Category Archives: News

Nationally Known Teaching Experts Harry and Rosemary Wong Inspire Denair’s Staff

Posted on by

Rosemary and Harry Wong

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Two of the country’s most respected experts on effective teaching brought their ideas to life Tuesday morning at a training event for nearly 100 Denair Unified teachers, principals and other staff members.

Harry Wong and his wife, Rosemary, alternately inspired and challenged their audience, infusing their talk with hands-on lessons from their own teaching careers as well as success stories from classrooms all over the country.

The Wongs are authors of many books on education, including “The First Days of School: How To Be An Effective Teacher,” with has been translated into seven languages and sold 3.9 million copies around the world. They are plenty in demand. They were in Wisconsin on Monday, flew back to California and then jumped into another plane to get to Texas for an event Wednesday.

With school beginning Thursday on Denair’s four campuses, Tuesday’s appearance was especially timely.

“Dr. Wong is the pre-eminent teacher trainer in our nation. His book … is a staple in university teacher training programs and is used by more teachers across the nation than any other resource,” said Superintendent Aaron Rosander.

Harry Wong began the session by reminding the Denair staff that “there’s only one way kids will ever learn and that’s from an effective teacher.”

“We live in Bay Area and are surrounded by technology, but technology doesn’t teach kids. There is no program that can replace a teacher,” said Wong, who was honored in 2016 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from National Teachers Hall of Fame.

The San Francisco native spent 17 years in classrooms in the Menlo/Atherton area before launching his career as a consultant. He met his wife – then a young teacher from Louisiana — while leading a seminar in Dallas in the mid-1980s. They have been married 37 years. Continue reading “Nationally Known Teaching Experts Harry and Rosemary Wong Inspire Denair’s Staff” »

School Begins Thursday, August 11, at all Denair Campuses

Posted on by

Back to School 2016

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

School resumes Thursday, Aug. 11 in the Denair Unified School District with more than 1,200 students expected for classes across four campuses. School begins at 8 a.m. Class is over at 2:20 p.m. for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students, 2:40 p.m. for children in grades 1 to 5, and 2:45 p.m. for all other students.

Four new principals will be in place in the district – Kara Backman at Denair High School, Kelly Beard at Denair Middle School, Lucy Zamora at Denair Elementary Charter Academy and Brian LaFountain at Denair Charter Academy.

Parents are invited to read the district’s handbook, then sign and return the acknowledgement form to the office at their child’s campus. The handbook contains district policies and outlines the rights and responsibilities of parents.

All community members are reminded to be especially cautious of children walking or riding their bicycles to and from campus beginning this week. Parents driving their children to school are advised to give themselves plenty of time because traffic is predictably heavy before and after school.

Parents with questions about busing should call 632-7514, ext. 1230 or 1218.

Breakfast and lunch are served at all school food service sites between 7:30 and 7:55 a.m. Parents with questions should call 632-9920, ext. 1243.

Denair Farm & Family Festival Scheduled for September 10

Posted on by

Denair Farm & Family Flyer

Submitted by Denair Farm & Family Festival

Come join us for lots of family friendly fun! 5k Fun Run for our High School Scholarship Fund! Live entertainment, Tricked Out Truck Show, vendors, food and more!

Vendors: For Vendor information, an application can be downloaded from our website at www.DenairFestival.com and any questions can be directed to Sherrie Van Gaalen at (209) 417-2834 http://www.denairfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Booth-Packet.pdf

Sponsors: We need you! Please contact Michelle Dunn at (209) 277-2767 if you would be willing to donate to our wonderful festival!  http://www.denairfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sponsorship-Packet.pdf

CONTACT INFORMATION:
James Shehan – Event Chairman – (209) 480-1533
Jan Hooker – Treasurer – (209) 668-9144
Melissa Cherry – Secretary/5K Run – (209) 678-0381
Russell Steeley – Truck Show – (209) 922-8832
Sherrie Van Gaalen – Booths & Sponsorship – (209) 417-2834
Mel Desouza – Marketing & PR – (209) 872-1220
Mark Turpin – Volunteers – (209) 216-7901
Michelle Dunn – Sponsorship – (209) 277-2767

New Ag, Drama, Math and English Courses Unveiled for DHS Students

Posted on by

DUSD Logo

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair High School School students interested in ag or drama will have new electives from which to choose in the upcoming school year, Denair Unified School District trustees decided Thursday night. Adjustments also were made to math and English curriculum, and a second piece put in place for a criminal justice pathway for students interested in law enforcement as a career.

Board members heard an overview of the new courses from Cherie Gresham, the counselor at the high school. Among the highlights:

  • A beefed up menu of ag electives, all intended to quality for college-level credit for students who want to attend Modesto Junior College after graduation. A new welding class will follow two courses in ag mechanics, with hopes of adding an advanced welding class in the near future. A floral design II class to introduce higher-level concepts, Gresham said. An introduction to animal science course. And, finally, an elective on agricultural leadership and skills, which excited Trustee Ray Prock Jr. “I could see it developing into a marketing or ag communications class. I don’t think there’s any other high school around here that offers that,” he said.
  • An elective in drama. “We had a ton of interest in it,” Gresham explained. “We had a bunch of kids already in the Drama Club.”
  • In mathematics, accommodations were made for students who have struggled with algebra. Gresham said for incoming freshmen identified as needing additional attention, algebra will be split into integrated math 1A and integrated math 1B – each a yearlong course that allows them to learn “at a slow pace.” Because the combined classes will count only as one year toward the three years of math needed to graduate, these students also will have to take math classes through their senior years. In addition, a course called integrated math II will replace geometry. It includes elements of geometry, probability and proportional reasoning, quadratic functions and solving equations.
  • In English, a pre-AP course was added specifically for sophomores to better prepare them for the Advanced Placement class they can take as juniors or seniors. “With the pre-AP, we’re giving them a taste of what’s expected and they’ll know whether they’re ready to jump into it,” Gresham explained. “We found this year that some of our students weren’t as prepared as they needed to be for the rigorous coursework.”
  • Trustees were excited to learn about plans to expand the criminal justice choices to as many as four classes, creating what is known as a “pathway.” An introductory course was unveiled in 2015-16 for sophomores, juniors and seniors to consider as an elective. This year, a class in patrol procedures will be added for students at all grade levels. Two additional classes – intro to criminal justice and administration of justice – are envisioned in future years.

Continue reading “New Ag, Drama, Math and English Courses Unveiled for DHS Students” »