Tag Archives: Denair Middle School

Tragedy Strikes Twice Among Denair Staff

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Mark Selee

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Students and employees of the Denair Unified School District are mourning the sudden losses of two popular educators in the past month.

Over the weekend, fourth-grade teacher Mark Selee died of an apparent heart attack while traveling away from his home. On November 1, para-educator Elizabeth De La Rosa succumbed to injuries suffered when she was hit by a pickup in Turlock while walking in late October.

Their deaths, coming so close together, have been a tragic and emotional blow for their colleagues as well as their students.

“To lose two in such a short time is heartbreaking,” said Michelle Bush, the district’s director of student support services.

Selee, 44, had worked on the elementary campus since 2002. He was in his second year as a fourth-grade instructor and previously had taught physical education. He also oversaw the student safety patrol in front of the Denair Elementary Charter Academy campus each day.

“He was one of the friendliest people I’ve ever met,” said DECA Principal, Sara Michelena. “He was absolutely kind to everyone. He was the one who always took troubled students under his wing and worked with them, without judgment.

“I had numerous requests to put kids in his class. Parents just loved him. First and foremost, he just loved his kids. He always wanted to make sure their needs were met. He challenged students and still made kids feel accepted.”

Michelena said Selee had “an amazing work ethic.” It was easy to tell where he was, she added, because his “distinctive” laugh often could be heard all across the campus. “He always found something to be happy about. He was like everyone’s brother.”

Michelena spent Monday calling the families of all of Selee’s current students. And though the DECA teachers are off this week, she invited everyone to a meeting Tuesday afternoon to talk and plan for next week. She said grief counselors will be on hand for students and staff, and roaming substitute teachers will be available for teachers who need a break during the day. Continue reading “Tragedy Strikes Twice Among Denair Staff” »

Denair Middle School Students Honor Veterans

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VeteransDay

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Trick or treating was over on Halloween Night when Derek Starkey sat down with his great-grandfather, Don Bothun, to talk about what it was like to be part of an Army tank company in the early 1950s.

It was more than a spur-of-the-moment conversation. Like his 72 classmates at Denair Middle School, Derek had an assignment: Interview a U.S. military veteran and file a report with English teacher Colleen Vickery.

“He wanted to know if it was a big adventure,” said Bothun, who spent two years in Germany during the Korean War.

“I found out it was a lot different then than it is now,” said Derek.

The calendar shows Veterans Day as Nov. 11 – the 11th day of the 11th month, formally acknowledging the time that World War I ended. But the middle school students chose to honor local veterans Monday, knowing classes won’t be held on the federal holiday.

Bothun was one of about a dozen in attendance during a patriotic half-hour ceremony at the Coyote Center. A color guard and drum team from Stanislaus Military Academy performed. The national anthem was played. Students read poems paying tribute to servicemen and women. Songs representing each of the branches of the military were shared.

Photos and quotes from more than 40 local veterans interviewed by the students were taped to the wall. The veterans represented served from World War II to the present day.

One picture was of Bothun sitting in the shade beneath his tank. Another showed young Marine John Richardson holding his rifle across his chest. He, too, was present Monday, the guest of his daughter, eighth-grader Tati Abebe.

Richardson served in Iraq at the end of Desert Storm in the early 1990s and later in Somalia in northeastern Africa. He said it’s important for young people to understand values like bravery, honor and sacrifice as well as the United States’ role in the world. Continue reading “Denair Middle School Students Honor Veterans” »

Denair Middle School Hosts Book Fair

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Scholastic Book Fair

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Middle School Library will host a Scholastic Book Fair on October 12-16, 2015 from 7:35 am to 3:30 pm. to help raise funds to purchase new books for the library and classrooms.

The Book Fair will be open each day from 7:35 am to 3:30 pm and feature a wide range of books for middle school, young teens and adults, including mystery and adventure novels, fantasy series, sports guides, graphic novels, and the latest best sellers from more than 100 publishers. Parents, children, teachers, and the community are invited to attend.

On October 14th from 4:30 to 7:30, the Book Fair will feature an evening event for parents, community members, and other staff members that aren’t able to come during the day.

Student volunteers, dubbed the Crew, helped to plan the Fair and will also help run it. From creating special promotions and merchandising displays to managing inventory and assisting shoppers with their selections, Crew members learn real-life skills while helping to encourage reading at their school.

“Our Student Crew is working very hard to put on a great Book Fair event – one that promotes literacy and reading, while at the same time raising money for much-needed school resources,” said Gayle Schell, Librarian, at Denair Middle School.

Fair attendees can also help build classroom libraries by purchasing books for teachers through the Classroom Wish List program. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Schell at (209) 632-2510, ext. 3210, or (209) 632-9911, ext. 4259.

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 Students Collecting Donations to Benefit Sierra Fire Victims

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FEMA News Photo / Andrea Booher

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Students and staff at two campuses in the Denair Unified School District are leading a community relief effort to help people affected by the Butte fire in Calaveras and Amador counties.

Donations of clothing, toiletries, water, non-perishable food, blankets and other basic necessities will be accepted at the main offices at Denair High School and Denair Middle School between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Both campuses are located on Lester Road.

The Butte fire has burned more than 71,000 acres since it began last week. An estimated 135 homes and more than 80 other buildings have been destroyed, and thousands of people were told to leave their houses over the weekend.

The impetus to help fire victims began Monday among students and staff at both campuses. 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.

Donations will be accepted through lunch time Friday.

High school Principal Alecia Myers said Silva and her family intend to take what is collected to one of the relief stations in Calaveras County. Middle school Principal Travis Manley said he will drive the goods from his campus to a friend from Calaveras County and she’ll take it to the Red Cross or Resource Connection in San Andreas.

Anyone with questions should call the high school office at (209) 632-9911 or middle school office at (209) 632-2510.