Tag Archives: Denair Middle School

Extra Time for ‘Intervention’ and ‘Innovation’ Essential Piece of New DMS Schedule

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Middle School Principal Travis Manley said he and his teachers looked to Silicon Valley and beyond when brainstorming how to create a new class schedule for 2016-17. What they agreed upon draws inspiration from “Google time” and “Fed Ex time,” he told the Denair Unified School District board Thursday night.

The concept, he explained, is that 20% of each day is devoted to the kind of creativity “that leads to great things.” In the case of the middle school, nearly an hour dedicated to intervention or innovation will be mandatory for every sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grader on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

In addition, the new schedule builds in time for instructors to teach a second elective. An extra period of band also will be added for students who want to stay after regular classes are over.

“Intervention” refers to additional time spent with those students who have struggled to learn key concepts in their regular classes. Students will be identified and assigned intervention based on “learning targets” for each subject established by teachers, Manley said. The idea is to quickly catch them up, then move them back into their chosen “innovation” project.

“You analyze that data to see where the (learning) gaps are,” he told trustees. “You use that extra period to reteach, whether it’s reading comprehension or math or whatever. … It’s not a life sentence. It’s fluid. Each week, that target will change and you’ll have new kids coming in.”

As important as “intervention” is, it’s the “innovation” piece that most excites Manley and his teachers. Essentially, students will be able to pursue interests beyond what currently is offered in class. That could take many forms, he said. Students must choose a specific learning area four times a year. Though they will not be graded on it, they will be expected to present a report to their teachers at the end of each quarter that highlights what they’ve learned. Continue reading “Extra Time for ‘Intervention’ and ‘Innovation’ Essential Piece of New DMS Schedule” »

Custodian Aims to Recite First 800 Numbers of Pi on 3.14.16

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Charlie Asbill

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

WHAT: A special Pi Day rally on 3.14.16 in recognition of the most recognizable mathematical constant in the world. Pi (π) is the ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter. Its value is approximately equal to 3.14159265. It is special because its decimal representation never ends or repeats.

WHO: Charlie Asbill, a custodian at Denair Middle School with a unique gift for memorization and a lifelong fascination with numbers. Two years ago, with only a short amount of practice, he was able to accurately recite the first 400 numbers of Pi. This year, he intends to at least double that in front of the entire student body. A large-screen projection of the numbers will be displayed behind Charlie so the audience can follow along. Students will participate. And there will be pie for all.

WHERE: Coyote Center at Denair Middle School. 3701 Lester Road, Denair.

WHEN: On March 14 (of course), from noon to 12:36 p.m.

BACKGROUND: Charlie Asbill, 61, has worked as a custodian in the Denair Unified School District since 2006. He grew up in Modesto and graduated from Downey High School, where he figured out his own way to solve algebraic equations. Charlie never attended college. He worked in his family’s furniture store before becoming a custodian and maintenance supervisor.

How did you get started with Pi Day? Inga Bernard was the math teacher at the middle school in 2013-14. She said they were doing something in her class to celebrate Pi Day. I told her that I’m pretty good with numbers. She said, ‘Why don’t you give it a try?’ So I got a sheet of numbers. I did 390 numbers (10 lines) in her class.

How long have you been practicing this year? Six weeks about 30 minutes a day, but not every day. I might go through the numbers once. If you fight yourself, you’re lost. … I usually practice in the morning when I grind my own coffee. … I don’t write things down. I have to look at the numbers and learn them in groups of four. Continue reading “Custodian Aims to Recite First 800 Numbers of Pi on 3.14.16” »

A Class Act! 10 Questions for Patricia Guillen

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Patricia Guillen

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Name: Patricia Guillen

Family: Husband, Guillermo; daughters, Alexis and Marissa

School: Denair Middle School

Subject taught: 6th Grade

Experience and education: 12 years teaching experience. BA from California State University, Stanislaus

Why most inspires you about teaching? Student success is my greatest inspiration. Those “aha” moments from students and the pride and confidence that comes with that learning are what keeps me in this profession.

What are your biggest challenges as a teacher? My biggest challenge is having the sufficient time to collaborate with all teachers at my campus, not just my grade level.

What is your favorite teaching tool or activity? Student group discussions are my favorite activity. Listening to their discourse as they engage in designing a plan to solve a problem. Great learning happens when students are exploring new ideas among themselves.

How has Common Core affected your classroom strategy? Common Core has allowed increased opportunities for student creativity and self-discovery. For example, students utilize a variety of strategies or visuals to demonstrate their learning and mastery of a math concept.

What do you want your students to remember? I would like for my students to remember our class motto: “We can only get better!” Regardless of where life may take them, they should always strive to improve. Challenges are not a barrier, but a learning opportunity.

How can parents support what you do? Parents can support their children by having them read at home on a daily basis and provide them a place to do their homework. This will help reinforce their learning at school. Continue reading “A Class Act! 10 Questions for Patricia Guillen” »

Olivas to Coordinate English Language Learning; Perez Takes Over Spanish DMS and DHS

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Maria Olivas

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Learning a second language is hard. It also can be an important asset for students as they make their way through high school to college and beyond. And whether that second language is Spanish or English, the Denair Unified School District believes a mid-year adjustment will benefit all its students.

When classes resumed Jan. 4, longtime Spanish teacher Maria Olivas took on a newly created role as coordinator of English language development services. She will work with students at all grade levels for whom English is a second language while still teaching two periods at the high school.

Moving to the high school and middle school campuses is Jasmin Perez, who spent the first semester working with younger students across the street at Denair Elementary Charter Academy.

Olivas has worked in the district since 2004. Perez came to Denair this school year after previously teaching at Kimball High in Tracy and in Turlock.

“Maria began the bilingual literacy seal program here at Denair High School for Spanish-speaking students,” said Principal Alecia Myers. “We look forward to her continued service as the EL coordinator to expand that program to all bilingual students from the variety of languages spoken by our DUSD students.”

The literacy seal program is run through the Stanislaus County Office of Education. Students must pass a rigorous series of written and oral tests to prove they have mastered a second language. In return, they are awarded a special seal on their high school diplomas. Continue reading “Olivas to Coordinate English Language Learning; Perez Takes Over Spanish DMS and DHS” »

Brielle Prock’s Smoothie Project Earns $3,000 Grant for DMS

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Brielle Prock

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Brielle Prock is on a roll. Earlier this year, the seventh-grader at Denair Middle School was one of three California students elected to be an NFL Play 60 ambassador. And this month, she became one of eight students in the country awarded a $3,000 grant as part of the Adventure Capital Transformation Experience sponsored by the Domino’s Pizza chain.

“It’s pretty cool and I realize that a lot of people don’t have some of the chances that I’ve had,” said the precocious 12-year-old, who already has been to Chicago for a NFL Play 60 Challenge summit and next week will fly to Michigan for a meeting at Domino’s headquarters.

“I think she’s as excited about the snow as much as what we’ll be doing there,” said Ray Prock Jr., who will accompany his daughter to Ann Arbor.

“I’ve only been to the snow a couple of times. It’s California and it’s warm here,” countered Brielle.

AdCap’s mission is to inspire, empower and motivate “creative, curious and brave student entrepreneurs who wish to make changes in school and community health and wellness.” Prock’s project is to install a smoothie bar in the Denair Middle School cafeteria.

She emailed photos of a three-dimensional poster board drawing of her project in November, made the first cut and then aced a phone interview with a New York-based representative of the GenYouth Foundation. She was notified Dec. 3 that she won.

Prock said the idea for a smoothie bar originated last summer when she was in Chicago. She remembered it when her parents encouraged her to apply for the AdCap grant. She asked some of her friends, who told her to go for it. Continue reading “Brielle Prock’s Smoothie Project Earns $3,000 Grant for DMS” »