St. Michael's High School

History

St. Michael's High School was founded in 1859 as El Colegio de San Miguel in an adobe hut next to the San Miguel Mission on Old Santa Fe Trail, just east of the current state capitol building. In 1968 it moved to its current location at 100 Siringo Road in Santa Fe and became co-educational upon the closing of the Loretto Academy for Girls. Prior to the construction of the school at its Siringo Road location, the high school took on boarders from New Mexico and other states.

Jean-Baptiste Lamy, the first bishop and archbishop of Santa Fe, New Mexico, recruited four Christian Brothers from his native France to establish the school. Brothers Hilarien, Gondulph, Geramius and Galmier Joseph arrived on October 27, 1859, after two and a half months of travel by ship, train and covered wagon. In 1870, the school nearly closed due to financial hardship and falling morale of the Brothers and students. Brother Peter J. Schneider, known as Brother Botulph, arrived to open a novitiate to train local student Brothers and recruit more Brothers to Santa Fe. In 1874, the territorial legislature granted the school a charter as the College of the Christian Brothers of New Mexico. In 1876, St. Michael's conferred diplomas on its first graduates.

In the early decades of the twentieth century, the school's science labs were remodeled, the school's first gymnasium, financed by alumni donations, was constructed, and athletic teams began competing in New Mexico's interscholastic sports program. After World War I, the college program was dropped due to financial concerns.

Since 1967 there has been a gradual but steady increase in the number of lay teachers at St. Michael's, as the Brothers grow older and retire. In 1988, St. Michael's admitted its first lay person to the Board of Trustees and soon after hired its first lay, and first female, principal.

For many years, St. Michael's was primarily a boarding school. The two story building next to San Miguel Chapel was a dormitory for male high school students (it was originally a 3 story building). When the school moved to its current location, it became solely a day school. and the old school campus was sold to the State of New Mexico.

In 1957, students at St. Michael's helped tear down old barracks at Los Alamos, and moved them to the then St. Michael's College (now College of Santa Fe). A large number of students participated in this on weekends.

St. Michael's used the road system at St. Michael's College, which had been an Army Hospital during World War II, for drivers training for their students

In the 1950s, it was very popular for St. Michael's boarding students to investigate the old New Mexico State Prison. Sitting in the Electric Chair was always popular. School dances were regularly held with the students of Loretto Academy. The BIG football rivalry was St. Michael's against Santa Fe High School. Students regularly went ice skating at a resivor new Las Vegas, NM. These things were all experienced by Lynton "Bill" Sterwart, while a student at St. Michael's in 1957/1958.

Facilities

The school's campus covers 25 acres, and includes two gymnasiums, athletics fields, and other facilities. St. Michael's is the owner of the San Miguel Mission, reputed to be the oldest church west of the Mississippi River, as well as the "Oldest House" across the alleyway, said to be the remnants of an Indian pueblo.

Athletics

St. Michael's athletic nickname is the Horsemen. The school has won over 69 State Championships from NMAA sanctioned sports and events. St. Michael's competes in AAAA, District 5, along with Hope Christian School, Sandia Preparatory School and Santa Fe Indian School.

Notable alumni