DHS Library Club Hosts Angel Tree

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Submitted by Denair High School

The DHS Library Club is partnering with the Salvation Army and hosting an  Angel Tree this year.  You may come to the DHS Library and pick a tag from the tree.  The child’s gender and age are listed on the tags. Buy age appropriate gift(s) and return the unwrapped gift and tag to the DHS Library.  Gifts will be distributed to families that have signed up under the Community Food Basket Program with the Salvation Army.

If you aren’t able to come to the library to pick a tag, please buy your gift, and when it is returned, we can add the age appropriate tag.  Please return gifts by December 14th 3:30 p.m., to the DHS office.  If you have questions, please contact Ms. Schell at 632-9911 ext. 4259, W-F or 632-2510, ext. 3210-M & T.

The DHS Library Club thanks you for your kindness and support!

Class Act! 10 Questions for Rosa Zamudio

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Rosa Zamudio

Submitted by Denair Middle School

Name: Rosa Zamudio

Family: My big family includes my parents, four sisters, three brothers, seven nephews and four nieces. We all live in Riverbank except for my older sister, who lives in L.A. with her three children.

School: Denair Middle School

Position: Bilingual school secretary

Experience/education: I have a BA in Education from Ashford University in San Diego. Before working for DUSD, I worked for a head start program for eight years as a secretary, social worker and data technician. I also worked as a library assistant for the Stanislaus County Library. I love books, so one of my future career goals is to become a full-time children’s librarian.

What most inspires you about working at Denair Middle School? What inspires me the most about working at Denair Middle School is seeing students really trying their best to succeed in school. Some students really care about turning in their work and getting good grades and, to me, that is very inspiring.

What are your biggest challenges as a classified staff member? I have just recently become a classified staff member working for DUSD so I haven’t really found any big challenges yet.

What is your favorite support tool or activity? Being patient works for me! I think that taking the time to learn something new or taking the time to help someone is a great way to become an efficient co-worker and great team player.

What do you want your students to remember? I want students to remember that with just a little effort, great things can happen. Doing their homework, behaving in class and just being a good person can help them succeed both personally and academically.

How can parents support what you do? Parents can support what I do by being accessible and being willing to work with office staff. Continue reading “Class Act! 10 Questions for Rosa Zamudio” »

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” »