Parents still have time to enroll their children into kindergarten and transitional kindergarten for the upcoming school year at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

Interested parents must pick up a registration packet for the 2023-24 school year at the DECA office at 3773 Madera Ave. between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Families do not need to live in Denair to enroll their children at DECA.

Completed registration packets must include a copy of the child’s birth certificate, updated immunization records and proof of residency (such as a utility bill). 

Parents must fully complete the registration packet and return it with the proper documentation by Aug. 4. The first day of school is Aug. 9.

For the 2023-24 school year, students whose fifth birthday occurs between Sept. 2 and April 2 are eligible to enroll in transitional kindergarten. Students whose fifth birthday occurs by Sept. 1 are eligible to enroll in kindergarten.

At DECA, parents may choose between two language tracks — the Dual Immersion Program and the traditional language program. Parents who wish to enroll their child in the Dual Immersion Program are requested to attend an orientation on Aug. 3 at 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. These will be the final parental orientations for any families interested in enrollment of in the Dual Immersion Program.

Class lists for both TK and kindergarten will be posted through Parent Square and Class Dojo on Aug. 8. 

For parents who have already enrolled their child in TK, kindergarten or first grade, DECA offers an early acclimation opportunity called “JumpStart” on Aug. 2-3 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. JumpStart is designed to introduce students to the campus, familiarize them with the daily routine, and help them develop essential self-regulation skills. Registration for JumpStart is available through this link.

Parents with questions are encouraged to call the DECA office at (209) 632-8887.

At DECA, students are exposed early on to the importance of attending college. There is a wide range of fun and important electives and after school activities, and an emphasis is placed on being safe, responsible, respectful and kind.

All this occurs on a pretty and well-maintained campus under the direction of an experienced staff who are passionate about educating students.

The dual immersion program continues through Denair Middle School where 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students expand and refine their academic vocabulary in both languages. 

Immersion means just that. In kindergarten, 90% of the instruction is in Spanish, in first grade it drops to 80%, then 70% in second grade, 60% in third grade, and 50% in fourth and fifth grades.

Dual immersion teachers in kindergarten through second grade only speak Spanish in front of their students. English instruction takes place with other teachers.

It’s not just dual language immersion students who learn a second language. Students on the traditional track also receive Spanish instruction one to three times a week in the language lab.

In addition, DECA provides a variety of fun and challenging Academic Adventure electives, such as:

• Drama/Performing Arts
• Technology
• Engineering design
• Health and nutrition
• Art
• Horticulture
• Music
• Science