Ponaganset High School is a school of the Foster-Glocester School District, located in Glocester, Rhode Island (in Providence County). The majority of high school students live in the rural towns of Foster, Rhode Island and Glocester, Rhode Island. This is a public high school, known for its music program, AP and honors classes, as well as its agricultural and automotive specialties. The school's athletic teams are the "Chieftains". Ponaganset is notable in RI because it averages a disproportionate number of winter weather-related cancellations each year. The cancellations are, in part, because the towns of Foster and Glocester have higher elevations than the rest of Rhode Island and are located in the unofficial "snow belt".
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PHS is currently under the public eye with regards to their fuel cell and alternative energy programs. These program have received several grants from various organizations, such as the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy and local energy corporations. You can learn more about this program here [1].
The school recently underwent a major multi-phase renovation in which the old Ponaganset Middle School was re-located to a brand new building and the existing high school took over the old middle school structure. An indoor glass walkway was put in to attach the high school with the old middle school. The renovations were completed at the end of 2009.
The high school boasts a successful and popular music program, started by Nedo Pandolfi in 1960. His ensembles were noted for consistent excellence and won numerous national and international competitions, including the 1996 International Festival in Vienna, Austria. Mr. Pandolfi was Music Director at Ponaganset High School for more than 30 years. The current director of bands at PHS is Daniel Coyne. Mr. Coyne joined the Ponaganset High School Music Department in September 1995 as Concert Band Director, proudly working alongside his mentor Nedo Pandolfi, who continued to teach Wind Ensemble. When Mr. Pandolfi retired suddenly the following year for health reasons, Mr. Coyne took over teaching duties for the Wind Ensemble, as well.