Denair High School will host an orientation session Wednesday, Feb. 12 for all eighth-graders who will be freshmen in the next school year. The students as well as their parents are strongly encouraged to attend the meeting, which will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Denair High band room.
School officials will explain the various academic and vocational programs and electives – including Dual Language Immersion — that are offered at Denair High. They will go over graduation requirements for the Class of 2029 as well as what is needed to prepare students to apply for four-year state colleges and universities.
Booths representing Denair High sports teams as well as the many clubs and other organizations on campus will be set up and staffed by people with information.
Incoming freshmen – with their parents’ input and guidance – also will be able to start the process of signing up for their classes in the next school year.
Dinner will be served to students and their parents. The Coyote Cup of Kindness cart – operated by the special education students at DHS – will be serving drinks. There also will be raffle prizes.
“Orientation provides an opportunity for students and families to meet our amazing staff and learn about the courses, CTE and A-G pathways and programs/clubs offered at DHS,” said Principal Breanne Aguiar.
If students and families cannot make the event, they can contact the DHS office at (209) 632-9911 to set up an orientation to learn about what is offered and tour the campus.
The Denair High girls soccer team – led by prolific sophomore star Jazmin Padilla – is on the verge of capturing the Southern League championship and locking up a high playoff seeding.
After a so-so start to the season, the Coyotes have won six matches in a row to run their record to 12-5-1. More impressively, Denair is a perfect 8-0 in the Southern League with four matches to play.
“Our team has strongly improved since the start of the season due to the commitment of these wonderful young ladies. They work hard and have terrific attitudes,” said coach Mark Morphy.
Padilla’s 32 goals rank her third among all players in the Sac-Joaquin Section, which includes 198 schools from north of Sacramento to south of Merced. She had three goals in Denair’s most recent victory, a 4-0 shutout at home last Friday against Delhi.
Padilla comes from a talented soccer family, including her father, Tony, who is an assistant coach for Denair.
“Jazmin is a very skilled player who loves the game of soccer,” Morphy said. “Her footwork and strong legs are the key to her success. She is usually doubled- or tripled-teamed, but because of her ability to move the ball quickly, she can shoot and score.”
The Coyotes are far more than a one-girl team, however. Senior striker Abby Hernandez is a three-year starter who is second with seven goals. Two other seniors, Andrea Vasquez and Ana Renteria, consistently controls the middle of the field, pushing the ball ahead to Padilla and Hernandez. Morphy called Renteria “tough as nails.”
Denair’s defense has posted five shutouts in Southern League matches and has allowed only six goals in the other three, all victories. Morphy credited senior Lisbet Lopez, junior Emma Sarmiento and freshman Gracie Brigham for clamping down on opponents. Freshman goalie Aileen Chavez hasn’t had to face a lot of shots but has been solid as the last line of defense.
Denair has four league matches left, beginning Friday at home against Le Grand (4-10, 3-5), followed by a road contest at Mariposa (1-5) on Feb. 4, home against Waterford (2-16, 0-8) on Feb. 7 and the final regular-season game at Gustine (9-4-2, 6-1-1) on Feb. 11.
The Sac-Joaquin Section playoff pairings will be released Feb. 12. Denair currently is ranked second in Division VI behind Vacaville Christian (9-3-1). The top four seeds receive first-round byes in the 12-team playoff bracket.
Laura Maldonado does a little bit of everything at Denair Charter Academy. And then she does some more.
Her formal title is administrative assistant to Denair Charter Academy Principal Jamie Pecot, but that doesn’t begin to adequately describe Maldonado’s duties.
She’s a mentor and role model to others, both co-workers and students. She is an information resource to parents and students. She enrolls new students, helps distribute report cards, collaborates with the IT staff on projects, deftly navigates the financial system software, and creates and edits flyers about upcoming events.
Maldonado also is one of the organizers of the district’s Coyote Closet, where community donations allow students and families to privately shop for clothing and other necessities at no cost. During the holiday season, she can often be found shopping with students as part of a Lions Club sponsorship or taking an ornament from the giving tree to purchase gifts for a family in the district.
For all those reasons, Maldonado is Denair Unified’s nominee this year for the countywide Employees Making a Difference awards competition. She and the other nominees will be recognized Jan. 22 during a ceremony at the Stanislaus County Office of Education.
“Laura’s contributions are vast and varied, making her an indispensable member of the school team,” Pecot wrote in her nomination form. “Far beyond her role as an administrative assistant, she demonstrates compassion and commitment to both students and families, ensuring they are connected to valuable resources and support when needed. Her approach makes her an essential and trusted part of the school community.”
Maldonado has worked in the district since 2018. She has filled various office roles and became Pecot’s administrative assistant in 2023. She calls DCA her “home away from home” and relishes the variety of people with whom she routinely connects. DCA works with parents who home-school their children in kindergarten through eighth grade and also provides an independent study option for high school students.
“I love the fact that I can interact with kids of all ages,” Maldonado said. “In a day, I get to see the innocence of a kindergartner and their spark for exploring and then five minutes later interact with a senior who is planning their adult life. I get the best of both worlds. I also love the people I work with.”
Maldonado’s peers appreciate her selfless approach to everything she touches.
“Laura is caring and compassionate and her heart for others has been a haven when I have been sad and suffering,” said librarian Patte Hegg. “She shows she is aware of and concerned for the well-being of others. This attitude aids the overall atmosphere at school, which makes my job more joyful.”
Jasmin Baltazar, the new administrative aide to Superintendent Terry Metzger, said Maldonado “has been an incredible guide since I started working for the district.”
“Her patience and support have made a significant difference in my experience,” Baltazar said. “Not only is she always willing to help, but her advice is truly invaluable.”
Metzger praised Maldonado for her giving spirit and attitude, saying, “Laura is always ready to help others and she does it with a smile.”
Maldonado credits her parents for instilling within her the values others appreciate so much.
“My parents have always told me, ‘You should treat others as you would like to be treated,’ ” she said. “I follow this with everyone I encounter so I’m going to say that’s where my giving spirit comes from.”
