Denair’s
four schools traditionally have enjoyed attendance rates well above 90%. Still,
district officials decided earlier this year to put increased emphasis on
students coming to class.
They
rolled out a campaign called “It’s Not the Same Without You … You Matter,”
using social media and various attendance-based campus incentives to motivate
students.
The
goal was as much pragmatic as financial: Students who are in class more often are
connected to school and perform better academically.
JT Smith knew exactly what the situation was as he took the mound in the top of the seventh inning Friday. He was three outs from a perfect game.
Not a single Delhi batter had reached
base against the Denair senior. Most, in fact, hadn’t even put the ball in
play. Smith had struck out 17 of the first 18 hitters he faced.
His Coyote teammates, meanwhile, had
methodically built a 9-0 lead at Ron Cornell Field, so the outcome wasn’t in
doubt.
The only question was whether Smith
could compose himself and record three more outs without allowing a baserunner.
“I knew the game was going by pretty
quick,” said Smith. “I asked someone when we were up what inning it was. They
said it was going to be the seventh. No one wanted to say anything.
“When I went out to the mound, I saw my
mom in the stands. My dad went down the outfield line. I was nervous, I admit
it. It was pretty intense.”
Facing the top of the Delhi lineup for
the third time, Smith relied on his overpowering fastball to quickly strike out
the first hitter.
There was a “fatal” car crash Tuesday morning on the Denair High track. Christian Obando was pronounced “dead” at the scene. Chloe Padgett and Scott Badal later “died” at local hospitals.
Valerie Sutton survived, but lost three
friends.
Hunter Musgrave was led away in handcuffs,
arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter.
The graphically real-life scene – complete
with Obando smashed through a windshield, actual emergency personnel using the
Jaws of Life and even a helicopter — was part of the Every
15 Minutes program organized by the California Highway Patrol in
conjunction with school districts.
It was
a frightening, heart-breaking and, yes, sobering reminder to Denair’s students
and others of the dangers of drinking and driving.
Shortly after 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, an alarm
went off on campus. All students and staff were ordered to evacuate to the
football bleachers.
There, they sat in stunned silence as
emergency crews – sirens blaring and lights flashing – raced to the accident
scene unveiled before them.
Some students quietly cried as paramedics and
firefighters worked frantically to “save” Padgett and Badal. They held their
breath as CPR was performed on the two teens before they were whisked away by
regular and air ambulances.
They heard Sutton wail after Obando’s body
was covered with a yellow tarp and, later, zipped into a body bad and loaded
into the white coroner’s van. “You killed our friends,” she screamed at
Musgrave.
They watched intently as Musgrave failed
multiple sobriety tests.
They sat eerily still as a CHP officer read Obando’s
obituary.
And Wednesday morning, they relived the whole
horrible scene again during an assembly at which a victim of a real-life DUI
incident talked about the impact it has had on his life.
The two-day event was timely, with the high school program this Saturday and graduation in a few more weeks.
The
message, said Denair Superintendent Terry Metzger, is that “it only takes a
minute to change your life.”
Everyone who lives within the Denair Unified School District is invited to attend Open House on our campuses Thursday, May 2, 2019, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Open House is a chance to see all the great things happening at Denair High School, Denair Middle School, and Denair Elementary Charter Academy.
Teachers and administrators will be on hand to explain programs, show off the best of their students’ work and answer any questions.
You don’t have to be a parent to enjoy Open House — the whole community is invited! We look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday.
Denair Charter Academy hosted its annual Spring Family Night on Tuesday at the brand new outdoor Coyote Plaza.
About 60 home school and independent study
students and their families attended. The students represented grade levels ranging
from elementary through high school.
The participants enjoyed pizza and
refreshments, made ceramic crafts, potted succulent plants, competed in a
trivia contest organized by the PHAST (Protecting Health and Slamming Tobacco)
Club and were able to get their faces painted.
Students in the American Sign Language
class also performed several songs.
DCA Principal Breanne Aguiar was delighted with the turnout and believes the event helps “strengthen our connections and communication among members of our DCA community.” “Family Night promotes a sense of belonging, and reinforces the strong value we place on the relationships established with students and families,” she said.
