Principal Update

Dear Parents,

Last week we began the season of Lent with mass on Ash Wednesday offering an opportunity to reflect and deepen our relationship with God. The importance of sacrifice and service are evident in our mission and who we are as a Lasallian Catholic community. 

On Thursday we held our 8th grade retreat. At the retreat, we looked at what it means to be Lasallians and how all students are able to interact with one another to develop positive relationships and unite as a St. Michael’s community. We discussed the Core Principles of a Lasallian School mainly focusing on “Respect for All Persons” stressing respect toward others, toward God, and toward self. Particular attention was given to temptations that teenagers are faced with today. The various aspects of positive relationships centered on Respect presented as tools students can use to avoid such challenges as bullying, negative self image, and other temptations) present in today’s world. A special thanks to our Director of Lasallian Student Life, Elise Lopez, for planning and facilitating such a wonderful experience for our 8th grade students.

Many seniors are continuing to show signs of apathy as their final semester progresses. More and more students are coming late to first period, disregarding some of our basic rules and policies, and not putting forth high quality effort in the classroom. Poor academic performance this semester may still have a negative impact on college admissions and scholarships even if already received. Our policies will be enforced all the way up to the end of the graduation ceremony. We want our seniors to finish strong and not put themselves in a position that could compromise their graduation and plans for college. 

Spring sports and activities began this week and boy’s and girl’s basketball begin state competition next week. Let’s pack the stands and cheer them on as they begin their quest for a state championship. Go Horsemen!

Yours in Christ,

Martin C. Sandoval, Principal 

Academics:

Counselor Corner – Scholarship Opportunities

Several scholarships are currently open and accepting applications! I encourage students and families to explore the opportunities below and review eligibility requirements and deadlines carefully. Taking time now to apply can make a big difference later.

🔗 Hispanic Scholarship Fund: https://www.hsf.net/scholarship
🔗 RMACAC Student Scholarship: https://www.rmacac.org/student-scholarship
🔗 Jiffy Lube "What Drives You?" Scholarships: https://yourturn2apply.com/newmexico.htm

•   Men's College Scholarship: https://givagrant.com/register/5b47752f-3fcf-4b44-92b1-bb21bbdf97dc 

•   2026 Toyota High School Scholarship Challenge: https://1003thepeak.iheart.com/content/the-toyota-high-school-scholarship-challenge/

STEM OPPORTUNITY

Have a high schooler interested in STEM? Blackwell Research Institute is an organization that works to support high school scientists through transformative STEM programs. Check out this opportunity for your student to do a quarter-long opportunity to conduct a research project with one-on-one mentorship from a PhD researcher. 

https://www.bwnri.org/hsrs

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1Z4SD-y6dtTmp-NgjI6vqkcrHunl7eOvqkYdAXtaOSK2Lvg/viewform

FREE SAT BOOTCAMP

I have discovered a free SAT Bootcamp through a platform called Schoolhouse collaborating with the College Board. 

• For the rest of the Spring, they will be offering rolling SAT Bootcamps, meaning there will be new Bootcamps starting every week. If you are taking a weekend test in the Spring/Summer, I encourage you to try out the prep here: https://schoolhouse.world/sat-bootcamp

Give it a try and see how you like it! Happy studying!

Summer Physics Camp

The 10th Annual Summer Physics Camp invites young students to dive into the exciting world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) through hands-on experiences and real-world exploration. Participants will learn alongside leading STEM professionals—including scientists and engineers from Sandia National Laboratories and Los Alamos National Laboratory —while discovering, creating, and innovating in the inspiring setting of the New Mexico School for the Arts.

For more information:          https://newmexicoconsortium.org/summer-physics-camp/

https://www.lanl.gov/engage/collaboration/internships/summer-schools/summer-physics-camp 

EXTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS