A computer-based program being used across the Chinook's Edge School Division is giving parents instant information on the scholastic progress of their children.
Started three years ago, the PowerSchool program has grown to become a very useful tool for parents and teachers to keep in touch regarding student progress throughout the school year, said Sundre High School principal Jason Drent.
“We always want to encourage parents to be involved in their child's education, and this gives them instant access,” said Drent. “They can see real time how their children are doing. It all really goes to that communication component that we are always focusing on, getting parents to communicate with the school and across the board.”
“We are very happy how it has grown over the last three years. It's all about communication and it's growing more and more every year.”
The PowerSchool program, which operates at all grade levels, allows parents to keep track of student marks on recent tests, teacher comments, assignments given and completed or not, and attendance, including late arrivals and absences.
Under the program parents and other authorized caregivers access the student information by logging on to a website and using a password to see the individual child's school information, which is updated by teachers and staff on an ongoing basis.
“The parent can go on and see individual results,” he said. “Once they see the information they can then say ‘We need to work on this or that'. There is no hiding from a standpoint of failure or success. They can keep in the know.”
“I'm really encouraging our teachers to keep the information as up to date as possible. As soon as something is marked it is put on there and everything is kept up to speed,” he added.
One Sundre parent, who asked not to be named, said she has been using the program to track her teenage son's school progress.
“We are making very good use of it,” she said. “I keep track of his grades. It helps me because it gives me up-to-date information. I don't need to wait until report cards come out to find out that my son is failing math. I know right now if he's having problems or not having problems.
“Now I can get on it and bring the hammer down and make him buckle down and know that there are consequences. I plan to continue to use it.”
Asked if her son likes that the program is out there, she said, “I think he likes the fact that he can see his marks, but I don't think he likes the fact that I can.”
Sundre principal Drent said the PowerSchool program is the latest in a line of very helpful communications tools being used across the school division.
“We've collected probably close to 99 per cent of parent email addresses, which is one of the first lines of communications.” said Drent. “Teachers can now communicate with the entire group of parents, giving a heads-up on what activities are happening in the class and things like that.” Schools have also recently been setting up Twitter accounts as part of their overall communication systems, he said.
“That gives us instant communication with parents,” he said. “Twitter is an excellent way to get information out to our student and parent populations. Not every parent is going to have a Twitter account, but there are now many ways to communicate, face-to-face conversations, the phone calls, email, PowerSchool, Twitter accounts.
“When we have those multiple levels of communication, then you have a higher chance of making sure the message gets across. It's not just one way anymore. We have multiple ways to get the messages out there.”
Parents interested in getting access to the PowerSchool program should contact their child's individual school.
There are 40 schools in the Innisfail-based Chinook's Edge School Division.
