June 26, 2025
Dear Families, Staff, and Students of Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools,
As the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close, I am filled with tremendous pride and gratitude as I reflect on the many blessings and achievements we have shared as a faith-filled community.
This year has been filled with inspiring moments of growth, learning, and service, a true testament to the dedication of our students, staff, and families. Across our schools, we have seen excellence shine in so many ways, contributing to record enrolment this year and setting the stage for continued record growth in the year ahead. This remarkable growth reflects the outstanding academic achievements, faith-filled community, innovative programming, and strong partnerships that make Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools a destination of choice for so many families.
While it would be impossible to capture every success, the following highlights offer a glimpse into some of the outstanding achievements and meaningful initiatives that have defined this remarkable year:
- One of the most powerful examples of our faith in action was our division-wide social justice initiative, Being Mercy for the Unhoused. Rooted in our faith theme "Growing in Mercy, with the Son," our entire school division partnered with Catholic Social Services' Sign of Hope to support the Care-A-Van project. This mobile outreach ministry serves the unhoused in Edmonton's outer-city neighbourhoods by directly delivering food, water, warm clothing, and other essentials to those most in need. Through the incredible generosity of our students, staff, families, and parish communities, we raised over $80,000 to directly support this ministry of compassion, dignity, and mercy. This remarkable outpouring of love stands as a shining example of our Gospel mission alive in our schools.
- Our school division joined Catholics worldwide in celebrating Pope Leo XIV's election and offering prayers for his leadership as he guides the global Catholic Church into a new chapter.
- We proudly launched the Building Futures Program, which will offer Grade 10 students from St. Albert Catholic High School and Morinville Community High School hands-on learning experiences in home construction, blending academic studies with valuable real-world skills.
- At Bertha Kennedy Catholic School, the opening of a brand-new playground, made possible through the hard work and generosity of our community, now provides a joyful space for students to learn, play, and grow together.
- At the Honouring Spirit Indigenous Student Awards, we proudly recognized four students with honourable mentions, celebrating their strength, resilience, and leadership as First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students.
- At J.J. Nearing Catholic Elementary, we celebrated the remarkable achievement of Grade 6 student Lauren Krembil, one of only three Grade 6 students across Alberta to receive the prestigious 2025 Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Student Award for her kindness, leadership, and compassion.
- This year also marked an important milestone for our French Immersion community by renaming and rebranding École Sainte Marguerite d'Youville (ESMY).
- Our Sports Academy programs expanded, bringing new opportunities in baseball and fastball in St. Albert and hockey in Morinville. These programs allow students to pursue their athletic passions alongside their academic studies.
- We celebrated a special achievement at Holy Family Catholic School, which was officially certified as a Kindness School - one of only two schools in Alberta to earn this distinction - and was even featured on CTV Edmonton News for its outstanding commitment to fostering a culture of kindness.
- And so much more…including continuing to outperform the province with our academic and assurance results.
As we step into the summer months, may this season offer you time for rest, renewal, and treasured moments with loved ones. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I extend my deepest gratitude to our students, families, staff, and parish partners for your commitment to Catholic education. You continue to inspire and strengthen our mission to foster faith, learning, and service in all that we do.
We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall, renewed in faith and ready for another year of growth together.
May God bless you and keep you safe this summer.
With gratitude,
Lydia Yeomans, Board Chair
Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools