Tell parents on WhatsApp when a student is absent
When a teacher marks a student absent in the attendance sheet, the parent gets a WhatsApp message right away.
How it works
Trigger: Google Sheets — new row in Attendance
- A teacher adds a row (date, student, class, status, parent phone).
- Continue only when the status is "absent".
- Send the parent an approved WhatsApp template with the student's name, class and date.
Diagram
Trigger App Logic
Build it
Pick your tool — same automation, step by step.
Copy and paste straight into an n8n canvas (Ctrl+V), or download and use Import from File. Then connect your own credentials and replace every YOUR_… placeholder.
Show code (154 lines)
{
"name": "Tell parents on WhatsApp when a student is absent (Flowngn)",
"nodes": [
{
"parameters": {
"content": "## Tell parents on WhatsApp when a student is absent\nWhen a teacher marks a student absent in the attendance sheet, the parent gets a WhatsApp message right away.\n\n**Setup**\n1. Open each node and connect your own credentials.\n2. Replace every YOUR_… placeholder.\n3. Test once, then activate.\n\nFree template from Flowngn",
"height": 260,
"width": 340
},
"id": "458223d5-1806-40b3-a72e-e767d2a77d69",
"name": "Setup notes",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
-420,
-60
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"pollTimes": {
"item": [
{
"mode": "everyMinute"
}
]
},
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "YOUR_SPREADSHEET_ID",
"mode": "id"
},
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"value": "Attendance",
"mode": "name"
},
"event": "rowAdded",
"options": {}
},
"id": "458223d5-1806-40b3-a72e-e767d2a77d69",
"name": "New attendance row",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheetsTrigger",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
0,
0
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"conditions": {
"options": {
"caseSensitive": true,
"leftValue": "",
"typeValidation": "loose"
},
"conditions": [
{
"id": "c1",
"leftValue": "={{ String($json.status).trim().toLowerCase() }}",
"rightValue": "absent",
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "equals"
}
}
],
"combinator": "and"
},
"options": {}
},
"id": "458223d5-1806-40b3-a72e-e767d2a77d69",
"name": "Absent?",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"typeVersion": 2.2,
"position": [
300,
0
]
},
{
"parameters": {
"operation": "sendTemplate",
"phoneNumberId": "YOUR_PHONE_NUMBER_ID",
"recipientPhoneNumber": "={{ String($json.parent_phone).replace(/[^0-9]/g, '') }}",
"template": "YOUR_ABSENCE_TEMPLATE|ar",
"components": {
"component": [
{
"type": "body",
"bodyParameters": {
"parameter": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "={{ $json.student }}"
},
{
"type": "text",
"text": "={{ $json.date }}"
},
{
"type": "text",
"text": "={{ $json.class }}"
}
]
}
}
]
}
},
"id": "458223d5-1806-40b3-a72e-e767d2a77d69",
"name": "Tell the parent",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.whatsApp",
"typeVersion": 1,
"position": [
600,
0
]
}
],
"connections": {
"New attendance row": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Absent?",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Absent?": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Tell the parent",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
},
"pinData": {},
"settings": {
"executionOrder": "v1"
},
"meta": {
"templateCredsSetupCompleted": false
},
"tags": []
}In Make, create a new scenario and add these modules in order:
- Google Sheets › Watch New Rows
- Filter on the next route: “Absent?”
- If yesWhatsApp Business Cloud › Send a Template Message
- Every module run uses Make operations — the free plan includes a monthly quota.
- Module and step names can differ slightly as Make and Zapier update their apps.
In Zapier, create a new Zap and add these steps in order:
- Google Sheets — New Spreadsheet Row
- Filter by Zapier: “Absent?”
- If yesWhatsApp — Send Template Message
- Zaps with more than two steps need a paid Zapier plan.
- Webhooks, Filters/Paths and Code by Zapier are premium features on some Zapier plans.
- Module and step names can differ slightly as Make and Zapier update their apps.
Tips
- Use a Google Form for teachers; its answers land in the sheet as new rows.
Related flows
Education & TrainingEasy
Class reminders for tomorrow on WhatsApp
Every evening, remind students (or their parents) about tomorrow's class: course, time and place.
Google Sheets → WhatsApp5h/mo
Education & TrainingEasy
Email students their Google Forms quiz score
As soon as a student submits a Google Forms quiz, they get an email with their score and a link to review.
Google Sheets → Gmail2h/mo
Education & TrainingEasy
Email certificates when a student finishes a course
Mark a student as completed in a sheet and they get a congratulations email with their certificate link.
Google Sheets → Gmail3h/mo