Community Invited to Rachel’s Challenge Event August 29

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

With school back in session, some parents may have concerns about the possibilities of their child or his or her classmates being the target of bullying – either in person or via social media. And though the Denair Unified School District has strong policies in place against bullying and discrimination of any kind, sadly, opportunities exist even when children are away from class.

With that in mind, district officials strongly encourage parents and community members to attend a free presentation of Rachel’s Challenge on August 29 at 6:30 p.m. in the Coyote Center, on the campus of Denair Middle School.

Earlier that day, the same program will be shown to all middle and high school students in the district.

Rachel’s Challenge exists to equip individuals to replace acts of violence, bullying, discrimination and negative activity with acts of respect, kindness and compassion.

The program is dedicated to the memory of Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the tragic shootings at Columbine High School in 1999. Hailed as one of the most powerful intervention programs ever shared in public schools, Rachel’s Challenge provides a stunning and inspiring story that holds the power to transform lives.

More than 23 million people have heard Rachel’s story in live settings around the world. It is reported that, as a result, at least eight school shootings have been prevented and more than 500 suicides have been averted.

“Her love, goodwill and compassion have gone around the world a thousand times,” said Aaron Rosander, Denair’s superintendent. “It is all about compassion, sympathy and listening to others. … It’s a great family event. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you will walk out of this a changed person because of what this 15-year-old did.”

Rosander and his team invite everyone to join them on August 29 to start a chain reaction of kindness, compassion and positivity across our community and beyond.

Denair High School Fall Sports Preview

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Submitted by Denair High School

Building upon last year’s unexpected successes will be the theme for the Denair High School football and cross country teams this fall, while the volleyball club will seek to create positive momentum of its own under the leadership of a new coach.

Here’s a quick overview of the Coyotes’ varsity teams, which swing into action Friday the first football game at Summerville and cross country meet in Lodi. The volleyball girls begin Monday with a non-league match at Turlock Christian.

 

Football

The Coyotes were the biggest small-school surprise in the Sac-Joaquin Section last fall, overcoming long odds and a small roster to earn a spot in the Division VI playoffs. Despite suiting up as few as 14 or 15 players, Denair finished third in the Southern League and posted its first winning record (6-5) in years.

The 2016 Coyotes will long be remembered as the young men and their coaches who restored pride and confidence in the program.

“These are the guys who jump started our program,” coach Anthony Armas said after the season. “I think what we were able to do despite our numbers … to get people excited again about the program, that’s going to be their legacy.”

Armas began practice this season with 22 players on his varsity squad, which has only five returning starters from a year ago. Adding depth is a talented group of juniors and sophomores who are used to winning – they were unbeaten last year at the JV level.

Among the seniors are three two-way players who will add experience and muscle to the line – Blake Davis (tight end/outside linebacker), Dylan Mann (tight end/defensive end) and Bryson Prock (center/defensive line). Continue reading “Denair High School Fall Sports Preview” »

Farm & Family Festival Fun Run Helps Denair High Students

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Submitted by Denair Farm & Family Festival

Want to enjoy a fun way to support students at Denair High School and get a little exercise in the process?

Then consider signing up for the 5K Fun Run to be held before the Denair Farm & Family Festival on Saturday, Sept. 9.

Registration is $25 and includes a T-shirt and swag bag. Proceeds from the race provide money for scholarships for Denair High students.

Check-in for the fun run starts at 7 a.m. in front of the Gas Light Theater; the event begins at 8 a.m.

To register in advance, go to www.active.com and type in “Denair Fun Run.”

After they finish, runners will want to stick around for the annual Farm & Family Festival, one of the highlights of each year in the community. The event will feature more than 100 vendors, a car and truck show, live entertainment, a kids zone and plenty of food.

Admission is free to the festival. For more information, go to www.denairfestival.com.

Independent Auditor Gives DUSD Thumbs Up

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

An independent auditor praised the Denair Unified School District for the accuracy of its financial projections Thursday night while cautioning trustees to pay close attention to future spending.

In particular, Debbie Fry of School Services of California advised school board members to avoid making long-term financial commitments without a corresponding revenue stream to pay for them. Those dollars from the state, she explained, are directly tied to enrollment – which has been flat or declining in Denair. Enrollment is projected at about 1,300 students this year, down from nearly 1,600 10 years ago.

The district’s $16.2 million budget for 2017-18 includes about $1 million in so-called “one-time money” collected and saved over the past three years, said Linda Covello, chief business officer. The additional money has been Gov. Jerry Brown’s preferred method of funding schools beyond what is legally required.

Denair will use that money to add modular buildings on the fast-growing Denair Elementary Charter Academy campus, buy new textbooks at all four campuses, and pay for computers and other technology to better prepare those students.

Saving the extra state dollars to spend on specific projects is a key part of the district’s strategy to attract more students, Covello said. By law, the one-time funds cannot be spent on ongoing expenses such as employee salaries.

“The top priority for the district has been to increase enrollment … to generate additional ongoing revenue and be able to increase ongoing expenses (salaries and benefits) in a way that is sustainable,” she explained. “So over this year and the next, the district plans to spend down all of the one-time moneys sitting in the ending fund balance on one-time expenses that can improve and/or increase programs.”

Added Superintendent Aaron Rosander: “This is all planned. The one-time money is going to disappear as we invest in technology, infrastructure and other programs.” Continue reading “Independent Auditor Gives DUSD Thumbs Up” »

Denair Student Leads Relief Effort for Mariposa Fire Victims

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Submitted by Denair High School

A student at Denair High School set aside traditional sports rivalries to provide support for Mariposa County residents affected this summer by the massive Detwiler Fire.

Drew Pritchard, a junior at DHS, was in Monterey with his father in late July as the fire was raging in the rugged terrain just north of the town of Mariposa. Hundreds of people were temporarily evacuated from their homes as firefighters from all over the state battled the flames.

Drew thought of the athletes he had competed against in football, basketball and golf. He told his parents, “We should do something for them,” according to a story published Aug. 3 in the Mariposa Gazette.

Kathy and Dale Pritchard, Drew’s parents, encouraged their son. They spent a few hundred dollars buying groceries to donate to Mariposa families. When others in Denair found out, they also chipped in. The Pritchards’ doctor donated some medical supplies, Save Mart provided bottled water and Raley’s chipped in cookies.

On July 27, Drew and his father drove to Mariposa High School, accompanied by Denair student Steffin Winston, one of Drew’s basketball teammates. At the school, they gave the supplies to members of the Mariposa basketball team to distribute to the community.

“We play them every single year,” Drew told the newspaper, “and it’s just hard when you know they’re not getting what they want” because of the fire.

Drew and Steffin both said they had seen TV reports of the Detwiler Fire, which burned more than 81,000 acres and destroyed 63 homes and one business before it was contained.

“It’s probably hard for them,” Drew said. “I wouldn’t want to be in that situation.”

The relief effort was much appreciated by the people in Mariposa.

“It’s about relationships and the relationships we’ve developed in the Southern League,” said Trace DeSandres, Mariposa’s athletic director. “To me, this is why we do this. It teaches them there are more things than just the competitive part.”

Drew’s parents said they couldn’t be more proud of their son and others in the Denair community who rallied for a worthy cause.

“I thought it was pretty cool,” said Kathy.

Also impressed is Drew’s high school principal, Kara Backman.

“Drew is a thoughtful, hard-working and polite young man,” she said. “He has the internal drive of a student athlete and is always there to lend a hand to a fellow peer.  He bleeds purple and we are proud to call him a Coyote!  I am so proud of him.”