SMHS Weekly Newsletter

August 22, 2025

Principal Update

Dear Parents,

It has been a great first week of school and such a joy to have our students back on campus. Each of them is truly a blessing! They have all been getting to class on time and are actively engaged in their learning. We are looking forward to getting to know our new students and see the great things all our students will accomplish this school year.

Please review with your child the syllabus for each of their classes and familiarize yourself with the expectations of each of their teachers. It is also important to review the Parent Student Handbook with your child and familiarize yourselves with the expectations and policies of the school. It is imperative that all our students start out the school year strong, complete all coursework and turn it in on time, and immediately make up any work missed due to absences.

You will have the opportunity to follow your child’s schedule and meet your child’s teachers during our Mini Schedule Parent Night which will now be on September 4th. We highly encourage all parents to attend.

We will be having an Inservice Day on August 28th. This means that there will be no school for students on that day. Activities and practices on that day will continue as normal unless otherwise indicated by coaches or activity sponsors.

We encourage all our students to be involved in at least one activity and take part in what the high school experience has to offer. We encourage our students to attend games and performances to support their peers throughout the year. We encourage our students to participate in community service activities that the school sponsors, and volunteer to help.

Thank you for all your efforts in having your children prepared and focused for the start of school. Your support is vital to student success and what makes our school such a special place. This school year will be a great one! Go Horsemen!

Yours in Christ,

Martin C. Sandoval, Principal

Academics:

Have you completed your Summer Reading? It is highly recommended that if students have not yet started on their summer reading, they do so immediately. The English Department will begin in-class activities and discussions based on the novels beginning September 2nd.
Click HERE to access our website to view the reading list. Included are directions on what the students should complete over the summer.

Just a friendly reminder that all lunch/equipment drop offs from parents must be dropped off in the front office. Please do not ask you students to meet you in the parking lot. Ms. Margie will make sure your student gets what they need!

Safety Tip of the Week:

Please talk to your kids at home about the importance of not propping doors open on campus! We are all responsible for keeping our campus safe!

Counselor's Corner

Mr. Rich, our Mental Health counselor is available for all of our students and families! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns you may have (jrich@smhs.me). https://screening.mhanational.org/mental-health-101/

Seniors! If you haven’t already, now’s the time to create your Common App account! The Common App is a single college application that lets you apply to multiple colleges and universities all in one place. Deadlines sneak up fast, so don’t wait — come see Ms. Martinez soon so we can make a plan and keep you on track. Let’s get you where you want to go!

Activities:

School pictures are ready!

To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or checkout as a guest using the Picture Day ID: EVTBWJKRB

All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.

More about the Smilesafe program here.

Athletics:

Fall Athletic Schedules

Athletic Passes

Athletic Season Passes are in, please contact Athletic Director Dakota Montoya at dmontoya@smhs.me for purchase of season passes. We will also sell them at the gates for our athletic events, please have cash or check available in full at the time of purchase. Passes are good for all SMHS Regular Season Home Games Only.

Streaming Options- https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/ Search for St. Michael’s High School - Santa Fe, NM (Must purchase a subscription to watch)

On-line ticket sales

https://gofan.co/app/school/NM13920

Baseball

Fall baseball workouts are underway, currently scheduled for Monday- Wednesday 4-6pm. Open for any athlete grade 8-12. For more information please contact Coach Ruiz at baseball@smhs.me

Living Lasallian:

Let us remember...

As we continue to mark 2025 as the year of Lasallian spirituality, we are invited to live more consciously in faith, service, and community. Much of Lasallian spirituality can be reduced to St. De La Salle’s challenge that Lasallian educators see Christ in the faces of their students.

This concept, however, reaches far beyond the teacher-student relationship. Christ called each of us to see Him in every one of our fellow human beings when He said "as you have done to the least among you, you did unto me." (Mt. 25:40) We thus are called to a deep sense of responsibility for others, especially the poor and the marginalized, while nurturing a strong relationship with God.

For all of our St. Mike’s families, this spirituality offers a meaningful way to live out our Gospel values at home – by promoting compassion, respect, and a commitment to helping others. It reminds us that education is not just about academics but about forming the whole person, guided by love, faith, and a shared mission to make the world a better place.

Live Jesus in our hearts...

STUDENT AND PARENT RESOURCES

All About REMIND:

Communication with our families and community is important. The Remind communication platform allows educators, students, and families to connect quickly, efficiently, and effectively. Whether you use email, text, or the smartphone app, you can connect from any device.
For more information on the Remind platform, CLICK HERE for a tutorial and the school code so you can sign up today.
Need assistance? Do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Alexa Chavez at achavez@smhs.me

Naviance and Common App:

Class of 2026, your Naviance accounts are available as you begin to plan your college trajectory, some colleges of interest may have early action/decision dates. Naviance provides a comprehensive platform for students, parents/guardians, and the Academic Office to collaborate and support student success. With the student at the center, Naviance provides effective tools that prepare our SMHS high school students for their futures and provides the Academic Office with actionable insights.

The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to over 1,000 member colleges and universities. Students can complete one application for multiple schools using the Common App platform. The video provides information on creating a Common App account and linking it to Naviance. Go to www.commonapp.org for more details. If you have questions or need assistance, contact Ms. Miquela Martinez, College and Career Counselor at mmartinez@smhs.me.

Spirit Shop:

Spirit Shop Hours (2025–2026 School Year):
Open Monday–Thursday from 3:00–4:00 PM
Available by appointment only during school hours

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit, please contact Lyssa Saiz via email lsaiz@smhs.me

SMHS Parents Association:

SMHS Alumni Association:

NEWS AND ALERTS

Important Letter from Administration

Attached is an important letter from the administration. Please take a moment to review it at your earliest convenience.

SMHS Letter to Parents.pdf

Important Update: Schedule Changes Week of August 25

Attached is a letter from Principal Martin Sandoval regarding an update to our school schedule for the week of August 25, 2025.

The adjustments outlined in the letter will allow members of our community to come together during this time. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we support one another.

Letter to SMHS Families.pdf

GIVE TODAY!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL FOR THE 25- 26 SCHOOL YEAR!

To keep our programs strong and our doors open to all deserving students, your generous donation will support the following priorities for the 2025–2026 school year:

20% – Tuition Assistance
Tuition assistance ensures that no qualified student is turned away for financial reasons. For the 2025-2026 school year our average award per student applicant was $4,473 meeting 74% of all student needs.

25% – Capital Improvements
This year’s facility focus is completing necessary repairs to the remaining sections of our school roof. These improvements are essential for providing a safe and effective learning environment.

35% – Teacher and Staff Retention / Classroom Support
Investing in our teachers is an investment in our students. By funding salaries, classroom materials, and professional development, we can continue attracting and retaining high-quality educators committed to our Lasallian mission.

20% – Long-Term Reserve Fund
St. Michael’s High School has an investment portfolio. It is important that the School continue to build this portfolio to secure the long-term health of the School. Money from this portfolio can only be accessed with Board of Trustee approval and is not part of the annual budget. The larger the portfolio, the more protected St. Michael’s will be in case of emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.