Left-to-right-Nancy Harris-Bonnie Muller-Debbie Nutcher-Linda Prock-Ruby Swanson Sperry-Debbie Zylatra

Submitted by Holli Nielsen

Six prominent women from the Denair area were honored Wednesday night for their achievements in and contributions to agriculture.

The ceremony at the Denair High School theater was held to mark the 50^th anniversary of girls being allowed to join Future Farmers of America or FFA and participate in its vocational training and events.

More than 100 people attended the event, including representatives from the Stanislaus County Farm Bureau, local legislators, the Denair Unified School District, CSU Stanislaus, Modesto Junior College, and the local ag community.

Those honored were:

• Nancy Nielsen Harris (Ag in the classroom)
• Bonnie Troedson Muller (Muller Berry Farms)
• Debbie McDiffet Nutcher (Nutcher Milk Co.)
• Linda Berendt Prock (Ray-Lin Dairy)
• Ruby Swanson Sperry (Sperry Dairy)
• Debbie Smith Zylstra (Edwin H. Smith & Sons)

The six women – all of whom have dedicated their adult lives to agriculture — were nominated by the Denair Community Resource Team and ultimately selected by the Denair Agriculture Education Department.

Wednesday’s event was hosted by Denair High FFA, which has 213 members this year. Many of them will be showing animals and entering ag-related projects in the Stanislaus County Fair this summer.

Submitted by Stanislaus Health Foundation

Hey Denair!

The Stanislaus Health Foundation presents the Dr. Amanda Crews Memorial 32nd annual Run for Health. The Run for Health will feature a walkers course, one-mile run, 5K and 10K races. Proceeds from the run benefit the Reach Out and Read Program and support the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency and Valley Family Medicine Residency Program. Entry fee is $30 through race day, and $10 for 18 and younger. To register, go to www.stanhealth.org or active.com. For more information, please feel free to contact Daisy Swearingen at 209-648-7384 or dswear1@gmail.com.

When: Saturday, May 11th, 7:00 am.

Where: East La Loma Park, 2001 Edgebrook Drive in Modesto

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

A just-completed community survey shows widespread support for the key priorities established by the Denair Unified School District.

Nearly 200 residents, parents, students and staff responded to the online survey, which was conducted in English and Spanish for two weeks starting in late February. Superintendent Terry Metzger briefed trustees on the results at their monthly board meeting Thursday night.

The priorities are established each year as part of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), mandated by the state for every district. The goals are formed with input from the community.

For this school year, Denair’s priorities are:

• Increase the high school graduation rate
• Attract and retain highly effective staff
• Implement state standards
• Provide intervention and enrichment for students
• Accountability and transparency
• Engage the community
• Safety and facilities

No less than 68% of respondents agreed with every goal. The highest favorable rating (81%) was for increasing high school graduation rates, which is interesting in that Denair High routinely ranks among the top in the state with a grad rate of 95% or higher. Continue reading “Community Survey Reveals Broad Support for Key Denair Unified Objectives” »

Submitted by Denair High School

Denair High’s Drew Pritchard and Steffin Winston have made and shared many memories in their four-year athletic careers at Denair High. So it’s somehow fitting that they will share another award after the Coyotes’ most successful basketball season in more than a decade.

The two seniors have been chosen Co-Players of the Year by the Turlock Journal.

Pritchard averaged 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals a game. A three-year starter, he also made the Southern League’s first team three times.

Winston averaged 13 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, two steals and two assists. He made the all-Southern League first team the past two seasons.

The tandem led Denair to a 17-11 record this season and helped the Coyotes to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs the past two years.

“They provided a positive environment,” Coach R.J. Henderson told the Journal. “That was the thing about both of them; they have leadership skills that really provided a lift with a younger team this year with juniors and a freshman that started.”

Henderson credits Pritchard and Winston with helping to change the culture associated with Denair athletics, including their roles on last fall’s state championship football team.

“I think they are a couple of vibrant students on campus and I think that translates as far as crowds and interest,” he said. “Both of them attract people towards them and we never had that before. We had talented kids come through, but those two are the total package.”

Submitted by Denair High School

Henry Johnson has been overcoming obstacles, knocking down barriers and inspiring those around for all of his 16 years.

Now, the Denair High School sophomore has been recognized as part of a countywide program honoring students who have succeeded against all odds, beyond expectations or simply won the hearts of the administrators and other educators who helped them achieve their goals.

Tuesday morning, Henry was among 23 Stanislaus County students from 14 districts to receive an Every Student Succeeding Award at a breakfast in downtown Modesto.

Henry was born with Apert Syndrome, a genetic defect that falls under the broad classification of craniofacial/ anomalies and is primarily characterized by specific malformations of the skull, midface, hands, and feet. His skull was prematurely fused and unable to grow normally, and his fingers and toes were fused together in varying degrees.

He has undergone more than 20 surgeries to separate his fingers and toes, reform his skull and restructure his face. His most recent was early this year at UC Davis to realign his eyes.

Through it all, Henry has maintained a positive attitude about school and life. He is popular with his classmates and a favorite of his teachers. From 2008 to 2011, he and his family raised more than $90,000 for cranial research through a series of Henry’s March fun runs at CSU Stanislaus.

“Henry is an amazing kid,” said Denair Principal Kara Backman, who nominated him for the award. “He is the true definition of a young man that exudes grit, perseverance, and kindness.” Continue reading “Denair High Student Henry Johnson Honored with Special Stanislaus County Award” »