Category Archives: News

DHS Top Athlete Scholars Recognized

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Andrew Knapp and Kaelee Martinez

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Two of Denair High School’s top students were honored this week by the Southern League for their academic and athletic accomplishments.

Andrew Knapp and Kaelee Martinez have excelled in the classroom and as four-year members of the Coyotes’ sports teams, and have been actively involved with various school clubs and volunteering in the community.

Knapp carries a 4.34 grade-point average, ranking him first in Denair’s 82-member senior class. He led the Academic Decathlon team to a third-place finish in the Stanislaus County competition earlier this year, scoring the most points in school history. He also has played varsity tennis and soccer all four years, is a member of the county Leadership Academy, the high school Drama Club, is president of Denair Matters, volunteers at the We Care Men’s Shelter in Turlock and plays guitar at his church.

“I can say without hesitation that he is one of the finest students it has ever been my pleasure to teach,” said Paul Michaelis, a former Denair math teacher, Academic Decathlon adviser and tennis coach. “… Whether it is soccer or tennis, Andrew is the type of athlete that every coach wants to have on the team. He works hard to better himself in both the physical and mental sides of sports. He leads his team by example, putting in the extra time and work necessary to be successful.”

Knapp will major in biology and music at Fresno State University, and said his goal is to become a high school teacher.

“Andrew is diligent in the classroom and in all of his extracurricular activities. He strives for excellence in everything he does,” praised Denair High Principal Aaron Delworth.

Added teacher and Athletic Director Darrin Allen: “I look forward to seeing what he will accomplish in the future.” Continue reading “DHS Top Athlete Scholars Recognized” »

Denair Education Foundation April eCycle Event

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Denair Education Foundation Logo

Submitted by Denair Education Foundation

Denair Education Foundation will be holding an eCycle event at Denair High School on Saturday, April 25, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Gather those old TV’s, CPUs, monitors, laptops, printers, cell phones, scanners, and copiers. Donating them is free and helps raise funds for activities and equipment for the students of Denair Schools.

This is the last eCycle event until August. Just think of all that extra room in the garage, if you load up the outdated TV’s and tech equipment and donate!

Your donations help students go on field trips, buy new technology equipment, sponsor scholarships, and enrich music, art, and theater curriculum.

Denair Education Foundation was established in 2005 to “enrich and improve the quality of the educational environment for the students of the Denair Unified School District.”  The list is long of funded opportunities for the students.  They are made possible through donations and our main e-cycle fundraiser.  Thanks to all who have donated!  You are helping Denair’s students and the environment! Continue reading “Denair Education Foundation April eCycle Event” »

Bush and Delworth Assume New Administrative Roles in 2015-16

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Aaron Delworth and Michelle Bush

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Two veteran educators will move into different leadership roles in the next school year within the Denair Unified School District, which has launched a statewide search to fill the vacancies their new assignments will create.

Michelle Bush will take over as the senior director of curriculum and instruction, student support services and state preschool. For the past two years, she has been the principal at Denair Charter Academy.

Aaron Delworth will become the full-time principal at Denair Middle School. He has been principal at Denair High School and the middle school the past two years.

“These changes are made solely to enhance the effectiveness at each of our schools and across the district,” Superintendent Aaron Rosander said in a note to the staff.

Bush began teaching in the district in 1991 and previously was the principal at Denair Middle School for three years. She will replace Fawn Oliver, who plans to retire at the end of this school year after working in various administrative roles since 2001.

“Michelle’s many talents and skills will be put to powerful use in this new capacity,” Rosander said.

Delworth, a Denair graduate, has worked as a teacher and administrator in the district since 2004. The new role returns him exclusively to the middle school, where he served as principal from 2010-13.

“(He) has extensive experience at the middle school level. His full-time leadership at DMS will undoubtedly be welcomed and invaluable,” Rosander said.

New principals will be recruited for the high school and DCA, Rosander said, and are expected to be in place when the new school year begins in August.

Crash Survivor Delivers Powerful Message On Drinking And Driving

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July 17, 1994

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

July 17, 1994. It’s the day when the arc of Michelle Stevenson Fuller’s life was forever altered. The day that two of her Denair High classmates died and she was seriously injured. All were passengers in a car being driven by a drunken driver.

In the blink of an eye, so much changed, so much was lost.

Fuller’s scars – physical and emotional – remain. So does the white cross on Zeering Road, marking the site of the incident.

Friday morning, Fuller, now 38 and a mother of two, shared her story with students at her alma mater who were not yet born in 1994. Her speech was part of the school’s “Every 15 Minutes” presentation, which involved a simulated crash scene, multiple “deaths” and a memorial service to emotionally underscore the dangers of drinking and driving.

But there was nothing made up about Fuller’s example.

Not quite two months removed from graduation at Denair, she and some friends were at a party in Turlock on a typical summertime Saturday night. Music was playing. Teens flirted. And alcohol was readily available. Someone in the group knew of another party in Denair. So six teens piled into a four-seat Suzuki Sidekick with a girl who had been drinking.

“It was a solo accident; no one hit us,” Fuller said. “She lost control and overcorrected. The CHP estimated we were going 80 mph.”

The Sidekick rolled 2½ times and ended up against a tree. One of Fuller’s best friends was killed. So was a boy who was a junior and had jumped in the vehicle just to get a ride to the next party. Continue reading “Crash Survivor Delivers Powerful Message On Drinking And Driving” »

DECA Petition Approved By DUSD Board

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DUSD Logo

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Unified School District trustees enthusiastically approved a plan Thursday night to create a new elementary charter school for next year that would combine Spanish instruction for all students with rigorous core subjects and exposure to fine arts.

One of the unique features of the Denair Elementary Charter Academy, or DECA, would be a dual immersion English/Spanish class for kindergarteners. The class would follow the 90% Spanish and 10% English dual immersion model, said Principal Sara Michelena. The goal is to have a 50/50 mix of English and Spanish speakers. The intent, she said, is to add a dual immersion class at successive grade levels each year as the first group of kindergartners gets older.

Response has been strong, Michelena said. Already, 36 kindergarteners have signed up for the immersion program.

“We are creating our very own, very unique program,” said Superintendent Aaron Rosander. “We will be the pre-eminent leader of this kind of education in our region.”

DECA would replace the current charter program, known as Denair Academic Avenues. Denair Elementary School, which shares the same campus today, will technically remain in existence, though district officials expect most of the students to enroll in the DECA program. Students in the same grade level will be in the same class for the core programs, but DECA students will have access to more electives.

“Because this is such a powerful program, we think the choice is easy,” Rosander said.

Trustee Sandi Dirkse said the early community reaction to the new charter has been tremendous.

“The energy and buzz around town is very positive,” she said. “I’m hearing from parents who are very excited.” Continue reading “DECA Petition Approved By DUSD Board” »