Ponderosa High School (Colorado)

Ponderosa High School, commonly referred to as Pondo or PHS, is a public high school in Parker, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Douglas County School District RE-1.

Ponderosa High School
Address
7007 East Bayou Gulch Road

Parker
,
Colorado
80134

United States
Coordinates39°26′10″N 104°45′22″W
Information
School typePublic high school
MottoProud, Productive, Proven
EstablishedJanuary 1983 (1983-01)
School districtDouglas County RE-1
CEEB code061151
NCES School ID080345001341[1]
PrincipalTim Ottmann[2]
Teaching staff69.420 (on a FTE basis)[1]
Grades9–12
Enrollment1488 (2018–19[1])
Student to teacher ratio20.46[1]
Color(s)Cardinal and gold   
Athletics conferenceCHSAA
MascotMustang
NewspaperThe Mustang Express
Feeder schools
  • Sagewood Middle School
Websitephs.dcsdk12.org

The school earned an "Excellent" rating by the Colorado Student Assessment Program in 2004, and a "High" score in 2005.[3]

History

Teacher–student relationship controversy

In 2005, Ponderosa teacher Nicole Rea Barnhart became a registered sex offender after it was discovered that she was having an intimate relationship with one of her sophomore students.[4]

April 2007 bomb scare

On April 20, 2007, former Ponderosa student Caleb Pegues, as a prank, set off a stink bomb in an area frequented by students who allegedly smoked marijuana in the area. The date, April 20 (4/20) holds some significance to many people, as well as being the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. The stink bomb consisted of a combination of various household chemicals. Reports indicated that either a toilet bowl cleaner or ammonia was put in a plastic bottle along with a piece of tin foil. This reaction created a gas, causing the plastic bottle to expand until it burst. The gas created by such a mixture reportedly smells like rotten eggs.

As a result of this prank, Pegues was arrested, charged as an adult under Colorado's Direct File Statute by District Attorney for Colorado's 18th Judicial District, Carol Chambers, for committing several felonies before any investigation.

Chambers was criticized harshly by the public for overreacting and filing excessive charges against Pegues. Many newspaper stories expressed the opinion that it was not appropriate that Chambers charge the juvenile as an adult for what most would consider nothing more than a childish prank.[5]

Extracurricular activities

Athletics

Ponderosa has won ten 5A state wrestling titles since 1997, including eight consecutive wins between 2003 and 2010. The seventh consecutive win broke a 60-year-old record set in 1944–1949 by Denver North.[6] In addition, Ponderosa has a perfect 167–0 conference dual record from 1994 to the present.[7] NFHS Coaches Association National Wrestling coach of the year[8] Tim Ottmann retired after 2008 and the team is now coached by Tito Rinaldis.

Ponderosa's football team won the 2003 5A State Championship.

Ponderosa has also won state championships in Girls Basketball (1986), Boys Basketball (1988), Girls Softball (1992), Girls Volleyball (2009), and Boys Lacrosse (2014).[9]

The school moved down to CHSAA 4A starting in the 2011–12 school year, due to the foundation of Legend High School in 2008.

Band program

The Ponderosa High School bands have a history in the Parker community. The Marching Band has been state champions nine times, last winning in 2001. The Winter Percussion Ensemble won the Colorado state championship in 2019, came in second place in 2008, and has won numerous awards throughout its history. In 2011 the school hired Bill Phalen as band director.[10]

Notable alumni

References
  1. "Search for Public Schools - PONDEROSA HIGH SCHOOL (080345001341)". National Center for Education Statistics. Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. "Leadership Team - Ponderosa High School". Douglas County School District RE-1. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  3. Ponderosa High School 2004–2005 School Accountability Report. Compiled by the Colorado Department of Education.
  4. John Aguilar (January 4, 2006). "Teacher pleads guilty to sex assault". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012.
  5. Chris Michlewicz (13 March 2008). "Teen sentenced for '07 bomb hoax". Douglas County News-Press. Archived from the original on March 23, 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2017 – via Colorado Community Newspapers.
  6. "Ponderosa sets record at state tournament". usatoday.com. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
  7. "Colorado High School Wrestling Records Archived 2007-02-20 at the Wayback Machine", published by the Colorado High School Activities Association. Updated 9 February 2006, accessed 30 November 2006.
  8. "National Coaches of the Year Selected by NFHS Coaches Association(2)" (Press release). NFHS. Archived from the original on 4 July 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  9. "Colorado high school sports championship history by school". Colorado High School Activities Association. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
  10. "http://www.ponderosaband.org", Ponderosa Band Booster website
  11. 8 Connor Freeman ponderosabaseball.org
  12. Chris Barge (March 31, 2007). "Coloradan steps right into the media spotlight". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2008.
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