SMHS Weekly Newsletter
April 11, 2025
Embedded Files
Principal Update
Principal Update
Dear Parents,
We would like to welcome our new Dean of Academics, Dr. Renee Bocanegra to our administrative team. Dr. Bocanegra brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our school and will serve our students, parents, faculty, staff and the entire St. Michael’s community very well. We are very excited to have her on board and she is very excited to be part of the Horsemen family. Please read more about Dr. Bocanegra in the bio piece below.
As part of our service to our community, the National Honor Society hosted their annual Blood Drive on Monday. We would like to thank all the students, staff, and community members who participated and donated blood.
On Tuesday and Wednesday we held our 9th grade retreat. At the retreat, students learned more about our Lasallian heritage and what it means to be Lasallian. We discussed with our students how they are able to interact with one another to develop positive relationships and unite as a St. Michael’s community. We focused on the five Core Principles of a Lasallian School mainly emphasizing “Respect for All Persons” stressing respect toward others, toward God, and toward self. A special thanks to our Director of Lasallian Student Life, Elise Lopez, for planning and facilitating such a wonderful experience for our 9th grade students.
We have several seniors that have already picked where they will be attending college. Today we held our first "pinning day"! These seniors pinned their college's flag to a map in the lobby indicating the great colleges and universities around the country they will be attending in the fall.
Congratulations to our choral arts program for taking third place in state this past weekend! Their performance was truly amazing. Go Horsemen!
Yours in Christ,
Martin C. Sandoval, Principal
Registration
Registration
Registration for the 2025-2026 school year has opened. Please use the instruction guide below to complete the Registration process as soon as possible.
The deadline to register is May 15, 2025.
For questions or assistance with the registration process please email Alexa Chavez achavez@smhs.me
If you student will not be returning, please contact Alexa Chavez to notify her of your decision. You may submit an Unofficial Transcript Request Form only after having notified Admissions of your departure.
Registration Instructions for 2025-2026.pdfTuition Assistance
All Tuition Assistance Opportunities, including Financial Aid and Scholarships can be accessed on our website.
Apply for Financial Aid - Educational Support - St. Michael's High School
Scholarship Opportunities – Admissions – St. Michael's High School
The Financial Aid Application Deadline is May 23,2025
For questions or assistance with the Financial Aid Process please email Alexa Chavez achavez@smhs.me
If you are in need of a Special Circumstance Form please also contact Alexa
FA Instruction Letter- English.pdf
Academics
Academics
DEAN OF ACADEMICS
Welcome to the St. Michael’s Family, Dr. Renée Bocanegra
As Dean of Academics, Dr. Bocanegra brings with her years of experience in education and a leadership style shaped by real-life challenges, cultural identity, and a deep belief that every student has value and potential. When she was a young student, she was once told she wasn’t “college material.” Instead of accepting that label, she chose to pursue what felt right for her future. She earned a Master’s degree in Educational and Community Leadership and a Ph.D. in School Improvement from Texas State University. That experience continues to fuel her work—helping to build school environments where all students feel seen, supported, and expected to succeed.
Dr. Bocanegra, a native of Brownsville, Texas, is the youngest of five children and the proud mother of five. She and her husband, Jody, recently moved to Abiquiú, New Mexico, where they’re building a home and a new chapter for their family. Two of her children—Robbie, a freshman, and Ryan-Olivia, a seventh grader—are attending St. Michael’s. This gives Dr. Bocanegra not only a professional responsibility, but a personal investment in the life of the school—its values, its culture, and its future.
Her work is also shaped by her own cultural experience. As a native Spanish speaker and first-generation college graduate, she knows firsthand the importance of honoring where students come from—their language, their traditions, their families. Her research focuses on how culture, community, and family shape how young people learn and lead. She believes these parts of a student’s identity are not separate from academic success—they’re key to it.
Dr. Bocanegra started her career as a public school teacher, where she built classrooms centered on care, consistency, and connection. She has remained focused on the same priorities ever since—building strong relationships with students, supporting teachers, and partnering with families to help every child grow.
At St. Michael’s, Dr. Bocanegra is committed to supporting the school’s mission in faith, integrity, service, and scholarship. She is honored to work alongside students, families, and educators to build a strong, inclusive, and faith-centered school culture—one where every student has the opportunity to grow into the person God created them to be.
Outside of school, Dr. Bocanegra finds joy in the quiet rhythms of nature and the ground work of her hands. She enjoys gardening, micro-farming, beekeeping, fishing, camping, archery, and spending time with her family enjoying all Northern New Mexico has to offer. An avid soap maker and cheese maker, she enjoys leading workshops for her community on all things homesteading.
Activities
Activities
April Dates!
April 15: 8th/9th grade PSAT testing in Tipton
April 17: Stations of the Cross Prayer Service (Mass schedule)
April 18: No School-Good Friday
April 21-No School-Easter Monday
April 22: Late Start for students (faculty formation at 8 a.m.)
April 22-25: Spring Fling week-more info to come
April 26: Prom
April 29: Girls Kairos
Student Council/Prom Committee
Meets every Monday in Mrs. Pesch's room during lunch. All Juniors are encouraged to participate in this fun planning committee.
National Honor Society
Invitations and applications for new students to be inducted into the National Honor Society will be available on Monday, April 7. Applicaitons are due back to the front office by April 15 and an induction ceremony will be held at the end of the month.
Choir...
The SMHS Chamber Singers took 3rd place at the NMAA State Choir Competition! We held our own against NMSA and the Public Academy for Performing Arts (charter schools that have arts emphasis) with an extremely tight podium (4 points separated us and PAPA in 1st place). All the other schools in our category had choirs 2 to 3 times our size, and we made our mark. This small, but mighty group (and our boisterous middle school choir) have come so far this year.
Congratulations to our Seniors who have been accepted to the college of their choice. Students pinned their school flag on the map in lobby.
Athletics
Athletics
Baseball...
Varsity baseball starts district play on Saturday at Roberstson with a doubleheader starting at 11.
Track...
SM Varsity track is at West Las Vegas Meet on Saturday starting at 8 a.m. Junior High track team is at Los Alamos Middle School meet starting at 10 a.m.
Softball...
Varsity softball concludes the Lady Horsemen Roseanne Noedel Memorial tournament on Saturday. Games TBD.
Swim and Diving...
Congratulations to our awesome Horsemen Swim and Dive Team.
Our Horsemen Swimming and Diving Team records are now official and many new School records were set.
Lauren Clokey
1 M Diving 380.60
Raylee Hunt
200 Individual Medley 2:10.66 Griffin Invite 2024
500 Free - 5:18.65 Academy Meet 2024
100 Breast 1:02.99 (Griffin Meet ) 2025
100 Free - 54.71 - Griffin Invite 2024
St. Michael's High School offers the best and most affordable summer camps for kids entering grades K - 8.
Our goal at Camp Horsemen is for every camper to try something different, develop a new skill, increase their confidence, make a new friend, and most importantly have a lot of fun! All of our camps are led by individuals who have years of experience and expertise in their fields. Additionally, St. Michael's students, athletes, and artists are involved with all of our camps, an aspect that only we can offer and a dynamic that camp attendees truly enjoy.
Let us remember . . .
This week, the freshmen were on retreat, which included visits to Rosario Cemetery and San Miguel Chapel. St. Mike's owns San Miguel Chapel, which is a true national treasure. It is the oldest church in the continental U.S. Begun in 1610 (when Shakespeare was still alive!), it was acquired by the Christian Brothers in the 1860s, and remained the school's high school chapel until 1968. It's a profoundly spiritual place, and has played a significant role in the history of St. Mike's, of Santa Fe, and of Catholicism in America. It's open to visitors most days, and hosts a Catholic Mass that is open to the public every first Sunday of the month at 3:00 p.m.
Live Jesus in our hearts . . .
SPIRIT SHOP
SPIRIT SHOP
Open after school MONDAY-FRIDAY
NOW LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL
NEW INVENTORY
TravisMathew polos are available for purchase.
Weekly Health Newsletter
Alumni Association General Meeting:
All Alumni and Parents/Guardians of Alumni are welcome! Please see the school website under the Alumni Tab for further meeting dates.
Alumni Volunteer Opportunities:
If you would like to help with Game Gate Collection, 50/50 sales and/or Program sales please contact the Alumni Association at: stmikesalumni@gmail.com
Thank you to all alumni volunteers who help with gate collections, special school and alumni events and reunions.
Alumni Brick Patio Capital Campaign: The Alumni Association has begun PHASE V of the Brick Project! Order your brick online at: https://www.bricksrus.com/donorsite/horsemenpatio. See the school website under the Alumni Tab for further details. Purchase a brick for the Alumni Patio overlooking the SMHS Football Field.
“Once a Horsemen, Always a Horsemen!”
Next Parent Association General Meeting:
Parent Association Volunteer Upcoming Events:
Sign up for our Bake Sale to bring goodies or help at table!
Other planned events– Holiday events, Spring Bingo, Teacher Appreciation, Twice is Nice sales and many more volunteer opportunities!
Parent Association Concessions: We need your help!
The Parents Association would like to thank all those who have been helping at the concessions stand! Your time and effort were greatly appreciated!
There are plenty more fundraising events to help! Please see the following concession links for the next opportunities to volunteer at concessions!
Parent Association Concessions: We need your help!
The Parents Association would like to thank all those who have been helping at the concessions stand! Your time and effort were greatly appreciated!
There are plenty more fundraising events to help! Please see the following concession links for the next opportunities to volunteer at concessions!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-53472524-high
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-53472685-girls
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-53472848-jrboys
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-52961661-jrhigh
Get involved with The Parent’s Association!
Please click on the link above for additional information regarding the Parent's Association.
Page updated
Report abuse