Ponderosa Mustangs

1. Description: Find out why more students are taking a Gap Year between high school and college. Many teens want to increase college and workplace readiness by trying out new interests, traveling, improving professional skills, and engaging in other experiences that increase confidence, independence, and maturity. Join Katherine Stievater, founder of Boston-based Gap Year Solutions for a presentation and Q&A about why students choose to take a Gap Year, and how to plan transformational and purposeful Gap time on any budget.

2. Date/Time: Tuesday, March 11, 2025, 7:00pm Mountain Time

3. Registration link: https://forms.gle/Abnv8AHkpmhydF9eA

4. Speaker: Katherine Stievater founded Gap Year Solutions a decade ago to help students successfully transition to college. Recently she expanded her focus to help teens increase workplace readiness, via a professional skills course called LaunchPoint. Katherine has four sons who have all taken Gap Years. She is an Accredited Gap Year Consultant, a Professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and speaks and publishes regularly about the profound impact that Gap Years have on young adults.

You are invited to come to PHS from 12:00-2:30 on Wednesday and/or Thursday, March 12/13 to listen to Honors Biology students present on various topics associated with Gene Technology. Interested in Stem Cells? Or how CRISPR can modify DNA? Come find out! The presentations will be in the small gym.

Dear Students,

Carefully review this letter, as it includes important eligibility requirements and deadlines.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least:

• 3.90 for Sophomores

• 3.80 for Juniors

• 3.70 for Seniors

Eligibility is based on your GPA through the Fall 2024 semester.

Application Process

To apply, you must complete the application form, linked below, using your school email account.

📌 Application Deadline: March 12, 2025

As part of the application, you will need to write and upload an essay based on the following prompt:

You have demonstrated your dedication and hard work in achieving a top academic standing. In this essay, please reflect on your experiences as a Ponderosa Mustang and describe how they have shaped who you are today or who you aspire to become.

Please take the time to write a thoughtful, reflective, and grammatically correct essay.

Academic Lettering Ceremony

📅 Date: April 22, 2025
📍 Location: Ponderosa High School @ 7pm

If you are accepted, you will receive a Google Calendar invitation via your school email no later than March 27, 2025. RSVP is required (Yes/No) to confirm your acceptance and ensure your award is printed.

📌 Attendance at the ceremony is encouraged but not required. If you cannot attend, your award will be available for pickup in the main office after the event.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

ACCESS THE APPLICATION HERE

Five Days Can Change a Life

Career Week for GIRLS - For one week, participants will travel to five different companies to learn the myriad of careers that lie within transportation and construction. The young women will come to each location at 8:30am and stay until 3:30pm. The host will provide lunch. There is space for 12 young women in each week. Once we reach that number of qualified participants, the program will close. Complete your application today!

To apply, fill out this form.

"I felt like I had been looking through just a tiny little hole my whole life and now it was just wide open and I saw so many different options that I could do." Previous participant

"I'm not even going to be able to sleep tonight. I am going to be dreaming about driving a skid steer!" Previous participant

To Qualify

- Candidate must be female - Age 13 - 23 - Be accepted based upon application - Have transportation to and from host companies - Parental release and consent form signed

At the end of the week, girls are asked to write a short essay and are entered into an essay contest to win a cash prize.

Dates: June 2-6, June 9-13 or June 23-27

There is no cost to participate if selected. Applications due by March 31, 2025.

All tickets can be purchased directly from the Community Event page of our website. Check back for new opportunities to be added!

BELL SCHEDULE
DELAYED START BELL SCHEDULE
NO SCHOOL MONDAY BELL SCHEDULE
SNOW DAY BELL SCHEDULE
2024 - 2025 SCHOOL CALENDAR

3/9
SPRING FORWARD - Daylight Savings Time begins

3/12
ASVAB
DEADLINE FOR ACADEMIC LETTERING APPLICATION

3/17 - 21

SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL

3/25 9:40 AM (HOMEROOM)
MANDATORY CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT MEETING If you have requested an ACC course for next school year, you need to attend this meeting. Very important information will be shared!!

4/14 - 17

STATE MANDATED TESTING (PSAT, SAT, CMAS) SPECIAL SCHEDULE

Any questions regarding testing can be directed to Julie Machakos, Testing Coordinator: JMachakos@dcsdk12.org

4/25

NO SCHOOL

JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM

4/28

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

5/2

MONDAY SCHEDULE ON FRIDAY

5/7 - 5/8

SENIOR FINALS - REGULAR BELL SCHEDULE

5/19

FRIDAY BELL SCHEDULE

5/20, 5/22, 5/23

2ND SEMESTER FINALS

5/21 10:00 AM

GRADUATION - ECHOPARK STADIUM, PARKER, COLORADO

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE: The Douglas County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, genetic information, or physical characteristics, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment of, or employment in educational programs or activities. The School District’s Compliance Office is located at 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, complianceofficer@dcsdk12.org, 303-387-0067. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public.