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David Lynch, Principal
David Lynch, Principal
nex+Gen Academy High School
nex+Gen Academy High School
5325 Montgomery Blvd. NE Phone: 505-878-6400
Albuquerque, NM 87109 email: lynch_d@aps.edu
Dear nex+Gen community,
So much is happening at nex+Gen Academy this time of year. Our students continue to demonstrate their commitment to service by supporting our community through a recent blood drive. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the many community members who volunteered their time and expertise at our recent Career Fair, helping students explore future pathways and opportunities.
Student leadership has been hard at work preparing for our upcoming Winter Ball, and our Student Ambassadors recently represented nex+Gen Academy at the School Choice Fair at the University of New Mexico, sharing all that makes our school such a special place to learn and grow. Check out everything that is happening at nex+Gen below.
Budget Season: Important budget decisions will be made this month for the 2026-2027 school year. We will have a public meeting on February 17th at 3:30 pm in room 102 to present and answer questions about the budget for the 2026-2027 school year.
Pet Essentials Drive: Student government is holding a Pet Essentials Drive from February 2nd to April 22nd! We are partnering with Watermelon Ranch to provide cats and dogs the things they need. There will be a donation box located on the stage in the cyberhall. We are accepting: shelf-stable cat/dog food, blankets, cat litter, and toys. Also! There will be fliers posted around the school for anyone interested in volunteering at Watermelon ranch
Winter Ball: Nex+Gen Academy will host our annual Winter Ball Dance on February 28th from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm. More information below.
Individual Learning Showcase- (Conferences) March 26th and 27th
Spring Project Showcase- Save the date!!!! April 23rd
Book Drive: Our National Honor Society is holding a book drive during the month of January! They are looking for new or used books, preferably for younger children. They are mainly looking for books in other languages or baby board books. NHS has wanted to spread the message that kids in Albuquerque are in dire need of books, with some households unable to have access to literature themselves. Read-To-Me, the foundation NHS is partnering with, makes it their mission for kids to be able to read at no cost. Please help them with this mission today! There will be boxes located in Cyber Hall if you wish to donate.We hope to see as many donations as possible! Thank you!
Summer School: See below for important summer school information.
Ambassadors Spreading the Word
Ambassadors Spreading the Word
nex+Gen Academy student ambassadors helped spread the word about our school at a recent School Choice Fair at the University of New Mexico. They did a fantastic job representing our innovative learning model and sharing what makes nex+Gen such a unique community. Thank you to our students for their leadership and enthusiasm!
Winter Ball
Winter Ball
Nex+Gen! We are hosting a Winter Ball year, on Saturday, February 28. We are also very excited to be collaborating with the Albuquerque Institute of Math and Science, so be ready to meet new friends from AIMS high school!
The theme is Alice in Wonderland. The prices are going to be $15 before the door and $20 at the door and will be from 7-10 pm. Please park in the student lot. Bring your ID! We are hoping to see you guys there!
Tickets will be on sale via online sales through a link that will be emailed to students soon. Cash sales will happen Friday at lunch and at the door.
Engineering Students Visit Carlsbad Caverns and NMSU
Engineering Students Visit Carlsbad Caverns and NMSU
Last week, our engineering students traveled south to Carlsbad Caverns for a tour of the caves. They also did a campus tour at New Mexico State University, and received a personalized tour at the College of Engineering. There they saw everything from an aluminum tensile strength test in the Civil Engineering Lab, to the 3D printers in their Aggie Innovation Space, and the multitude of high-tech equipment in their Mechanical Engineering Lab. A number of undergraduate engineering students shared their experiences and advice for our budding engineering students.
Secratic Seminar
Secratic Seminar
Here, 9th and 10th grade students come together to participate in a Socratic Seminar led by nex+Gen facilitators Mr. Sisneros and Ms. Soto. Through thoughtful discussion and active listening, students engage with complex ideas, practice respectful dialogue, and strengthen their critical thinking and communication skills.
Student-produced Short Film
Student-produced Short Film
We’re excited to share a short thriller titled Whisper, created by nex+Gen students in our film production program. Enjoy!
Nex+Gen Career Fair
Nex+Gen Career Fair
Part of our mission at nex+Gen is to prepare our students for what comes next. In support of this goal, we held our annual career fair last week. Our campus welcomed 32 incredible members of our community—including many nex+Gen parents and alumni—who shared their career paths and work experiences with our students and thoughtfully answered their many questions about career journeys and pathways.
Our Student Ambassadors played an important role in welcoming our visitors, helping them get oriented to the school, and guiding them to their presentation locations.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this event such a success. Your time, expertise, and willingness to share your experiences with our students are truly appreciated!
Smart Homes Under Construction
Smart Homes Under Construction
Nex+Gen Academy engineering students are hard at work designing and building smart homes! After drawing blueprints to scale, students are now constructing the walls of their models. Up next: designing, building, coding, and testing their smart circuits to make their homes truly “smart.” It’s exciting to see engineering, creativity, and coding come together in this project!
Blood Drive at nex+Gen
Blood Drive at nex+Gen
Nex+Gen Academy has a long tradition of giving back to the community through blood donation. Today, we were proud to host a blood drive on campus. Many thanks to our students and staff who donated, as well as those who helped organize and support this important event. Your generosity truly makes a difference.
CNN SHOUT OUT FOR Ms. XIMENA SOTO
CNN SHOUT OUT FOR Ms. XIMENA SOTO
Every third Thursday of the month, the Albuquerque Museum hosts a Free evening event from 5:00-8:30pm.
This month’s Third Thursday honors Black History Month by celebrating creativity, community, and the power of collective support. Enjoy hands-on artmaking, special tours, and a dynamic performance by Wassa Wassa featuring live West African drumming and acrobatic dance. Throughout the evening, browse marketplace offerings from the Ujima Collective and enjoy a stroll through the museum’s exhibitions.
Price
Price
Free
Important Updates for Seniors
Important Updates for Seniors
Caps and Gowns will be distributed in May, the exact date is TBD. If you have not yet ordered a cap and gown PLEASE do so asap through Campus Specialties. The final deadline is Saturday February 14.
Senior Sunset is Monday May 18 at 6:00 pm at nex+Gen. This is a final informal gathering for just seniors, and is a potluck. If you have a grill and a way to transport a grill, please let me know. We’d appreciate having 2-3 grills to cook out with this special evening!
Senior Honors Ceremony is Tuesday, May 19 at 6:00 pm at nex+Gen. This very special event is for ALL seniors and their families! We honor each senior and this is a more personalized ceremony than graduation. More details about this event are forthcoming.
Graduation is on Thursday May 21 at 12:30 pm at Berna Facio. Doors will open to the public at 12:00 pm. There will be no tickets - you can bring as many family members as you’d like, but saving seats is not permitted. There will be a clear backpack policy in place. More details about this event are forthcoming!
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Laura Ornelas laura.ornelas@aps.edu
Counseling Center
Counseling Center
Visit the Counseling Google Site for upcoming events, scholarship information, career goals, information about how to write a business plan, student and parent resources, and mental health resources. You can also contact the counselor hastings_c@aps.edu and set up an appointment to meet.
Traditions last a lifetime. Why are they important? Here are a few reasons why:
Connection and Belonging: Traditions bring us together, fostering a sense of belonging among family, friends, and communities.
Identity and Heritage: They help define who we are, connecting us to our roots and cultural background.
Stability and Security: Traditions provide a sense of comfort, predictability, and security, which is especially important for children.
Creating Memories: Traditions add meaning to experiences; they create lasting, positive memories that can provide comfort during difficult times.
Mental Health Benefits: The consistency of traditions can reduce stress and anxiety by providing structured, familiar, and predictable routines.
For Valentine’s Day, instead of buying flowers and candy (or in addition to buying flowers and candy), create a new tradition. Here is a story of a tradition that can last a lifetime:
Love in a Salsa Jar
Love in a Salsa Jar
By Cynthia Dobbs from Stillwater, Oklahoma
”Happy Valentine’s Day, honey,” my husband said, handing me a simple glass jar with a red lid.
“I see you’ve recycled the salsa jar, Destry.” I grinned eagerly, excited to see what he’d come up with this time.
A few years earlier we’d decided that for Valentine’s Day, we would only exchange gifts we had made ourselves. No stuffed animals, no candy and definitely nothing heart-shaped unless it was cut out of construction paper with our own scissors. The gifts that we gave each other were so much more thoughtful. I’d made him oil paintings and recreated dishes we’d had at some of our favorite date restaurants. Destry had once planted new flowers in the garden, and he’d hand-painted vases with my name. And now this old salsa jar, full of paper. I unscrewed the top and peered inside.
“You read one a day,” Destry said as I pulled out a slip of paper.
“Do you remember the Cheyenne Diner?” I read aloud. I almost laughed. How could I forget? It was our favorite diner in New York City. We’d fallen in love over plates of fries, midnight breakfasts and slices of pie bigger than my head. I reached in for another note.
“Do you remember the boy’s green donut?” The green donut had been a plush toy our son had loved to chew on when he was a baby. We’d been thrilled when he finally gave it up.
I pulled out another note. Then another. And another, until I had gone through them all. Every one had just a single line: “Do you remember…?” By the time I’d finished, there were tears in my eyes.
“Thank you,” I said, pulling my husband into a hug. It was a Valentine that kept on giving. Whenever I needed an extra dose of love, I popped into that salsa jar for a shared memory.
Make your voice heard on the Instructional Council (IC)
Make your voice heard on the Instructional Council (IC)
Family and Community Partner Instructional Council (IC) Voice Form is now available. We are happy to launch a new system for our families and community partners to have an opportunity to voice feedback, input, and suggestions on previous* and upcoming IC meetings. To read the IC agenda meeting minutes, please click on the link here. To enter comments, please complete the Google Form linked here. The meeting agenda minutes will be available for public review. *Comments are open for the previous meeting and upcoming meeting only.
*Comments open for the previous & upcoming meeting only.
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