that OHS spent much of their time and paper just to contact parents and give reports every now and then. Synergy is meant to be quicker and more efficient, making the employees at OHS lives easier.

“Parents and students are used to TIES. My kids’ school used it as well,” OHS guidance counselor Shana Borgen said.

There are plenty of ways to find out if a student has academic problems or not. One that most parents missed are that they are required to sign up for the new system if they want to find out about any absences or grade issues. Benson sent out an email early in the school year, but many did not sign up. Deficiency notes are now sent out digitally. The school sends emails about absences to parents and the school can see if the parent opens the email or not. OHS uses an “Email Merge”, that sends deficiency forms to parents and students.

“So far, the email merge has been the best fix. We will continue to use it in the future,” Benson said.

Another method to find out about any academic and attendance troubles is the required Spartan Hour that OHS has been using for years, where teachers go over a student’s grades with them and talk about what the next step is. Associate Principal Caryn Boyd and Attendance officer Heather DeLong will even contact the parent personally if the student does not take proper responsibility.

“I do something I call a ‘welfare check’ — if I notice a pattern in a student’s absences. For example, if they miss a certain period more than others,” OHS office worker Heather DeLong said.

There is also a ParentVUE app that students and parents can download to keep updated. If there are any questions, DeLong highly recommends the OHS Parent and Student handbook, which talks about everything someone might need to know about this school. Counselors will step in if absences are due to anything from mental help or bullying, but anything else is outside their range. In the end, it is up to the students and to the parents to take charge when it comes to academic troubles.