Boulder High School
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Boulder High School
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| A Place For Everyone | |
| Established | 1875 |
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| School type | Public high school |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Principal | Bud Jenkins |
| Location | Boulder, Colorado, United States |
| Athletics | CHSAA 5A |
| Colors | Purple and Gold |
| Mascot | Panther |
| Website | Boulder High School |
Contents |
[edit] History
Boulder High School was founded in 1875 as part of the University of Colorado (as a prepatory school for the university), making it the first high school in Colorado - hence the slogan, "Still the First." The school is located in downtown Boulder along the Boulder Creek and near Boulder's famous Pearl Street Mall. The school property adjoins the University of Colorado.
[edit] Architecture
Boulder High School's current building was constructed in 1933 under the Works Project Administration [1]. The facade is classic art deco. The school's fabulous art deco auditorium has been preserved. The school is built with "Colorado Red" flagstone and limestone, the same materials from which the University of Colorado is built.
Later additions at use the same materials but many do not match the origional art-deco design.
[edit] Academics
Boulder High School has a strong academic reputation with one of the most extensive Advanced Placement programs in the state, offering almost 30 AP level courses as of the 2006-2007 school year. [2]. Because of its proximity to the University of Colorado, students can take courses which are not normally available at the high school level. Boulder High's Academic Decathlon team has won state and represented Colorado at the national competition for the past six years, and finished 2nd at the National Science Bowl in 2002. The school has an extensive foreign language program that includes instruction in Japanese, Latin, French, Russian, German, and Spanish. The Japan Bowl team, organized by Japanese instructor Michael Kleinkopf, won regional competitions in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and placed 5th at the national competition in 2001. [3].
[edit] Performing Arts
Boulder High students participate extensively in the performing arts. The Boulder Jazz jazz band, run by Tom "Doc" Horst, frequently places well in regional jazz festivals. The Wind Ensemble is also an exceptional group and is currently assisted by guest directors from the University of Northern Colorado.
The theatre department at Boulder High was established in 1937 and was one of the original members (Troupe #60) of the International Thespian Society. Boulder High's Theatre Guild currently has over 120 members and inducts upwards of 30 thespians into the Society each year. The department hosts an array of unique productions, including Urinetown, The Breakfast Club, and Our Town. In October 2006, students performed Where I'm From, a student-written show examining contemporary issues as diverse as global warming, politics, heightened airport security, racial differences, text messaging, and MySpace.
[edit] Athletics
Most student athletes participate in the 5A athletic classification, which consists of the schools with the highest enrollments in the state of Colorado. The sports program has produced many athletes who have continued in NCAA athletic programs and as professionals, including golfer Hale Irwin and Miami Dolphins defensive back Dick Anderson.
In 2006, Boulder High alumnus and Williams College soccer player Patrick Huffer was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America / Adidas Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year for Senior Colleges and 1st Team All-American. [4]
Boulder's local arch rival is crosstown Fairview High School.
[edit] Flood Danger
Boulder High school is located in the middle of the Boulder Creek flood zone. The school's adjacent soccer fields were housing less than 30 years ago, the houses were removed due to the high flash-flood danger along the creek. The City of Boulder, CO continues removing buildings in the path of the most dangerous portions of the creek, replacing them with parks and fields. The "100 year flood" last took place in Boulder in 1894 destroyed all buildings in the area.
[edit] Student Worker
In 1999 Boulder High students founded Student Worker, a student-run activist group. Several of the group's efforts have received national attention, including a January 2005 sleep-in protesting the war in Iraq[5] and a May 2001 kiss-in in support of alternative sexuality [6]. In May 2005 Student Worker along with Peace Jam erected 1,650 American flags in memory of soldiers killed in Iraq [7].
Rumors that a song performed at a school talent show would include Presidential death threats also stirred recent national controversy [8], although these rumors proved to be false.
