Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque High's 40-Year Commitment to Giving
In her weekly message, Superintendent Blakey thanks Albuquerque High students and staff for their generosity and wishes everyone a joyful holiday season.
We made it through the first half of the school year, but before you head off for whatever amazing plans you have for winter break, I want to tell you about a heartwarming tradition that one of our high schools has kept alive for more than 40 years.
Each year, as the holidays approach, the Albuquerque High School community asks feeder elementary schools to provide a list of 10 students whose families are struggling financially but who are not receiving services from other programs. Those students are asked to provide a wish list along with clothing sizes, colors they like and even favorite sports teams.
Classes are then given the opportunity to sponsor these kids by providing gifts and bringing food for a holiday party they host for the students and their families.
That tradition was on full display last Friday when dozens of students from six feeder schools descended on the Albuquerque High campus for the magical event. The kids smiled from ear to ear as they unwrapped their gifts to discover everything from dolls and bikes to art supplies and clothing. They also got to enjoy pizza along with more traditional New Mexican food like posole and enchiladas.
About 50 Albuquerque High classes and offices participated in the event, which served 63 students from Lew Wallace, Eugene Field, Longfellow, Montezuma, East San Jose and Reginald Chavez elementary schools.
This year’s event was coordinated by Albuquerque High Activities Director Stephanie Dunn, who called it the best day of the entire school year because staff is able to see how much their students are willing to give to kids whose families might be struggling. As a graduate of Albuquerque High and a former teacher at the school, Stephanie is deeply invested in the tradition and says it will continue as long as she remains at the school.
Albuquerque High students were equally invested, taking great joy in watching the elementary kids unwrap their gifts. They connected with the younger students, playing with them in the hallway and courtyards as if they were their own younger siblings.
This is a beautiful tradition and a powerful reminder of the profound impact that kindness and generosity can have. Albuquerque High students made these little ones feel special, brightening what may have otherwise been a difficult holiday season for these families. And in the process, they enriched their own lives and developed social awareness, learning to empathize with others and consider their perspectives. Traditions like this one make us better human beings, and I’m proud of Albuquerque High for carrying it on for more than four decades.
I’m grateful to everyone out there who has helped our kids this holiday season, whether through the Cops for Kids program, the groups who donated to our McKinney-Vento program or those who provide a holiday meal to the middle and high schoolers we serve at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center.
Generosity is alive and well in Albuquerque!
Finally, I want to thank all of our teachers, coaches, educational assistants, counselors and everyone else working to give our students the tools they need to succeed. I hope you have a wonderful break and come back rested and ready to tackle the second half of the school year.
Happy holidays, and I look forward to seeing you in the new year!