One of the primary goals at Denair Elementary Charter Academy is to provide a learning environment with a multicultural emphasis. Exposing students to Spanish is a key component of that, both in the traditional program as well as the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program.

Of DECA’s 576 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, 409 are enrolled in the traditional program. That means they receive 30 minutes of Spanish instruction up to three times a week. The 167 children in the DLI program are taught in a mixture of English and Spanish, depending on the grade level.

“DECA’s Dual Language program has been well-designed and is well-supported. It is also an integral part of the broader course of study at DECA,” said Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger. “Students in our English-only classes also participate in many of the activities, assemblies, and learning opportunities provided through the Dual Language program. All students benefit, whether they are in a Dual Language or English-only classroom.”

All DECA students also are part of the Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) program, which includes schoolwide rules and behavior expectations. Students are rewarded in various ways for helping to create a positive school culture and modeling positive behavior.

Another thing that sets DECA apart is its focus on promoting college attendance, even at the lowest grade levels. Each classroom adopts a college. Students are taught about different universities and what going to college means.

The children in the traditional and DLI programs share time on the playground, in the cafeteria and at schoolwide events.

It’s what happens in their classrooms that separate the traditional and DLI students.

In DLI classes, instruction in English and Spanish is precisely calculated. Starting in kindergarten, 90% of instruction is done in Spanish and 10% in English. That ratio adjusts by 10% each year until by the fourth grade, each language is used half the time.

Submitted by Denair High School:

Denair’s bus rolled into the Woodland Christian parking lot just after 6:30 Friday night. Kickoff was scheduled for 7 p.m. Thick traffic driving north meant the Coyotes were in a crawl much of the way, adding a half-hour onto what should have been a 2½-hour trip.

Kickoff was delayed 15 minutes or so while Denair warmed up in a small stadium carved like a bowl into the earth. The topography made a hot night feel even more humid. And the proximity of the nearby freeway coupled with the exhaust of portable generators for the lights created semi-smoggy breathing conditions on the field. The poor air didn’t help a handful of Coyotes already battling a late-summer flu bug.

No matter.

A late start and queasy stomachs still weren’t enough to slow Denair, which got three more touchdowns from Dylan De Silva to coast to an easy 34-7 victory over the Cardinals.

Coach Anthony Armas was pleased with the outcome, but not completely satisfied with how it was achieved. He was proud of his players for mentally getting into game mode after the long bus ride as well as stepping up when some of their teammates became sick. But he felt Denair could have scored more points.

Twice the Coyotes (2-0) were stopped on fourth down inside Woodland Christian’s 10-yard line. Another time, they lost a fumble deep in Cardinals territory.

“We left a couple of touchdowns on the field,” Armas said. “We had two fumbles. We definitely can’t put the ball on the ground, so that’s something we’ll be working on in practice this week.”

Despite the turnovers, Denair’s offense still hummed along. Much of that is thanks to De Silva, a senior fullback who has scored six touchdowns in the first two games.

Most of De Silva’s yards come on power plays up the middle behind an offensive line missing its two starting tackles – Derek Starkey (concussion) and Zach Cherry (arm). Into their places stepped Ulysses Corrales and Derek Coleman. They joined guards Carlo Morales and Jose Lopez, center Christian Obando and tight end Will Knox in consistently opening holes for De Silva and his backfield mates to run through.

“We were dinged up, but as a whole, I thought they played well,” Armas said of his offensive line.

Denair led 21-7 at halftime and then scored TDs in the third and fourth quarters to put the game away. The defense forced an interception by Elvis Silva and did a nice job of keeping Woodland Christian (0-2) out of the end zone.

“We played our style on defense – bend but don’t break,” said Armas.

JV Game: No game held This Week: Denair has a bye, which probably couldn’t have come at a better time for the Coyotes. Armas canceled Monday’s practice because a number of players still were dealing with the flu bug. He plans to have light practices Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before giving the team Friday off. … Denair’s next game will be in much cooler conditions. The Coyotes will travel to Santa Cruz to play Soquel on Sept. 13.

The four trustees of the Denair Unified School District interviewed three candidates Thursday night to fill the vacant fifth seat on the board. After discussion, they unanimously chose to appoint Carmen Wilson.

Wilson will serve the remaining 15 months of the term of longtime board member John Plett, who resigned Aug. 9, citing health reasons.

The other candidates were Tina Marie Gresio and Kenneth Austin Rickard. Each was interviewed by the board while the others waited in an adjoining room.

Trustees Kathi Dunham-Filson, Regina Gomes, Ray Prock Jr. and Crystal Sousa decided to appoint Plett’s replacement rather than hold a costly special election. The term ends in November 2020.

Wilson has two children in Denair schools and has participated on school site committees. She has been a board member for the Stanislaus County Youth Development Committee and the Turlock American Little League, and taught Sunday school at Connection Point Church in Denair. Wilson works as a certified public accountant at the Center for Human Services in Modesto.

Her financial experience impressed multiple board members.

“I like her background,” said board President Reggie Gomes.

“The financial piece is something that fills a void and would make us a better board,” Dunham-Filson said.

Wilson also got board members’ attention when she spoke of the importance of retaining Denair students who may consider transferring out of the district when they enter middle school or high school.

“I liked Mrs. Wilson’s focus on keeping students in district,” Souza said.

“That really struck me as well,” Prock agreed. Wilson will be sworn in at the Sept. 12 board meeting and will be up for re-election in November 2020.

The four trustees of the Denair Unified School District will hold a special meeting Thursday night to interview and then select the person to fill the vacant fifth seat on the board.

The candidates are Tina Marie Gresio, Kenneth Austin Rickard and Carmen Wilson. They all submitted applications by the Aug. 19 deadline to fill the remaining 15 months in the term of longtime board member John Plett, who resigned Aug. 9 citing health reasons.

The remaining trustees — Kathi Dunham-Filson, Regina Gomes, Ray Prock Jr. and Crystal Sousa — decided to appoint Plett’s replacement rather than hold a costly special election. The term ends in November 2020.

Thursday’s special meeting begins at 7 p.m. The board will interview the three applicants in public, then will have an open discussion and vote that night to choose Plett’s successor. The new trustee will be sworn it at the Sept. 12 board meeting.

Gresio has lived in Denair for more than 20 years and has children attending Denair schools. She has been active volunteer in various community events, including Fourth of July and Halloween as well as  Boy Scouts and sports teams.

Rickard taught for 12 years in the Hughson Unified School District. He is a member of the Turlock Church of Christ and a former Denair Lion. He also has participated in community and sports events. Wilson has two children in Denair schools and has participated on school site committees. She works at the Center for Human Services in Modesto and has been a board member for the Stanislaus County Youth Development Committee and the Turlock American Little League, and taught Sunday school at Connection Point Church in Denair.

As if the excitement of putting on the pads and playing under the lights for the first time this season wasn’t enough for Denair on Friday night, the Coyotes received an inspirational boost before kickoff when a sign reading “2018 CIF State Champs, Division VII” was unveiled hanging on the west scoreboard at Jack Lytton Stadium.

Head coach Anthony Armas called the ceremony “pretty freaking cool” and the home crowd clearly agreed.

All the emotion may have been overwhelming to Denair’s players, though. They promptly gave up a touchdown on the opening drive to Millennium of Tracy.

The Coyotes quickly rallied behind a dominant offensive line and running back Dylan De Silva, who was a one-man wrecking crew on offense and defense. He ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns and also intercepted a pass on defense as Denair breezed to a 49-14 victory.