Science Department Class Descriptions »
Science Department Faculty Biographies »
The Science Department aims to give Arts High students new insights into their world and an understanding of the roles science and technology play in modern society. In that process, the faculty works strategically with students to inculcate higher level thinking skills within the science disciplines. Science concepts are thoroughly explored and verified through scientific investigations using proper scientific investigation methodologies, which include use of the first-rate laboratories of CSULA. All of the science courses focus on the state content standards and prepare students for success in achievement testing and college science classes. Students can earn college credit through CSULA for the Chemistry class.
Mr. Jim Hutchinson
Science Department Chair
| Science Courses | Instructors |
| Biology Physics Freshmen Studies |
Dr. McQuery |
| Chemistry COLLEGE CREDIT | Mr. Sherrod |
Biology
Grade 9
Meets graduation requirement for a life science • Length of course: 1 year
Prerequisite: None
Biology A/B is a life science course based on the California Content Standards for Science. This course fulfills both the college laboratory science requirement and the high school life science graduation requirement. Subjects covered include ecology, cellular biology, genetics and evolution. Students are expected to develop scientific thinking, a reasoned approach to problem solving and an understanding of the role biology plays in daily lives.
Chemistry
Grade 11
Meets graduation requirement for a physical science • Length of course: 1 year
Prerequisite: An average grade of “C” or better in Algebra I
Prerequisite for Second Semester: A grade of “C” or better in the first semester of Chemistry
Chemistry is a physical science course based on the California Content Standards for Science. This course fulfills both the college laboratory science requirement and the high school physical science graduation requirement. Topics include atomic structure, nomenclature, bond formation, chemical reactions, gases, reaction rates, thermodynamics and metric calculations. Students who pass the course with a “C” or better receive college credit from California State University, Los Angeles.
Physics
Grade 12
Meets graduation requirement for a physical science • Length of course: 1 year
Prerequisite: An average grade of “C” or better in both Algebra I and Geometry or a more advanced mathematics course
Physics A/B is a physical science course based on the California Content Standards for Science. This course is designed for students wishing to fulfill both the college laboratory science requirement and high school graduation requirement. Topics covered include energy, forces, motion and matter at a college preparatory level of analysis. Laboratory activities are designed to lead to discovery and appreciation of concepts in these areas.
Science Department Faculty Biographies
J. W. Hutchinson, Chair
Mr. Hutchinson has a B.A. degree with a major in science and a minor in mathematics. He holds two Master of Arts degrees in science education and educational administration, respectively, and holds a California clear teaching credential. While in college, he was active in sports, theater productions, and student government and was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Mr. Hutchinson has taught numerous courses during his sixteen years at Arts High. Prior to coming to the Los Angeles County High School for the Art, he taught for several years in public schools in Illinois. In Hawaii and in Oregon, he taught in private boarding high schools. He took a fifteen-year hiatus from teaching in order to participate in management in corporate America, where he was able to use his training and expertise as a teacher in a business setting.
Phyllis McQuery
She has a B.A. degree with a major in biology and a minor in physical science.Additionally, she has a General Secondary credential and has been teaching biology in Los Angeles for over 25 years—as well as—advanced placement biology, physical science, health, algebra, integrated science, and physiology. Since scientific knowledge is changing exponentially—she frequently attends scientific workshops. Examples of such workshops were the biomolecular laboratories sponsored by Amgen, Stanford University, UCLA, California Lutheran University, Pierce College, and Bio-Rad Laboratories on the techniques and procedures of DNA extraction, purification of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from bacterial cell proteins, high performance liquid chromatography, restriction digestion using restriction endonucleases, production of recombinant plasmids, bacterial transformation, and DNA amplification using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), both horizontal and vertical electrophoresis.
Gale Sherrodd
Mr. Sherrodd was born in Montana and raised on a farm with his three older brothers. He attended a small rural high school where he participated in the vocal and instrumental music and.drama programs, worked on the yearbook staff and did illustrations for the school newspaper. Mr. Sherrodd completed his Bachelors and Masters programs in chemistry with minors in mathematics and physics in Montana. Other graduate coursework was completed in Montana, Wisconsin, Colorado, and California.
Mr. Sherrodd began his teaching career in 1969. With the exception of a little time away for graduate studies and to work as a chemist, he has been an educator ever since. He has taught math and science in California, Montana and Wisconsin. Besides teaching, he has worked as a free-lance writer and a free-lance artist (illustrating an organic chemistry textbook.) He has sung with several choirs over the years including twenty-five years barbershop choruses and quartets. Since 1999, Sherrodd been singing with the “Masters of Harmony.”
