Monthly Archives: January 2015

A Class Act! 10 Questions for Brenda Ranes

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Brenda Ranes

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Name: Brenda Ranes

Family: My husband is Mark Ranes (where would we be without Mark when we have tech problems?) We have a 24-year-old daughter, Meagan, who lives in Oakland and recently graduated from Academy of Arts University, San Francisco, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and a 16-year-old son, Dawson, who is a junior in high school.

School: Denair Academic Avenues

Subjects taught: English-language arts and social studies

Experience and education: I graduated from Denair High School and then earned my BA degree and multiple subjects teaching credential from California State University, Stanislaus. I began my career teaching fifth grade at Bonita Elementary School in Crows Landing for 10 years. I then returned to my hometown of Denair to teach seventh-grade English-language arts and social studies for 15 years. Realizing that I needed a new challenge, I made the decision three years ago to return to elementary school and made the move across the street (again!) to teach fifth grade at Denair Academic Avenues.

What most inspires you about teaching? The students inspire me the most! I love teaching children and seeing their faces when they get excited about something that they are learning.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher? It’s very challenging juggling everything that I have to deal with throughout the day and have everything work out. Every day is a challenge as I deal with several different students and grade levels, but it is the most rewarding feeling as well. I didn’t go into teaching because I wanted an easy job; I’m constantly challenged and there is never a dull moment.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity?   I love using technology in my daily teaching like the Elmo (what an improvement from overhead projectors!) and being able to show a Keynote or a video clip from my computer at a moment’s notice. I guess I better love technology since I’m married to the “Tech Guy!” Continue reading “A Class Act! 10 Questions for Brenda Ranes” »

New Monte Vista Sidewalk Improves Safety and Convenience

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Denair Sidewalk

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The first piece of a community beautification and pedestrian safety project at Denair’s western entrance was completed Tuesday with the pouring of 700 feet of concrete along Monte Vista Avenue.

Central Valley Concrete of Denair provided the materials and arranged for the labor on the project, which was a joint effort by the Denair Unified School District and Stanislaus County. Supervisor Vito Chiesa, who represents the Denair area, arranged for CVC to donate the concrete work. The school district will install the irrigation system, grass and shrubbery later this spring.

The new 5-foot-wide sidewalk is along the north side Monte Vista Avenue behind Jack W. Lytton Stadium. It connects with an existing walkway that ended at the intersection of Lester Road and Monte Vista. It will provide a safer route to and from school for students as well as users of the stadium, which hosts football games and other community events.Sidewalk Thank You Sign

“It looks great,” said Denair Superintendent Aaron Rosander.

He said there will be a community fundraising effort to help pay for the landscaping and irrigation system, estimated to be about $5,000.

DES and D2A to Unify for 2015-16 School Year

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Current DES/D2A Office

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Two elementary campuses will become one at the start of the next school year in Denair, it was announced Thursday night.

Denair Elementary School and the adjacent Denair Academic Avenues will merge to form a new school called Denair Elementary Charter Academy. Together, the two schools today educate 485 kindergarten through fifth-grade students from Denair and surrounding areas.

A new charter will be written that incorporates the best of both campuses, Superintendent Aaron Rosander told Denair Unified School District trustees Thursday night in unveiling the plan. He cited the charter school’s Spanish language and fine arts programs and DES’s music and traditional academic offerings as strengths that would be retained on a unified campus.

“The charter is proposed to provide a Spanish language dual immersion program and exposure to fine arts throughout in a ‘college awareness’ school culture,” Rosander explained. “This new charter is projected to be the pre-eminent elementary education leader of its type in our local region.”

Denair Academic Avenues, or D2A as it is known, was formed in 2010. In addition to enriched Spanish and performing arts instruction, it adds 30 minutes to the school day Monday through Thursday. Because it is a charter school, students outside the DUSD can attend without needing permission from their home district.

Denair Grammar School started in 1907. It was renamed Denair Elementary School when four classrooms were built on the current site in 1949.

Principal Sara Michelena, who oversees both schools, had multiple discussions with teachers, parents and community members about the consolidation. The proposed name of the new charter school is DECA, she said – a name suggested by staff that draws from the popular and successful Denair Charter Academy independent study program that also is part of the DUSD. Continue reading “DES and D2A to Unify for 2015-16 School Year” »

A Class Act! 10 Questions for Tina Nunes

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Tina Nunes

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Name: Tina Nunes

Family: Husband, Alfred; children, Morgan, 17, and twins Allison, 13, and Alfred, 13

School: Denair Charter Academy

Subject taught: Independent Study

Experience and education: My background is in agriculture. I earned an Associates of Science Degree from Modesto Junior College, a Bachelors of Science in agriculture education from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and my single subject agriculture teaching credentials from Cal Poly, SLO.

What most inspires you about teaching? As a teacher, we do not always know the impact we have on students; however, when you see the difference you are making in their lives or years later when a student tells you how much you helped them … that makes all the hard work worth it and inspires me to keep working hard to make a difference in their lives.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher? At times, it feels as if you want the success or achievement more than the student, but I have learned to never give up no matter how challenging a student may be. The rewards are so much greater than the challenge.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity?   I feel the greatest educational tool is any hands-on activity where students can physically see and touch the subject matter they are working on. When a student can take a formula that they memorized and physically see how it is used is the greatest teaching tool.

How has Common Core affected your classroom strategy? I have always believed in vocational education being from an agriculture background. To me, Common Core has reinforced the necessity of applying what we are teaching to real-life application and students being able to problem solve. I believe that in the long run, Common Core will create adults who are stronger critical thinkers and successful problem solvers.

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember that I believed in them and that with hard work and dedication, they can truly accomplish their goals in education and in life! Continue reading “A Class Act! 10 Questions for Tina Nunes” »