It is a fun event timed to the Halloween season and this year’s fourth annual Trunk or Treat gathering on at Denair High School was the best one yet.

More than a hundred children – from pre-schoolers to high school age – plus dozens of adults came together Thursday night in the Denair High student parking lot for a spooky celebration organized by the school’s 119-member FFA chapter.

At Trunk or Treat, FFA students, their parents and other community members are encouraged to drive their decorated cars and trucks to the school. Almost everyone also dresses up in Halloween costumes. Prizes are awarded for favorite vehicle as well as best costume.

And of course, since it’s a Halloween event, there is plenty of candy to be handed out.

Denair ag advisor Christian Obando said it was difficult to narrow down the most creatively decorated car or truck. There were 32 vehicles entered.

“We had vehicles with smoke and lights, some with games, inflatables, balloons, and we even had a vehicle with a hay bale background and pumpkins,” he said.

The winner received a Halloween gift basket put together by Denair’s FFA officers.

A group wearing “Cat in the Hat” and “Thing 1 through 5” outfits were voted to have the best costumes, earning them king-sized candy bars as a reward.

During the hourlong event, children went from car to car to Trunk or Treat, filling up their bags or baskets with their favorite sweet treats. The Denair FFA folks even stayed a little longer so some of the Denair Youth Football players practicing on a nearby field could participate.

“The event was amazing,” said Denair High Principal Breanne Aguiar. “I loved seeing so many schools and the community come together.”

This year for the first time, other FFA groups in the Tri-Rivers Section (which includes Denair and eight other high schools) participated. They were from Pitman, Turlock, Patterson, Orestimba and Ceres.

The extra schools added more energy and fun to the event, Obando said.

“They brought their vehicles to decorate, passed out candy and brought their young ones to enjoy a night full of candy and fun,” he said, promising that next year’s event will be “even bigger and better.”

By definition and design, the independent study high school students at Denair Charter Academy do not have as much daily face-to-face interaction with each other or their teachers as at traditional campus settings. That flexibility doesn’t mean, however, that small groups of students can’t come together for important purposes.

Starting with this school year, those joint activities have included monthly career workshops arranged by first-year Principal Jamie Pecot and her staff.

In September, a local mental health clinician talked with students about that profession. There have been two workshops in October – the first featuring representatives from the Air Force and Army talking about military careers; the second with a man from the Institute of Technology in Modesto discussing trade schools. In November, DCA students will hear from an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) as well as a firefighter. A session on welding is scheduled in January, with other topics to be determined.

The idea, Pecot explained, is to give students an idea about potential professions they may know little about.

“My goal is to expose students to career opportunities after high school that the students may not be aware of right now,” she said.

There are many reasons that DCA makes sense for its students. Some have not done well in traditional settings; others have family or work obligations that require them to complete their studies outside a typical schedule.

Regardless of how or why they arrived at DCA, Pecot believes it’s critical that her students have a chance to explore as many career options as possible. Though some DCA graduates go on to attend community colleges or even four-year universities, many others move more quickly into the workforce. That makes knowing about how to join the military, attend a trade school or find an employer who offers an apprenticeship even more practical. 

Student Nicole Peterson was impressed by the military recruiters.

“They were open about how the programs work and what will come if you take the programs and what advantages and disadvantages there are,” she said.

Petersen also attended the Institute of Technology workshop and learned that “you don’t always need a degree for certain careers you want to have.”

Naheemy Ayon Garcia complimented the Institute of Technology presentation, saying it was “in student-friendly language.” 

Juan Russell also thought the Institute of Technology workshop was “easy to understand” and liked how the training can help “students to get good jobs and good careers.”

Before becoming principal at DCA this year, Pecot taught at the school for nine years. She said the staff tried to share career-based information before, but it “fizzled out” for various reasons. Inviting outside presenters from the public and private sectors to the campus this year was an idea that appears to appeal to students.

Between seven and 12 teens have attended each workshop and Pecot expects the upcoming session with an EMT and firefighter to draw even more.

Already, one of the students who listened to the mental health clinician contacted the speaker to gather more information about what he does.

That’s the idea, Pecot said. Who knows which career path might resonate with a DCA student who otherwise might not have known about it? The potential job categories are chosen based on feedback from students.

“A staff member will pick a career that several students have shown interest in attending, then start researching how to find a professional in that area,” Pecot explained. “Sometimes, staff have contacts to those professions, but not always.  The presenter may not know anyone on campus; they just may be an expert in their field.”

Three years ago, the Denair Unified School District hired a Bay Area company to help it create what is known as a facilities master plan, or FMP. It was intended to be a road map that would guide district officials as they weigh how Denair’s classrooms, kitchens, libraries and sports facilities can best complement the district’s core academic mission.

In the time since the FMP was developed, a few of the items on the list have been addressed, but most remain. In some cases, the long-term needs have only come into sharper focus and are likely to become more expensive as time goes by.

Thursday night, Denair’s Board of Trustees had an initial discussion of how they might pay for a range of building improvements that are estimated to cost up to $22 million. And though there is some construction-related money likely available from the state, most of it requires school districts like Denair to put up what are called matching funds. The only way to do that typically is through school bonds, when voters agree to raise money through assessments added to their property tax bills.

“It’s not realistic to think we could fund the 92 projects (on the FMP list) from the general fund,” Daisy Swearingen, the district’s chief business official, told trustees. The general fund is the day-to-day operating account that pays teacher salaries and pension donations, equipment, textbooks, utilities, regular maintenance and transportation costs.

Property owners in the Denair district currently are paying off two bond measures – Measure P, passed in 2001, and Measure K, passed in 2007. The earliest another bond measure could be put on a ballot is November 2024. Should it gain the required 55% support for passage, Swearingen said the 2001 bond would be paid off before the new bond would go into effect.

That potential timing of one bond going away as another began, district officials agreed, would be critical to convincing local voters to approve a new bond. Swearingen said that If the new bond was worth $22 million, the annual amount to repay it would be less than the Measure P bond. In other words, property tax bills would not go up.

“We could start educating now that that bond is going to drop off,” suggested Trustee Ray Prock Jr. “It might change some minds in favor.”

Much has to happen before any final decision about a new bond would be made next spring.

Thursday, trustees directed Superintendent Terry Metzger and her staff to review and prioritize the FMP developed in 2020 by Caldwell Flores Winters, an Emeryville firm that specials in school facilities projects. An updated FMP and estimated cost is due back to the board in January.

The next step would be a community survey taken by phone in April to gauge potential support for a new bond. The survey results would be reported to the board in May and discussed in public. A board vote to place a bond on the November 2024 ballot would come in June.

“We need to see what the updated FMP looks like and what the community thinks,” said Trustee Carmen Wilson.

The timing of the next steps is important, Metzger told trustees.

“If we don’t get on the 2024 ballot, we would have to wait until 2026 because bonds needing 55% (to pass) are only allowed in even years,” she said. “In odd years, the threshold is 67%. It’s a big difference.”

High on the list of facilities needs is modernizing the Denair Elementary Charter Academy campus, which was built in the 1940s. Metzger said the electrical wiring infrastructure needs to be replaced, old classrooms updated to handle new technology, the kitchen upgraded and the restrooms renovated.

Also in need of work are the gyms at DECA, Denair Middle School and Denair High School, and other athletic facilities including the football stadium. In addition, the district also is committed to making additional improvements to safety and security at all its campuses.

“I know the community is interested in seeing that our campuses are as secure as possible. That’s the No. 1 thing I hear,” Metzger said. 

In other action Thursday, trustees:

• Heard a report from Anajanzy Montoya, the district’s English Language Development coordinator. There are 274 students in the district – including 131 at DECA – for whom English is a second language, she told trustees. The district develops a plan for each of them to help them progress through four stages of learning the language, become fully fluent and eventually get reclassified. Before any new student enrolls in the district, the family must complete a survey about whether other languages are spoken in their homes. For those who say “yes,” Montoya and her staff follow up with a home interview to assess the student’s English ability before he or she begins school.
• Listened to an update on the district’s special education program from Amanda Silva, the director of special education and student support services. She said 148 of Denair’s 1,275 students – roughly 12% — are in the special ed program. Depending on their needs, special ed students can be in the general education track or in smaller classes that focus on teaching academic as well as social and life skills. Though the district prides itself on providing many services, Silva said a handful of more targeted services are delivered through contracts with the Stanislaus County Office of Education.
• Heard an update about the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), which delivers additional tutoring to K-12 students before and after the regular school day at DECA, DMS and DHS. It begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. Much of the focus has been on math, Metzger said, but all subjects are covered. There are 160 ELOP students at DECA, 48 at DMS and 16 at DHS.
• Heard a report on the new iReady tests, which replaced NWEA as the way students are evaluated on how they are doing in relation to state standards. Metzger said iReady includes a computer platform for skills development and practice that is more closely aligned to what is being taught in class and ultimately measured by state tests three times a year. The district’s principals talked to trustees about the first round of iReady results, which showed many of Denair’s students are two to three grade levels behind in core subjects like math, English and reading. Intervention programs – like ELOP – are in place across the district to help students catch up.
• Approved a trip to Indianapolis Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 for the National FFA Leadership Convention for 10 Denair High FFA students, one ag adviser and one female chaperone. The district will pick up the $3,300 cost of registration for the students and teacher. The Ag Boosters to cover lodging, transportation and meals, and the FFA ASB to cover tours, entertainment and other group activities. 
• Accepted a $124,272 CalSHAPE Plumbing Program grant for upgrades at Denair Middle School. The application included 36 interior faucets, four toilets and one urinal. These are units that are currently non-compliant plumbing fixtures that fail to meet water efficiency standards.

Fresh off its first Southern League football victory of the season, Denair will try to make it two in a row Friday night when it hosts Delhi to cap Homecoming Week.

The Coyotes relied on two rushing touchdowns by wingback Jayden Hensley and a swarming defense to shut out Mariposa 14-0 on the road last week. 

“It was definitely one of our better games of the year,” assessed Denair Coach Anthony Armas. “We defended the run very well and were efficient on offense. In our Le Grand game (a 35-17 Denair loss), we played a great first half. This was first time we put together a full game.”

The closest Mariposa (0-4, 0-7) came to scoring was in the fourth quarter when the Grizzlies drove to inside Denair’s 10-yard line. But Coyote cornerback Angel Rosas – defending a fade pattern — ended that threat when he intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Interestingly, both of Denair’s wins this season have come when the Coyotes (1-3, 2-4) held the opposing team scoreless. The first shutout was in the second game when they blanked Riverbank 20-0.

This week’s Homecoming festivities include a parade through downtown Friday at lunch featuring floats decorated by the freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior classes. Kings and queens will be announced at a pep rally.

On paper, Delhi (1-3, 1-5) looks like an even matchup with the Coyotes, but Armas thinks that’s misleading. The Hawks got into a brawl against El Capitan of Merced in their first game when players as well as people from the stands were fighting on the field. The Sac-Joaquin Section shut down the program for three weeks – costing Delhi a forfeit loss to Ceres – and suspended eight starters for five games. Those players all are expected to be available Friday.

“They’re very physical,” Armas said. “Their record doesn’t indicate how good they are.”

As has been the case all season, Denair again will be at a disadvantage, numbers wise. The Coyotes’ 19-player roster is one of the smallest in the league, even with two players having joined the team when they became eligible after first-quarter grades were released. All of Denair’s players play on offense and defense; some of them never come off the field during a game.

“We’ve always got a couple of kids banged up,” Armas acknowledged. “I’m hoping we have 15 or 16 ready to go Friday night.”

After this week, there will be only two games left in the regular season. Denair will finish its Southern League schedule in Newman against Orestimba (3-1, 4-3) on Oct. 20 and then home versus Waterford (1-3, 2-5) on Oct. 27.

In collaboration with the non-profit organization She Became, Denair Unified School District’s mental health department is pleased to report that we had our first Empowering Denair Girls group on Saturday, September 29, 2023. Female students and their families from DECA, DMS, and DHS participated in the event. Dr. Metzger, the District’s superintendent, provided an inspiring opening message to everyone attending the Rally.  She referenced the book “She Believed She Could, So She Did” by Kathy Weller, which discusses how the author celebrates inner strength, belief, and the power of dreaming big. Also, Dr. Metzger Mentioned in her inspirational speech another book by Don Miguel Ruiz to master your life’s dreams. The book emphasizes The Four Agreements: Be Impeccable With Your Word, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions, and Always Do Your Best. Dr. Metzger stated that these four principles are fundamental to people’s success. Dr. Metzger’s passion for advocating for leadership development and the mental health well-being of her District’s students was noticeable. 

Additionally, the DUSD staff was excited to welcome She Became, a prominent organization dedicated to empowering young girls, which hosted an inspiring girl empowerment rally at Denair Middle School. The event, aimed at fifth to twelfth graders and their mothers, focused on fostering identity, self-empowerment, and envisioning a bright future. By creating a safe and supportive environment, She Became aimed to encourage girls to believe in themselves and their dreams while also fostering connections between generations.

The rally, held at Denair Middle School, was a resounding success, attracting girls and women of all ages from the community. The event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to engage in meaningful discussions, explore their personal aspirations, and build a positive support system. She Became firmly believes that girl empowerment rallies are essential in creating a positive reinforcement environment for young girls. By supporting and lifting each other up, girls can develop a strong sense of self-worth and realize their full potential. The organization recognizes the importance of providing a platform where girls can freely express their feelings, imagine their future, and connect with others who share similar dreams.

During the rally, participants were invited to share their personal stories and experiences, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie. Mothers and daughters had the chance to bond and create lasting memories while learning from the wisdom of women from older generations. The event featured a range of activities designed to inspire and empower attendees. From interactive workshops to engaging presentations, the rally offered a diverse range of opportunities for girls to explore their passions and discover their strengths. Through engaging discussions and thought-provoking exercises, participants were encouraged to create a vision for their future and develop the confidence to pursue their dreams.

She Became understands the importance of providing girls with a safe and fun space to explore their potential. By hosting events like this rally, the organization aims to break down barriers and create a society where girls feel supported, inspired, and encouraged to believe in themselves.

To learn more about She Became and their initiatives, please visit their website at www.shebecame.com. The organization’s dedication to empowering girls and fostering self-belief is evident in its efforts to create a positive and inclusive environment for young girls everywhere.

She Became’s girl empowerment rally at Denair Middle School serves as a testament to the transformative power of bringing girls and women together. By connecting generations and celebrating each individual’s unique strengths, She Became is paving the way for a brighter future where every girl can confidently pursue her dreams, build confidence & resiliency, and create a better world for herself and others.

Congratulations to Lina Maria Villegas, Rosaura Contreras, and Joanna Esparza who organized a successful event.