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The Poudre High School 2025-26 School Year in Review: A High Schoolers Perspective
- Simon Story
- May 18
- 13 min read
This article runs through a list of events that have happened throughout the school year, a few student experiences, changes that are going to be made to/at the school, plays hosted at PHS, and many more things that have happened throughout the 2025-2026 school year at Poudre High School.
PHS Flag Hallway:
As you enter through the main doors at Poudre, you are greeted with the sight of 76 unique flags, hung throughout the main hallway, leading all the way to the auditorium. These flags represent countries ranging from the US (front and center), to North Macedonia (a country in the Balkans region of Southeastern Europe).
General school events that have happened at PHS this past year:
2025 school year:
August 27th - Club Rush
October 7th - College Fairs
1 major college fair every year in the fall, at Poudre, in the Event Center
It is called the Northern Colorado College Fair, and 116 colleges attend this year
There are college rep visits that happen throughout the year, and an average of 40 happen per school year
For Community Colleges in Colorado (CO), they cost an average of $450 per credit hour
You get High School and College credit for Concurrent Enrollment
For students in CO, there is the College Opportunities Fund (COF), which started in 2004, and knock off $116 per credit hour, up to 120 credits
October 18th - Impalaween - 100+ little kids attended
10:00am to 12:00pm at Poudre
Trick-or-treating, games, and prizes
This event is open to all school-age children and their families — come in costume
October 22nd to 25th, Homecoming week
October 22nd - Powderpuff
Powder Puff Football Game - Wednesday 10/22, 6:30-8:30pm - Free for Students
October 23rd - HOCO car show
Car Show (30 cars register + spectators) - Thursday 10/23, 5:30-7:30pm PHS Parking Lot- Free Admission
October 24th - HOCO football game & tailgate
Football Tailgate - Friday 10/24, 5:00-6:30pm, French Field (RMHS)
Homecoming Football Game vs. Silver Creek - Friday 10/24, 6:30pm - French Field (RMHS)
October 25th - Homecoming!
Homecoming Dance (670+ students attended) - Saturday 10/25, 7:00-10:00pm at Poudre, Theme: A Night in the Forest
November 7th/December 13th - Feed our Family
2026 school year:
January 15th - Class Rush
February 14th - Valentine's Day! - StuCo makes/hangs ~1500 hearts, all hand made and cut out
March 30th - Impala Palooza Week
March 30th - Assembly
March 31st - Movie night
April 1st - Poudre pageant
April 3rd - One-act play (at lunch)
April 3rd - Peach Fuzz (volleyball)
May 9th - Prom at CSU Stadium - 8:00-11:00pm - (Juniors & Seniors only) - $30
Around 450 people attended prom, with 300 going to after prom at Chippers.
After Prom - 10:45pm-1:00am - Chippers Lane on Horsetooth - Free if you attended prom
May 26th - Last Day of School!
Important Senior student events:
*Check PHS main website for other events (link)
August 19th - Senior Sunrise - 100+ students attended (on Poudre football field)
August 30th - Senior parking lot painting - $5 to paint a spot + cost of paint (extra)
May 7th - Rose Ceremony in Commons - 5:30pm
May 11th - Senior Sunset Poudre football field - 7:30-8:30pm
May 14th - FFA Banquet in small gym - 5:30-8:00pm
May 18th - Senior Finals: B day, period 1 & 2
May 18th - 1st Cap and Gown pick-up at the concession stands during lunch
May 18th-21st - Senior Grad Walks at Middle Schools
May 19th - Senior Finals: A day, period 3 & 4
May 20th - Senior Class Convocation in main gym - 10:30-11:15am
May 20th - Senior BBQ and yearbooks - 11:15am
May 22nd - Mandatory Graduation Practice at CSU Moby Gym at 11:00am
May 22nd - PHS Graduation at CSU Moby Gym at 3:00pm
280 seniors and early junior graduates are graduating from PHS this year
3 are going into the military
25-35 are going into a trade or other workforce job
Most are going to college
Students experiences #1:
Name and grade:
My name is Raycin K., and I am in 10th grade.
What is your most memorable experience from this past school year?
My most memorable experience was going to my first concert, with the band Sublime playing, at Red Rocks.
What could the school change that would help make it better?
The school should get rid of the phone pockets/pouches, and just have people put phones in their pockets or backpacks.
Future plans:
What profession would you like to go into and why?
I don’t know yet.
Are you going to college, and if so, which one?
I do plan to go to college, but I don’t know which one.
Feed our Families Food Drive:
Poudre High School has been doing a food drive since 2008, to help address the food insecurity in our community. Both Poudre staff and students help collect as much food and donations as possible, and our goal this year was to feed 200+ PHS families.
“Since 2008, this project has addressed food insecurity in our community. Historically, 40-50% of Poudre High School's student population has free/reduced lunch status. Also, about 10% of our students are either considered "unaccompanied youth" or students who may not have fixed permanent housing and qualify for our McKinney Vento program and resources. That's 1 in 10 students at Poudre, experiencing homelessness or insecurity related to shelter or food,” (Feed Our Families).
Distribution Day this year was on Saturday, December 13th
Way that people were able to get involved:
Sign-up for food collection shifts
Donate food or money, or donate a fire blanket or holiday gift(s)
Business that supported Feed Our Families this year:
King Soopers - Taft and Elizabeth, S. College, and N. College
Safeway - Drake and Lemay
Overland Foods - Laporte, CO
Students experiences #2:
Name and grade:
My name is Noah L., and I am in 10th grade.
What is your most memorable experience from this past school year?
Getting the opportunity to fly a small plane. It's like a car but you have the added movement of pushing down and pulling back on the yoke. This makes the plan go down and up.
What could the school change that would help make it better?
I think the school needs better computers.
Future plans:
What profession would you like to go into and why?
I would like to be a pilot because I have always liked turbulence and I took an aviation class. I also had the opportunity to fly a small plane.
Are you going to college, and if so, which one?
Yes, I am thinking of going to Fort Lewis college, in Durango, Colorado.
Upgrades/improvements to the schools technology:
Computers are being upgraded for students, teachers, and staff. The laptop brand is going to be Dell. The laptops will be tested by students, with four random students each getting a laptop, and testing them out. The charges will still be standard USB-C computers chargers, but they are now 65W (watt), instead of the 45W chargers. The overall cost for the students laptops will be $825,000, and $150,000 for the teachers ($975,000 in total).
Wi-Fi access points will be upgraded over the summer, from five channel to six channel ports. This upgrade will stop cross-channel problems, which is when a computer is in the middle-ground between two ports, and loses Wi-Fi, and it can’t decide which port to connect to. Every single classroom will get a new 75 or 85 inch TV, which is around 95 total new TV’s. The brand is Newline, and the model is the TT-7524QP. The total cost for these TV’s will be $209,000, which is just the screen, and none of the other electronics behind the TV (cord/wires).
The main/big gym at Poudre also got two new jumbo TV’s just before winter break. This is to replace using a projector screen during assemblies, and they are used as scoreboards for sports’ games. Finally the Coms/Data rooms just got upgraded, with one new unit in each of the eight rooms. Each unit costs $75,000 ($600,000 total). A unit is where all of the ethernet and other power cables connect too.
Here is what the four students said about the new Dell laptop (responses are anonymous):
Student 1:
Loads everything substantially quicker than the old laptops
Amazing feeling mousepad and keyboard
Screen looks much smoother and brighter
Touch screen is much more responsive
Overall a good upgrade (4.5/5)
Student 2:
I think the student body would notice a significant improvement in most tasks
For programs like Davinci Resolve and things like that, I don't think it's suitable for me, however, for most of the student body using their laptops for things like web browsing and Google Chrome, I think it will be a great replacement and upgrade
I noticed a significant speedup when opening programs and using the internet, as well as boot-up times
Student 3:
I did enjoy that it is a touch screen which I know many students do enjoy
I did not enjoy how small the screen/computer was, it made working on it quite difficult
Other than that I have no other feedback at this current moment, thank you!
Student 4:
Apps open significantly faster as well as loading multiple tabs within those apps
The size of the screen is about the same along with the overall computer size
On the login screen (before hitting Ctrl+Alt+Delete), the battery percentage (ex. 75%), shows up next to the battery symbol, which is helpful
Students experiences #3:
Name and grade:
My name is Caelin J., and I am an 11th grader.
What is your most memorable experience from this past school year?
My most memorable experience/achievement was deadlifting 270lb (122.5kg).
What could the school change that would help make it better?
The boys bathrooms should be upgraded, from thick plastic to aluminum stalls (if possible), and less easily openable paper-towel dispensers. If they had less sinks in some of the bathrooms, that would conserve water, but also in the large main bathroom near the front of the school, five out of the eight sinks work, and only five are needed, so only five sinks are really needed in that bathroom.
Future plans:
What profession would you like to go into and why?
I want to be a welder, because it is fun.
Are you going to college, and if so, which one?
Yes, I want to go to Front Range Community College (FRCC) or WyoTech.
PHS Sports (athletics page):
Fall:
Cheer, cross country, dance, football, boys golf, boys soccer, softball, boys tennis, girls volleyball
Unified: Football
PSD Sports (not hosted at PHS): Field hockey, girls flag football, girls gymnastics
Winter:
Boys & girls basketball, Nordic skiing, girls swim/dive, boys & girls wrestling
Unified: Basketball
PSD Sports (not hosted at PHS): Ice hockey
Spring:
Baseball, cheer, dance, girls soccer, boys swim/dive, girls tennis, track and field, boys volleyball
Unified: Soccer
PSD Sports (not hosted at PHS):
Girls golf, boys & girls lacrosse
State and state playoffs:
Teams and individuals (track/field) who made it to state
Boys tennis
Girls swim Boys & girls wrestling
Track & field
Boys swim
Girls tennis
State playoffs:
Girls basketball
Boys volleyball
PHS Clubs:
School sponsored (link):
Ambassadors, Athletic Leadership, Book Club, Clay Target League, DECA, Drama Club/International Thespian Society, Environmental Club, Escape 970, Esports, FBLA. FCCLA, FFA, Film Club, GSA (Gender/Sexuality Alliance) Club, HOSA, Key Club, Knowledge Bowl, Math Club Mu Alpa Theta, Mock Trial, Model United Nations, National Art Honor Society, National Honor Society, National Science Bowl, National Technical Honor Society, Robotics, TSA (Technology Student Association), Science Olympiad, Speech and Debate, Student Council.
Other clubs/organizations (link):
Adelante, Anime, Astronomy Club, Bible Study, Chess Club, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), Feminist Club, Meteorology Club, Think Tank, Turning Point USA.
Events organized/run by clubs:
Feminist Club Hygiene Drive: March/April 2026, help donate products for students to have over the summer (ex. soap, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.).
Students experiences #4:
Name and grade:
My name is Miles H., and I am a 10th grader.
What is your most memorable experience from this past school year?
That we had no snow for most of winter break (2025).
What could the school change that would help make it better?
We need new computers, “it took 10 minutes to connect to the internet this morning,” (Miles H.).
Future plans:
What profession would you like to go into and why?
I want to maybe go into filmmaking, because it is fun, and I enjoy doing it.
Are you going to college, and if so, which one?
Yes, but I don’t know where I want to go.
Poudre’s Literary Art Magazine:
Kaleidoscope is the literary art magazine here at Poudre High School. It publishes art, writing, and performances, including painting, essays, sheet music, etc. Staff, students, alumni, and other community members can all submit pieces to the magazine. Kaleidoscope has been around since 1965, and they have created 41 editions of their magazine over those years.
You can buy a copy of the Kaleidoscope Magazine (book), in-person starting on May 14th, until next year, in the Media Center, for $20 per book ($15 if you have a certificate).
May 14th - Celebrate the 41st Volume of Kaleidoscope in the Poudre Library - 4:45-6:00pm
There will be desserts, art, awards, and general celebrations
The cover art of the 2025-2026 book this year was made by Linh Dang, who is a senior at Poudre.
Her piece is called ‘The Commute,’ it is mixed media (gouache, watercolor, and pen), and was inspired by her time living in Vietnam.
The Commute
(2D Physical Art - gouache, watercolor, and pen)
Linh Dang was interviewed by Jade S.
Linh Dang: "Technically I had to do this for my IB Art class but basically I had to do an exhibition, so I think I did my exhibition around transportation, so that was the first piece that I made and it was transportation specifically in Vietnam, because that was where I came from. I meant to show the environment, how it was really hot there, and I miss it. Traffic is not something you usually miss, but they had street vendors, so whenever nothing was moving, I would like to convince my grandma to buy my things. That was just to convey nostalgia of the past.” “I think I really like the colors and I just have a very sketchy style, start with colors, then go over it with a pen and I really like the detailed parts.”
The other artists who got selected as candidates for ‘cover art,’ were MJ Scott Daigan, David Harris, and Naia Ergen. Their art pieces and interviews, conducted after the artists made their pieces, where the artists talk about their own piece, and what inspired them to do it and/or how they did it, is all shown below.
All statements are typed from recording’s, and are as accurate as Simon S. can make them
I’ll show you hands ready to bleed
(2D Physical Art - oil pastel)
MJ Scott-Donegan was interviewed by Natalie T.
MJ Scott-Donegan: “It was my second art still, I chose an interesting color palette for it, and I assigned each value in a black and white piece for each color. Then I went through, sketched it out, then I went through, and filled it out, kind of like a paint by number. And then when I originally finished it, it felt really flat, because there was no skin texture, or any other texture, so I went back through, made some lines harsher, and then added texture. I then started layering colors on top of each other, to go for a more impressionistic style, and that is what titled the piece together.” “I made it because I had to for IB Art class, but because I wanted to showcase how comforting and easy it is to go back to bad habits, and how even if it is not something you want, it can feel inescapable." “It's honestly not my favorite piece, I am shocked that many people liked it, I was happy about that, and it is interesting that that is the one that people were drawn to. This piece is probably the most relatable to people, the idea of having something that you know isn't good for you, and not being able to let go over it, that is probably a very universal feeling, and that resonated with many people.”
Threshold at Blackrock
(Photography)
David Harris was interviewed by Natalie T.
David Harris: “See, I was on a train this summer and we were going be this station, and I thought it looked funky from this angle, so like “I’ll take a picture of that.”” “I do quite like it, I took it into photoshop, edited it slightly, and I think that color grading is a bit much but it still looks good.” “It is close to home, geographically speaking, it was about twenty kilometers away, and it was this summer in June, when I took the picture."
Before the Plunge
(2D Physical Art - pen and newspaper)
Naia Engen was interviewed by Jade S.
Naia Engen: “First I did a collage for background, and used a map of California for that, then on a separate piece of paper, I drew the figures, cut them out, and then put them together.” “I made the piece for nostalgia, and happiness and everything, and I really like how it turned out.”
Students experiences #5:
Name and grade:
My name is Sam H., and I am in 11th grade.
What is your most memorable experience from this past school year?
Being Mr. Boone’s Teacher Aid (TA).
What could the school change that would help make it better?
New computers, they really need better computers.
Future plans:
What profession would you like to go into and why?
Construction because it is fun, and some of my family has done it as well.
Are you going to college, and if so, which one?
No, I am not planning on going to college.
PHS Media Center/Library:
The PHS Media Center (or library), is the main place where students congregate before school, or during their off periods. The library offers a wide variety of genres, including horror/scary, realistic fiction, classics, action/adventure, sports, historical fiction, romance, mystery, dystopian, and fantasy/sci-fi. There is also a large chess set, four 3D printers, and the two regular printers, all located here for the use of students and staff.
18,000+ free-reading books
25,000 textbooks
11,000 class novels/books
There is also a ‘Create’ space, featuring Legos (loose in tubs/bins), crafts, board games, and puzzles. If you have old board games or puzzles, you can donate them to the library.
PHS Courtyard:
In the center of PHS, there is a courtyard. It has a small pond in it, several trees, and some ‘fancy’ stone picnic benches. There is access to it from the Media Center, or from a hallway. However, it has been closed off for the past few months, due to the remaking/rebuilding of the pond, and the livelihood of a family of geese (and 3-5 ducklings).
Plays hosted and run at PHS:
Hadestown - Teen Edition:
November 7-8 at 7:00pm
November 13-14 at 7:00pm
November 15 at 2:30pm
Lost Girl:
February 12th-14th at 7:00pm
February 15th at 2:30pm
Much Ado About Nothing:
April 30th - May 2nd at 7:00pm
May 3rd at 2:30pm
These are all of the main things that have happened at PHS this year, the main spaces at Poudre, our Literary magazine, and our courtyard.
Simon Story is a 11th grader at Poudre High School, and this is his first year with the Poudre Press. He is not currently involved in any school activities, but he has interests in filming, video games, and reading. Some of his plans for post-graduation are either going into a trade, or doing something in the food industry, or in IT.
*Some information provided by Mr. Holley, Mr. Morley, Mr. Benson, Arial, and other staff members at PHS
*Interviews transcribed by Simon S. (Author)
*For more information, look on the PHS main website (link)
Works Cited
Feed Our Families. “Welcome to feed our families.” Feed Our Families 2025 - PHS, 5 November 2025, https://sites.google.com/psdschools.org/feedourfamilies-phs/home. Accessed 16 April 2026.
PHS. “Poudre High School Athletics.” Poudre High School: Home, 2025-2026, https://phs.psdschools.org/tra/athletics. Accessed 5 March 2026.
Poudre High School. “Activities.” PHS.com, 2026, https://phs.psdschools.org/activities. Accessed 26 March 2026.
Poudre High School - News. “News.” Poudre High School, 2026, https://phs.psdschools.org/iri/News. Accessed 16 April 2026.
Poudre School District. “School Clubs and Organizations.” Poudre School District, 17 November 2023, https://www.psdschools.org/programs-services/school-clubs-organizations. Accessed 26 March 2026.
POUDRE THEATRE. “Poudre Theatre.” Poudre Theatre | Poudre High School | Ft. Collins, 2025, https://www.poudretheatre.org/. Accessed 16 April 2026.
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