Bob & Dorothy Steeley to be this Year’s Beneficiary of Denair Lions Pancake Breakfast

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DenairLionsClub

Submitted by Denair Lions Club

Every year for over 40 years, the Denair Lions Club holds a pancake breakfast the first Sunday in November. The breakfast has become not only a great fundraiser, but annual social event for 400 to 600 supporters. And every year the club looks for a person or cause to donate all the proceeds from the breakfast. In past years it has paid for such things as new uniforms and equipment for the Denair Lions Youth Football league, updates and fixes to the Denair High School Baseball Field, in honor of a past member that devoted so much time to the team, and sometimes to local residents in need of financial aid for medical bills after tragedy. This year is no different. This year all proceeds will be donated to Bob & Dorothy Steeley. Dorothy was diagnosed with stage 3 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma early in July. She has completed 5 of her scheduled 8 chemo treatments and her progress towards remission is going well.

When the members of the Lions heard about Dorothy’s battle with cancer, it was an easy decision to make them this year’s beneficiary. Bob and Dorothy have been residents of Denair for 43 years. In those years they have supported nearly everything the town and community has to offer. Bob was a volunteer fireman with the Denair Fire Department for just over 25 years, where he was a captain and later assistant chief. Both Bob and Dorothy were devoted to the department where they did everything from being part of the Muster Team to prepping, cooking, and serving dinner at the annual Deep Pit BBQ.

When it came time for their children to be in high school, you could find Bob and Dorothy on Thursday nights during football season painting the stripes and yard markers on the field, something Bob did again for a couple of years while his grandsons were playing football. Bob and Dorothy also added something to the stadium they hope will be there forever. On each the north light towers are giant DHS letters. In 1985 they traced out the letters on 3 separate 4’x8’ pieces of plywood and painted them the dark purple of the Denair school color. “Most people don’t notice them anymore because they faded so much,” according to Dorothy. “I’m sure Bob would be happy to repaint the letters if he could find a boom truck to raise him up to them.” “There is no way in the world you would find me that high in anything,” Dorothy told us. Continue reading “Bob & Dorothy Steeley to be this Year’s Beneficiary of Denair Lions Pancake Breakfast” »

A Class Act! 10 Questions for Kara Binkley

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Kara Binkley

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Name: Kara Binkley

Family: I have a hubby and three kiddos: McKinley, McKenzie and Madden.

School: Denair Charter Academy

Experience and education: One year of teaching fifth grade, three years teaching kindergarten and I am starting my sixth year of Independent Studies with high school students! I also love that I have the opportunity to coach students in my cross training class and lead counseling sessions for students on campus.

What most inspires you about teaching? Teaching can be exhausting, yet the most rewarding career! I am truly inspired every week by my students and their drive to succeed! DCA has given me the opportunity to see my students not only as a “student,” but also as a young person opening up and sharing their life experiences both good and bad. Their transparency gives me the push to better myself and for that I am thankful.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher? Helping students to believe in themselves and their potential for college is one of my biggest challenges.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? My favorite weekly activity is “Bink’s Vocab!” My students are required to read each night and choose one word that they didn’t know the definition of. The word must be quoted from the book and defined. Each student writes it on my whiteboard for all to see. I find myself learning new words weekly!

How has Common Core affected your classroom strategy? DCA is unique in the fact that we meet one on one with our students. As teachers, we are finding creative ways to teach the common core standards. Last year, I had my junior and senior students use digital media to give an oral presentation on any U.S. president. It was such an incredible feeling to see them stand with pride and most definitely built up their confidence. Continue reading “A Class Act! 10 Questions for Kara Binkley” »

Oppose the Proposal to Redraw the School District Boundary

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Let your voice be heard! Oppose the petition submitted by Ron B. Katakis, a local developer, to transfer land from Denair Unified School District to the Turlock Unified School District. The redrawing of the district boundary would divert future students and school funding away from Denair schools to Turlock Unified.

The Stanislaus County Committee on School District Organization will hold two public meetings.

Date:              Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Time:              5:00 p.m.
Location:       Turlock Unified School District
Professional Development Center
Located on e-Cademy campus, corner of Minarete and Marshall, next to Turlock Public Library

Time:              6:00 p.m.
Location:       Denair Unified School District
Coyote Center (Gym)
Denair Middle School ~ Lester Road
 
Supporting documents:

Tough Schedule Takes Toll on DHS Football Team

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The meat grinder that is the Denair High football schedule finally ends this week. In the space of a month, the Coyotes will have faced the four powerhouses of the Southern League – Mariposa, Gustine, Orestimba and, this week, Ripon Christian.

Combined, those schools have an overall record of 23-4. Gustine and Orestimba are tied for first place with perfect 7-0 marks. Third-place Mariposa lost only to Orestimba. Ripon Christian’s league losses are to Gustine and Orestimba.

The Southern League is stacked this year.

“Coming in to the season, we understood where we’re at and where we want to go,” said first-year Denair coach Anthony Armas, whose team suffered a 42-6 homecoming loss Friday to Orestimba at Jack Lytton Stadium. “We’re putting in new offense and new defense. We’re trying to change the culture.

“I do see improvement. We’re improving at practice. … We’re dealing with numbers, dealing with injuries. We’re trying to establish and program.”

Denair (2-5, 1-3) hung with Orestimba for the first quarter Friday. The Coyotes moved the ball well on their opening drive before stalling, but then gave up a touchdown on the Warriors’ first offensive play.

They didn’t get down, though. Denair marched down the field to score its only touchdown, cutting the lead to 7-6.

But after that, Orestimba’s size, speed and depth made the difference. The Warriors did all their scoring before the first half ended. The final two quarters were played with a running clock. “They called off the dogs,” Armas said. Continue reading “Tough Schedule Takes Toll on DHS Football Team” »