Submitted by Denair High School

There’s something lingering in the air lately around Denair High School and it’s not coming from chickens. At first it was subtle, but it seems to be growing to a point where the senses can no longer ignore it. Can you sense it? It reminds one of a popular 90’s song from the band Nirvana. In case you haven’t guessed, it Smells Like Teen Spirit around the high school these days.

Denair High is getting its mojo back thanks to the hard work of its staff and students. The athletic director, Darrin Allen, has been working hard to turn the athletics programs around and under its new head coach, Ted Howze, the football team had an exceptional victory against Riverbank. Student leadership led by Joel Thornton, and Leadership teacher, Robyn Hilton are also key players. There’s a wash of purple attire Fridays on the campus, and a heightened enthusiasm amongst the students and staff.

One area of focus, and the reason for this article, is to highlight what’s being done differently this year regarding the building of the school’s floats. The high school leadership wants to help fuel the school spirit by creating homecoming floats that are the envy of the area, so the leadership class and selected art classes will be teaming up and getting an early start this year. The students have already picked out their ideas, and plans are underway.

There is, however, one hurdle that needs to be cleared. Each class is given $100 to work on its float. This is the same amount that has been allotted for over a generation and barely covers the cost of paint, so the ASB, and the classes of 2015, ’16, ’17, and ’18 are asking the community to join them on the spirit band wagon, and help out with either funding or materials. The high school would like to give much thanks to Denair Lumber that has already supplied the lumber material (half of which they donated) and to TJ McDonald for rebar and flat iron. Materials are going to be needed to build the figures and other elements that occupy the float real estate. If you are able to provide any of the following items it would be greatly appreciated:

• Chicken wire, or aviary netting
• Duct tape
• Masking tape
• Cardboard (Large preferred, but any is good)
• Newspaper
• Styrofoam wig heads
• Tie Wire for rebar
• Foam padding for stuffing
• Rags
• Disposable paint brushes
• Drywall screws
• 3” deck screws
• Angle braces (4” to 10”)
• Small eye hooks
• Fake grass large enough for a 5’x10’ area
• Purple, black, and white acrylic paint
• Cash donations

To donate please contact Robyn Hilton (632-9911 ext. 4244, rhilton@dusd.k12.ca.us) or John Stavrianoudakis (632-9911 ext. 4226, jstav@dusd.k12.ca.us) so that they can communicate with donors about material needs that may or may not have been met. For cash donations, checks may be made payable to DHS ASB and dropped off at the HS office or given to Mrs. Hilton.

Check out the high school’s new Float Building web page to get an idea of what they have in store for this year.

GO DENAIR!