Philosophy

The Merenda Plan is based upon a variety of tenets. The most important thing a teacher can do for his students is to show them that he is committed to his profession and has a passion for it. He must be passionate about both the learning and teaching of the subject matter at hand and must demonstrate a commitment to developing the minds of his students.

I would like my students to leave my class better people than when they walked in. Every student will not be as interested in the subject of biology as I am, and although I will strive to light a fire within them to explore the sciences, every child who leaves my class should be able to leave with a sense of personal development. Students should be taught life lessons, such as striving to always do your best, treating each other with respect, compassion, and concern, and never giving up because something is too hard. These are lessons that students can use when they leave the classroom and enter the “real” world. My philosophy of education is at its core, to give students the confidence, skills, knowledge, and wisdom necessary to become happy, intelligent, and well-respected members of society.

I believe that being an educator is much more than an occupation. To be a successful teacher, one should have the sense of a “calling”. Teaching is not something you do; a teacher is who you are. Children learn in many different ways, and my goal is to reach every child entrusted to me. You must teach the whole child by understanding the child’s background, values, and abilities. My desire is to teach, train, and educate our young men and women. Being a teacher must be in your heart, not on a diploma. Most students entertain several, if not many, career paths. For me, teaching is my passion. It is who I am.

Meet Your Teacher

Mr. Merenda graduated from Robert E. Fitch Senior High School in Groton, CT and went on to attend Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. There he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology while graduating summa cum laude. Mr. Merenda received his Master of Arts in Teaching for Secondary Education from SHU the following year with a concentration in Educational Technology. He completed his internship and student teaching at Masuk High School in Monroe, CT where he also served as a permanent substitute teacher. Mr. Merenda is currently the newest science teacher at Ansonia High School in Ansonia, CT.

Mr. Merenda lives a straight edge lifestyle (no drugs, smoking, or alcohol) and enjoys working out, baseball, shopping, video games, and relaxing with friends and family. He likes attending MLB games as well as WWE live events. Mr. Merenda is also a music enthusiast and enjoys listening to music and going to concerts in his free time.

About Our Class

Hello everyone! This section of The Merenda Plan gives you a brief overview of what I expect when you enter my classroom. When you walk through that doorway, remember that it is no different than walking into a place of work. You should be respectful and on your best behavior at all times. You are all nearing adulthood and in order to be treated like adults, you are expected to act like adults. Keep the following classroom rules in mind when in my class:

• Always arrive on time and be prepared for class.

• Raise your hand if you have something to say and wait politely to be called on.

• Be respectful of others property, ideas, and opinions.

• No food or drink of any kind allowed in lab!

• Always try your best! Remember: Failure is always an option. While it is not something we strive for, it provides us with data that we can use to constantly improve!

Calendar

Downloads

For Students:

• Amino Acid Sequences Lab (Indicators of Evolution)
• Evidence of Evolution packet
• Mouse Lab (Nature at Work)
• Thumb Lab (Adaptation of the Human Hand)

For Parents and Guardians:

• Letter of Recommendation (1)
• Letter of Recommendation (2)
• Letter of Recommendation (3)

Photo Gallery

Internet Resources

For Students:

BibMe — Useful tool for constructing bibliographies

Biology News Net — Current events in biology

New York Science Times — The latest news from the world of science

Science Buddies — Overview of the scientific method, as well as project ideas

The Biology Interactive Library — Interactive Java applets with biology concepts

The Copernicus Project — High school biology resources, including pictures, video clips, documents and PowerPoints

Writing Lab Reports — Guide for writing both simple and complex lab reports

For Parents and Guardians:

FBI - Internet Safety Tips — The FBI's formal publication on "A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety"

The Parents' Guide to High School — Articles, tips, and tricks to help parents with any issues that may arise during their son or daughter's high school experience