From Policy to Digital Formation: How Alberta Schools are Shaping Healthier Digital Cultures

Over the past year, something meaningful has been taking shape across Alberta.

What began as a pilot with JOMO(campus) during the 2025–2026 school year has grown into a something more—a shared movement. A group of schools is taking intentional steps toward cultivating healthier, more Christ-centred digital cultures.

Today, 7 Alberta Christian schools are actively engaged with the JOMO digital well-being program:

• Fort Saskatchewan Christian School (3-year partnership launched)

• Strathcona Christian Academy (3-year partnership launched)

• Edmonton Christian Schools

• Central Alberta Christian High School

• Immanuel Christian Secondary School (renewing for 2026–2027)

• Lacombe Christian School

• Meadowlark Christian School

Together, these schools are moving beyond reactive technology policies toward a formation-first approach—equipping students, staff, and families to live wisely and joyfully in a digital age.

“We’re excited about JOMO because it offers schools a digital wellness program that thoughtfully engages what it means to live faithfully within God’s story in every area of life.”

- Jeremy Horlings, Prairie Centre for Christian Education, Associate Executive Director

What Schools Are Experiencing

So, what did these schools notice as a result of the program?

1. A shift from control to formation

Schools are reframing digital well-being as a discipleship issue, not just a discipline issue.

One leader captured this shift clearly:

“What does digital wellness look like outside of simply a phone ban?”

This question is reshaping school culture—moving from restriction toward intentional formation, where students are invited to wrestle with identity, purpose, and attention.

2. Increased staff confidence and alignment with families

With access to ready-to-use curriculum, playbooks, and professional development:

• Staff feel equipped and confident delivering the content

• Preparation time is minimal, lowering barriers to adoption

• Schools are building a shared, intentional language around technology

This alignment is becoming foundational to culture change.

One pilot school leader says:

“For the parents and staff that have engaged with [JOMO], the focus on creating a wellness plan that gets away from bans and returns the focus to the physical people and places around is what is drawing interest. There has also been a reckoning at the school level in terms of what we can offer students for opportunities to connect, screen-free.”

3. Digging deeper into core beliefs about students and technology 

This work is prompting deeper reflection—not just on student behaviour, but on what we believe about students, learning, and technology itself.

One school leader shared with us that,

“it has opened up deep conversations among staff on our beliefs about our students, and has caused us to reflect on our own personal beliefs about tech and its place in the classroom.”

It’s a Long-Term Culture Change

Two Alberta schools—Fort Saskatchewan Christian School and Strathcona Christian Academy—have already committed to three-year partnerships, signaling a deep investment in sustained, whole-school transformation.

Additionally, Immanuel Christian Secondary School’s early renewal reflects both strong initial impact and confidence in the long-term value of this work.

As principal Matthew Bekkering says,

“Reflecting on our JOMO Launch, I want to thank you for what was a fantastic day of learning and building of a relationship between JOMO and ICSS! We were all exceedingly impressed with the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of the experience.”

Looking Ahead

As more Prairie schools begin asking, “How do we help students flourish in a digital world?”—this growing group is offering a hopeful picture of what’s possible. 

When schools commit to shared language, intentional practice, and Christ-centred formation in the digital age, real culture change begins. This is not a quick fix, but it is beginning to take root.

“We’re excited about JOMO because it offers schools a digital wellness program that thoughtfully engages what it means to live faithfully within God’s story in every area of life,” reflects Jeremy Horlings from the Prairie Centre for Christian Education. “Participating in the launch day and JOMO webinars has only deepened our conviction that this is a timely and highly relevant resource for our school communities.”

Supporting One Another

We are deeply grateful to the Prairie Centre for Christian Education for supporting the JOMO pilot launch in Alberta and to each participating school for their leadership, openness, and commitment to this work. It is a gift to see what is possible when schools come together to pursue something deeper—forming students not just for academic success, but for lives of wisdom, presence, and joy in a digital age.

Want support creating a joyful, research-backed digital wellness culture at your school?

Explore the JOMO(campus) program.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

As this work continues to take root, we are inviting Alberta and Manitoba school leaders to a focused webinar exploring what comes next. Get Ahead of Digital Formation: A 2026–2027 Info Session for Prairie Christian Schools will highlight how to move from restriction to formation in a practical, sustainable way. This session is designed for leaders who sense that policy alone is not enough and are ready to cultivate a healthier, more intentional digital culture across their community this coming school year.

Tuesday, May 12
9:30-10:15am MT / 10:30-11:15am CST

Register for the Info Session for Prairie Christian Schools here.