Fresh off its first Southern League football victory of the season, Denair will try to make it two in a row Friday night when it hosts Delhi to cap Homecoming Week.

The Coyotes relied on two rushing touchdowns by wingback Jayden Hensley and a swarming defense to shut out Mariposa 14-0 on the road last week. 

“It was definitely one of our better games of the year,” assessed Denair Coach Anthony Armas. “We defended the run very well and were efficient on offense. In our Le Grand game (a 35-17 Denair loss), we played a great first half. This was first time we put together a full game.”

The closest Mariposa (0-4, 0-7) came to scoring was in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies drove to inside Denair’s 10-yard line. But Coyote cornerback Angel Rosas – defending a fade pattern — ended that threat when he intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Interestingly, both of Denair’s wins this season have come when the Coyotes (1-3, 2-4) held the opposing team scoreless. The first shutout was in the second game when they blanked Riverbank 20-0.

This week’s Homecoming festivities include a parade through downtown Friday at lunch featuring floats decorated by the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior classes. Kings and queens will be announced at a pep rally.

On paper, Delhi (1-3, 1-5) looks like an even matchup with the Coyotes, but Armas thinks that’s misleading. The Hawks got into a brawl against El Capitan of Merced in their first game when players as well as people from the stands were fighting on the field. The Sac-Joaquin Section shut down the program for three weeks – costing Delhi a forfeit loss to Ceres – and suspended eight starters for five games. Those players all are expected to be available Friday.

“They’re very physical,” Armas said. “Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are.”

As has been the case all season, Denair again will be at a disadvantage, numbers wise. The Coyotes’ 19-player roster is one of the smallest in the league, even with two players having joined the team when they became eligible after first-quarter grades were released. All of Denair’s players play on offense and defense; some of them never come off the field during a game.

“We’ve always got a couple of kids banged up,” Armas acknowledged. “I’m hoping we have 15 or 16 ready to go Friday night.”

After this week, there will be only two games left in the regular season. Denair will finish its Southern League schedule in Newman against Orestimba (3-1, 4-3) on Oct. 20 and then home versus Waterford (1-3, 2-5) on Oct. 27.

In collaboration with the non-profit organization She Became, Denair Unified School District’s mental health department is pleased to report that we had our first Empowering Denair Girls group on Saturday, September 29, 2023. Female students and their families from DECA, DMS, and DHS participated in the event. Dr. Metzger, the District’s superintendent, provided an inspiring opening message to everyone attending the Rally.  She referenced the book “She Believed She Could, So She Did” by Kathy Weller, which discusses how the author celebrates inner strength, belief, and the power of dreaming big. Also, Dr. Metzger Mentioned in her inspirational speech another book by Don Miguel Ruiz to master your life’s dreams. The book emphasizes The Four Agreements: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best. Dr. Metzger stated that these four principles are fundamental to people’s success. Dr. Metzger’s passion for advocating for leadership development and the mental health well-being of her District’s students was noticeable. 

Additionally, the DUSD staff was excited to welcome She Became, a prominent organization dedicated to empowering young girls, which hosted an inspiring girl empowerment rally at Denair Middle School. The event, aimed at fifth to twelfth graders and their mothers, focused on fostering identity, self-empowerment, and envisioning a bright future. By creating a safe and supportive environment, She Became aimed to encourage girls to believe in themselves and their dreams while also fostering connections between generations.

The rally, held at Denair Middle School, was a resounding success, attracting girls and women of all ages from the community. The event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to engage in meaningful discussions, explore their personal aspirations, and build a positive support system. She Became firmly believes that girl empowerment rallies are essential in creating a positive reinforcement environment for young girls. By supporting and lifting each other up, girls can develop a strong sense of self-worth and realize their full potential. The organization recognizes the importance of providing a platform where girls can freely express their feelings, imagine their future, and connect with others who share similar dreams.

During the rally, participants were invited to share their personal stories and experiences, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie. Mothers and daughters had the chance to bond and create lasting memories while learning from the wisdom of women from older generations. The event featured a range of activities designed to inspire and empower attendees. From interactive workshops to engaging presentations, the rally offered a diverse range of opportunities for girls to explore their passions and discover their strengths. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking exercises, participants were encouraged to create a vision for their future and develop the confidence to pursue their dreams.

She Became understands the importance of providing girls with a safe and fun space to explore their potential. By hosting events like this rally, the organization aims to break down barriers and create a society where girls feel supported, inspired, and encouraged to believe in themselves.

To learn more about She Became and their initiatives, please visit their website at www.shebecame.com. The organization’s dedication to empowering girls and fostering self-belief is evident in its efforts to create a positive and inclusive environment for young girls everywhere.

She Became’s girl empowerment rally at Denair Middle School serves as a testament to the transformative power of bringing girls and women together. By connecting generations and celebrating each individual’s unique strengths, She Became is paving the way for a brighter future where every girl can confidently pursue her dreams, build confidence & resiliency, and create a better world for herself and others.

Congratulations to Lina Maria Villegas, Rosaura Contreras, and Joanna Esparza who organized a successful event.

The Food Services Department in the Denair Unified School District has a well-earned reputation for churning out plenty of tasty options each day. The quality and breadth of its menu consistently draw rave reviews from hundreds of students of all ages.

And now, thanks to more than a half-million dollars in grant money it has received, the department is focused on serving even more youngsters from its kitchens on the elementary, middle school and high school campuses.

In the past year, district officials have aggressively applied for a variety of state and federal grants to help subsidize much-needed kitchen improvements. Their perseverance has paid off, with $546,222.98 flowing into the district. That money has been put to good use.

• At Denair High School, two double-stack convection ovens have been installed. On order are two cold box speed line units (a self-serve refrigerated unit for items such as pre-made salads), two milk boxes and a salad bar. The district is soliciting bids for a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, which will be located just outside the kitchen door.
• At Denair Middle School, two double-stack convection ovens already are in place and a hot speed line unit is on the way.
• At Denair Elementary Charter Academy, two retherm units have been installed and the district wants to add two salad bars and one hot speed line.

New appliances to replace obsolete ones also have been added at all three campuses. In many cases, the district has until June 2025 to spend the grant money.

“Better ovens, cold serving lines, milk coolers — these contribute to a better-tasting and more enjoyable meal,” explained Kim Fuentez, the district’s Food Services manager. “Without the funding we’ve received, we wouldn’t be able to do half the upgrades our kitchens need.”

The new equipment will allow the district to continue to grow what already is a popular food and nutrition program, which is free for all students. Between the three campuses, Denair currently serves more than 400 breakfasts, nearly 900 lunches and about 375 after-school snacks each day.

“We anticipate that we will be serving 500 meals at minimum at DECA alone with the new equipment,” estimated Daisy Swearingen, the district’s chief business official. “The new equipment would allow DECA specifically to create a more diverse menu. At DHS, the cold boxes at DHS will allow us to offer more cold meal options. At DMS, we will be able to offer actual salads (chef, sesame chicken, crispy chicken, chicken Caesar, etc.). Our kids at DMS love salad, so this will continue to expand the program.”

The Food Services Department also produces meals for Denair Charter Academy students as well as those at the Reyn Franca School across the street from the high school.

Commercial food equipment isn’t cheap. Items such as ovens, refrigerators and cold and hot serving lines can cost tens of thousands of dollars each. Smaller items, while less expensive, still add up. The beauty of the grants is that they have enabled the district to replace obsolete kitchen equipment without affecting the general fund.

“They allow the district to address immediate needs such as failing equipment without impacting the general fund, which is important because it allows the general fund to prioritize ongoing operating expenses such as employee salaries,” Swearingen explained.

For more on the Food Services team, please click on this link to a 3-minute video. It was produced using some of the grant money.

In collaboration with Stanislaus County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Denair Unified School District is proud to announce that 17 parents from across the district completed their Mental Health First Aid Training in mid-September. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour public education program that introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. It also builds an understanding of the importance of early intervention and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. The certificate is valid for three years.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID? Visit http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/

Anthony Armas understands and appreciates his responsibility to coach this year’s Denair High football team the best he can, despite some harsh realities that are not going to change. Namely, the number of players and their experience.

The first one isn’t going to change and the second one will only come with time.

Friday night, when the Coyotes hosted Southern League powerhouse Ripon Christian, they had 13 varsity players in uniform. It takes 11 to play a game. Ripon Christian suited up 25. That numerical advantage certainly was one part of the reason the Knights coasted to a 49-0 victory in a game in which a running clock was instituted in the second quarter.

“It’s tough, obviously,” admitted Armas, who had four players sit out with various injuries. “We had games in previous years when we finished with 12 guys.”

What did he tell his healthy players in such a situation?

“That we’re going to play hard. That we still expect them to do their assignment,” he said before Monday’s practice. “Magically, we didn’t get anyone hurt (against RC). We’ll see after practice how many might be able to go this week.”

It has been a strange opening month for the Coyotes. They had their first preseason game on Aug. 19 called at halftime because of lightning strikes near Jack Lytton Stadium. That resulted in a 14-6 loss to Big Valley Christian of Modesto. Then they had two weeks off before posting their only victory, 20-0 on the road against Riverbank.

The next varsity game was supposed to be Sept. 8 against Bret Harte, but it turned into a JV-only contest because the Bullfrogs pulled the plug on their varsity program this fall. That meant Denair’s three seniors had to watch while the 43 freshmen, sophomores and juniors played together for that week only. The result was a resounding 40-0 win for the Coyotes and, possibly, a hint of better days to come for the football program.

“Everybody at those three grade levels got some experience,” said Armas, who because of the combined rosters actually had reserve players standing next to him on the sideline for a change. “It felt weird, but it was pretty nice.”

The rosters were separated again against Ripon Christian – not great news for the varsity, but not altogether a bad thing for the JVs, who battled hard before falling 14-7. It was the Coyotes’ first loss of the season.

“They’re looking good. It’s definitely a glimmer of hope and a lot of people are talking about it,” said Armas of the JV team, who paused before acknowledging reality. “Unfortunately, that doesn’t help the varsity on Friday night.”

This week, Denair (0-1, 1-3) plays at Gustine (1-0, 1-3). The Reds posted an impressive 36-6 victory on the road at Mariposa last week in their SL opener.