How to Add and Manage Periods in openSIS

How to Add and Manage Periods in openSIS

Overview

The Periods section in openSIS allows administrators to create and manage the instructional time slots used throughout the school day.

Periods are used in:

  • Student scheduling
  • Teacher schedules
  • Attendance tracking
  • Timetables
  • Course section assignment

Administrators can create multiple periods based on the institution’s academic structure and define whether attendance should be calculated for each period.

Accessing the Periods Screen

To access Period settings:

Notes
Settings > School Settings > Periods

The Periods screen displays all configured periods along with:

  • Period title
  • Short name
  • Start and end times
  • Period duration
  • Attendance calculation status

Adding a New Period

To create a new period:

  1. Navigate to:
    Info
    Settings > School Settings > Periods
  2. Click Add New Period
  3. Enter the required details:
    • Title
    • Short Name
    • Start Time
    • End Time
  4. Enable or disable:
    • Calculate Attendance
  5. Click Submit

The new period will now appear in the Period listing.

Period Fields Explained

Title

The full name of the period.

Examples:

  • Period 1
  • Advisory
  • Lab Session

Short Name

A shorter identifier used across schedules and reports.

Examples:

  • P1
  • ADV
  • LAB

Start Time

Defines when the period begins.

End Time

Defines when the period ends.

The system automatically calculates the total period duration based on the selected start and end times.

Calculate Attendance

This option determines whether attendance from the period contributes toward daily attendance calculations.

Enabled

Attendance from this period is included in attendance processing.

Disabled

Attendance from this period is ignored during attendance calculation.

This is commonly used for:

  • Lunch periods
  • Advisory sessions
  • Non-instructional activities

Editing a Period

To edit an existing period:

  1. Locate the period from the list
  2. Open the Action menu
  3. Select the edit option
  4. Update the required details
  5. Save the changes

Updated configurations are reflected immediately across scheduling and attendance workflows.

Deleting a Period

To remove a period:

  1. Open the Action menu beside the period
  2. Select the delete option
  3. Confirm the deletion

Administrators should verify that the period is not actively used in scheduling before deleting it.

Reordering Periods

Periods can be reordered using the drag-and-drop sorting option available on the left side of the listing.

This controls the display order across:

  • Timetables
  • Scheduling screens
  • Reports

Searching and Filtering Periods

Administrators can use the search bar to quickly locate specific periods from the list.

The filter option can also be used to organize period records more efficiently.

Best Practices

  • Use clear and standardized naming conventions.
  • Keep period timings accurate and non-overlapping.
  • Enable attendance calculation only for instructional periods.
  • Review schedules before modifying or deleting periods.
  • Maintain consistent short names for easier reporting.