At this point you should have successfully accomplished the following:
Installed the SchoolLeader software on your main Server computer and any networked workstations that will be remotely accessing the database.
Loaded the Registration key into the database and activated the software
Correctly setup the User ID's for all the various users with the proper permissions set for each.
Completely configured the entire system to meet the needs of your school by setting up the Rate tables, Late Payment Fee Rules, etc.
The next step on the road to full operations is to build "Folders" for all your Students and Guardians. These folders will contain ALL the important information known about your Students, Guardians, and the relationships that exist between them (Parents, Grandparents, friends, etc.). It will make up the majority of your database and will serve as the foundation for most of the SchoolLeader operations.
(SchoolLeader Folders are actually multi-function windows that separate and manage the different types of information by using a familiar "Tab" metaphor. These tabs are always aligned across the bottom of the window and help to organize the distinct and different features of the primary object you are defining, such as Students, Guardians, Employees, etc.)
To create a Families complete set of Folders you should perform the following steps:
Start by creating a Student Folder for the child who is attending the school from this family. If there is more than one student attending your school from the same family simply put them aside for the moment and focus on only one. Define all the pertinent information about that student with the exception of the Student Folder - Relations Tab information. Since no Guardian Folders have been created yet for this student you cannot create any relationships. Follow the instructions in the chapter titled "Student Functions-Student Folder" to learn how to create your new Student Folder.
After the first Student Folder has been created you should setup all the Guardian Folders that relate to the adult family and friend that are associated with this student. Use the Family Setup Wizard to accomplish this quickly. Press the button titled "FAMILY SETUP WIZARD" located on the top of the Student Folder window or select it from the Main Menu under the GUARDIAN heading.
With the Family Setup Wizard open proceed to create the Guardian Folders for all the adults. Refer to the chapter titled "Guardian Functions - Family Setup Wizard" to learn how to use this tool.
Now that all your Guardian Folders have been initialized you can open the folders directly to add any additional information that may be necessary. In most cases this won't be necessary. The exception would be if you wanted to add a "rate entry" to the Primary Guardians folder.
Lastly, create any additional Student Folders that are necessary for other children in this family. However, since the Guardian folders have been created now you can go to the Student Folder-Relations Tab on the Student Folder to establish the relationships. The Guardian names will now be in the list for you to select.
Repeat these steps for each family in the School until you have a complete record of every Student and every Guardian who is associated with those Students. Keep in mind the relationships can vary greatly and SchoolLeader gives you the power to build the relationships between the Student Folders and the Guardian Folders any way you find necessary.
Remember, as you are entering Students you might find that an adult who has been identified as a "friend" of that student may already have a folder created because they are the "Parent" of another student in your school. In these situations you would not want to create another folder. Instead you should simply associate that existing Guardian Folder to that other student. You can add and change relationships without restriction. There is no limit on the number of relationships that can exist between a Student and the registered Guardians or vice versa.