Rocky Mountain High School (Fort Collins, Colorado)
Encyclopedia
Rocky Mountain High School (abbreviated RMHS, also known as Rocky) is one of four high schools in Fort Collins, Colorado. Its colors are cardinal red and gold and its mascot is the lobo
, or wolf. The school serves roughly 2000 students, mostly from central Fort Collins
. Rocky Mountain High School opened at its current location in 1973 and was expanded in 1994.
and Poudre High School
. The campus was made of 3 separate buildings. In 1994 to 1995, the school's campus was redesigned to make one large building from the original 3 separate ones. A new media center, theatre, a vocal music room, a larger commons area, and a large fitness center were added during this remodel. In 2005, an auxiliary gym and multipurpose room were added. Rocky started as a three-year high school but, as part of a grade reconfiguration in Poudre School District
, Rocky became a four-year high school. The class of 2009 is the largest senior class Rocky Mountain High School has ever had, consisting of 692 seniors, still holding the record as of today.
Rocky has a large Advanced Placement program. The school also participates in the CU Succeed program, which allows high schoolers to take classes for college credit at Rocky. Juniors and seniors can also take college level courses at the local community college, Front Range Community College
.
In 2006, RMHS senior Colin West won first place nationally in U.S. Extemporaneous speaking with the National Forensics League.
The baseball team, coached by Scott Bullock, also won the CHSAA
(Colorado High School Activities Association) State Championship back to back to back to back years in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
In the 2008 season, the football team lost in the state semifinals. The team is coached by Mark Brook and Satini Liufau. In 2009, as part of the High Plains Hockey League, Rocky Mountain Varsity Hockey took home the state championship.
The Rocky Mountain High School Music Department received a prestigious award from The GRAMMY Signature Schools program. Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Rocky Mountain High School was recognized as Colorado's best high school music program for 2010-2011. The selection process for GRAMMY Signature Schools begins each year in August when the GRAMMY Foundation mails notification to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program. Applications are completed and submitted online in October at www.grammyintheschools.com. After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit GRAMMY Signature School status.
One of Rocky Mountain High School's other bands is Spirit Band, the school's marching band. Spirit Band has been noted as an enthusiastic group with the best leaders in the school. The Spirit Band plays at every varsity football and basketball home game.
During the 2006-07 school year Spotlight performed all over the state, including with other respected vocal jazz groups from high schools such as Denver East, Eaglecrest
, and Cheyenne Mountain
. In addition, the group opened for groups such as First Take from Southwest Community College in Creston, Iowa
, and, most notably, world renowned a cappella
group M-Pact. In March 2007, the group placed second in the International Competition of High School A Cappella quarterfinals, earning them an invitation to the Semifinals in Seattle Also in March 2007, Spotlight made a trip to the California Bay Area for an a cappella boot camp, to work with an expert in contemporary a cappella music, where they put together 5 new songs in 4 days to perform at the end of the week.
The Rocky Mountain Spotlight choir made another appearance at the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) in January 2009.
It is made up of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In April 2007, Con Brio took 1st at the 2007 All Choir Competition in Longmont Colorado, as well as RM Singers, Bel Canto, and Prima Voce. Con Brio performed and placed at many in state competitions throughout the years. Con Brio is directed by Timothy Jon Tharaldson.
Sinfonia: Entry leveled mixed choir (1973–2004)
Bella Voce: Entry leveled women's choir (2003–2006)
Women's Show Choir: (2006–2007)
Varsity Women: Advanced women's choir (1994–2002)
Center Stage: Mixed show choir (1980–2007)
Mountain Men: Men's choir (1973–2004)
Lobo
-Wolf:*Lobo, Spanish and Portuguese for wolf , especially:**Lobo, Mexican Wolf **Lobo, Iberian Wolf *Lobo , University of New Mexico mascot-Places:...
, or wolf. The school serves roughly 2000 students, mostly from central Fort Collins
Fort Collins, Colorado
Fort Collins is a Home Rule Municipality situated on the Cache La Poudre River along the Colorado Front Range, and is the county seat and most populous city of Larimer County, Colorado, United States. Fort Collins is located north of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. With a 2010 census...
. Rocky Mountain High School opened at its current location in 1973 and was expanded in 1994.
History
Rocky Mountain High School was founded in 1973. Its student body was made up of sophomores and juniors originally from Fort Collins High SchoolFort Collins High School
Fort Collins High School, located at 3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, Colorado, is one of four public senior high schools in the Poudre School District. Its school colors are purple and gold and the mascot is a lambkin. The school serves approximately 1,800 students and has a staff of about 130...
and Poudre High School
Poudre High School
Poudre High School, located at 201 Impala Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado, is one of four public senior high schools in the Poudre School District. The school serves approximately 1,900 students, and has a staff of about 135 faculty...
. The campus was made of 3 separate buildings. In 1994 to 1995, the school's campus was redesigned to make one large building from the original 3 separate ones. A new media center, theatre, a vocal music room, a larger commons area, and a large fitness center were added during this remodel. In 2005, an auxiliary gym and multipurpose room were added. Rocky started as a three-year high school but, as part of a grade reconfiguration in Poudre School District
Poudre School District
The Poudre School District is K-12 public school district in Larimer County in northern Colorado. The district operates and manages the public schools in the city of Fort Collins, as well as in the towns of Wellington and Timnath, and unincorporated communities of Larimer County including Laporte...
, Rocky became a four-year high school. The class of 2009 is the largest senior class Rocky Mountain High School has ever had, consisting of 692 seniors, still holding the record as of today.
Academics
Rocky Mountain High School runs on a 4 by 4 block schedule with four classes a day. At the semester, courses that would typically last an entire year such as math or science end and are replaced with a new class. The students all share a common lunch.Rocky has a large Advanced Placement program. The school also participates in the CU Succeed program, which allows high schoolers to take classes for college credit at Rocky. Juniors and seniors can also take college level courses at the local community college, Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College is a two-year institution of higher learning with campuses in Westminster, Colorado, Longmont, Colorado, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Brighton, Colorado. It is the largest community college in Colorado...
.
Notable competitions
Since its opening in 1973, Rocky Mountain High School has been involved in countless sports and academic competitions. Some of the most widely recognized of their extracurricular activities are the school's speech and debate programs, baseball, soccer, football, and the outstanding music program.In 2006, RMHS senior Colin West won first place nationally in U.S. Extemporaneous speaking with the National Forensics League.
The baseball team, coached by Scott Bullock, also won the CHSAA
Colorado High School Activities Association
The Colorado High School Activities Association is the governing body for all high school activities throughout the state of Colorado. It was founded in 1921, and currently has a membership of 328 full-time high schools, plus more than 50 middle and junior high schools, for a total of almost 400...
(Colorado High School Activities Association) State Championship back to back to back to back years in 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
In the 2008 season, the football team lost in the state semifinals. The team is coached by Mark Brook and Satini Liufau. In 2009, as part of the High Plains Hockey League, Rocky Mountain Varsity Hockey took home the state championship.
Performing arts
Rocky Mountain High School is known for its performing arts department. Many of Rocky's musical ensembles have received honors in music festivals such as CHSAA and Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA).The Rocky Mountain High School Music Department received a prestigious award from The GRAMMY Signature Schools program. Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year. Rocky Mountain High School was recognized as Colorado's best high school music program for 2010-2011. The selection process for GRAMMY Signature Schools begins each year in August when the GRAMMY Foundation mails notification to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program. Applications are completed and submitted online in October at www.grammyintheschools.com. After the applications are scored, finalists are identified and asked to submit additional documentation, such as recordings of school concerts, sample concert programs and repertoire, which is then reviewed by an independent blue ribbon committee of top music educators and professionals to determine the schools that merit GRAMMY Signature School status.
Rocky Mountain bands
Rocky Mountain has three different levels of band: Symphonic, Summit Winds, and Rocky Mountain Winds. The bands are directed by Casey Cropp and Scott Schlup, and often conducted by students. The Rocky Mountain winds has been recognized as one of Colorado's best bands. During the summer of 2008, the Rocky Mountain Wind Ensemble accepted an invitation to play in China prior to the Beijing Olympics games.One of Rocky Mountain High School's other bands is Spirit Band, the school's marching band. Spirit Band has been noted as an enthusiastic group with the best leaders in the school. The Spirit Band plays at every varsity football and basketball home game.
Rocky Mountain Orchestras
Rocky Mountain also has four orchestra ensembles. Concert Orchestra, Sinfonietta, Symphony Orchestra, and Chamber Orchestra. The orchestras are directed by Beth Wells.Rocky Mountain Singers
The Rocky Mountain Singers is directed by Timothy Jon Tharldson. The Rocky Mountain Singers are a select mixed group, made up of 36-45 juniors and seniors. The Rocky Mountain Singers are known for their rich tone quality, the difficult repertoire they sing, and the beautiful, mature sound they perform. The Rocky Mountain Singers are recognized to be one of Colorado's best high school choirs, along with Fairview and Smoky Hill, in which on average, 10-25 singers from RMHS are selected (through a rigorous audition process) in the Colorado All State Choir. For 32 years, RMHS Singers has excelled in many competitions, including numerous performances at CMEA (Colorado Music Educators Association), in-state festivals, out of state competitions and select performances at Carnegie Hall, New York City, San Francisco, Chicago, Germany, Italy, and Greece. RMHS Singers has placed 1st / Best in Show at many competitions and festivals during the past 32 years, mostly placing 1st out of 60+ choirs competing across the country. The Rocky Mountain Singers have been selected again to perform at CMEA in January 2011 and also competing and singing with the St Olaf Choir and Concordia Choir under the direction of Rene Clausen during their week long Minnesota tour in March 2011. The Rocky Mountain Singers were graciously accepted to sing with the BYU Singers and CSU Chamber Singers April 2011, singing "A Boy and a Girl" under the direction of Eric Whitacre.Spotlight
Spotlight is one of the many vocal groups in the Rocky Mountain High School music program. Spotlight is the school's main audition-only vocal jazz group. The group generally consists of about 12 juniors and seniors.During the 2006-07 school year Spotlight performed all over the state, including with other respected vocal jazz groups from high schools such as Denver East, Eaglecrest
Eaglecrest High School
Eaglecrest High School is located in unincorporated Arapahoe County, Colorado, near the cities of Aurora and Centennial. The school mascot is the Raptors, and school colors are red, black and silver. Eaglecrest was the fourth high school to open in the Cherry Creek School District, and it is a...
, and Cheyenne Mountain
Cheyenne Mountain High School
Cheyenne Mountain High School is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is the only high school in Cheyenne Mountain School District 12. Its campus contains several buildings, including a recreation center, library, cafeteria and an arts building.-History:...
. In addition, the group opened for groups such as First Take from Southwest Community College in Creston, Iowa
Creston, Iowa
Creston is a city in and the county seat of Union County, Iowa, United States. The population was 7,597 at the 2000 census. McKinley Lake lies within a large, multi-purpose municipal park within the city limits, and three additional recreational lakes are located within seven miles of Creston:...
, and, most notably, world renowned a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group M-Pact. In March 2007, the group placed second in the International Competition of High School A Cappella quarterfinals, earning them an invitation to the Semifinals in Seattle Also in March 2007, Spotlight made a trip to the California Bay Area for an a cappella boot camp, to work with an expert in contemporary a cappella music, where they put together 5 new songs in 4 days to perform at the end of the week.
The Rocky Mountain Spotlight choir made another appearance at the Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA) in January 2009.
Echoes
Echoes is an advanced mixed chamber choir, consisting of Junior and Senior men and woman who are either in RM Singers or Prima Voce. Echoes ranges from 10 - 15 singers. Throughout the past 20 years, the group exceeded in many competitions and festivals in the state and country, including CMEA, also, functions in Germany and Italy. Echoes made a return to the RMHS choir department in the 2010-2011 school year, after a short hiatus that was started in the 2008-2009 school-year (due to the preparation of freshman coming to RMHS) Conducted by Timothy TharaldsonPrima Voce
Prima Voce is Rocky Mountains audition-only all women's choir, which was started by Dr. Neil Johnson in the 1997-1998 school year. It is one of the top two choirs, at the same level as Rocky Mountain Singers. During the past 12 years, Prima Voce has excelled in many in state and out of state competitions, including C.M.E.A (Colorado Music Educators Association) The choir consists of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Prima Voce is directed by Paul Falk.Con Brio
Con Brio is an intermediate choir that first started in the 2003-2004 school year. In 2006-2007, Con Brio became a select woman's choir. In 2007-2008, it went back to being a mixed choir.It is made up of sophomores, juniors, and seniors. In April 2007, Con Brio took 1st at the 2007 All Choir Competition in Longmont Colorado, as well as RM Singers, Bel Canto, and Prima Voce. Con Brio performed and placed at many in state competitions throughout the years. Con Brio is directed by Timothy Jon Tharaldson.
Capriccio
Capriccio first started off as an entry level woman's choir for sophomore, junior, and senior girls in 2008-2009. In 2009-2010, when freshman moved into Rocky, Capriccio became an all 9th grade mixed choir. Capriccio is led by Paul Falk.Syrens
Syrens is a select women's vocal jazz group that began in 2008-2009. It is made up of sophomore, junior, and senior women. It is directed by Paul Falk.Low Beaux
Low Beaux is Rocky's all-men choir, which began in 2008-2009. Its name is a play on words and, when said, is pronounced "lobos," Rocky's mascot. It is made up of 9th-12th grade men, and is directed by Timothy Tharaldson.Past choirs
Bel Canto: Entry leveled mixed choir (2006–2009)Sinfonia: Entry leveled mixed choir (1973–2004)
Bella Voce: Entry leveled women's choir (2003–2006)
Women's Show Choir: (2006–2007)
Varsity Women: Advanced women's choir (1994–2002)
Center Stage: Mixed show choir (1980–2007)
Mountain Men: Men's choir (1973–2004)
Extracurricular activities
RMHS has many clubs and organizations. A few are listed below.- Astronomy Club
- Cheerleaders
- Connection Club
- Dance Team
- Debate and Forensics
- DECA
- Environmental Club
- FBLA
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
- Future Educators of America (FEA)
- French Club
- Fuse
- German Club
- Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)
- High Altitude Ballooning ClubHigh altitude balloonHigh-altitude balloons are unmanned balloons, usually filled with helium or hydrogen that are released into the stratosphere, generally reaching between ....
(RMH-ABC) - Highlighter (School Newspaper)
- Key Club
- Invisible ChildrenInvisible ChildrenInvisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2003 American documentary film. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.-Synopsis:...
Club - Knowledge Bowl
- Link Crew
- Lobo Mess (civil war reenactment club)
- Looking Glass (Literary magazine, including a CD with music performed by students)
- MESA (Mathematics, Engineering and Science Achievement)
- Mock Trial Team
- Mu Alpha Theta
- Music Ensembles
- National Honor Society
- National Technical Honor Society
- Parkour and Free RunningParkourParkour is a method of movement focused on moving around obstacles with speed and efficiency. Originally developed in France, the main purpose of the discipline is to teach participants how to move through their environment by vaulting, rolling, running, climbing and jumping...
- Peer Counselors
- Performance and Repertory (Solo Performance Club)
- Plays and Musicals
- River Watch
- Robotics Club
- Russian Club
- Save The Tears
- Science Bowl
- Science Olympiad
- Spanish Club
- Student Council (StuCo)
- Thespian Society
- Videography Club
- Yearbook Staff