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Ironwood High School
Encyclopedia
Ironwood High School is a public secondary school located in Glendale
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The high school is currently a part of the Peoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District #11 provides primary and secondary education for most of Peoria, Arizona, parts of Glendale and Youngtown, Arizona, and a small portion of Surprise, Arizona, and northwestern Maricopa County. With 39 schools, it is the third largest school district in Arizona.-Early...
. The school opened its doors in August 1986, since which it has maintained an Excelling academic status. Since 2004, it has offered the IB Diploma Programme
IB Diploma Programme
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a two-year educational programme for students aged 16–19that provides an internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education, and is recognised by universities worldwide. It was developed in the early to mid-1960s in Geneva by...
to its junior and senior year students, with a Pre-IB program for its freshman and sophomore-year students. Currently, approximately 2,000 students are enrolled, making Ironwood a 5A Conference school as determined by the Arizona Interscholastic Association
Arizona Interscholastic Association
The Arizona Interscholastic Association is the major high school sports association in the state of Arizona. It comprises most of the state's public district high schools, various charter and private schools, plus one high school in California San Pasqual High School in Winterhaven, California,...
. Their mascot is the Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
. Ironwood is the second largest high school in the Peoria Unified School District by student enrollment. The principal is Vance Setka, and vice principals include Mark Borkowski, Russell Dunham and Caitlin Filleman.
Ironwood Fight Song
Onward for IronwoodOn to Victory
In Red and Grey
We'll Always Be
Proud With Loyalty
Onward Brave Eagles Soar
High With Dignity
We'll Fight! Fight!
For Ironwood High School
Onward To Victory
Written by the original Ironwood High School Band Director, John McCord. The Ironwood auditorium was dedicated in his name, to honor him, soon after his death on July 3rd, 1990.
Diversity
Ironwood's student body, as of January 2011, was:Students by grade
- Freshman - 537
- Sophomores - 550
- Juniors - 432
- Seniors - 489
Ethnicity
- Asian: 105 (5.28%)
- African American: 100 (5.03%)
- Hispanic: 492 (24.75%)
- Native American: 29 (1.45%)
- White: 1194 (60.06%)
- Pacific Islander 13 (0.6%)
- Mixed 55 (2.77%)
out of 1988 students.
IB Program
In 2004, Ironwood High School began to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to junior and senior students that attend the high school. Since 2004, Ironwood has graduated over 100 full diploma members and plenty more certificate candidates. Ironwood offers the standard five areas of English, History, Science (Physics and Biology), Foreign Language (French and Spanish), and Math, as well as numerous six area courses. The six area courses offered includes: Art, Computer Science, Economics, Music, Photo, Physics, and Theatre. The full diploma candidates also complete Theory of Knowledge, a Cas Project, and an Extended Essay. The school also offers a two-year AIM program sponsered by the district in order to prepare pre-IB students. Ironwood offers the IB/AIM Club as a way to support the IB and Pre-IB students.Advanced Placement (AP) Program
Ironwood offers numerous Advanced Placement courses. These courses include higher level computer science, history, math, and science. However, since Ironwood took on the IB program in 2004, the number of AP classes have shrunk compared to other schools in the Peoria Unified School DistrictPeoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District #11 provides primary and secondary education for most of Peoria, Arizona, parts of Glendale and Youngtown, Arizona, and a small portion of Surprise, Arizona, and northwestern Maricopa County. With 39 schools, it is the third largest school district in Arizona.-Early...
due to the ambiguity of the IB classes.
Choir
There are five choir groups at Ironwood- Chamber Singers
- Men of Iron(wood)
- Girls Ensemble
- Mixed Choir
- Concert Choir
Music
Ironwood is home to five different bands:- Marching Band - "Ironwood Marching Eagles"
- Jazz Band
- Concert Band
- Orchestra
- Intermediate Band
Ironwood Marching Eagles
The "Ironwood Marching Eagles" is a distinguished group that plays at pep assemblies, football games, parades, and festivals. The Eagles participate in all games, both home and away, and play half-time when at home and pre-game when away. They typically compete in two to three festivals per year. They have competed in multiple matching band state festivals including most recently the 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011 festivals. The Ironwood Marching Eagles' season starts in July with band camp held on campus.Theater
Drama is responsible for sponsoring the fall play, spring musical and the annual talent show. The students participate in back stage activities to run each production as well performing in the shows. The club also provides social activities for students involved in the fall play and spring musical.Summer Theater
Summer Theater is a program that takes place for about the first six weeks of summer vacation. It involves students from the majority of the high school's in the Peoria Unified School DistrictPeoria Unified School District
Peoria Unified School District #11 provides primary and secondary education for most of Peoria, Arizona, parts of Glendale and Youngtown, Arizona, and a small portion of Surprise, Arizona, and northwestern Maricopa County. With 39 schools, it is the third largest school district in Arizona.-Early...
as well as some from nearby Deer Valley Unified School District
Deer Valley Unified School District
Deer Valley Unified School District is a PreK-12 school district, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona. DVUSD is the fifth largest school district in the state of Arizona, serving portions of Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Anthem, New River, Cave Creek and unincorporated areas of northwest Maricopa County...
. Typically, there are two to three shows put on every year, each show having its completely own director and cast. Students only have three to four weeks to learn all their lines, songs, and dances before opening night. Stage technicians have the same amount of time to build sets and find props for both shows. Students are also responsible for designing lighting and sound. Shows are typically announced mid spring with auditions following. The program is open to incoming freshman through outgoing seniors.
- 2008 Shows - Oklahoma!Oklahoma!Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...
& Guys and DollsGuys and DollsGuys and Dolls is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows. It is based on "The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown" and "Blood Pressure", two short stories by Damon Runyon, and also borrows characters and plot elements from other Runyon stories, most notably... - 2009 Shows - Les MisérablesLes MisérablesLes Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
& Little Shop of HorrorsLittle Shop of Horrors (musical)Little Shop of Horrors is a rock musical, by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood. The musical is based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Roger Corman... - 2010 Shows - PippinPippinPippin, Peppin, and Pepin are variants of a single Frankish given name. It was the name of several important figures in the Carolingian family that ruled the Frankish Empire in what is now France and the western parts of Germany in the Middle Ages:* Pepin of Landen, nicknamed the Elder, sometimes...
& Fiddler on the RoofFiddler on the RoofFiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem... - 2011 Shows - Hello Dolly & The Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of PenzanceThe Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. The opera's official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 1879, where the show was well received by both audiences...
Sports
Fall- Football [Male]
- Cheerleading [Male and Female]
- Volleyball [Female]
- Cross Country [Male and Female]
- Swim and Dive [Male and Female]
- Golf [Male and Female]
- Marching Band - "Ironwood Marching Eagles" [Male and Female]
Winter
- Basketball [Male and Female]
- Wrestling [Male and Female]
- Soccer [Male and Female]
- Cheerleading [Male and Female]
- Winter Drum Line [Male and Female]
Spring
- Baseball [Male]
- Softball [Female]
- Track and Field [Male and Female]
- Volleyball [Male]
- Tennis [Male and Female]
Former Sports
- Hockey [Male and Female]
- Bowling [Male and Female]
Future Business Leaders of America
Ironwood Future Business Leaders of America (IHS FBLA) is one of the largest chapters in the state of Arizona. The chapter is made up of freshman through senior students. They compete in Arizona State University FBLA Business Skills Day, Regional, State, and Nationals. For the past 6 years IHS FBLA has taken the Sweepstakes Award, the award given to the school that wins the most awards total, at Arizona State University FBLA Business Skills Day. Ironwood has also won the Sweepstakes Award for 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 at the Arizona FBLA State Leadership Conference making Ironwood FBLA one of the best chapters in the state. They have also been successful in creating a Middle Level Chapter at Marshall Ranch Elementary. It continues to try and start new Middle Level Chapters at both Desert Valley Elementary and Copperwood Elementary. Ironwood upkeeps its own private website, Ironwood FBLA Website, as well as its own Facebook Community Page.Academy of Finance
The Academy of Finance (AOF) is a National Academy Foundation academy of finance, accounting, and business classes.Academy of Information Technology
The Academy of Information Technology (AOIT) is a National Academy Foundation academy of computer- and technology-based classes.Drama Club/Thespians
The Drama Club is responsible for sponsoring the fall play, spring musical and the annual talent show. The students participate in back stage activities to run each production as well performing in the shows. The club also provides social activities for students involved in the shows.French Honor Society
French Honor Society promotes the French American culture and French language both on campus and in the surrounding community.Gay-Straight Alliance
The purpose of the Gay-Straight Alliance is to encourage and tolerance within the diverse population of our school, promote pride in our community, and create a safe environment for all Ironwood High School Students. It will seek to empower the students and address the isolation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth, as well as to address the concerns of students who are questioning their sexuality or straight students.International Baccalaureate - IB AIM Club
The International Baccalaureate - IB AIM Club is an on campus organization that was put together to support and encourage students in the AIM and IB programs, demonstrate the qualities described in the IB Learner Profile, and to help students organize and fund activities to benefit the IB AIM programs at Ironwood. Membership is extended to any student in the AIM or IB program at Ironwood. The club takes part in homecoming festivities, community outreach programs, and raising funds to keep the IB program at Ironwood afloat.National Honor Society
The National Honor Society was founded in 1921 by Edward Rynearson to encourage academic achievement and develop essential characteristics. For more than 80 years, NHS has been the leading organization for recognizing and involving outstanding students in secondary schools around the nation, with more than 12,500 chapters. To be inducted into the Ironwood chapter, you must be at least a second semester sophomore, have a CRI (Class Rank Index) of 3.7 or higher, and take part in multiple on or off campus activities. Ironwood NHS is actively involved in many local events including Relay for Life of Glendale, St. Mary's Can Food Drive, book drives, and other humanitarian events.Photo Club
Photo Club is an organization devoted to the photo enthusiast on Ironwood's campus. To join, you must have passed Photo I with a "c" or higher as well as pay dues of admission. The club allows photo students additional time to edit and develop photos. In addition, every year the organization goes on a field trip out of the valley to one of Arizona's most beautiful locations to take photos.SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a national organization partnering with students, teachers and industry helping to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA focuses on developing employability skills while a student is in a CTE class.Spanish Honor Society
Spanish Honor Society promotes the Latin American culture and Spanish language both on campus and in the surrounding community.Youth Alive
Youth Alive is an on-campus Christian club. The purpose of the club is to facilitate association among like-minded people and so members can learn about Christian beliefs and views. The club includes weekly giveaways, live music, fun activities, and student or guest speakers.- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Asian Cultural Awareness Club (ACA)
- Auto Club
- BMAS
- Chess
- Club Clay
- Close Up
- Creative Writing (Aerie Magazine)
- Dance
- Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA)
- Drama Club
- Drill Club
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
- Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
- Film Club
- Free Thinkers' Club
- French Honor Society
- Future Buisness Leaders of America
- Future Educators of America (FEA)
- Gay-Straight Alliance
- Guitar Club
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
- IB-AIM Club
- Key ClubKey ClubKey Club International is the oldest and largest service program for high school students. It is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through serving others. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family of service-leadership programs...
- Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MECHA)
- Med Start
- Media Club - Part of Skills USA
- Men Of Ironwood (Choir Group)
- Multicultural Club
- National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyThe National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
- Newspaper (Eagle's Eye)
- Photo Club
- Project Respect
- Science and Environmental Awareness Club (SEA Club)
- SkillsUSASkillsUSASkillsUSA is a United States career and technical student organization serving more than 320,000 high school and college students and professional members enrolled in training programs in technical, skilled, and service occupations, including health occupations. Since 2010, SkillsUSA has had Thomas...
- Spanish Honor Society
- Speech and Debate
- Student Council
- Teens in Prevention (TIP)
- Weightlifting
- Wrestlerettes
- Yearbook
- Youth Alive
Feeder Schools
All of the following are K-8 Schools that feed into Ironwood:Notable alumni
- Paul ErnsterPaul ErnsterPaul T. Ernster is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
, National Football League punter (class of 2000) - Quincy Yancy, College Football (ASU) (class of 1996)
- Jason Murrietta, College Football quarterback (class of 2003)
- Danny Cruz, Soccer player, Houston Dynamo (Class of 2007)
- Chester BenningtonChester BenningtonChester Charles Bennington is an American musician, singer-songwriter and actor. He is best known as the lead vocalist and songwriter of the rock band Linkin Park....
, Lead singer for Linkin Park (class of 1994)
External links
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