Katelynn Lawson Among FFA Scholarship Finalists

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Katelynn LawsonUnlike most of her FFA peers, Katelynn Lawson did not grow up on a farm or ranch. Her father is a businessman in Ceres; her mother is a teacher in Turlock.

“I have an accidental life in agriculture,” said Katelynn, a senior at Denair High School, who was one of six nominees this year for a statewide FFA scholarship.

Katelynn, 18, may not come from traditional agricultural roots, but that has not diminished her enthusiasm. She has shown rabbits and pigs at the Stanislaus County Fair and at national shows the past four years. She has been the FFA president at Denair High School the past two years while taking every ag-related class taught by teacher and FFA adviser Bill Douglas.

“She’s definitely taken a strong interest in agriculture and that’s not always there for students who don’t have a family connection to a farm,” said Douglas.

Katelynn’s activities don’t stop with her affinity for ag. She’s been a Girl Scout for 13 years, a cheerleader at the high school and is the student representative on the Denair Unified School Board.

“She is very outgoing, very involved in the campus,” said Denair High Principal Aaron Delworth. “She’s very mature and confident. I think what we’re seeing from her right now is just tip of iceberg. She’s going to go a long way in life.”

Though Katelynn was not among the award winners announced Sunday night at the 86th California State FFA Leadership Conference in Fresno, she already has one scholarship in her pocket – $1,500 from the Turlock Chamber of Commerce. She intends to use it next year just down the road at California State University, Stanislaus. Her focus in college?

“I applied as a business major,” he said, “hopefully with a focus on ag.”

Denair High School Wrestling Coach Honored

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Don HelnoreWhen Don Helnore took over the wrestling program at Denair High School six years ago, he had three athletes on his team. Two of them were girls. He knew he needed rekindle interest and recruit students, or the sport was in danger of being eliminated.

Fast forward to this past season. There were 21 athletes on the team – all freshmen, sophomores and juniors. The Coyotes finished third in the very competitive Southern League. Six wrestlers advanced to sectional or regional competition.

The work Helnore has done to rebuild the program has gained respect and attention. The Southern League coaches voted him Coach of the Year this season – an award that most often goes to the league champion. More importantly, there is enthusiasm and energy associated with wrestling that was not there before Helnore was hired.

“He’s worked extremely hard at turning around our program. There were not a lot of students when he took over,” said Denair Principal Aaron Delworth.

Helnore said he was able to convince 11 students to resume or take up wrestling in his first year. He also has developed a strong feeder program at Denair Middle School. In most years, six to 10 freshmen join the high school wrestling team.

“He’s spent a lot of time involving the middle school kids and building a program that goes right into high school,” praised Athletic Director Steve Doerksen. Continue reading “Denair High School Wrestling Coach Honored” »

Denair Week of the Young Child Festivities

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Week of the Young Child LogoDenair Unified School District will be celebrating Week of the Young Child, Friday, April 11, 2014, with a festival for their youngest students. Denair Elementary Preschool and Kindergarten students will enjoy a concert by Oklin Bloodworth, a children’s performer, beginning at 9:15, in the Elementary Cafeteria. Immediately following the music performance, festival activities will continue on the kinder/Preschool Playground with fun activities for students, including face-painting, bubble blowing cups, mural painting, an obstacle course, and musical instruments.

The Week of the Young Child is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association, with nearly 80,000 members and a network of over 300 local, state, and regional Affiliates.

The purpose of the Week of the Young Child is to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.

NAEYC first established the Week of the Young Child in 1971, recognizing that the early childhood years (birth through age 8) lay the foundation for children’s success in school and later life. The Week of the Young Child is a time to plan how we – as citizens of a community, of a state, and of a nation – will better meet the needs of all young children and their families.

In 2011, NAEYC celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child™. For more information about the history of the event and the 40th anniversary read Week of the Young Child Turns 40!

Below are photos from the event.

DUSD Hires New Chief Business Officer

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Linda CovelloLinda Covello has joined the administrative staff at the Denair Unified School District as chief business officer.

Covello comes to Denair after five years at the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, where she most recently was a categorical program analyst in the finance department. Her first day in her new position was April 1, 2014.

Superintendent Aaron Rosander called Covello “an emerging fiscal leader” with “a keen eye for financial detail” and strong communication and interpersonal skills.

“Linda helped her previous district maximize funding sources for efficiency and effectiveness,” he said.

Covello takes over at a key time in the history of the Denair district, which required a loan from the Stanislaus County Office of Education to balance its $8.7 million budget this year and has made a series of tough but necessary financial decisions to position itself for the future. She will work alongside Douglas Crancer, who has served as the interim chief business officer since last year. He will remain as a part-time adviser through the 2014-15 school year.

“With many changes being made at DUSD, I think the biggest challenge for the district will be moving on from how things have been done or handled in the past,” said Covello. “I am confident that DUSD is moving towards a brighter future and I’m very excited to be a part of the district during this time of transformation and growth.”

Covello, 28, grew up in Los Banos and graduated from high school there before getting a bachelor’s degree in business and accounting at Brandman University. She worked as a purchasing agent in the Monterey district, where she was promoted three times in five years. Her responsibilities included accounting and financial oversight for 19 campuses. She is credited with streamlining a number of processes related to auditing issues and the district’s budget.

The Denair opening appealed to her on two levels: It was a chance to join a new team with a shared vision about education as well as an opportunity to move closer to her family.

“I was quickly drawn to Denair Unified School District because of a few key words in its mission statement: ‘recognizes our children as our future’ and ‘lifelong love for learning,’ ” Covello said. “I was further drawn to DUSD after seeing the location and meeting some of the people involved with the district because it felt like a tight-knit family who cares about each of the students, staff and community members and wants to see each student not only pass, but succeed with flying colors.”

Rosander said Covello’s immediate priorities would be to ensure the district maintains fiscal integrity, learn the “big picture” of school finance and operations, and work with teachers and others to create “the best possible learning environment” for students.

Covello said her initial focus will be “to work with site administrators in accessing their financial information” while developing into “the full-time support that has been missing.”

She also will work with Rosander, Crancer, other district leaders and community members to respond to new requirements tied to state funding.

“She is very knowledgeable about state and federal funding and the multiple rules that must be adhered to with such funds,” Rosander said.

Covello and her husband, Benjamin, live in Turlock.

 

DUSD April Board Meetings Posted

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DUSD LogoDenair Unified School District has posted the agenda for the April regular board meeting, scheduled for April 10, 2014. The public meeting starts at 7:00 pm.  The special April board meeting agenda has also been posted and is scheduled for April 14, 2014.  The special public board meeting will start at 8:00 am.  Both meetings will be held in the DUSD Leadership/Board Room.