2016 Denair Football Team’s Unshakeable Legacy: Pride and Confidence Restored to Program

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Forget the numbers. It was always about heart and will and determination with this year’s Denair High football team. While the doubters and the others fixated on how few players Denair had, the Coyotes focused on what they could control – effort and desire. They practiced hard and played even harder, accomplishing goals few outsiders believed were in reach.

Never mind Friday’s 48-12 Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI playoff loss to a more talented Amador team. 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,” said second-year coach Anthony Armas. “I think what we were able to do this year despite our numbers … to get people excited again about the program, that’s going to be their legacy.”

Denair rarely had more than 14 or 15 players suit up for any game. Frequently, there were more coaches on the sideline than reserves. Because of injuries, the Coyotes even finished a 50-0 blowout over Le Grand with 12 players.

The fact that Denair was winning while facing teams with twice as many or more players was remarkable.

“I think some things didn’t go the way we wanted, but the way we overcame the numbers, that was satisfying. Not only for the kids, but the coaches, too. I’ve never been part of that,” said Armas.

The Coyotes finished the year 6-5. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. The program had won only eight games in the past four seasons combined. Denair wasn’t given much of a chance in the Southern League, but ended up tying for third place, shut out three league opponents and earned a playoff berth only it saw coming.

Armas said he sensed something magical might be happening when his players forced seven turnovers and beat Ripon Christian 32-0 on the road on Oct. 7.

“It was like, ‘Holy Cow,’ ” he said. “Everybody got psyched.” Continue reading “2016 Denair Football Team’s Unshakeable Legacy: Pride and Confidence Restored to Program” »

Denair Trustees Approve 4% Pay Increases

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Trustees in the Denair Unified School District enthusiastically approved across-the-board 4% pay increases Thursday night, yet another sign the district’s financial recovery plan is paying dividends.

The raises are retroactive to July 1 and will be reflected in employees’ November paychecks. They add $534,113 to the cost of pay and benefits this budget year. It is money well spent, trustees say.

“If it’s there, we want to give it back,” said Trustee Robert Hodges of the money for the pay increases. The additional funds are the result of unexpectedly strong enrollment growth this year.

Denair was forced to slash salaries and staffing in 2013 when it faced a fiscal crisis due to declining enrollment and reduced state payments. Salaries for classified staff shrunk by 12%; pay for teachers and administrators was cut 8%. Some employees were laid off. The Stanislaus County Office of Education stepped in to provide temporary financial oversight.

Thursday’s move comes a month after trustees granted one-time payments of 2.37% of the salaries of all teachers who were on staff in 2015-16. Classified staff received identical bonuses earlier this year. In addition, all employees received 1% raises in the spring.

“The hope is the restoration will be ongoing,” said board President Sandi Dirkse.

Teachers in Denair can earn to $79,119 in addition to stipends for coaching or having a master’s degree. Principals can make up to $96,915, depending upon experience. Classified managers can earn up to $76,138 while non-salaried employees are paid up to $23.99 per hour.

Trustees voted 4-0 for the salary increases, with Kathi Dunham-Filson absent, after an optimistic budget report from Chief Business Officer  Linda Covello that projects the district will be on sound fiscal footing for at least the next three years.

“It’s the strongest financial position Denair Unified has been in in many years,” said Superintendent Aaron Rosander. Continue reading “Denair Trustees Approve 4% Pay Increases” »

Eight Denair High Students Recognized for Bilingual Skills

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Denair spanish Language Recipients 2016

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Eight students at Denair High School have earned prestigious recognition for their bilingual speaking and writing abilities.

Senior Cesar Flores; juniors Yareli Coria, Alondra Montanez and Jesus Perez; sophomores Angela Verduzco and Reyna Villa; and freshmen Brigg Wenstrand and Jesus Flores were awarded the coveted Seal of Multilingual Proficiency in a ceremony Nov. 2 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto. The designation will be specially noted on their high school diplomas, certifying that they are fluent in English as well as Spanish.

This important recognition helps graduates when they apply to colleges, compete for scholarships or submit job applications.

“This is a verification of their skills,” said Maria Olivas, a former Spanish teacher and coordinator of the English Language Development programs in the Denair district. She also serves on the language committee run by the Stanislaus County Office of Education.

This year, about 1,100 students from 15 Stanislaus County high schools applied for the Seal of Multilingual Proficiency. Of that group, 303 were certified as meeting the bilingual standards, according to the County Office of Education. Twenty-three different languages were represented.

All students must submit an autobiography in English, followed by a 300-word essay in their other language on a designated topic. Those who pass the first step then went to the county office for face-to-face interviews in both languages. The scores from the autobiography, the essay and the interviews are combined to determine which students qualify for the seal.

“Being proficient in multiple languages enhances a student’s education and value in the marketplace,” said Tom Changnon, the county superintendent of schools. “Our economy is tied to that of other nations, and Californians who participate across international borders bring strength and potential to this state’s global enterprises.”

All the Denair students honored this year take advanced Spanish classes at the high school taught by Sandra Cisneros. In the five years of the Multi-Lingual Seal recognition program, 16 Denair students have been awarded certificates.

“As a teacher, I have been very fortunate to see that all the effort and dedication that the foreign language students have put into the multilingual seal assessment have been paid off with a grand acknowledgement and Seal diploma,” Cisneros said.

Added Olivas: “Learning a language at home is an advantage, but if they don’t have training in class, they probably won’t pass the tests.”

Three Denair Cross Country Runners Qualify for Section Meet

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Three of the four Denair High School cross country runners who competed Saturday on a hilly course in Angels Camp qualified for the Sac-Joaquin Section Meet this week.

Seth Martinez (sophomore boys), Danielle Tigner (frosh/soph girls) and Johnny Ibarra (freshman boys) advanced for the Coyotes to Saturday’s at the Willow Hill course in Folsom, though Ibarra won’t run because of a previous commitment.

They qualified based on their performances at the Sac-Joaquin Sub-Section Meet at the Frogtown course near the Calaveras County Fairgrounds. They all were among the top 10 runners who were not part of the six fastest teams.

Martinez completed the two-mile course in 17 minutes, 58.2 seconds, making him 13th overall and the sixth individual qualifier.

Tigner was 10th overall in her race, finishing in 20:08.7. And Ibarra was sixth overall and the third individual qualifier with his time of 14:53.0.

A fourth Denair runner, Alex Flores (varsity boys), had his season end after finishing 82nd out of 159 runners with a time of 22:00.4 over 5 kilometers.

This was the first season for cross country at Denair and Coach Matthew Groom said his runners adapted well to a challenging course.

“The course had three hills for the lower levels and a few more for varsity. These hills were steeper than we have ever seen before,” he said.

Magical Regular Season Ends With Unexpected Loss, But Denair Still Rewarded With Football Playoff Berth

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So much has gone right this year for the Denair High football team that a victory Friday over Waterford – on Senior Night, in the final regular-season game of the year, with a playoff berth likely riding on the outcome – seemed preordained.

The scrappy Coyotes have been the feel-good story of the fall, winning games despite a 15-man roster and earning regional and media attention in the process. Surely the Hollywood script writers knew the proper ending.

Uh, apparently not.

Waterford’s 20-12 victory not only threw cold water over a rabid fan base primed to let loose with a raucous celebration at Jack Lytton Stadium, it threatened to be the final act of an otherwise magical season. A playoff spot that seemed so certain suddenly was at risk.

“I think everybody was disappointed because we felt we had to win to get in,” said Coach Anthony Armas on Sunday. “We had a really good crowd. A lot of alumni showed up.”

He said the players and coaches all realized what a loss might mean. “We felt very bad. … It all kind of hit home after the game.”

Still, as had already been planned, the entire Denair team and coaching staff gathered Saturday afternoon in Athletic Director Darrin Allen’s classroom to watch a live feed of the playoff announcements. They had to wait more than an hour before the Division VI pairings were revealed.

And then they heard their names called right away.

Despite Friday’s upset, Denair was rewarded with the No. 8 seed. The Coyotes (6-4) will play top-seeded Amador (10-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. in Sutter Creek.

“We got a little reprieve,” said Armas, admitting, “I was pretty nervous.”

Making the playoffs provided a much-needed balm to the self-inflicted injuries Denair suffered through Friday against Waterford. Continue reading “Magical Regular Season Ends With Unexpected Loss, But Denair Still Rewarded With Football Playoff Berth” »