The High Prairie School Division Builds Stronger Connections Between Teachers and Families

How HPSD increased parent engagement—and decreased cybersecurity threats—with Sparkrock's suite of K-12 software.

Sparkrock’s unified login is a game-changer, as it allows parents to seamlessly manage multiple children, even across several schools. Through secure mobile access to student data such as attendance, marks, and report cards, the portal has also reduced the risk of falling prey to phishing attacks or bad actors.

Angela Uhrig-Dow
Student Information Specialist
High Prairie School Board

About HPSB

The High Prairie School Division (HPSD) is dedicated to fostering inclusive, student-centred learning environments across northwestern Alberta. Guided by the motto Learning Together, Success for All, HPSD emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and community engagement to support lifelong learning and well-being.

Serving a diverse region that includes 30 schools across 13 rural and Indigenous communities, HPSD supports over 3,000 students from kindergarten through grade 12. The division is governed by an elected board of trustees and supported by passionate educators and staff committed to empowering every learner.

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The Challenge:
Parent-Teacher Communication

High Prairie School Division (HPSD) sought out a more secure and efficient way to share report cards and facilitate parent-teacher communication. Recognizing the limitations of email and the need for a more streamlined approach, the district implemented Sparkrock’s Family Portal—transforming how families engage with their child’s education. 

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The Solution:
Sparkrock's Family Portal

While HPSD had long used digital tools for communication in its secondary schools, elementary-level adoption remained a gap. That changed when the district saw the capabilities of Sparkrock’s Family Portal. The new system offered an intuitive, secure platform where parents could easily access student information, improving transparency and engagement across all grade levels. 

Angela Uhrig-Dow, Student Information Specialist at HPSD, believes the portal’s features—particularly the homework tool—fosters stronger connections between teachers, students, and parents. The communication board provides an interactive space for direct updates and announcements. 

After piloting the portal in May and June, HPSD moved forward with a full-scale deployment in September. Sparkrock provided detailed documentation to guide families through the transition, minimizing potential challenges. Any issues identified during the pilot phase were quickly addressed by the Sparkrock team, ensuring a smooth rollout. 

The Outcome: Making
Sparkrock Even Better, Together

 

In today’s digital learning environment, simplicity and efficiency matter. That’s why HPSD is enhancing the Family Portal in collaboration with Sparkrock—ensuring it meets the needs of educators, students, and families. With a focus on security, accessibility, and user experience, the district is creating a more connected and resilient education system that supports learning at every stage. 

To further support adoption, Sparkrock introduced login activity reports, helping HPSD track engagement by monitoring which students and parents are accessing the system. These 30-day snapshots offer valuable insights into usage trends, allowing the district to continuously refine its approach.

 

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