Tag Archives: Denair High School

DHS Powder Puff Game Takes the Field Wednesday Night

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Powder Puff Flyer

Submitted by Denair High School Sports Boosters

It’s that time of year where the girls kick the boys off the field and invade Jack W. Lytton Stadium, at Denair High School, for the Annual Powder Puff Game. This year’s game will be played Wednesday, September 30th, 2015 @ 6:30 pm. The 2015 Powder Puff Game between the Junior and Senior girls will be an exciting display of athleticism and competiveness. The game is always a fun time for all, including the fans in the stands cheering, the players on the field giving their all, and the all-boy cheerleading squads showing their support and their moves during half time.

The game is a fundraising event between the Denair Sports Boosters and Denair High School Wrestling. The gate opens at 5:30 pm and start time is 6:30 pm. The cost to attend the game is $7 for adults and $3 for students. There will be food available to purchase at the game.

Both teams have done an excellent job preparing for the game and both squads look like they are ready to play.   The scrimmages between the two squads have been very competitive and we could see a high scoring game.

Last year Juniors this year’s Seniors will be looking to get their chance at a victory that escaped them last year. Senior QB Cheyenne Rutherford, and Senior RB Destiny Silva, will again lead this Senior group that only lost by 2 points last year as Juniors. This year’s Seniors will have an experience line-up that hopes to continue the streak of Senior victories that have been dominate for the last 5 years.

First time players Junior QB Kelsey Park and Junior RB Eva Varni will try to break the streak of Senior victories. Both ladies have shown a lot of athleticism in practice, along with their Junior teammates, and could be the group that give the Juniors a victory to end the Senior dominance.

There are some great coaches volunteering their time to help them. Denair Head Wrestling Coach Don Helnore is coaching the Seniors along with Denair Assistant Wrestling Coach Matt Saldana and Denair Assistant Football Coach Andy Rutherford. The Juniors have Former Denair Assistant Football Coach Russell Steeley returning to coach along with Denair Assistant Football Coach Rick Snyder and Denair JV Head Football Coach and Denair Assistant Wrestling Coach Joe Prock.

It shaping up to be an exciting game that will determine who will have bragging rights for the rest of the school year.

Cherie Gresham Takes Helm as Denair High Counselor

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Cherie Gresham

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Cherie Gresham really enjoys being around high school students – these “little adults,” as she respectfully refers to them. But until she was hired as Denair High’s new counselor, she assumed most of her interaction with teens would be confined to the soccer field and her role as a coach.

Even while working for the state Department of Social Services the past few years, Gresham applied for school jobs in Merced, Los Banos and her hometown of Manteca. But most districts have reduced their counseling staffs in the past decade and the few opportunities that came open attracted many experienced applicants.

It took a tip over the summer from her former college roommate and CSU Stanislaus soccer teammate Breanna Vaughan – now a science teacher at Denair High — to create the break Gresham needed.

She applied in July and interviewed in August for the position, impressing Principal Alecia Myers and the others on the search committee. A few days later, Gresham got the call she had been waiting for. Her first day was Sept. 4 – three weeks after classes began.

“We are so excited to have her on board as she brings a wealth of experience serving students, parents and colleagues from her previous position as a social worker,” Myers said. “She comes to us with the highest of recommendations and is a self-starter who strives to seek the best way to serve others with an excitement and energy that makes you want to work with her. Her natural curiosity is infectious and has already begun creating energy in our students and staff.”

School counselors wear many hats and it’s no different for Gresham. She will play a key role in assuring all students are on track to graduate and those bound for college are in the right classes. She will advise students and their parents when it comes to college applications and applying for scholarships and grants. She will work with Myers to build class schedules that provide the most flexibility. And she will be in charge of state testing, student awards and recognition, and the career fair. Continue reading “Cherie Gresham Takes Helm as Denair High Counselor” »

Mistake-Prone Denair Football Falls to Argonaut, 35-12

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Mistakes and missed assignments doomed Denair in its 35-12 preseason loss Friday night to Argonaut, which played an inspired game in the midst of the Valley fire that has ravaged more than 71,000 acres in and around Calaveras County.

Many of the players, coaches and fans of the Argonaut team no doubt have been affected by the wildfire, which has destroyed more than 500 homes. But Friday night, it was the Coyotes who got burned by too many self-inflicted errors.

Denair (1-2) will be focused on cleaning up those mistakes this week at practice, said head coach Anthony Armas.

“Alignment and assignment,” said Armas when asked what the emphasis will be this week. “Knowing where we align, what our assignment is on each play and executing that assignment.”

On deck for the Coyotes in their first Southern League game is unbeaten Delhi, which has outscored its three non-conference opponents 142-35. Kickoff is Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Delhi.

“I know that Delhi is undefeated and they’re physical. Every game from here on out will be tough,” Armas said.

Against Argonaut (2-1), Denair scored on a 29-yard run by Juan Berrera in the second quarter and a 1-yard run by Chase Pritt in third period. That wasn’t nearly enough to overcome a motivated Mustangs team that had played and lost just five days earlier. Argonaut’s game against Bear River was moved from Jackson to Grass Valley because of the fire.

“We didn’t execute very well,” Armas said. “We made a lot of mistakes and we can’t afford to do that against a team like Argonaut.”

Armas said the fire had “zero affect” on the game, though it wasn’t far from anyone’s mind.

“It was a nice evening,” he said. “It was their homecoming, so there was a lot going on, but they certainly paid tribute to the firefighters. I believe their coaches were wearing shirts with the Fire Department name on them.”

Generosity Reflected in Community Response to Fire Relief Efforts

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Denair Middle School student Logan Pierce unloads items from a pickup. Teacher Rosanne Cantwell looks on.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The Denair community as well as students at two campuses contributed in a big way to an impressive relief effort for people affected by the Butte fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

Water and non-perishable food. Clothing, blankets and bedding. Toiletries, toothpaste and diapers. Toys and games. Pet food. Even 60 to 70 100-pound bales of hay for hungry horses.

It will take a small convoy of trucks, trailers, SUVs and other vehicles to transport it all Friday afternoon to various places in Calaveras County.

Since it began Sept. 9, the Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 acres, destroyed 365 homes and 261 outbuildings, and damaged 26 structures. Friday morning, Cal Fire estimated containment at about 60%.

The idea to help fire victims began Monday among students and staff at Denair High School and Denair Middle School.

At the high school, student Destiny Silva organized the effort. At the middle school, campus supervisor Melissa Oei – who used to live in Valley Springs, not far from the fire — has friends who have lost their homes. Students in the leadership club found out and decided they wanted to pitch in.

By midday Friday, donations were overflowing from the middle school library into the hallway outside Principal Travis Manley’s office. At the high school, cartons of water, boxes of food, piles of blankets and other items were stacked high in a vacant room across from Principal Alecia Myers’ office. Continue reading “Generosity Reflected in Community Response to Fire Relief Efforts” »

Denair High School’s Next Football Game Will Stay in Jackson

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DHS Coyotes Football

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair High’s next football game will be played as scheduled Friday night in Jackson against Argonaut High School, Athletic Director Darrin Allen announced Wednesday morning.

The game’s location was uncertain because of the week-old Butte fire, which has burned more 72,000 acres and destroyed 166 homes and 116 other buildings in Calaveras and Amador counties. Thousands of people who were evacuated from their homes over the weekend were allowed to return Monday.

Many events, including high school games, have been moved because of heavy smoke and other concerns.

Argonaut’s last football game, initially scheduled last Friday at home against Bear River, wasn’t played until Monday in Grass Valley.

Denair was prepared to host this week’s game, if necessary, Allen said. The decision was made in consultation with officials from both schools.

The Butte fire was estimated Wednesday morning to be about 40% contained. Fire officials are hopeful that a small weather system pushing into Northern California this afternoon could include rain that will aid in firefighting efforts.