SMHS Weekly Newsletter

November 15th

Principal Update

Dear Parents,

During this time of Thanksgiving, our school community is demonstrating the Lasallian Core Principle of Concern for the Poor and Social Justice with our Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive. Throughout this week until November 19th, we will be collecting canned vegetables, boxed stuffing, canned cranberry sauce, instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix, canned yams, sweet potatoes, marshmallows, and brown sugar. We are also collecting monetary donations to purchase turkeys. We are having class competitions to see which class collects the most. Thank you for your support in these efforts to put together as many food baskets as possible to help the many families in need.

As was evidenced with last week’s snow storm, there will be delay days and/or school cancellation days due to snow and ice. St. Michael’s High School will follow the SFPS delay and cancellation announcements with a separate Remind notification coming to you directly from our school. If we deviate from a SFPS announcement, we will send out a Remind specifically indicating so.

Final exams will be the week of December 16th. Click HERE for the complete final exam schedule. Not counting Thanksgiving break, there are only three more weeks of school left before finals. It is absolutely imperative that students complete any missing assignments and prepare adequately well ahead of time for final exams. Students who are struggling should be seeking extra help from their teachers and may also take advantage of peer tutoring. Final exams count for twenty percent of the grade in each class and really need to be taken seriously.

Congratulations to all our fall sports teams on another great fall sports season. Let’s all come out in force to cheer on our football and volleyball teams as they enter into state competition.

Our students, faculty, and staff greatly appreciate all the support the St. Michael’s community provides our school. Go Horsemen!

Yours in Christ,

Martin C. Sandoval, Principal

Academics

We have 3 weeks left before Finals Week! First Semester Finals will take place December 16th - December 19th. The first semester will officially end on Friday, December 20, 2024.

Advanced Placement

This last week, we spoke to all of our Advanced Placement (AP) classes and spoke to them about the benefits of taking an AP exam for each of their AP classes.

Check out the benefits:

Some colleges and universities do accept an excellent score on an AP exam as a college credit; meaning a score of a 3,4, or 5.
They provide students with a taste of the college curriculum.
Shows admission officers that the student is ready for a college level course.
Provides the "experience" of testing, which we know is a huge part of an adult career journey; such as acquiring any type of certification or license in any field of study.

The AP exams will take place on campus the first two weeks in May.

Don’t forget about our great tutoring resource:

Our National Honor Society students have committed themselves to tutoring other students who may need extra support in some of their classes.

Please contact the National Honor Society's Moderator, Ms. Aida Martinez at amartinezsuarez@smhs.me for more information.

Please complete survey

Springtide Research Institute is conducting a survey as a third party, with the Lasallian District of San Francisco New Orleans, to understand more about your student(s)’ experiences at their school––specifically focused on their belonging and thriving. This survey will follow up on our findings from the past two years.

This survey will ask about your perceptions of student belonging and thriving at the school, and your responses will provide a more holistic view of the student experience.

Findings from this survey will accompany our findings from a similar student survey. As a vital participant in this study, we need to hear from you! This survey should take you about 6 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential.

Please click this link to take the survey: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8008279/SFNO-2024-Belonging-Parents-Saint-Michaels-HS

Activities

Concern for the Poor and Social Justice

Student Council and WAVE are hosting a Thanksgiving Food Basket Drive to demonstrate our core principle, "Concern for the Poor and Social Justice." Each day this past week, as well as Monday and Tuesday of next week, students are bringing traditional thanksgiving foods such as vegetables, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, instant potatoes, gravy, etc. When they donate an item, they place a "leaf" onto the "giving tree" for their grade level in the lobby. This allows students to immediately witness the impact they are making. Saint Mike's is also hosting a Faculty/Student "Turkey Trot" to raise funds to purchase the turkey's. For every five dollars raised, a turkey symbol is posted on a path displayed in the front office. The race is very close at this time, with enough funds to buy 16 turkeys. Our goal is to feed at least 20 families - so the trot is still on! Finally, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring pies (either store bought or homemade) next Wednesday, November 20th to add to the baskets. Please see attached flyer.

Guitar Concert

SMHS will be hosting a guitar concert in the Auditorium on Thursday, December 12 at 7 p.m.

Raylee Hunt has signed her letter of intent to swim at Duke University. Signing day was held at St. Michael's along with coaches, friends, staff and family.

Athletics

Football

Good Luck Horsemen!!

SMHS will play a home quarterfinal game on Saturday, November 16 at 1 p.m. vs. Thoreau. Tickets ONLY available at gofan.co

Volleyball

Let's GO Lady Horsemen!!

Volleyball team will be competing in the State Championship tournament this weekend at the Rio Rancho Event Center. Go to nmact.org for bracket updates and game times.

Tickets ONLY available at gofan.co

Cross Country

Congratulations Cross Country!!

GIRLS: Chloe Grieco came in 3rd at the State meet and received Top 10 All-State honors.

BOYS: SMHS came in second as a team and had 3 Top 10 All-State runners:

Jaden Perea (6th); Everett Kuhn (7th); Jeremiah Rodriguez (9th).

Girls Basketball

Girls Basketball will have tryouts next week Mon-Wed (Nov. 18-20) from 6-8 p.m. in Perez Shelley gymnasium. All high school girls are welcome. In order to tryout a current physical (after April 2024) must be submitted to the school. Physical forms can be found under "Athletics" on the school website. Only one physical is required per school year.

Please contact Coach Sonya Ruiz, sruiz@smhs.me, if you have any questions.

Tennis

Varsity Tennis Fall Practices start November 5th.

If you are interested in joining us on the Varsity Boys or Girls team, please contact: Coach Matt at tennis@smhs.me or 505-239-4008

Baseball

Off-season weight training will be held Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4:45pm. Training is open to anyone interested in playing baseball in the spring that is not participating in a winter sport. If there are any questions please contact Coach Ruiz at: baseball@smhs.me

LIVE JESUS

IN OUR HEARTS...

There will be special times throughout the school year when our community is comforted by the solidarity of our 5 core principles. These are the virtues in which we stand. Stand confident and together. This week on retreat our 7th graders were able to learn and practice the 5 most important aspects that make a Horsemen so special! The retreat focused on Friendship & Unity and what more simple way is there to describe our whole Lasallian Community!

FOREVER

SPIRIT SHOP

New items now available in the Spirit Shop!

New Full-Zip Hoodies & More Student Polos!
We’ve restocked our student polos with new sizes, including smaller options and a women's fit.

Stop by the Spirit Shop before they sell out!

Open after school MONDAY-FRIDAY

NOW LOCATED AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL

SMHS Alumni Association

Alumni Association General Meeting: November 19th, 6:30pm SMHS Library

All Alumni and Parents/Guardians of Alumni are welcome! General Meetings will be held every other month on the 2nd Wednesday in the SMHS Library. Please see the school website under the Alumni Tab for further meeting dates.

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.

Alumni Reunions

For information regarding the Alumni Association or to find out when your reunion is, please contact Annette Rivera-Legits, Alumni Relations Coordinator at 505-466-5088 or email at: alegits@smhs.me

“Once a Horsemen, Always a Horsemen!”

SMHS Parents Association

Next Parent Association General Meeting: November 19th, 5:30pm-6:30pm, SMHS Library

Parent Association Bake Sale: November 17 at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francies after the 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Mass. Funds will raise money for a new intercom system for SMHS.

Bake Sale Sign Up Sheet or make a donation to the Parents Association:

November 17 PA Bake Sale Sign Up Sheet

Twice is Nice Clothing Sale: November 20, 5:30-7 pm in SMHS lobby

Parent Association Concessions:

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/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-50808283-varsity#/

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-50809844-jhvolleyball#/

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-50809616-jvc#/

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-50808130-stmichaels#/

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0F48A9AA22A3FD0-50820123-stmichaels#/

Get involved with The Parent’s Association!