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Science

A woman with dark hair pulled up and a green pendant smiles at the camera against a plain, light-colored background.

Email: ddelacalzada@seq.org

Phone Ext: 77370

Room:  8 

 

Donna Dela Calzada

I love science—it makes the little wonders around us even more extraordinary. I'm always seeking opportunities to engage in research and conservation work, not only to deepen my own understanding but also to pass on that knowledge and those skills to my students. This passion has led me to work with institutions such as the USGS, California Academy of Sciences, NASA Ames, USC Wrigley Marine Research Center, and taken me to field sites in South Africa, Costa Rica, and Thailand. Ultimately, it was through my experiences working in after-school programs that I discovered my true calling: education and community service. I'm a firm believer that anyone can learn. "What we lack in natural ability, we make up for in determination and resilience"—this is the foundation of my teaching philosophy. I strive to instill that same mindset in my students as they navigate challenges both inside and outside the classroom.

A smiling man with dark, curly hair and a beard is in the foreground, with a blurred background of a grand building and manicured gardens.

Email: tleach@seq.org 

Phone Ext: 77305  

Room: 11 

Trevor Leach

I have been teaching in public education since 1999. I started my career at my alma mater, Azusa High School, where I taught 9th and 10th grade and coached football, wrestling and supported the drama dept and the school newspaper. At my next school, Quartz Hill HS, I taught all grade levels and coached football, wrestling, track, and tennis. When our family relocated to the Bay Area in 2013, I accepted a position at San Mateo County Office of Education and have been serving the students in court and community schools as a classroom teacher, mentor, and academic advisor. My spouse and I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, hiking and biking in the woods, and diy home renovation. I love to tinker in the garden and figure out how things work--something that has sometimes got me into trouble, but ultimately has served me well. I recently completed a MakerSpace training at Foothill College where educators look to inject Science and Engineering principles across all the subject areas. I feel lucky to be here and I am looking forward to the new opportunity of teaching at Redwood!

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Biology

The major emphasis in this class will be on the relationships of organisms and the basis of life on Earth.   Students will have a chance to participate in a variety of laboratory experiences. The integration of the learning activities in this class (laboratories, lecture/discussion, quiz/test, homework, special projects) is designed to improve the students' thinking skills.  When new information is taken in, it is important that it be processed and interpreted in terms of what is already known.  Biology, with its new language, can sometimes be difficult, but never impossible.  I encourage students to see me as soon as they have questions or feel that they might be falling behind in their work.  We are all working toward the same goal - student success in scientific literacy!

Text:  Biology  (Prentice Hall)                                                                                                                                                                       

 

Objectives:

The course will consist primarily of discussion, some lectures, laboratory investigations, group work, study assignments, and projects. In addition, there will be smartboard presentations, videos, PowerPoint presentations, guest speakers, and demonstrations.  While attending class, attentiveness and focus on the task are essential. Students must be prepared to participate in activities and work with other students in tasks and labs prepared and assigned by the teacher. The classes require intensive preparation and planning by the teacher and the student will gain maximum benefit through concentrated effort.  During lab activities, students will be learning to work with equipment and chemicals that could be hazardous if used incorrectly. It’s important that you approach your work seriously. Use equipment only as it is intended. At the end of a lab or activity, you are responsible for cleaning up equipment, materials, and the work area so that the room will be ready for the next group of students.

 

 

Environmental Science

Environmental Science is a dynamic program focusing on the interactions between the human world and the natural world. We discuss concepts such as energy transfer, the tragedy of the commons, climate change, ecological policies, and the complexities of environmental decision making.