Pocatello High School Explained

Pocatello High School
Motto:"Where Everybody is Somebody"
Established:1892
Type:Public[1]
Location:325 N. Arthur Ave.
Country:US
Principal:Lisa Delonas[2]
Faculty:55.95
Ratio:22.41
Grades:9 - 12
Enrollment:1,254 (2021–22)[3]
Colors:Red, Navy, White
Yearbook:Pocatellian
Newspaper:Chieftain
Free Label:Elevation
Website:pokyhigh.net http://www.pokyhigh.net

Pocatello High School is a four-year public high school in Pocatello, Idaho, United States. It is the oldest of the three traditional high schools of the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District and serves the southwest portion. The school colors are red, blue, and white. The mascot was an "Indian"; the city's namesake, Chief Pocatello, was the leader of the Shoshone people. The mascot was changed to the Thunder in June 2021 due to insensitivity.

History

The school was constructed in late spring and summer of 1892 at a cost of $18,281. According to the Bannock County Historical Society, the school was originally called West Side School, holding all grades in the same school. Pocatello High School was the most impressive building in the area during the early 1900s and on many occasions the school served as a town square where concerts and athletic contests were held. Two presidents of the United States spoke on the grounds of Pocatello High School, President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 and William Howard Taft in 1908. John F. Kennedy would visit in 1962 and speak during a campaign trip.

In 1914, a fire started in the boiler room and the high school burnt completely to the ground. The school was rebuilt in exactly the same location. There were several minor additions to the school in 1901, 1903, 1916, and 1920. In 1939, the old school was remodeled and additions were made including a new gymnasium currently known as "the pit". In 1968, a fine arts addition was added and included choir, band, drama and art classrooms. Due to an concerns around energy efficiency, most large windows designed by architect Frank Paradice were boarded over and smaller energy conserving windows were added in 1981. In 1996 major renovations were added to the school which took three years to complete. These renovations included new floors, lights, sidewalks, heating system, and windows.[4] A new gymnasium known as "the palace" was built in 2004. In 2019, a new ADA-accessible main entrance and remodeled administration offices were added to the school.[5] A new science wing and catwalk between the two buildings was completed in 2021.

Architect Frank H. Paradice, Jr., who moved to Pocatello around 1915, reportedly designed the high school,[6] presumably the new construction one replacing the one destroyed by fire in 1914.

In December 2021, a construction project connected the two buildings of Pocatello High School, as well as adding several new classrooms and a "commons" area.[7]

Since the 1950's, there have been sightings and reports of paranormal activity on the property. Urban legends have been proven fake but rumors among students hearing voices and feeling hugged remained under speculation for years. In 2014, security camera footage caught what many to believe was a ghost.[8] In 2019 Ghost Hunters (TV series) investigated the school for the first episode of the 13th season.[9] [10] [11]

Achievements

In 1989, Pocatello High School received the Presidential Excellence award, one of only 165 awards given in the nation.[12]

Athletics

Pocatello competes in athletics in IHSAA Class 4A in the Great Basin (East) Conference with Century and Preston. PHS traditionally competed with the largest schools in the state in Class 5A (formerly A-1); a drop in enrollment caused a change to Class 4A. The school will move back to 5A classification in the 2024-25 school year due to increase in enrollment from mandatory school boundaries established in 2018.[13]

Rivalries

Pocatello High School has intra-city rivalries with Highland (1963) and Century (1999). The annual football game between Pocatello and Highland is known as the "Black and Blue Bowl." A tradition of rivalry between the schools is to paint the large rock outside of the other schools.

State titles

Boys

2023 [15] (records not kept by IHSAA, state tourney introduced in 1971)

Girls

• Softball (1): 2024

Controversy

School mascot incident

Until the 1970s, the Pocatello High School mascot was a Native American caricature named Osky Ow Wow, "a little Mohawk-looking guy with buck teeth, dark skin, big round eyes and a Mohawk haircut."[23] As late as 2015, the school's dance team, the Indianettes, continued to perform a routine in which female students dressed up in stereotypical Native American outfits and performed a mock "Indian" dance.[24] In December 2020, the Pocatello School District selected "Thunder" as the high school’s new mascot, effective June 2021.[25]

Coach photo incident

In October 2013, a former girls' basketball coach, Laraine Cook, was fired over a Facebook photo where her fiancé, Tom Harrison, a football coach at Pocatello High School, holds her breast.[26] Cook told the local Pocatello ABC affiliate that she was fired and not Harrison because she was the one who posted the photo.[27]

Notable alumni

Popular culture

Pocatello High School featured in the August 29, 2019 episode of Ghost Hunters.[30]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pocatello Senior High School. Public School Review. 2009-04-28.
  2. Web site: Member School Information. Idaho High School Activities Association. April 30, 2016.
  3. Web site: POCATELLO HIGH SCHOOL. National Center for Education Statistics. February 8, 2023.
  4. http://www.boisestate.edu/history/issuesonline/2007spring/gallery_schools_reborn/3_pocatello_hi_reborn.html Pocatello High Reborn
  5. Web site: Spector . Candice . Pocatello High School renovations to be completed in October . Idaho State Journal . Idaho State Journal . 8 February 2023.
  6. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Registration: Payette Lakes Club / Payette Lake Club / Payette Lakes Inn. State of Idaho. JoEllen Ross-Hauer . July 2015 . September 13, 2019. DRAFT (? not stamped "final"). PDF includes plans and historic photos but not 26 photos from 2015 stated to be included in its submission.
  7. Web site: Sams . Cole . Pocatello High School renovation project is now complete . Local News 8 . 8 February 2023.
  8. Web site: Pocatello High School Ghost . Idaho State Journal . Idaho State Journal . 8 February 2023.
  9. Web site: This Idaho High School is Among the Most Haunted Places in the Nation. 22 October 2018.
  10. Web site: Pocatello High School rock honors suicide victim: Family says teen was bullied for sexual orientation.
  11. Web site: 'Ghost Hunters' Historian Mustafa Gatollari Breaks Down the Pocatello High School Investigation (EXCLUSIVE).
  12. http://www.mykro.com/history.htm History
  13. Web site: Idaho releases first enrollment numbers for next class cycle . Idaho Statesman . Idaho Statesman . 8 February 2023.
  14. http://www.idhsaa.org/sports/football/brackets/4Aftbll.htm IDHSAA 4A football bracket
  15. Web site: 2011 4A State Baseball Bracket. IdahoSports.com. May 19, 2012. October 29, 2012.
  16. Web site: Past Champions/Records . Boys' Cross Country . Idaho High School Activities Association Idaho High School Activities Association . 30 January 2020.
  17. http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/BoysBasketball.pdf idhsaa.org
  18. http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/Wrestling.pdf idhsaa.org
  19. http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/BoysTrack.pdf idhsaa.org
  20. http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/Football.pdf idhsaa.org
  21. http://www.idhsaa.org/Records/1011/SoccerVolleyball.pdf idhsaa.org
  22. 2022 idhsaa.org - Girls Track champions - through 2012
  23. Web site: POCATELLO MASCOT PASSES U.S. INDIAN MUSTER. 1991-12-30. 2016-09-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20191216133323/https://www.deseret.com/1991/12/30/18959454/pocatello-mascot-passes-u-s-indian-muster . 2019-12-16.
  24. Web site: Pocatello High School Indianettes - Timeline Facebook. www.facebook.com. 2016-09-05.
  25. News: Kalama Hines . Kade Garner . Thunder will replace Indians as Pocatello High School's mascot . 26 February 2021 . EastIdahoNews.com . 16 December 2020.
  26. Web site: November 7, 2013 . Larraine Cook, High School Coach, Fired Over Facebook Photo . November 8, 2013 . HuffingtonPost.com.
  27. Web site: November 4, 2013 . VIDEO: Former coach Laraine Cook talks to Local news 8 . November 8, 2013 . localnews8.com.
  28. News: . Babe Caccia Obituary . . . August 31, 2009 . July 28, 2018 . .
  29. Web site: The Official Website of Idaho Legislature . legislature.idaho.gov . State of Idaho . 8 February 2023.
  30. Web site: Harris . Shelbie . New 'Ghost Hunters' show will apparently feature haunted Pocatello High School . . 5 December 2019 . en.

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