High School (9-12)

🎄❄️ Happy Holidays, Pojoaque Valley community! ❄️🎄
Here is our holiday break schedule for students!

We hope everyone enjoys a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season! 💚🤍

📣 Pojoaque Valley Community!
We would like to invite the entire Pojoaque Valley community to the Ben Lujan Classic, taking place December 18–20. 🗓️

🏀 Come out and enjoy three days of exciting boys and girls basketball action! We hope to see you there!

Below is a brief history of the Ben Lujan Classic:

A Brief History of Speaker Ben Luján

Speaker Ben Luján, a proud Pojoaque High School graduate, was born in 1935 and passed away in 2012. He grew up in the Nambé Valley, where his family still resides near the acequia and cottonwood tree that symbolize the deep cultural and traditional roots that shaped his lifelong values of community and service.

Ben Luján began his career as a Union Ironworker at Los Alamos National Laboratory. A dedicated member of Ironworkers Local 495, he worked there for 25 years before retiring. By that time, he had already served two two-year terms as a Santa Fe County Commissioner and as the State Representative for District 46.

Throughout his career, he was elected by his colleagues to serve as House Majority Whip, House Majority Leader, and ultimately as Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position he proudly held for five terms.

Speaker Luján loved high school basketball and rarely missed a game. He was immensely proud to be a Pojoaque High School graduate, to represent the Elks, and to support Pojoaque student-athletes.

In 1991, the first Ben Lujan Classic Girls Tournament was held. Speaker Luján believed strongly in providing tournament opportunities for girls’ basketball programs, which inspired the creation of the event.

In 1999, the Ben Lujan Classic expanded to include its first Boys Tournament, and it has been an annual tradition ever since—except for 2020, when schools were closed due to the pandemic.

The Ben Luján Family extends their heartfelt thanks to all players, coaches, and spectators for their continued support of both the girls and boys who have participated in the Ben Lujan Classic over the years.

We want to reassure our families and staff that the LANL'S chromium plume is not affecting any of our school campuses. We remain in close communication with the New Mexico Environment Department and are actively monitoring the situation to ensure the continued safety of our students and employees.

For community members living in or near the affected area, please stay informed and be aware of any potential health symptoms. These may include respiratory issues such as coughing, wheezing, or asthma-like symptoms, as well as skin reactions like irritation or dermatitis. If you experience any concerning symptoms, please consult a medical professional.

We will continue to share updates as new information becomes available. Thank you for your continued trust and support.