Kindergarten and transitional kindergarten registration begin Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Denair Elementary Charter Academy. 

Packets with complete registration information are available beginning Monday, Jan. 13 at the DECA office at 3773 Madera Ave., Denair. Registration packets also may be downloaded from the school’s website. Anyone with questions should call (209) 632-8887.

Completed applications must include a copy of the child’s birth certificate, updated immunization records and proof of residency (such as a utility bill).

Incoming kindergartners must turn 5 by Sept. 1. Children who turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2 are eligible for transitional kindergarten.

DECA features traditional as well as dual language immersion instructional tracks for kindergarten through fifth-graders, plus a transitional kindergarten program.

All parents also are required to attend a mandatory orientation meeting if they are enrolling their children in the dual language immersion program. Meeting dates are listed in the registration packet.

At DECA, students are exposed early on to the importance of attending college, there is a wide range of fun and important electives and afterschool activities, and emphasis is placed on being safe, responsible, respectful and kind.

There are many respected and well-paying careers that don’t require a four-year college degree. Law enforcement. Nursing. Firefighting. Plumbers and electricians. Even many jobs related to ag.

As much as high school students are encouraged to pursue a college education, officials in the Denair Unified School District recognize not everyone will choose that path. So preparing those students by offering classes that emphasize vocational and other skills that can provide a respectable future income is a priority.

That’s one of the objectives behind the Career Technical Education, or CTE, programs at Denair High School and Denair Charter Academy.

Through a combination of courses taught by Denair instructors as well as online classes, high school students can explore different options that may require only two years of college or time at a vocational school instead of four years at a university.

The offerings – known as pathways — at Denair High include agriculture mechanics, agriculture welding, animal science, plant science and criminal science investigation. Also available for students at DHS and DCA are online classes in health science and medical technology, information technology, and hospitality and tourism. To earn a certificate in a pathway, students must complete multiple classes over their high school careers.

At Thursday night’s school board meeting, district trustees heard a report about the various CTE classes currently available as well as a vision for how to expand the program.

After a successful debut last spring, a free dental clinic returns to the Denair Unified School District on Monday.

The district again has partnered with Big Smiles to provide in-school dental care for all our students. Notices that include permission slips went home with students before Christmas.  

The mobile dentistry clinic will be on-site in the administration conference room Monday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Only students whose parents already have returned permission clips will be seen.

The team is comprised of licensed local dentists and dental hygienists. Services include an examination, cleaning, fluoride, X-rays, and sealants. Parents may accompany their children. If not, there will be district employees available to escort them to the dentist.

Each child will receive an oral health report card to take home after the dental visit. Patient care coordinators will contact parents of students needing additional follow-up by mail or phone.

All insurance is accepted, including Medicaid and CHIP. For those without insurance, a low-cost self-pay option is available. And no child will be left unseen due to the inability to pay.

Proactive dental care is a way to keep your child healthy, in school and learning. Children who see a dentist regularly often have fewer health issues such as:

• Early tooth loss caused by dental decay
• Gum disease
• Heart disease
• Impaired speech development

Submitted by Denair High School:

A lot has gone right for the Denair High boys basketball team so far this season.

The Coyotes are off to a 10-1 start that includes three victories over the weekend that earned them the championship of their own 21^st annual Denair Holiday Classic Tournament for the first time in at least a decade.

They are getting balanced scoring, rebounding and aggressive defense from a deep and talented roster that will add another big man just in time for the Southern League season to begin in two weeks.

They’ve not only survived a grueling early season schedule that required them to play 11 games in 18 days, they’ve thrived.

“We’re playing terrific,” said Coach R.J. Henderson. “There’s trust on the court. … Guys were passing up contested shots for open looks for their teammates. I’m extremely pleased.”

Denair’s depth and willingness to share the ball were apparent in its three tournament victories. There was a different leading score every game and contributions from players up and down the bench.

In Thursday’s 66-61 win over Big Valley Christian, Hayden Feldman led the way with 23 points. Jordan Smith-Sires added 15 points and Jack Henderson chipped in 11. Mario Plasencia led the defense with 12 rebounds and three blocked shots.

Friday, Denair’s balanced attack was too much for Turlock Christian as the Coyotes won 69-52. Elvis Silva and Cooper Feldman led the way with 10 points each. Four other players scored nine points and Plasencia grabbed 10 rebounds.

There were plenty of moments of celebration at Thursday’s Denair Unified School District Board of Trustees meeting, which ended on a somber note with the announcement of the death of a Denair High student earlier this week.

Merrick McIntire, 17, died Monday night from a brain seizure. He, his father and two of his six siblings were seriously injured in June 2016 when their minivan was rear-ended in a multiple-car collision on Highway 165 near Hilmar.

Merrick suffered a serious brain injury in the wreck. He was sitting in the back of the van when it was struck from behind by a speeding Ford pickup driven by Hilmar woman.

At Thursday’s meeting, Denair High Principal Kara Backman paid tribute to Merrick, a junior who was a popular member of the school’s Project Life program for disabled students. Already, signs of tribute have popped up on the campus, including special T-shirts designed by players on the girls soccer team.

“He was an amazing young man,” said Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger. “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.”

Merrick’s funeral is being planned for Friday, Dec. 20.

Earlier, trustees recognized a number of teachers and staff members who have made significant contributions to the district.

• High school ag teachers Holli Neilson, Taylor Doo and John Hultgren were honored for their efforts to build up the FFA program, which recently received an Outstanding Medium Program award.
• High school art teacher John Stavrianoudakis, Hultgren and others were acknowledged for their contributions to Denair’s float in the Turlock Christmas Parade on Dec. 6. The theme was “Christmas at the Arcade.” Denair’s float – which depicted a coyote playing a video game — won the award for Best Themed entry.
• Retiring employee Cindy Citti also was thanked for her service over many years.

In other action, the board:

• Received a positive financial report from Chief Business Official Linda Covello, who shared that although enrollment continues to increase expenses continue to increase as well resulting in deficit spending over the next two years. While the District is not currently expecting deficit spending in 2021-22, Covello cautioned that the newest economic reports show signs of downturn that same year. Metzger said district officials look forward to attending the governor’s budget workshop in January with DUTA President Lori Cole and CSEA President Gayle Schell, and then returning to negotiations on new contracts with the two unions.
• Heard a report from Metzger about the district’s continued improvement on the most recent California School Dashboard State Indicators, which monitor student performance in key areas.
• Adopted Pearson MyWorld as the new history/social studies curriculum at Denair Middle School.
• Discussed and adopted a new board policy that outlines appropriate adult-student interactions, including electronic interactions.
• Heard a report and watched a video from FFA students who attended the national convention last month in Indianapolis.
• Listened to a report from teachers Melissa Perez and Vickie MacFarland about the K-8 home-school program at Denair Charter Academy.

Thanked Trustee Regina Gomes for serving as board president in 2019. Trustee Crystal Sousa was elected to be the 2020 president while Trustee Kathi Dunham-Filson will be the clerk .