DHS Learns Important Lessons in Opening Night Loss

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

It was a learning opportunity. Sure, Anthony Armas and his Denair High football players had every expectation of playing to win Friday night on the road against Summerville. But a ragged first half full of opening-night nerves and a few key mistakes torpedoed the less experienced Coyotes early as the Bears raced to a 28-0 advantage.

Denair regrouped at halftime and settled down to play a cleaner game in the final two quarters, scoring twice while holding the Bears to a single touchdown. The final score was 34-13, a margin Armas said didn’t fully reflect how competitive his side was.

“I think we’re still young and we’re still learning,” the first-year coach said. “Defensively, we made some alignment mistakes in the first half and they cost us. Offensively, we’re getting better, but we had some guys who were a little unsure early on.”

Those breakdowns were reflected in each team’s first possession, Armas said.

Denair got the kickoff and had driven to midfield when it had a pass intercepted. On Summerville’s first offensive play, the Bears ran a halfback option on which the running back faked a sweep. Instead, with Denair’s defenders closing fast to stop the run, the back lobbed a pass to a wide open receiver behind the Denair secondary. Just like that, it was 7-0 Summerville.

Summerville controlled the line of scrimmage the rest of the first half, scoring three more times on a night in which the scoreboard and clock never worked. It went out during the junior varsity game, Armas said, forcing the officials to keep the time on the field and constantly update both teams.

It was an odd start to Armas’ head coaching career. Friday was the Denair graduate’s first time in charge after many years as an assistant at Denair and Pitman High in Turlock. Continue reading “DHS Learns Important Lessons in Opening Night Loss” »

New Coach, Renewed Enthusiasm for DHS Football Program

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The players won’t be the only ones trying to calm their nerves Friday night when Denair High School begins the 2015 football season on the road against Summerville. New head coach Anthony Armas also will be patrolling the sidelines for the first time as the man in charge.

The season opener represents a homecoming for Armas, a former lineman who graduated from Denair in 1997. He spent five years as a varsity assistant in Denair after earning his degree from CSU Stanislaus and has been an assistant coach at Pitman High School in Turlock since 2008. He also has been involved with the Denair Youth Football League.

He inherits a team that went 3-7 last season and played hard despite a thin varsity roster. Added to the mix this fall is a talented group of JV players, who gained confidence with five victories a year ago. Armas and his staff reason believe Denair is poised to surprise.

“They’re a hard-working group. Most of the juniors have been together since youth football,” said Armas, who said his goal is simple. “We are hoping to make the playoffs and develop a culture of success at Denair High School.”

Armas singled out senior lineman Kyle Perkins, senior running back and linebacker Juan Barrera and junior running back and linebacker Justin Seeley as among his top returnees. He said junior quarterback Kyle Prock, junior lineman Hector Obando and sophomore linebacker Joey Freitas are among the best of the first-year varsity players.

Depth was an issue at the varsity level last season. The Coyotes only had about 20 players until their final game, when they promoted some of the JV players. This fall, there are 24 players at practice – a few less than participated in summer workouts. Armas expects as many as 10 players to play extensively on offense and defense. Continue reading “New Coach, Renewed Enthusiasm for DHS Football Program” »

Denair Charter Academy Earns 209 Magazine Award

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The students, their families and the faculty at Denair Charter Academy have long appreciated the quality of the personalized educational program available there. Now, the readers of 209 Magazine know, too.

DCA was named Best Charter School for 2015 in voting by the readers of the magazine, which serves much of the 209 area code from Manteca to Turlock. There were 15 charter schools nominated, said Krista Messer of Morris Newspaper Group, which publishes the magazine. More than 44,000 votes were cast online between April 1 and May 15.

Denair Charter Academy is an independent learning program for students who do not wish or are not able to attend a traditional classroom setting. It combines academic rigor and high-quality instruction with the flexibility necessary to meet each student’s unique educational needs.

“Our ability to individualize education for all students sets us apart from other charter schools,” said first-year DCA Principal Dawn Allen. “Students can come one hour a week. They can also sign up to take a variety of on-site classes, take classes online, participate in field trips, and participate in leadership roles in the community while working.”

There are 30 kindergarten through eighth-graders enrolled in DCA’s home-school program and 186 high school students on independent study. High school enrollment typically grows as teens are referred from officials in other districts who recognize the positive impact of the DCA program. Even in the first week of school, Allen said enrollment is growing by about 10 students a day.

Denair Unified Kicks Off New School Year on Wednesday

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Years of Service Recognition
Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Classroom doors will swing open and Denair Unified School District students will return to class Wednesday at 8 a.m. to begin the 2015-16 school year. There have been some significant changes in the few short months since students and staff started their summer break.

A new elementary school, Denair Elementary Charter Academy, has been formed. It cleared its final administrative hurdle in July when it received approval from the State Department of Education. Already, it has generated widespread interest among parents. Enrollment has swelled to 510 students, about 35 more than at the end of the last school year.

  • Three new principals have been hired. Alecia Myers takes over at Denair High School, Travis Manley is the new leader at Denair Middle School and Dawn Allen will oversee Denair Charter Academy.
  • New teachers have been added on every campus and a learning director has joined the DECA staff.
  • Thanks growth at the elementary level, enrollment is holding steady at about 1,275 students. That number is likely to increase as out-of-district independent study high school students enroll at Denair Charter Academy in the coming months.
  • The district’s administrative offices are poised to move from portable buildings the state no longer approved of to three remodeled former classrooms on the old Denair Academic Avenues campus.

There were plenty of smiles and hugs Tuesday morning as Superintendent Aaron Rosander welcomed teachers and staff members for a full day of training. Eighteen employees were honored for years of service ranging from 10 to 30 years for what Rosander called “the greatest profession on the planet.” Continue reading “Denair Unified Kicks Off New School Year on Wednesday” »