ASE HIGHLIGHT
Sanvi Lathis, an elementary student, and Nicole Briceno Gabauer, a senior and Editor-in-Chief, are both student journalists of The Phoenix Times, the student newspaper of Albuquerque School of Excellence. Together, they interviewed NMPBS correspondents, Gwyneth Doland and Russell Contreras, co-hosts of New Mexico in Focus.
The two ASE student journalists gained firsthand insight into ethical journalism, storytelling, and the vital role the media plays in informing communities while proudly representing Albuquerque School of Excellence with confidence and professionalism. Watch their interview here: YOUTUBE INTERVIEW
Are you up to date on your student's shots? Is your family ready to tackle flu season? If you need some shots, stop by our Mid/High gym on Friday from 2-4pm to get shots with our vaccine clinic with Smith's!
Hello ASE East Parents and Families,
We are excited to invite you to the first PTO general meeting of the year!
In this meeting, we will review the upcoming PTO activities and events that will take place during the first semester of the school year. We will review opportunities to get involved, including volunteering to participate in the upcoming movie night and Scholastic Book Fair!
You can attend the meeting in person in the mid/high building cafeteria, or virtually using the link below.
Meeting Details
Thursday, August 13 · 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info -
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zqt-wodd-hfg
Or dial: (US) +1 470-655-5132 PIN: 627 201 826#
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us using the contact information below or reply to this email.
Sincerely,
ASE PTO Council
Ngoc Riley (President)
Aimee Hopkins (Treasurer)
Drew Towles (Secretary)
All students who tried out got to have their first practice with Chaos Athletics and find out which team they made after long and difficult tryouts on Saturday! It's been an AweSomE time seeing our students RISE to the challenge and get hyped up for September 12th, when they'll compete in the State Fair Parade once again this year! We're excited to see them at our games and events alike!
EAST SIDE ONLY!!!
It's time for us to get connected! Verizon Innovate Learning Schools (VILS) Grant provides 1:1 Chromebooks for each student in grades 5-12 to bring home and use freely at school and home thanks to a wireless hotspot service. Students grades 6-8 will retrieve their Chromebooks between 9-11:30am and 9th-12th will come at 12:30-3 to collect theirs. Further information has been provided via email!
We're excited to kick off the new year with new motivation and vigor to tackle a new world of learning and growth with our friends, families, and staff! We hope you had a lovely first day, and the first week continues to RISE to Excellence!
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Albuquerque School of Excellence proudly celebrates Nicole Briceno Gabauer, Editor-in-Chief of The Phoenix Times, for representing New Mexico as its sole delegate at the prestigious 25th Annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference in Washington, D.C. Hosted by the Freedom Forum, the six-day program selected only 51 exceptional high school journalists - one from each state and the District of Columbia to participate in immersive leadership experiences focused on journalism, the First Amendment, media ethics, investigative reporting, and the future of news. Nicole also received a $1,000 college scholarship in recognition of her achievement and dedication to journalism. During the conference, she learned from nationally renowned journalists, including CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, and reporters and editors from The Washington Post, The New York Times, HuffPost, and other leading media organizations. Nicole's remarkable accomplishment reflects not only her passion for journalism but also Albuquerque School of Excellence's commitment to developing student leaders who excel beyond the classroom and proudly represent both their school and the State of New Mexico on the national stage. Read Nicole's complete story and more inspiring features in the first issue of The Phoenix Times for the 2026–2027 school year, available in our interactive digital edition here: https://app.smore.com/n/7qwxf
At Albuquerque School of Excellence, our East and West campuses united for Professional Development, strengthening Character—Respect, Integrity, Service, and Empathy—while preparing STEM-focused, college- and future-ready students. RISE to Excellence!
At Albuquerque School of Excellence, we empower students to achieve academic excellence, develop strong character, and thrive through meaningful partnerships with families and the community.
Join the Albuquerque School of Excellence family and discover a safe, supportive learning community where every student is empowered to achieve excellence and build a bright future.
Nicole will have the opportunity to gain behind-the-scenes access to Washington, D.C. newsrooms, connect with fellow high school juniors from across the United States who share her passion for journalism, meet some of the nation’s leading journalists and multimedia storytellers, and explore our nation’s capital. This is a fully funded, five-day summer program that selects one student from each state and Washington, D.C.
Conference benefits for the 51 selected students include:
Guidance and insights from leading journalists, media professionals, digital entrepreneurs, and news influencers
A $1,000 college scholarship
A free five-day trip to Washington, D.C. (June 21–26, 2026), with all expenses covered, including airfare, hotel, and meals
Lifelong connections with 50 fellow students from across the country and professionals in the field
Continued support from a strong alumni network working at organizations such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Apple, ABC News, NBC’s Today Show, USA TODAY, and innovative digital platforms
The Washington, D.C. experience includes:
Networking with alumni journalists and digital entrepreneurs
Attending the Free Expression Awards ceremony honoring champions of the First Amendment
Behind-the-scenes tours of major news organizations (past visits include USA TODAY, The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and C-SPAN)
A class commencement ceremony
Visits to iconic sites such as Capitol Hill, Smithsonian museums, national memorials, and a Potomac River dinner cruise
Conference sessions will explore topics such as:
The future of journalism
Media ethics
Photojournalism
Covering politics
Understanding the First Amendment
Multimedia storytelling careers
Investigative reporting
Career pathways of Free Spirit alumni
We are incredibly proud of Nicole’s achievement and representation of our school and state.
Thank you for your continued support of our students!
Today is the FINAL DAY to order your yearbooks! Keep memories of a great year for $45 through online orders with MJ Thomas!
ORDER ONLINE at: mymjthomas.com
Direct link to the online store: https://plicbooks.com/go/C1EPL6 - enter code: abqseyb26
An inspiring afternoon of student creativity is coming to ASE on May 1st! Join us at 1:00 PM in the ASE Mid/High Gymnasium for an event where student voices take center stage through storytelling, music, and powerful public speaking.
From heartfelt literary pieces to dynamic performances, this event is all about creativity, confidence, and expression. Come be part of an inspiring experience and support our talented students as they share their work and their voices and personal works! We’d love to see you there. 🎤📚🎶
