Author Archives: DenairPulse Editor

Top Denair High School Students Awarded Nearly $16,000 in Combined Scholarships

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Hector Obando and Eva Varni

Submitted by Denair High School

There were smiles, even a few tears, and plenty of hugs and applause Friday night at the Coyote Center as Denair High School honored its top students.

Nearly $16,000 in combined scholarships were announced, money that will be important as the members of the Class of 2017 continue their educations in college.

Eva Varni earned the most in scholarships ($3,150), followed by Kyle Prock ($2,250). Varni also was presented with the Principal’s Leadership Award.

Hector Obando will be the valedictorian at the May 26 graduation ceremony based on his 4.17 grade-point average. He also earned recognition from the California Department of Education’s Mathematics Council.

Elisabeth Martinez was just behind Obando in GPA (4.15) and will be the salutatorian during graduation.

In the lower grades, junior Daisy Lopez (4.15), sophomore Reyna Villa (4.13) and freshman Fernando Silva (4.12) earned the highest GPAs.

Senior Trevor Lovelace was recognized for perfect attendance during his entire scholastic career – kindergarten through 12th grade.

All scholarships, listed by student:

  • Christina Abebe: $500 from Kiwanis of Greater Turlock Ron Jesse Scholarship, $300 from Denair Sports Boosters, $125 from Sigma Omega Phi
  • Victoria Adler: $500 from the Denair Education Foundation
  • Joe Brasil: $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $100 from Denair Youth Football
  • Ileah Brantley: $500 from Key Club
  • Jared Carbajal: $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $100 from Denair Sports Boosters, $200 from the Mark Selee Memorial
  • Joseph Ciccarelli: $200 from Denair Youth Football
  • Brendan Curnow: $300 from Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $100 from Denair Youth Football
  • Kayla Fant: $500 from DUTA Roberta Prescott Scholarship, $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Cristal Fuentes: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Jaileen Gazcon: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Justin Gomes: $500 from Denair Volunteer Fire Department
  • Carson Haringa: $300 from Denair Sports Boosters
  • Hector Jimenez: $100 from Denair Sports Boosters
  • Trevor Lovelace: $500 from Kiwanis of Greater Turlock Ron Jesse Scholarship, $300 from Denair Sports Boosters
  • Elisabeth Martinez: $500 from Denair Education Foundation, $500 from Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $200 from Denair Youth Football
  • Nicole Nichols: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Hector Obando: $500 from DUTA Roberta Prescott Scholarship, $500 from Denair Sports Boosters, $200 from Denair Youth Football
  • Kyle Prock: $1,000 from Hilmar Cheese Co., $500 from Stanislaus-San Joaquin Cattlewomen, $300 from Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $200 from Denair Youth Football
  • Zachary Ramaley: $350 from Stanislaus County Office of Education, $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Sierra Smith: $250 from Denair Farm and Family
  • Seth Snider: $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $200 from Denair Youth Football
  • Eva Varni: $1,000 Denair Lions Club Tom Dougherty Scholarship, $500 from Denair Education Foundation, $500 from Denair Sports Boosters, $250 from Denair Farm and Family, $500 from Denair Volunteer Fire Department, $300 from the Mark Selee Memorial, $100 from Denair Youth Football

Continue reading “Top Denair High School Students Awarded Nearly $16,000 in Combined Scholarships” »

Calendar of Year-End Activities at Denair Charter Academy Includes First-Ever Senior Trip for Graduates

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Submitted by Denair Charter Academy

As with most high school seniors, the final three weeks of the school year for the 95 soon-to-be graduates of Denair Charter Academy are filled with a mixture of stress, anticipation and excitement.

And, for the first time, there also is a Senior Trip to look forward to and a yearbook to sign.

Both experiences were the idea of first-year Principal Brian LaFountain and his staff, who wanted to add some of the traditional high school experiences to the county’s premier independent study program.

As its name suggests, independent learning provides the flexibility for many students to complete their studies even while holding a job or helping with family obligations. In the past, many DCA students only spent one day a week on campus to meet with teachers and assess their academic progress.

That still holds true for some students. But LaFountain and his team have brainstormed other ways to engage teens and give them a reason to spend more time on campus – and with each other. Popular electives like wood shop and yearbook were added and clubs created, all to expand opportunities. The former DCA office was turned into a student center, providing a place to share lunch, complete homework and socialize.

“We’ve got a group of kids who are getting involved in everything. Every elective. Every club. There are the same faces we see everywhere,” LaFountain said. “There is no reason they can’t come here and make lifelong friends, just as they might on a traditional campus.”

One of the incentives LaFountain felt especially strong about adding this year was a Senior Trip. For decades, seniors across California often have bussed to Disneyland for a chaperoned overnight party. Denair High School students will be doing that in a couple of weeks. Continue reading “Calendar of Year-End Activities at Denair Charter Academy Includes First-Ever Senior Trip for Graduates” »

Denair Unified Campuses to Host Open Houses on Thursday

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Thursday is Open House night across the Denair Unified School District — a chance for parents and community members to discover first-hand all the educational achievement occurring in Denair classrooms.

Here is the schedule:

– Denair Elementary Charter Academy: 5 to 7:30 p.m. The event begins with a book fair, where parents can buy books for their sons and daughters. The Open House begins at 6 p.m.

– Denair Middle School: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Teachers will be on hand to talk about what’s going on in their classrooms.

– Denair High School: 6 to 9 p.m. Open House will be the first hour, followed by the annual awards ceremony starting at 7 p.m. in the Coyote Center. Dozens of students will be recognized for their academic performance and earning scholarships.

– Denair Charter Academy: 6 to 7 p.m. Open House for the independent study program.

About 100 Enthusiastic Residents Celebrate Denair Night at Modesto Nuts Baseball Game

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Submitted by Denair Charter Academy

It was Denair Night on Friday at the Modesto Nuts baseball game and about 100 hearty Denair residents and students braved a cold, windy night to support their community.

Denair Unified Superintendent Aaron Rosander threw out the honorary first pitch — a strike to home plate — as the crowd cheered.

The event was the brainchild of Brian LaFountain, the principal at Denair Charter Academy and, for the next month, at Denair Middle School. Special tickets were sold for $7. The money raised will help offset a portion of the cost of the first-ever DCA graduation trip May 18-19 at Magic Mountain.

Beard Takes Over as Denair Elementary Principal; LaFountain Temporarily Moves to Middle School Campus

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Kelly Beard, who began this school year as the first-time principal at Denair Middle School, will finish out the year as principal at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

Beard spent 13 years as a first-grade teacher on the elementary campus before moving into an administrative role last summer. She replaces Lucy Zamora, who resigned to care for a family member facing a health crisis.

Beard’s appointment is permanent, Denair Unified Superintendent Aaron Rosander said Friday afternoon after a joint meeting with the staffs from the elementary and middle schools.

“We wish Ms. Zamora the very best as she navigates the challenges ahead,” Rosander said.

Brian LaFountain, the principal at Denair Charter Academy, will temporarily fill Beard’s position at the middle school for the final month of classes. Recruitment to hire a full-time principal already has begun, Rosander said. He hopes to have a new leader hired by early June.

“DMS is sure to be in good administrative hands for the remainder of the school year,” Rosander said. “Mr. LaFountain will return to DCA for the 2017/18 school year.”

Beard takes over a DECA campus that, along with the independent study program at DCA, has fueled the district’s enrollment growth the past two years. Part of the appeal to parents at DECA has been the addition of a dual immersion language program in which students are taught in English and Spanish. Each year, another grade level is added. The first students will be in second grade next fall.

The charter school also features traditional classes for kindergartners through fifth-graders. All students are introduced to the concepts promoted by the No Excuses University program, which aims to instill a college-going culture in youngsters.

“Kelly is well-liked and respected, and definitely will be welcomed back,” Rosander said. “All the programs that have been added the past few years will remain.”