Principal Update

Dear Parents,

I hope that all our students had a restful and enjoyable spring break. The school year is winding down quickly and the months of April and May will be very busy. We are also in the deep planning phase for next school year and should have the 2026-2027 Academic Calendar finalized and published soon.

This week we completed our WCEA accreditation visit. Our school definitely shined and the feedback we received was very positive and very complimentary. We will continue as an accredited institution until the next accreditation cycle when we will go through this process again in five years. I would like to thank Dr. Bocanegra for leading our accreditation work and thank all our stakeholders who throughout the process demonstrated what a great school we are and what the St. Michael’s community is all about. 

We will begin the course selection process for next school year on March 30th. Accounts with outstanding balances will not have their course selections entered until either the delinquency is addressed, or an alternative payment plan is approved. This could impact your child’s schedule especially with electives. Delinquent Accounts may also be restricted to accessing the following: semester grades, final exams, athletics, activities, and school records (including transcripts). This is particularly important for current seniors, as all outstanding balances must be paid in full before they can take their final exams and have a final transcript showing completion of all credits for graduation. 

As we continue to celebrate the season of Lent, we ask our students and our community to reflect on additional ways to be kinder and more compassionate with others. Acts and words of kindness foster a greater sense of community and inspire us to be there for others especially during difficult times. 

As always, your continued support of St. Michael’s High School and all our students is greatly appreciated. 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.

•    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/

• Santa Fe County Homemakers Club Scholarship: https://santafeextension.nmsu.edu/

• Montezuma Lodge #1 AF & AM Scholarship Provides schoarships to assist first-year college students from Santa Fe with related costs. This scholarship is available to any student residing in Santa Fe with active plans to attend a qualified college-level studies program in the following year. $2000-$3000 per awarded applicant depending on available funds. Pick up the information page and application in the College Counselor office.

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