Category Archives: News

Class Act! 10 Questions for Carlos Mendoza

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Carlos Mendoza

Submitted by Denair Charter Academy

Name: Carlos Mendoza

Family: I come from a family of six and I’m the youngest of four siblings.

School: Denair Charter Academy

Subject taught: All subjects with a focus on math.

Experience and education: I have worked in Denair Unified School District for about five years. I have a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.

What most inspires you about working in Denair Charter Academy? What inspires me most is seeing how much a student can grow with their teacher and the comradery between all the staff members.

What are your biggest challenges as a classified staff member? As a classified staff member, I have the ability to help any who are in need of assistance. Even though I want to help everyone, sadly I am not able to be in more than one place.

What is your favorite support tool or activity? My favorite support tool/activity to do with students are giving the students positive reinforcement and reassurance in their capabilities. Those are a few of the tools I’ve learned from the Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) program, which is why I am looking forward to continue use of PBIS in the years to come.

What do you want your students to remember? I want my students to remember that they are capable of achieving anything their heart desires — all they have to do is try. Life may not always go as one plans, but we have to learn how to roll with the punches. And if the path they are walking on is too difficult, then they have two options. One is to keep pushing forward and the path will eventually get better; or select a new path to walk on from the millions of paths that are out there. I want nothing but the best for my students and I don’t their failures to hold them back. I want their failures to give them the wisdom to grow into their full potential and push them forward; like Victor Kiam once said, “Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.”

How can parents support what you do? Parents can support what I do by supporting their own children, since most of the learning will happen at home. Being an advocate for their child is one of the greatest examples of support a parent can provide. Continue reading “Class Act! 10 Questions for Carlos Mendoza” »

Class Act! 10 Questions for Molly Hanson

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Molly Hanson

Submitted by Denair High School

Name:  Molly Hanson

Family: My parents live in Clements along with my brother, who is attending MJC, and my sister, who is finishing her senior year at Utah State University.  The rest of my family is located throughout central California, with a concentration in Dos Palos, where my mom’s side farms.

School: Denair High School

Subject taught: Ag Earth Science, Ag Biology, Ag Leadership, Floral Design 1 & 2 and Intro to Ag

Experience and education:  This is my first year teaching high school. I got my bachelor of science degree in agricultural communications from the University of Wyoming and my master’s in agriculture education from Cal Poly.

Why most inspires you about teaching?  I am so inspired by students when they get excited about the material we’re learning.  It’s a fantastic feeling to have them energetic about it because the energy is kinetic in the classroom. When one gets excited, the rest do, too.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher?  My biggest challenge has been to keep up with all my classes and to mold myself into the best teacher I can be.  Boy, it is tough and there’s been some tears, but then a struggling student gets an A on a test and it makes all the difference.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? “Jeopardy!”  I was shocked at how well the students responded to it!  We use it as a tool for test prep and they love to play and have said numerous times how much it’s helped them remember the material.

How has Common Core affected your classroom strategy? Ag has always been pretty closely aligned with Common Core; it’s not uncommon to incorporate multiple areas into our subject matter, so it fit in nearly seamlessly with our area.  I also learned to teach with Common Core so it was a little easier for me to adapt to it since it’s what I’ve been using since I started. Continue reading “Class Act! 10 Questions for Molly Hanson” »

Denair High School Sober Grad Nite Fundraiser Next Tuesday Evening

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Fundraiser - Pizza Factory, 2016

Submitted by DHS Sober Grad Night Boosters 

Denair High School Sober Grad Nite Boosters Club’s mission is to provide an all-night event that is fun, memorable and safe, for our graduating seniors, in a drug and alcohol free environment, on what is one of the most memorable nights of their lives.  This event gives them a way to celebrate as a class, as many of them go off to college, the military, or to join the work force.  The all-night event consists of games, trivia contests, food contests, a DJ, pictures, caricature drawings, food, prizes and much more.

The committee begins this process each year in August. Monthly meetings are held in the DHS Library, usually on the third Wednesday of each month, excluding December, at 6:30 p.m.  If you would like more information or you are interested in donating to Denair Sober Grad, you may contact them at Denair Sober Grad Nite Boosters Club at P.O. Box 247, Denair CA or DenairSoberGrad@gmail.com.

Sober Grad fundraises during the year to organize this event . Our next fundraiser is Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at the Pizza Factory, in Denair.  The hours are between 4 p.m.-9 p.m.  Denair Pizza Factory will donate 25% of all sales, excluding alcohol and other discounts.  Please see the attached flyer for more information.

Rep. Jeff Denham Honors Denair High Senior Alexis Brantley

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Alexis Brantley

Submitted by Denair High School

Denair High School senior Alexis Brantley recently received a prestigious honor from Congressman Jeff Denham. Brantley was one of several students in Denham’s 10th District to be given a Merit Award, which includes a letter of recommendation from Denham that Brantley can include as part of her college applications.

“I had no idea I had been nominated,” said Brantley. “I got a letter in the mail and then they called me into the office to make sure I had received it and to congratulate me.”

Nominating Brantley was an easy choice for Denair Principal Kara Backman.

“She is an academic scholar and has great grades,” Backman praised. “She’s a leader. She’s a self-starter. She holds herself and others to high standards. She’s just one of those students that others look up to.”

According to Denham’s website, awards are based on academic achievement, leadership, involvement in extracurricular activities, school citizenship, volunteerism and community service.

“These students’ demonstration of leadership, scholastic excellence, and commitment to our community is inspiring,” Denham said. “It is an honor to present this group of young leaders with the Congressional Merit Award and I look forward to seeing their great accomplishments in the future.”

Brantley carries a 3.5 grade-point average in her college prep course load. She is the student body president at Denair High, plays clarinet in the band, will appear in the Drama Club’s upcoming production of “12 Angry Jurors” and will play on the softball team in the spring.

In the past, she has been active in the academic decathlon, yearbook and other student leadership positions.

Brantley joined the other medal recipients at a ceremony with Denham on Oct. 17 in Modesto. In addition to the letter of recommendation, she received a medal and a certificate from the congressman. Accompanying her were her grandmother and guardian, Susan Gilbert, and Denair Unified Superintendent Aaron Rosander.

“We are so proud of Alexis and happy for her,” Rosander said. “She is a terrific representative for Denair High School and our district.”

Brantley intends to apply soon to colleges. In particular, she has her eye on the nursing program at Sonora State University.

“My end goal is to become a traveling nurse,” she said. “That’s someone who goes to different emergency rooms and hospitals; generally, just a few weeks at a time. They go around the country and sometimes work on cruise ships. It’s something that appeals to me.”

DECA Students Share Limousine Ride With Their Principal

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DECA Limo Ride

Submitted by Denair Elementary Charter Academy

How excited were a group of Denair Elementary Charter Academy students last month when they found out at a schoolwide assembly that they were going for a limousine ride to a special lunch with Principal Lucy Zamora?

“I felt like pinching my skin off to see if I was dreaming,” gushed fifth-grader Jason Murray.

“My legs were shaking when I had to walk in front of everyone,” admitted fourth-grader Andrea Padilla.

Wednesday – after three long weeks of anticipation – eight lucky students got their special ride. They first gathered for photos with Zamora outside the long, black stretch Lincoln. Then, one by one, they hopped into the luxury car, oohing and aahing at the built-in TV, refrigerator and other features.

“One of them said it felt, ‘Just like heaven,’ ” said Brittany Hughes, Zamora’s administrative assistance who accompanied the group on their short ride to McDonald’s on Geer Road.

For most of the students, it was their first time in a limo. They earned the reward by exhibiting the character trait emphasized in October – respect. When a teacher or other staff member sees a student displaying, they give the children Coyote Cash, when can be redeemed for prizes at the school store.

To add additional incentive for good behavior, Zamora took the rewards program a step further. Every two months, she will randomly draw eight names for a limo lunch ride from among those students who have received Coyote Cash.

The other positive character traits that can earn rewards are responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship, honesty and fairness.

Zamora said she and her staff already can tell the incentive system is working. Continue reading “DECA Students Share Limousine Ride With Their Principal” »