The Science Department strives to teach every student how to design, collect and analyze data, and solve problems and think critically using scientific laws and principles.
Students will be able to Examine experimental results to determine factors affecting predicted cause and effect relationships.(Grad at Grad: Excellence in Education)
Students will be able to Use scientific laws and principles to design solutions to problems in the physical world.(Grad at Grad: Faith in the Presence of God, Excellence in Education)
Students will:
Apply the principles of conservation of mass and energy
Students will be able to Demonstrate scientific skills and techniques to design solutions to problems in the physical world.(Grad at Grad: Excellence in Education)
Students will:
Conduct experiments using the scientific method
Analyze data
Use and convert scientific units
Use the mathematical forms of scientific principles to solve problems
Students will be able to Analyze system properties and interactions to design solutions to problems in the physical world.(Grad at Grad: Concern for the Poor and Social Justice, Excellence in Education, Respect for All Persons, Participation with Inclusive Community)
Students will:
Determine how the properties of the parts of a system contribute to its function
Study interactions between systems
Design real world applications based on system properties and interactions
Departments
Faculty
List of 10 items.
Mary Wakumoto
Department Chair mary.wakumoto@mullenhigh.com BS and MS in Electrical Engineering: Massachusetts Institute of Technology MA Education: Stanford University
Mary Wakumoto has been working at Mullen High School since 2002. She is the Science Department Chair and teaches AP Physics C, AP Calculus AB/BC, Differential Equations Honors, Multivariable Calculus Honors, and Engineering Dynamics. Mary worked as an electrical engineer before her transition to teaching at both the high school and college levels. Mary enjoys taking vacations in the outdoors with her husband and three sons. She also has fun at home with two horses, twenty chickens, and a faithful dog.
Jennifer Bohnsack
bohnsack@mullenhigh.com BSN in Nursing and Cell Biology Degree Arizona State University and Western State College
I have been tenured in public school districtws taught health, biology, teen topics and life and phsycial sciences. I have worked at the Blue Ribbon School of St. Thomas More Catholic School and facilitated a high risk program for five years at Araphoe High School. I currently teaching Forensics, Honors Biology , CP Biology and Physical Science B/Introduction to Physics. I have a Bachelor's in Nursing and that has been quite helpful in any and all toxicology, drug or Bio systems units.
Mara Dougherty
mara.dougherty@mullenhigh.com BA Chemistry, Saint Anselm College PhD Chemistry, University of Maryland, College Park
Mara joined the Science Department at Mullen in 2014. Originally from Connecticut, Mara spent nine years living in Washington D.C. where she completed graduate school and worked. While in graduate school researching how methane was removed from the seafloor of the Arctic by microorganisms and new techniques for compound specific radiocarbon analysis, Mara stumbled into teaching through various fellowships and teaching opportunities at the University of Maryland. Mara completed her Ph. D. program in 2012 and began teaching as a Professorial Lecturer in the Chemistry Department at American University. Mara and her husband, Ryan, moved to Denver in 2014 and have two children, Patrick and Shea.
Victoria began her career at Mullen in 2019. Prior to teaching at Mullen, she taught middle school science for two years at Piedmont Unified School District in Oakland, California and three years of high school Chemistry in the Chicago Public School System. She earned a Kinesiology degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and then went on to earn her M.Ed. from DePaul University in Chicago. Though Victoria is originally from Cleveland, Ohio, she is excited to call Denver her home (but she will unfortunately continue to cheer on the Browns). She has taken a few breaks from teaching throughout her career due to a move as well as to stay home with her daughter, Noelle, but she continues to be called back to the classroom. When she is not teaching or planning lessons that include plenty of cheesy Chemistry puns, Victoria loves to run, enjoy all of the outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer, and spend time with her husband and daughter.
Kristy began her teaching career at Mullen in 2019. Though born and raised in Wisconsin, Kristy started her career path at the University of Arizona. She graduated in 2015 with bachelor degrees in both Chemistry and Secondary Science Education. Prior to teaching at Mullen Kristy taught high school Chemistry for one year in Mesa. AZ and three years in Morenci, AZ. Her and her husband moved to Colorado right after getting married in October 2018. In her free time, Kristy loves to spend time with her husband, friends. and family. Her hobbies include running, hiking, traveling, baking, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers!
Jillian joined the Mullen Community in 2017. She grew up in Texas and attended Rice University on a volleyball scholarship while pursuing her Kinesiology degree. After graduating college, Jillian taught science and coached multiple sports in South Texas. At Mullen she teaches all levels of science including Physical Science, Biology, Physics, and Human Physiology. When not at Mullen, Jillian is either coaching club volleyball, enjoying the magnificent Colorado climate, or playing with her dog and two cats.
Lisa began teaching at Mullen in 2015. She grew up in Massachusetts, where she pursued her BS in Biology at Salem State College. After graduating, she worked as a laboratory technician at an antimicrobial company in Massachusetts before moving on to pursue her PhD. She studied Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis in the Virology Department at Emory University, where she performed mutational analysis on arenaviruses, including Lassa Fever Virus, a virus which causes hemorrhagic fever in West Africa. During her graduate work, she also taught several undergraduate laboratory sections at Emory, where she discovered her love of teaching. After completing her dissertation, she continued research in this field for another year as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota before moving on to a career in teaching. She is now very excited to be teaching at Mullen as well as joining the Cross Country coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Ms. Metcalfe was born and raised in the gloomy winter wonderland of St. Johns, Michigan. She attended Central Michigan University and played basketball for 5 years. She taught for three years in Aurora, Colorado at North Middle school, as well as in Douglas County, at Chaparral High school for 8 years, everything from physical science, chemistry, anatomy and physiology and genetics.
Pete Spiessbach '98
pete.spiessbach@mullenhigh.com BS in Chemistry and Mathematics, Regis University MS in Chemical and Life Science, University of Maryland
Pete Spiessbach graduated from Mullen in 1998 and went on to study Chemistry and Math at Regis University, where he also played rugby. In 2003, Pete began teaching Algebra and Chemistry and coaching basketball at Mullen. He completed his Masters Degree from Maryland in 2010. Currently, he teaches Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Honors Physics and Engineering and coaches basketball at Bear Creek. He and his awesome wife Anne (also a Mullen alum, class of 2000, and former Mullen teacher) have been married since 2009 and have two boys: Henry and Charlie.
Barbara Wallace
barbara.wallace@mullenhigh.com BA Anthropology Minor in Chemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign MA Ed Secondary Science Education, Benedictine University
Barbara is joining the Mullen community from Chicago. She taught in the suburbs of Chicago for 6 years. Barbara graduated from the U of I with a degree in Anthropology and a Chemistry minor. While on campus she worked in the Maize Genomic Laboratory. Prior to completing her Master's degree, she completed coursework equivalent to a degree in Chemistry. Barbara is excited to be at Mullen and is looking forward to working with her students. She enjoys cooking, hiking, spending time with her husband and their energetic pup Frances.
This course is the first part of a two-trimester college prep course. This beginning course will include the scientific method, microscope studies, basic chemistry, the chemistry of living things, cell structure cell processes, and basic genetics. Students will conduct laboratory investigations and write-ups, and are expected to master basic science vocabulary. (NCAA Course)
This first trimester of a two-part sequence follows a similar syllabus to the college-preparatory course with the major distinctions being pace and expectations. The student who successfully places into Honors Biology will be one who has a sufficient command of math including the metric system, they have well established abilities in reading comprehension, their writing skills are age-appropriate and they have the important skills of independent thought and action. As with the college preparatory course, students will study the scientific method, the microscope, and introductory chemistry, chemistry of living things, cell structure and function, cell processes and basic genetics. Student labs will be rigorous and will require technically correct reports. (NCAA Course)
Biology AP is a rigorous course designed to prepare students to take the AP Biology exam in May. AP Biology is a laboratory-based, college-level course that covers three general areas: (1) molecules & cells; (2) heredity & evolution; (3) organisms & populations. The two main goals of AP Biology are to help students develop a conceptual framework of modern biology & to help students gain an appreciation of science as a process. (NCAA Course)
This course is the second part of a two-trimester college prep course including the following topics: studies on protein synthesis, evolution, ecology, taxonomy, and animal structure and function. Students will conduct laboratory investigations and write-ups, and are expected to master basic science vocabulary. The significant project in the class involves dissection of a fetal pig: a course requirement. (NCAA Course)
This second part of a two-part course again follows the college preparatory curriculum with a quicker pace and more depth. The topics for the course include DNA and protein synthesis, evolution, ecology, toxicology, plant and animal structure and function. The significant project in the class involves dissection of a fetal pig: a course requirement. (NCAA)
Biotechnology is a rigorous and exciting course designed to give students a comprehensive introduction to cutting edge scientific concepts and laboratory research techniques in the field of biotechnology. Students will engage in design projects from fields such as: the pharmaceutical (medicinal design), biofuel and genetically modified foods industries. Students will explore and evaluate career opportunities in the field of biotechnology through extensive readings, laboratory design experiments, class discussions, research projects, guest speakers, and workplace visits.
This course will include metric system, atomic theory, and nuclear reactions, electron configurations, the Periodic Table, bonding and shapes of molecules, molecular polarity as it relates to the properties of solids, liquids and gases, formulas and names of chemical compounds, and the mole. In addition, the course will include: review of moles, writing and balancing equations; stoichiometry, solutions and molarity, gas laws, heat energy and thermodynamics, acid base chemistry, chemical kinetics and equilibrium. Experiments will aid the student to reach an understanding of interactions of matter. Use of laboratory experiments will continue to reinforce the concepts studied in class. (NCAA Course)
This course is designed as the equivalent of first-year collegiate chemistry. It also is designed to prepare students to take the Advanced Placement Chemistry examination. Students will attain a depth of understanding of fundamentals and a reasonable competence in dealing with chemical problems. Emphasis will be placed on chemical calculations, mathematical formulations of principles, college-level laboratory work, and clear, logical oral and written expression of ideas. In this course, quantitative differences from both CP and Honors Chemistry will appear in the number of topics treated, class work and homework time and intensity, and the nature and variety of laboratory experiments. (NCAA Course)
This first part of a two-part course will include metric system, atomic theory, and nuclear reactions, electron configurations, the Periodic Table, bonding and shapes of molecules, molecular polarity as it relates to the properties of solids, liquids and gases, formulas and names of chemical compounds, and the mole. Experiments will aid the student to reach an understanding of interactions of matter. (NCAA Course)
This is considered an accelerated chemistry course. The course requires students to have laboratory experimentation skills. Some of the topics covered will be atomic structure and electron configurations, quantum theory and numbers, hybridization, nuclear reactions, periodicity, nomenclature, mole calculations, empirical & molecular formulas, and balancing equations. Students will be expected to apply concepts that they have learned to different situations. This is an excellent course for those students wishing to continue some future in medicine, engineering or science. (NCAA Course)
This is the second part of a two-part course of the college-prep chemistry classes. It completes the requirement for chemistry. The course will include: review of moles, writing and balancing equations; stoichiometry, solutions and molarity, gas laws, heat energy and thermodynamics, acid base chemistry, chemical kinetics and equilibrium. Use of laboratory experiments will continue to reinforce the concepts studied in class. (NCAA Course)
This is considered an accelerated chemistry course and is a continuation of Chemistry A H. This course requires students to have laboratory experimentation skills. Some of the topics covered will be stoichiometry, behavior of gases, solution chemistry, colligative properties, dissociation and ionization, thermodynamics, acid base chemistry, kinetics, equilibrium, and electrochemistry. Students will be expected to apply concepts that they have learned to different situations. This is an excellent course for those students wishing to pursue a career in an area of science. (NCAA Course)
This is a a college-style course on the specifics of mammalian anatomy. Focus will be upon the human, with domestic and familiar animals used in comparison. Lab work will include required dissections of several organ systems, culminating in the complete domestic cat. Recommended for students who are interested in pursuing a medical or veterinary career. (NCAA Course)
Students will be introduced to the mechanical engineering design process by completing projects in which they design, build, and test specific devices. Students will gain hands-on experience working through the engineering design cycle and will learn the concepts and technology to help support their development of a solution. Students will work cooperatively in small design groups and present their work. (NCAA Course)
Students will be exposed to college-level video lessons and course materials in the fields of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering. Students will design, construct and analyze projects in each of the above fields of engineering. A high level of mathematical problem solving is required.
A review of the abiotic portions of the Earth and Earth processes as well as an in-depth study of how Earth’s biotic factors interact with each other and with their abiotic environment. Emphasis on the impact of man on his environment as well as an analysis of current environmental topics.(NCAA Course)
This course is part one of a two-part interdisciplinary class in which students who have completed the prerequisite science and social studies classes are able to combine their studies to study the fields of science and law in more depth. This laboratory-based class will focus crime scene analysis, trace evidence, serology, forensic anthropology, DNA fingerprint analysis, ballistics and forensic entomology. Students must also enroll in 866 Forensics: Law CP (NCAA Course)
A college-style course on the workings of the human body. Focus will be upon the processes involved in a living mammalian system. A working knowledge of human anatomy is helpful. Lab work will include various experiments with students as their own subjects. Recommended for students interested in medicine or sports physiology careers. (NCAA Course)
This course includes the metric system, scientific notation, significant figures, measurement and analysis, the study of matter, the atomic structure, and the periodic table.. Students perform hands-on laboratory experiments to investigate concepts studied in class. This is an excellent course to prepare students for subsequent chemistry courses. (NCAA Course)
Topics include motion, forces, gravity, work, power, energy, simple machines, mechanical waves, and sound. Students perform hands-on laboratory experiments to investigate concepts studied in class. This is an excellent course to prepare students for subsequent physics courses. (NCAA Course)
This course moves at a faster pace than its CP counterpart. Students will be expected to demonstrate a good grasp of scientific notation, conversion of units, and algebraic manipulation of equations as they enter the class. Topics include the metric system, scientific notation, significant figures, measurement and analysis, the study of matter, the atomic structure, the periodic table, balancing equations, basic stoichiometry, acids and bases. Students perform hands-on laboratory experiments to investigate concepts studied in class. This is an excellent course to prepare students for subsequent chemistry courses. (NCAA Course)
This course moves at a faster pace than its CP counterpart. Topics include motion, forces, gravity, work, power, energy, simple machines, mechanical waves, and sound. Students perform numerous hands-on laboratory experiments to investigate concepts studied in class. This is an excellent course to prepare students for subsequent physics courses. (NCAA Course)
This algebra-based physics course is designed to give students hands-on problem-solving and laboratory experience in the field of mechanics. Topics include the SI-system, vectors, one and two dimensional kinematics, Newton's Laws, statics, dynamics and circular motion. In addition, students may complete one or mechanical design projects. This course is intended for students who are considering a continuation of their science studies at the college level. (NCAACourse)
Physics Honors is a rigorous algebra-based physics course with introduction of calculus. Topics include the SI-system, vectors, one and two dimensional kinematics, uniform circular motion, Newton's Laws, statics, dynamics, work, energy, power and momentum. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving and laboratory work. In addition, students may complete one or more mechanical design projects. This course is intended for students who are strongly interested in continuing their science studies at the college level and may pursue a major in physics or engineering. . (NCAA Course)
This algebra-based physics course is designed to give students hands-on problem-solving and laboratory experience in the fields of energy and electricity. Topics include work, energy, momentum, electric charge, electric field, electric potential, current, resistance, capacitance and circuit analysis. In addition, students may complete one or more electrical-circuit design projects. This course is intended for students who are considering a continuation of their science studies at the college level. (NCAA Course)
Physics Honors is a rigorous algebra-based physics course with introduction of calculus. Topics include rotational motion, moment of inertia, conservation of angular momentum, torque, static equilibrium, electric force, electric field, electric potential, current, resistance, capacitance and RC circuit analysis. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving and laboratory work. In addition, students may complete one or more electrical design projects. This course is intended for students who are strongly interested in continuing their science studies at the college level and may pursue a major in physics or engineering. (NCAA Course)
AP Physics C is a rigorous calculus-based physics course designed to prepare students to take the AP Physics C - Mechanics and AP Physics C - Electricity & Magnetism exams in May. Mechanics topics include one and two dimensional kinematics, uniform circular motion, Newton's Laws, statics, dynamics, work, energy, power, momentum, rotational motion, gravitation and oscillations. Electricity topics include electric force, electric field, electric potential, current, resistance, capacitance and RC circuit analysis. Magnetism topics include magnetic fields and flux, magnetic induction, inductance, and RL circuit analysis. There is a strong emphasis on problem solving and laboratory work. This course is intended for students who are strongly interested in continuing their science studies at the college level and may pursue a major in physics or engineering. (NCAA Course)
Students will learn basic and advanced laboratory procedures, scientific equipment maintenance, and experiment /research methods. Students will assist the instructor with a variety of laboratory tasks and projects.