Word on the Bosque
By Dr. Gary Gruber, Bosque School’s Founding Head of School
Dear Bosque School Community,
It is a privilege to write this letter launching the May 2025 celebrations, marking 30 years since the beginning of what has become an outstanding and exemplary school. I will always remember Peggie Ann Findlay and me ringing the bell—gifted to us by Manzano Day School—on Bosque School’s opening day in August 1995. There were moments during the previous year when we weren’t sure it would happen—uncertain whether we would find a location, the right people, and the necessary resources to begin a new adventure in education for the Albuquerque community.
Before accepting the invitation to serve as Bosque School’s founding head, I visited Albuquerque Academy, Sandia Prep, and Manzano Day School, speaking with all three heads at the time—Bob Bovinette, Dick Heath, and Gloria Mallory—to hear their thoughts. They all said, “Yes, come do it, and we will support you and be your friendly colleagues.” That was the final step in my decision-making before accepting the board of trustees’ offer to take the risk and begin putting the pieces together. We had a great team on that original board, with Peggie and Steve leading the adventure.
When I returned to serve as interim head during the 2010–11 school year, I was delighted to see the original vision and mission still thriving—impacting the education of so many wonderful students who have gone on, and will continue, to help make the world a happier, healthier, safer, and more caring place. Much of any school’s success depends on hiring great teachers—those who are inspiring, dedicated, and who believe in their students’ capacity to learn, grow, and serve others. They deserve all the support we can give, as they generously give of themselves to their profession at Bosque.
Corio Foundation Donates $3.5 million
As Bosque School celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2025, the school is honored to share the news of a landmark philanthropic commitment that will transform access to independent school education for generations of students. In a letter to the Bosque community, Head of School Dr. Jessie Barrie announced that the Corio Foundation has made a seven-year, $3.5 million replicable gift commitment—the largest outright gift in the school’s thirty-year history.
This transformative support establishes the Corio Scholarship Program, which will provide $500,000 per year in financial aid to students with the greatest demonstrated need, with awards up to and including full tuition. The announcement comes as Bosque School continues its mission to be a private school with a public purpose and reinforces its leadership role in creating life-changing impact through education for New Mexico’s children and families. The Corio Scholarship Program at Bosque School will provide financial awards that can support a student for all seven years of their Bosque School education, up to and including full-tuition and full-ride awards for deserving students.
The full letter from Bosque School Head of School Dr. Jessie Barrie to the school community is included below:
Polymaker Donates 10 3D Printers to STEAM Program
Bosque School recently received a generous donation of 10 new 3D printers and materials from Polymaker, a global leader in 3D printing technology. The donation, facilitated by the nonprofit Makers Mission, supports the school’s growing STEAM program and provides students with hands-on access to cutting-edge tools used in modern engineering and design.
The new equipment will enhance learning across all grade levels, allowing students to explore CAD design, digital fabrication, and custom prototyping for robotics and other projects. “These 3D printers will have a huge impact on our students,” said middle school teacher Spencer Baum. “In robotics, they’ll allow us to design and print custom frames and components for our robots. In our middle school STEAM classes, students will explore the world of digital fabrication and get hands-on experience with tools used in modern engineering. Students at all levels of the school will now have an opportunity to learn CAD design and see their ideas come to life.”
Celebrating 30 Years of Bosque School
Throughout our 30-year history, several constants have remained: our dedication to our mission and core values, and our commitment to academic excellence. Whenever we gather together in celebration and community, we have an unforgettable time!
Join us May 15–17 for a weekend of connection, fun, and celebration.
The UnGala: Saturday, May 17 (a 21+ event)
Wondering what an UnGala is? It’s everything a traditional gala isn’t. Picture an evening under the stars with live music by LoPhat, dancing, gourmet food stations, an open bar (signature cocktail included!), no assigned seating, and zero long-winded speeches. It’s relaxed, joyful, and all about celebration, community, and connection.
There’s no dress code—just come in your Bosque best! Whether you’re rocking sparkles, a bolo tie, or your coolest kicks, this night is about fun, not formality.
Thanks to the generosity of our presenting sponsor, the Leaders of Enchantment podcast, we’re offering sliding scale ticket pricing. There’s no set ticket price — what matters most is that you’re there.
When was the last time you donned a special outfit, dined with friends, and danced all night under the stars? Space is limited and going fast: get your tickets today!
What is an UnGala? Click below to find out!
In addition to the UnGala, we have something for everyone
Thursday, May 15: Alumni Happy Hour
Hosted by Dan Shaw and Meghan Bode
All alumni, their families, and current and former staffulty members are invited to this casual reception. Enjoy drinks (on us!), light bites, and the chance to reconnect and reminisce. Free to attend; registration required.
Friday, May 16: Family Picnic
All members of the Bosque community are invited to join us on the field after school. Faculty will be grilling complimentary hot dogs, and five food trucks will be on-site selling snacks and drinks, with a portion of proceeds benefiting need-based financial aid. DJ Flo Fader will keep the vibes going with lively beats. There will be games, prizes, face painting, and entertainment by The Conservation Carnivale. Free and open to all ages.
Bosque School Traditions We Love
Over the past 30 years, Bosque School has cultivated a rich tapestry of traditions that bring joy, connection, and a sense of belonging to our students, teachers, and families. Whether it’s a playful game of tag across campus or a heartfelt senior presentation, these moments help define the Bosque experience. Here are just a few of the traditions that have stood out and stood the test of time:
- Spaghetti and Serenades
- Tacos and Tunes
- Sticker Tag
- All Campus Tag
- Blue Steel volleyball game between juniors and seniors during Spirit Week
- Fall Fiesta — once a small gathering in the quad, now a massive community event
Bosque Brick's Big Adventure
Over the past few weeks, the Bosque Brick has been on a journey across campus and beyond, highlighting the many things that make Bosque School unique. From science experiments in chemistry labs to buzzing around the beehives, the Brick has offered a fun and creative way to celebrate our community during this 30th-anniversary year.
Its adventures have included cheering on the basketball team at the state semifinals, visiting robotics, and field and community science classes, joining students for Otter Day and Pi Day, and enjoying a bite at Grassburger. The Brick took a ride on the Bosque bus, played with our beloved Bosque dogs, and was front and center at our first-ever Bike-a-Thon. It even had a particularly exciting adventure when it was bricknapped on Senior Prank Day by our seniors!
Each stop showcased the joy, curiosity, and connection that define the Bosque experience.
Commemorative bricks are still available to order through this weekend. Celebrate 30 years of Bosque School and leave your mark on campus by ordering yours today!
Bosque's First Bike-a-Thon Rolls Into the Record Books
Bosque School’s first-ever bike-a-thon was a huge success! Nearly 60 riders joined in the fun, raising over $4,000 to support student financial aid and the Bosque School mountain bike team.
The event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and volunteers. Thank you to New Mexico Start-Up Factory for sponsoring the event, Fat Tire Cycles for donating a bike and providing on-site maintenance, and to the volunteers from Hope in Crisis: Healing Through Community for their time and energy. A special thanks also goes to Modear Food Truck & Catering for keeping our riders fueled with brisket and breakfast burritos.
Bosque Summer
Build your own adventure
With Bosque Summer, you can build your own adventure with the flexibility of our week-long half and full-day programs for students entering grades K–9. Whether you seek academic enrichment, creative adventures, skill development, meaningful movement, or just plain fun, Bosque Summer has you covered!
Our full-day camps are specially designed for students entering grades 1–8. They are built on the pillars of creativity, discovery, movement, and performance with students taking one class from each section daily. The programs culminate in a Friday showcase on the Bosque School campus for parents and families.
Pick your passion with Bosque Summer's half-day camp options. These half-day, week-long programs allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the topics they are most interested in.
student accolades
Bosque Celebrates Seniors During Upper School Awards Week
Bosque School is proud to honor our remarkable seniors for their leadership, academic excellence, artistic achievement, and service during Upper School Awards Week. From Student Government to Latin Honors, these students have left a lasting impact on our community.
Katie '26 Honored for Wildlife Biology Work at Einstein Gala
What is award season, or spring, or even an issue of the Bosque Buzz, without porcupines? Thankfully, we have junior Katie to fill us in on her work this year in wildlife biology, which resulted in her being chosen as one of two Outstanding STEM Students by the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. She was honored at the museum’s 2025 Einstein Gala on Saturday, March 22.
Katie has loved doing wildlife biology fieldwork for many years. The many projects she has worked on include handling Mexican grey wolves, kangaroo rats, softshell turtles, and, of course, the North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). While she can capture, collar, tag, and administer injections to those prickly creatures, she’s especially interested in data collection and interpretation. She wants the data she organizes to be a useful tool to other scientists and to help improve the methodology of wildlife handling.
Bosque Students Selected for Prestigious Dennis Chavez LDZ Program
This June, three Bosque students – Lauren O. ‘26 and Denalli and Kyra ‘27 – will be participating in the Dennis Chavez LDZ, a national and internationally recognized leadership program for high-achieving college-bound youth destined to share their talents as future leaders. The eight-day legislative governance experience engages students in a collaborative, self-directed quest to explore their innate talents in risk-taking, personal motivation, and solution creation.
Mock Trial — Guilty of Winning!
Zach Lang wears many hats at Bosque School, but one of his most rewarding roles is serving as Mock Trial coordinator and teacher coach. This year was an especially strong one for Lang and his students.
The team gained an edge with the addition of a new attorney coach, Richard Pugh, the uncle of a current Bosque School seventh grader. Not all programs across the state have access to practicing attorneys, so Bosque is especially fortunate to benefit from Pugh’s expertise. His guidance allowed students to develop a deeper understanding of the law and the details of the case, helping them elevate their performances in the courtroom.
While previous years featured single charges such as murder, arson, or fraud, this year’s case introduced a conspiracy charge, adding complexity to the legal challenge. The plot centered on a rivalry between two taco restaurants—one owner was murdered, and the other was charged with both murder and conspiracy for allegedly hiring the hit man. Students had to grapple with the concept of culpability in a case where the defendant wasn’t the direct perpetrator.
Challenging Education
Bosque Robotics Club Wraps Up Successful Season
The Bosque School Robotics Club has completed another exciting season of engineering, collaboration, and competition. Meeting after school on Mondays and Tuesdays since September, the club is open to middle and upper school students and offers hands-on experience in designing, building, and coding robots. Each year, teams tackle a new nationwide challenge, testing their problem-solving skills in real-world robotics contests.
Bosque School Students Combine Art and Technology in Interactive Project
At Bosque School, middle school students in an art and coding class are discovering how creativity and technology often go hand in hand.
Using cardboard, sensors, lights, and LittleBits electronic components, students designed and built interactive art projects that incorporate movement and respond to their surroundings. The goal was to explore how design and technology intersect—and how one can enhance the other.
Alumni News
Bosque School Donates 8,000 Wildlife Books to APS Fifth Graders
Bosque School’s Field and Community Science Program is helping connect thousands of local students to the natural world. This spring, the program donated 8,000 copies of Sandia Mountain Wildlife Adventure: Foothills to Crest to the Sandia Mountain Natural History Center.
The educational activity book, written and illustrated by Bosque School alum Donny Kelley-Currens, will be distributed to every fifth grader from Albuquerque Public Schools and Rio Rancho Public Schools who visits the center throughout the year. The book supports place-based learning and encourages students to explore the unique wildlife and ecosystems of the Sandia Mountains.
Bobcat Highlight
Mikahe loves expressing herself through art and really enjoys her class with Mr. Otero. She is a member of the Native American affinity group and Middle School LEAD. Outside of school, she plays competitive club basketball under Bosque’s own Coach Jamal Fenton and has competed at Nationals and Native American Junior Nationals. Whether she's on the court or in the art studio, Mikahe brings talent, heart, and dedication to everything she does.
Gabriel loves soccer and hopes to go pro someday! Whether he's recording a podcast for a class, running around with friends in PE, or traveling for club soccer, he’s all about connection, movement, and making learning fun. Get to know him below!
Staffulty Highlight
A Week of Gratitude: BPGA Celebrates Bosque Staffulty
During the week of March 10–14, the Bosque School staffulty felt truly celebrated, thanks to the generosity and effort of the Bosque Parents and Guardians Association (BPGA). Sophomore parent Debra Hill, the Staffulty Appreciation Chair, and her amazing committee went above and beyond to treat everyone like royalty.
On Monday, they delivered handwritten notes of appreciation, gift cards, and stickers to staffulty mailboxes, along with snacks and drinks stocked in all the staff workrooms. Tuesday kicked off with coffee and donuts, including a special visit from the Catalyst Coffee truck. On Wednesday, everyone enjoyed a catered lunch featuring lumpia, a delicious Indonesian specialty similar to spring rolls.
Thursday evening brought the community together for dinner and a raffle at the Mill Room in Sawmill Market. Then on Friday—March 14, Pi Day—parents gifted every staffulty member a beautiful pie from local markets and bakeries. That same morning, seventh-grade parent and licensed massage therapist Grit Best offered 10-minute chair massages to those lucky enough to snag a slot as soon as the schedule opened.
Thank you, BPGA, for sending us into spring break feeling full, relaxed, and incredibly appreciated!
Submit photos and stories to our marketing and communications team, and your alumni photos and stories to the philanthropy department.