Last Updated: November 3, 2025

Update from the Minister of Education: January Provincial Exams

The Minister of Education has announced that January Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) and January diploma exams will not proceed this year.

Grade 12 students will receive their school-awarded mark as their final mark, with a note on their transcript to confirm that this change will not affect graduation or post-secondary plans.

Students who wish to write a diploma exam will have opportunities to do so in April or June.

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Based on the tabling of Bill 2 - The Back to School Act by the Alberta Government this evening, we anticipate schools to be open Wednesday October 29th, 2025. Classes will resume as scheduled and student transportation services will be running again as of Wednesday morning. 

At this time, all Lakeland Catholic schools continue to remain closed to students and families. LCSD student transportation services remain suspended until classes resume.

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TEBA has served the Alberta Teachers’ Association with the attached lockout notice. The lockout will take effect on October 9, 2025 at 1:00p.m.

What That Means:

• In response to the ATA’s provincial strike, TEBA has implemented a reactive lockout.

• TEBA and School Divisions do not want to lockout, but the provincial nature of the strike and the potential for the ATA to shift its approach without notice mean a lockout is the only prudent approach for the education system.

• This action will provide predictability for parents and students during this difficult time and ensure the current labour disruption is brought to an expedient conclusion.

• TEBA is committed to continue negotiations throughout the labour action to ensure students can return to the classroom as soon as possible.

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Teachers represented by the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) are now on strike.

This means that all ATA members, including teachers, principals, vice principals, and assistant principals, are not reporting to work. As a result:

• All Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes at Lakeland Catholic schools are suspended until further notice.

• There will be no instruction, supervision, or extracurricular programming during this period.

• Transportation services for students are also suspended.

• Day care and out-of-school care will remain open only for families already registered. All other families must make alternate childcare arrangements.

The Government of Alberta has announced its intent to introduce back-to-work legislation when the legislature reconvenes this week, if a negotiated agreement is not reached. If passed, teachers will be required to return to work, and classes may resume shortly after.

At this time, schools will remain closed until the legislation passes and Lakeland Catholic receives official direction from Alberta Education. Families will receive a direct message confirming when students should return to school. Please do not send your child to school or to bus stops until you receive that message.

Although there is no confirmed timeline for reopening, we understand that classes could resume with short notice once legislation is approved. Our staff are preparing for a safe, smooth transition so that students can return to faith-filled classrooms as soon as possible.

We thank our teachers for their ongoing professionalism and resilience as they continue to serve our students during this period of uncertainty. We empathize with them and are grateful for their dedication, their care, and their commitment to doing small things with great love each and every day.

All Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes at Lakeland Catholic schools will be suspended until the strike ends or a new agreement is reached at the provincial level.
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November 2025 Diploma Exams
Due to instructional time lost during the recent teacher strike, Alberta Education has announced that the November 2025 diploma exams will be optional for students across the province.
Students who wish to write their diploma exams may do so, and schools will support these requests. Those who choose not to write will have their final course marks determined by their teacher-awarded grade, ensuring they can still graduate on time.

This change applies only to the November 2025 session. Diploma exams scheduled for January and June 2026, along with provincial achievement tests, will continue as planned. More information will be shared when available.
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We continue to hold our teachers, students, and families in prayer during this challenging time.

Heavenly Father, we ask You to guide the hearts and minds of all involved in these negotiations. Grant wisdom, patience, and compassion so that a fair resolution may be found, and our classrooms may remain filled with learning, joy, and hope. Amen.

Our Role in the Bargaining Process

In Alberta, teacher bargaining is currently taking place at the provincial level. This central process involves:

• The Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA): representing Alberta’s teachers

• The Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA): representing the Government of Alberta and all public, separate, and Francophone school divisions

Through central bargaining, key items such as teacher salaries and benefits are negotiated within a provincial collective agreement. Individual school boards, including Lakeland Catholic, are not directly involved in this process. Local bargaining can only begin once provincial negotiations have concluded.

For the most current updates, please check this page regularly.

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“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
- Philippians 4:6–7