Holiday Greetings from Minister Nicolaides

Dec. 17, 2024


​​​​​Dear parents,

​As the first half of the school year winds down and Christmas approaches, I want to take a moment to wish you and your families a safe and joyful holiday season. I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on some exciting new developments in education.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Alberta’s extraordinary teachers, educational assistants, school support staff, administrators, and teacher leaders, the 2024-25 school year has gotten off to a great start.

  • We implemented new rules to limit the use of mobile devices in classrooms so students can focus more on learning and less on social media and texting.
  • We introduced more screening for our youngest learners to help teachers identify students who need additional support in building foundational literacy and numeracy skills during their critical early years of education.
  • We have more career education options for students in junior and senior high than ever before, with Alberta’s government providing funding for dual credit and collegiate programs to prepare students to move from the classroom into rewarding careers.
  • Our Kindergarten to Grade 6 students are now learning from updated curriculum in nearly all subjects, while our new draft Kindergarten to Grade 6 Social Studies curriculum is being piloted in more than 420 schools.​

It is no secret Alberta is growing fast, so we are tackling rising enrolment head-on by building new and modernized schools. Our generational investment of $8.6 billion will build up to 90 new schools, modernize or replace another 24 of them, and roll out more modular classrooms to create more than 200,000 new and modernized student spaces within the next seven years. Our efforts to build new and modernize schools will expand school choice for students and parents by offering a variety of public, separate, francophone, charter, and independent school options.

Alberta’s government recognizes the vital role of parents in children’s education. You know best what your children need to be happy, fulfilled, and successful. That is why we took steps during the fall legislative session to strengthen communication between schools and parents and reaffirm their involvement in important decisions affecting their children.

It has been a productive and rewarding start to the school year, and we are looking forward to more good things to come. From my family to yours, and on behalf of all staff in the department of education, merry Christmas and happy holidays.​

Sincerely, 

Demetrios Nicolaides ECA PhD
Minister of Education​

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