These are great because you have a written record of every pass you write for the day, and eventually for the whole year. Plus, they are really hard to forge since you have every pass documented. When the students come in, I check off the carbon copy to note that they did show up, and see who didn't show up. I use the phone message book for these as well. I write the exact time they leave, the nurse then fills in the exact time they leave her office and also initials the pass.
Parental contact is very important.
Inside I have a student information sheet on each student that documents everything. You can always ask students to bring in items as well. I use them for my Mystery Powders Lab to hold each sample, in my Making Cents lab to store pennies, any small objects that are easy to lose or come in large quantities. I use baby food jars to make electroscopes using the TOPS recipe. I've used small baby food jars to make accelerometers.