Denair High School’s Next Football Game Will Stay in Jackson

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair High’s next football game will be played as scheduled Friday night in Jackson against Argonaut High School, Athletic Director Darrin Allen announced Wednesday morning.

The game’s location was uncertain because of the week-old Butte fire, which has burned more 72,000 acres and destroyed 166 homes and 116 other buildings in Calaveras and Amador counties. Thousands of people who were evacuated from their homes over the weekend were allowed to return Monday.

Many events, including high school games, have been moved because of heavy smoke and other concerns.

Argonaut’s last football game, initially scheduled last Friday at home against Bear River, wasn’t played until Monday in Grass Valley.

Denair was prepared to host this week’s game, if necessary, Allen said. The decision was made in consultation with officials from both schools.

The Butte fire was estimated Wednesday morning to be about 40% contained. Fire officials are hopeful that a small weather system pushing into Northern California this afternoon could include rain that will aid in firefighting efforts.

Denair High Rolls to First Football Victory, 41-12

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The first victory came easily for the Denair High football team.

In front of a supportive home crowd, the Coyotes raced to a 27-point lead in the first quarter and never let up in a lopsided 41-12 win over Brookside Christian of Stockton.

It not only evened Denair’s record at 1-1 this season, it also was the first-ever victory for new head coach Anthony Armas. He must have done something to celebrate, right?

“Not really. I went home and uploaded game film,” Armas said. “It’s just one game.”

Denair’s linemen – many of whom play offense and defense – dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Armas said. Offensively, they opened big holes for the Coyotes’ backs. Defensively, they effectively bottled up Brookside Christian (0-3), allowing touchdowns only in the second and fourth quarters.

Denair started quickly. On its first play, running back Juan Berrera took a handoff, followed some good blocks on a trap play and raced about 60 yards for a touchdown. Berrera later scored from 5 yards out.

“He hit the hole pretty fast and once he got past the front line, he was free,” Armas said of Berrera’s first TD.

Other highlights in the first-quarter blitz included a punt return for a touchdown by Chase Pritt and an interception by outside linebacker Justin Steely that he returned to the Brookside 10-yard line. A couple of plays later, Steely took a pitch and scored another Denair touchdown.

“It’s a process,” Armas said of his young team and their progress. “They’re getting better every week. We’re just working to fix some little things on both sides of the ball.” Continue reading “Denair High Rolls to First Football Victory, 41-12” »

Denair Students Collecting Donations to Benefit Sierra Fire Victims

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FEMA News Photo / Andrea Booher

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Students and staff at two campuses in the Denair Unified School District are leading a community relief effort to help people affected by the Butte fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

Donations of clothing, toiletries, water, non-perishable food, blankets and other basic necessities will be accepted at the main offices at Denair High School and Denair Middle School between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both campuses are located on Lester Road.

The Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 acres since it began last week. An estimated 135 homes and more than 80 other buildings have been destroyed, and thousands of people were told to leave their houses over the weekend.

The impetus to help fire victims began Monday among students and staff at both campuses. At the high school, student Destiny Silva organized the effort. At the middle school, campus supervisor Melissa Oei – who used to live in Valley Springs, not far from the fire — has friends who have lost their homes. Students in the leadership club found out and decided they wanted to pitch in.

Donations will be accepted through lunch time Friday.

High school Principal Alecia Myers said Silva and her family intend to take what is collected to one of the relief stations in Calaveras County. Middle school Principal Travis Manley said he will drive the goods from his campus to a friend from Calaveras County and she’ll take it to the Red Cross or Resource Connection in San Andreas.

Anyone with questions should call the high school office at (209) 632-9911 or middle school office at (209) 632-2510.

Strong Elementary Enrollment Growth
 Good News for DUSD

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

After three years of decline, enrollment in the Denair Unified School District is leveling off thanks to strong growth at the elementary campus. More students boost the bottom line since average daily attendance, or ADA, is the key measurement linked to state funding.

Superintendent Aaron Rosander and Chief Business Officer Linda Covello went over the important financial and enrollment numbers at Thursday night’s DUSD board of trustees meeting.

Covello said the district finished the 2014-15 school year with 1,265 students, a 9% decline from the previous year. Still, thanks to tight fiscal controls and cooperation from labor groups, the district finished the school year with an overall fund balance of $852,403.

And, Rosander explained, this year has started off very well, particularly at the new Denair Elementary Charter Academy. Already, enrollment has exceeded projections by 40 students. The first-ever Spanish immersion program in kindergarten has proven to be especially popular. Thirty-two youngsters signed up, creating the need for a second class. An additional teacher has been hired and the district intends to advertise that it has room for another dozen or so students in the program.

“It’s been a fabulous start to the year,” Principal Sara Michelena said. “Our enrollment is up across all the grade levels.”

Covello’s budget projections show that thanks to enrollment growth and some one-time funding from the state, Denair should end this school year with a fund balance of more than $1.5 million.

Rosander couldn’t help but smile Thursday night when he considered the progress the district has made in a few short years.

“The picture looks very, very good. It appears the plan we put in place about a year and half ago is gaining traction and coming to fruition,” he said. “It’s really a nice trajectory that we’re on.” Continue reading “Strong Elementary Enrollment Growth
 Good News for DUSD” »

Coach of DHS Soccer Team Satisfied to be ‘Under the Radar’

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Brallan Hernandez

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

First-year Denair High School soccer coach Greg Gaudio quietly hopes his Southern League opponents take his young team lightly. And though the Coyotes have struggled the past few seasons, they appear primed to make some noise this fall.

They’re off to a 3-0 start behind the powerful offensive duo of seniors Francisco Licea and Isaac Starks.

The Coyotes opened with a dominating 8-3 victory at Hughson behind Licea’s four goals and three more from Starks. The defense limited the Huskies to five shots.

Then, the Coyotes took care of a strong Rio Vista team 3-1 at home, with Licea scoring twice and Starks adding the third goal. Freshman goalie Uriel Gonzalez made eight saves.

Starks nailed four goals and Licea had three assists in a 6-2 home victory over Big Valley Christian. Freshman Seth Martinez and sophomore Oscar Garcia also scored.

It all adds up to an impressive start for a Denair team that won just two out of 14 Southern League games last season. Part of the credit goes to Gaudio, a longtime youth and travel soccer coach in the region who played collegiately at CSU Stanislaus. He admittedly didn’t know much about his team as practice began last month, but says the early results are encouraging.

“I’ve changed the positions of a lot of players to get them in a position to where they can naturally excel,” Gaudio explained. “You can tell it’s really helping the team. It’s allowing them to be a team. Everybody is playing together. It seems to be working.” Continue reading “Coach of DHS Soccer Team Satisfied to be ‘Under the Radar’” »