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Which movies and TV shows were the best of 2024? Oregon Charter Academy’s students and staff decided in the fourth annual Orcas, The Current’s take on the prestigious Academy Awards.

Which films and shows took home the distinguished Golden Orcas?

Best Picture

Nominees: The Wild Robot, Wicked, IF (Imaginary Friend), Mufasa

Winner: The Wild Robot

The film with a trio of Oscar nominations, The Wild Robot takes home this year’s Golden Orca for best picture after beating out the major motion-picture Wicked by two votes. The Wild Robot made up 31.1% percent of the votes, winning by the second smallest margin in Orcas history, behind last year’s tight race in which Spider-Man: Across the Spider Verse took the award.

“The story follows a robot named Roz who was lost during a shipment and washed up on a remote island. She learns to adapt to the wilderness and becomes friends with all the animals after learning about them,” wrote Lux Reames, the staff-writer at The Current who nominated the film.

Best TV Show

Nominees: Young Love, Agatha All Along, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Winner: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Earning 42.2% of the vote, 2025 marks the closest fight for the Best TV show Orca in recorded history. A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder garnered 19 votes, beating out Agatha All Along by a single vote. This year also marks the smallest margin of victory in this category, beating out Wanda Vision’s 43.8% in The Current’s first ever awards. 

“A Good Girl's Guide to Murder was cinematic and beautiful - stayed true to the book while also incorporating today's culture,” a voter wrote about the series, which was written by Holly Jackson and adapted for TV by Poppy Cogan. 

The Current would like to congratulate the winners as well as thank each voter for their participation in the fourth-annual Orcas. 

During the sixties, in the midst of protests across the globe, something strange happened. Groups of UFOs joined local neighborhoods and integrated themselves into every continent aside from Antartica. These new, radically designed houses sparked headlines globally and have earned a strong cult following since their debut in the late sixties. The design is seen today as an iconic piece of Finnish and modernist architecture, but the world wasn’t so accepting when it first appeared. 

The Futuro House is a plastic, prefabricated home designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen. The house was conceptualized as a one-off for the Finnish ski chalet of Matti’s former classmate, Dr. Jaakko Hiidenkari. It was designed to be easily moved to remote locations, like the Finnish mountains, easy to construct at the site, and to retain heat well. The Futuro met the criteria for a ski lodge amazingly, but this design appealed to much more than vacationers who need a quick and cheap house. It turns out, a cheap, unique, and easy to assemble house is something that average people could use. 

But even with the accessibility of the Futuro, the design was just too wild for most people. The first Futuro that was constructed near Lake Puulavesi, Finland created an outcry. Public protest broke out surrounding the home; people thought the house looked outlandish in the rustic setting. This incident wasn't the only sign of public anger. Futuros were vandalized, protested, and outright banned in parts of the U.S. The people got their message across. Orders were being cancelled, no matter the non refundable deposit, and eventually the Futuro was forced to stop production after the oil crisis of 1973 and the immediate halt in plastic production. In the end, the Futuro only produced around 100 homes and the number of remaining Futuros has been declining ever since. It’s estimated that around half of all Futuros have been demolished and lost.

The Futuro performed poorly, but Matti Suuronen lived long enough to see his design become a global icon of futuristic architecture before passing away in April of 2013. Every few years a Futuro will come up on the market, but a large portion of them continue to sit abandoned. These futuristic design icons are now a thing of the past. As Justin Mcguirk put it, in his The Guardian article on the Futuro, “If something calls itself the future, it's probably not.”

It is believed that music can be the key to learning about someone's personality. In a world where students are constantly seeking ways to connect with one another, especially in an online environment, sharing music has become a vital way of communication. So what is ORCA listening to?

With so many students at Oregon Charter Academy, there’s no doubt that you’ll find an awesome mix of music styles and genres. Students and staff members are encouraged to click this link to submit a song to be featured on the 2025 ORCA playlist. The song choice must be school-appropriate, free of explicit language and themes. 

For inspiration, check out last year’s playlist. Let's finish off the school year with some awesome beats ORCA!

With the 97th Academy Awards airing just weeks ago, now is the perfect time to commemorate the films and shows that Oregon Charter Academy enjoyed the most in 2024. 

The Current is proud to announce the fourth annual Oregon Charter Academy Awards, The Orcas, will be taking place this April. Our team of writers will make the nominations, and the school will decide the winners. Which films and TV shows will be taking home the legendary Golden Orcas?

You can check out last year’s winners here.

As always, this year’s criteria include that the piece of media has a school-appropriate rating and was first released some time in 2024. Nominees are listed below:

Best Picture

Avery Khoury: Wicked 

Based on the Broadway play, this musical film tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, when they were in school, known as Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland. Elphaba’s green skin makes her an immediate outcast, and Galinda is the pretty, popular girl that everyone wants to be. When they enroll in Shiz University, they start off as enemies, but after circumstances make them roommates, the two girls become best friends, realizing that there is more to both of them than meets the eye. But the story doesn’t end there…

Lux R.: The Wild Robot

A science fiction animated movie based on the novel written by Peter Brown. The story follows a robot named Roz who was lost during a shipment and washed up on a remote island. She learns to adapt to the wilderness and becomes friends with all the animals after learning about them. After a collision on a cliff, she becomes a mother to a gosling and begins a journey to help the baby bird fly. By the end, she learns that love holds a special place in one’s heart. Does she stay the gosling’s mother after he finds out what happened to his mother? And what other dangers await?

Annalaina Y.: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Inspired by the classic video game character first seen on the Sega Genesis in the late 1900s, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the third film of the series (with the fourth already underway). As in the previous two movies, there is a constant quarrel between Sonic and the forces of evil. From the console to the big screen, the third installment opens with nostalgia, followed by pain that Shadow—voiced by Keanu Reeves—feels after losing his human friend, Maria. After being confined for 50 years after the incident, Shadow’s pain blinds him into accepting Professor Robotnik’s grandfather’s plan to get revenge on the human race. With time ticking down and cracks developing in Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles’ relationship, will they get there in time to give humanity another chance?

Best Show

Lily Dixon: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Pippa Fitz-Amobi has kept tabs on the Singh family since their involvement in a tragic accident that led to the death of a high school girl. The whole town labeled them as murderers, but without any proof, the police have never been able to close the case. So, when Pippa’s Senior Capstone Project arrives, she commits to uncovering the truth and proving the Singh family are innocent. The problem for her? If she’s right about the killer still being out there—she’s in trouble too. 

Lux Reames: Young Love

Millennial parents, Stephan—a passionate music producer trying to make his presence seen—and Angela Young—a dedicated hairstylist recovering from a traumatic health scare—navigate through the joys and challenges of raising their young daughter, Zuri. While balancing their careers, families and lives, they raise their daughter with love and a passion to help her achieve her dreams. They go through their daily life with humor despite the challenges of being a modern black family and the struggles that go hand and hand with that. 

Wilder K.: Agatha All Along

Starring Katherine Hayn, Aubrey Plaza, and Joe Locke, Agatha All Along follows the resolute Agatha Harkness as she moves past the events of Westview, a town from a previous Marvel series titled WandaVision. Her goal remains unchanged, as she seeks to regain her lost powers while exploring the secrets of the Darkhold, a book of evil spells.

Vote in this form (open to both ORCA students and staff) to decide which nominated movies and TV shows are most deserving of winning the third-ever Orcas!

The printable version of The Current’s Science Fiction Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. A film series created by George Lucas featuring lightsabers and the Force. (2 words)

4. Red pill or blue pill, choice in a cyberpunk world.

7. Science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, featuring a child commander.

9. The name of the city in Jeanne DuPrau’s lesser-known but genre-defining dystopian novel, featuring characters such as Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet.

10. ____ Park: Dinosaurs, mosquitos, frogs, and, coincidentally, Jeff Goldblum. 

DOWN

1. The first version of this space series is made up of a crew from all across the world (and one from outer space). The voyagers in this sci-fi classic travel across the galaxy in the spaceship USS Enterprise, led by the ever-capable Captain Kirk. (2 words)

2. A movie franchise that kicks off with the crew of a commercial spacecraft waking up from their cryo-sleep to investigate a distress call from an extraterrestrial vessel.

3. 2001, A ___ _____. A film by Stanley Kubrick. (2 words)

5. A 2022 film directed by Shawn Levy that forces Adam Reed to team up with his twelve-year-old self in order to save the world from time travel. (3 words)

6.  A movie about a morbidly bloody reality TV show that throws 24 teens into an arena and forces them to fight to the death, based off of the wildly popular novel by Suzanne Collins. (2 words)

8. Epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert set on a desert planet, recently adapted into two films.

11. 2009 film directed by James Cameron, set on the moon Pandora.

The answers to the crossword will be published in the May issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the Niche Colors Crossword from the issue February of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Apricot = A shade of orange. Also a stone fruit.

3. Aqua = Latin for ‘water’. Also, blue.

5. Zomp = Kinda blue-grey-greenish. Rhymes with  ‘swamp’.

6. Burgundy = A region in France. Reddish.

8. Hazel = Third-most common eye color. A tree, but also a nut and a shade of brown.

10. Mauvelous = How British people pronounce ‘marvelous’, and pink.

12. Viridian = Shade of green, also a city from the Pokemon region of Kanto.

14. Almond = A tree nut, kind of tan. Smells like cyanide.

DOWN

2.  Orange = Second color of the rainbow. A pre-sliced fruit. (Hint: This is not a niche color.)
4. Azure = The color between cyan and blue. Think ‘sky’.

7. Denim = The blue fabric jeans are usually made out of.

8. Harlequin = Bright green color. Name of a frog. Where the Joker’s girlfriend got the inspiration for her name.

9. Bashful = Steel Magnolias: “My colors are blush and _______.”

11. Brat = Charli xcx, it’s a ____ summer. 

13. Red = First color of the rainbow. Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album.

Calling all writers. The March issue of ORCA’s newspaper, The Current, will be hosting its second ever short story competition. Be sure to bring your creativity and write an engaging story that draws readers in. 

Prompt: Write a story in which someone time-travels 25 years or more into the past.

To participate in the competition, you must fill out this Google Form and adhere to the following rules and guidelines. Submissions are welcome from March 1, 2025 to March 24, 2025. The winners will be announced in the April issue of The Current. 

Story Rules and Guidelines: 

1. The story must be between 100-500 words.

2. It must be your own original writing; refrain from using AI tools. 

3. The story must clearly respond to the prompt; avoid straying from the topic.

4. Must be school appropriate and avoid divisive themes.

5. Must be grammatically correct.

6. Must have a title.

7. Must include first and last name in the submission. (Winners will have the option to remain anonymous if/when their work is published. The Current members will have access to first and last name.)

This is a great chance to get creative and share your time-traveling stories. Whether you're a seasoned writer or new to competitions, this is your moment to have fun and showcase your ideas. Good luck and let the competition begin.

March, the third month of the year, consists of 31 days and marks the transition from winter to spring. The month holds several notable dates, such as the birth of Alexander Graham Bell on March 3, 1847 and Albert Einstein on March 14, 1879. But long before that, the month of March held a different importance.

Named after Mars the Roman god of war, March became known as the first month on the earliest Roman calendar, dating back to as late as 153 B.C. Martius (Latin word for March). Other months, like  January, and June are also named after Roman gods. The Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, is credited for turning March into the third month by adding January and February.

In other countries, like Russia, the numbered year began on March 1 until the late 15th century. However, in Great Britain and its colonies, the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752, setting a new precedent in regard to March 25 as the beginning of the new year. (The fiscal year in the U.K. still begins on April sixth, originally aligned with March 25 in the former Julian calendar). There are many cultures that still celebrate the beginning of the new year in March, such as Iran and Ethiopia. 

Would you rather March be the first month of the year or remain the third? Find out what ORCA has going on in March by reading the March issue in The Current.

The answers to The Current’s Niche Colors Crossword will be published in March’s issue. 

The printable version of The Current’s Niche Colors Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. A shade of orange. Also a stone fruit.

3. Latin for ‘water’. Also, blue.

5. Literally the best name for a color ever. Kinda blue-grey-greenish. Rhymes with  ‘swamp’.

6. A region in France. Reddish.

8. Third-most common eye color. A tree, but also a nut and a shade of brown.

10. How British people pronounce ‘marvelous’, and pink.

12. Shade of green, also a city from the Pokemon region of Kanto.

14. A tree nut, kind of tan. Smells like cyanide.

DOWN

2. Second color of the rainbow. A pre-sliced fruit. (Hint: This is not a niche color.)

4. The color between cyan and blue. Think ‘sky’.

7. The blue fabric jeans are usually made out of.

8. Bright green color. Name of a frog. Where the Joker’s girlfriend got the inspiration for her name.

9. Steel Magnolias: “My colors are blush and _______.”

11. Charli xcx, it’s a ____ summer. 

13. First color of the rainbow. Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album.

The answers to The Current’s Mythology Crossword are listed below.

ACROSS

1. Hephaestus = The Greek god of blacksmiths, volcanoes, and fire.

3. Osiris = The Egyptian god of fertility and the embodiment of death.

5. Diana = The Roman goddess of hunting, the moon, and wild animals.

6. Seth = An Egyptian sky god, lording over the desert, violence, storms, and disorder.

8. Anubis =The Egyptian god of cemeteries and embalming, usually considered the ‘god of the dead’.

9. Pomona = The Roman goddess of fruit and plenty.

11. Apollo = The Greek god of prophecy and music.

12. Eos = Greek goddess of the dawn.

13. Nemesis = The Greek goddess of revenge and divine retribution.

DOWN

2. Eris = Greek personification of strife and discord.

4. Dionysus = Greek god of wine and revelry.

7. Bacchus = Roman form of number four; meaning ‘the loud one’.

9. Persephone = Greek goddess of spring, daughter of Demeter and Zeus, bride of Hades.

10. Bellona = Roman goddess of war.

12. Eirene = A member of the three Horae; goddess and personification of peace.

Did you know that we’ve only used the Gregorian calendar for four hundred and forty three years?

If you time-traveled Doctor-Who style exactly four hundred and forty four years back in time, it wouldn’t be January right now. It wouldn't be January until a few days after it  would happen this year, if we’re trusting the calculator. 

Actually, lining them up, what we consider to be 1. 11. 1581 would in fact still be 12. 22. 1580. Funny how that deals out, isn’t it?

The modern calendar we use today was adopted – or introduced, rather  – on the fifteenth of October in 1582. It was suggested by the Pope Gregory XIII, who didn’t technically create it. The Gregorian, named after him, was more of a reform or an updated version of the earlier Julian calendar.

Hoo boy, the Julian calendar.

Let’s back up. 

Say it’s before all these annoying date-trackers are made and implemented. Sure, there’s no fixed time, but you know when the snow will fall and when the hot, oppressive drought-days will strike. It’s hard to tell, though, when your birthday is, because there is no commanding piece of papyrus or stone slab (subbing in for the non-existent paper and Wikipedia page) that says this is when the rain will most likely fall, this is a good time to harvest your crops.

Well, there is, kinda. But we’re not going back that far. (Suffice to say there was a movement to implement a calendar where days consisted of ten hours, hours consisted of one hundred minutes, and minutes consisted of one hundred seconds, or something like that.)

So after a large amount of awkward conversations trying to explain why they didn’t know their children’s birthdays, several Alexandrian astronomers looked to the sky for help. They devised a new calendarium, a register for the days gone by. They then presented it to the Roman emperor Julius Caesar who, being the fun-loving guy he is, used it as a new excuse to have gladiator fights. The Julian Calendar (of course named after our favorite conqueror) was introduced in 46 B.C.E. It wasn’t finished, though until 8 C.E.

The Julian Calendar started every year on the 1st of the Julian month of Ianuarius. The reason the year commenced at that point in time was because that was when elected officials took office. It was followed by the months of Februarius, Intercalaris (sometimes), Martius, Aprilis, Maius, Iunius, Quintilius or Iulius, Sextilius or Augustus, September, October, November, and December (though it used to be the eighth month).

Here’s the bottom line: the Julian is a solar calendar. Solar calendars, in short, are calendars that measure the revolution of the Earth around. Our modern calendar (the Gregorian) is also a solar calendar. 

The Gregorian calendar (hereafter known as the Greg) has 365 days. The Julian calendar (which we will call the Julian) has 365 days.
So where’s the variation here?

According to US Naval Observatory, the general rule for the Greg’s leap years are:
“Every year that is exactly divisible by four is a leap year, except for years that are exactly divisible by 100, but these centurial years are leap years if they are exactly divisible by 400. For example, the years 1700, 1800, and 1900 are not leap years, but the year 2000 is.”

In contrast, the Julian’s leap year is every four years.

So that’s it. Different leap years. Some people noticed that Easter was happening in the dead of summer and there was a very sunny Christmas coming up. There was a weird little mix-up when we switched, so there are about ten days missing somewhere.

The Gregorian is a reasonably accurate calendar; it’ll take about 3300 years until we’re one day off. But not all of the world uses it. 

For instance, in Israel, they use the Hebrew calendar. Like the Gregorian, it’s got twelve months that mostly consist of 29-30 days, following the moon cycles. Unlike our calendar, the Hebrew consists of only 354 days, and an extra lunar month is added every two or three years so that the average year is mostly the same as the solar year.

Another more famous calendar that is still influential is the Chinese lunar calendar, which is where we get the Chinese new year, the zodiac, and the up-and-coming Year of the Wood Snake starting on our January 29th.

So with that, welcome to 2025, and be grateful that winter break didn’t fall in July this year.

The printable version of The Current’s Mythology Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. The Greek god of blacksmiths, volcanoes, and fire.

3. The Egyptian god of fertility and the embodiment of death.

5. The Roman goddess of hunting, the moon, and wild animals.

6. An Egyptian sky god, lording over the desert, violence, storms, and disorder.

8. The Egyptian god of cemeteries and embalming, usually considered the ‘god of the dead’.

9. The Roman goddess of fruit and plenty.

11. The Greek god of prophecy and music.

12. Greek goddess of the dawn.

13. The Greek goddess of revenge and divine retribution.

DOWN

2. Greek personification of strife and discord.

4. Greek god of wine and revelry.

7. Roman form of number four; meaning ‘the loud one’.

9. Greek goddess of spring, daughter of Hestia and Zeus, bride of Hades.

10. Roman goddess of war.

12. A member of the three Horae; goddess and personification of peace.

The answers to the crossword will be published in the February issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to November’s Instrument Crossword.

ACROSS

1. Violoncello = The proper name of a large stringed instrument, cousins with the bass and viola, typically used with a bow. 

3. Tuba = The largest brass instrument in the orchestra, known for its deep, resonant sound.

6. Cymbal = Metal disc that creates a sharp, ringing tone when struck; a member of the Percussion family.

7. Violin =  The most well-known instrument in the string family, played with a bow and essential in the orchestra.

8. Viola = String instrument larger than a violin, with a deeper sound, often playing inner harmonies in orchestral and chamber music.

10. Bagpipe = Iconic wind instrument featuring a bag and drones, known for its unique, haunting sound, traditionally linked to Scottish and Celtic music.

12. Pipe organ =  Grand keyboard instrument that creates music by directing air through a series of pipes, renowned for its powerful sound in cathedrals and concert venues.

13. Octobass = A colossal string instrument that produces the lowest pitches in orchestras, played with levers for bowing. There are currently only seven in the world.

DOWN

2. Lute = Stringed instrument popular in Renaissance music.

4. Bassoon = Woodwind instrument with a double reed, known for its rich, deep sound.

5. Ocarina = Small, egg-shaped wind instrument known for its sweet, melodic sound.

9. Marimba = Colorful percussion instrument featuring wooden bars and played with mallets.

11. Piano = An 88 keyed instrument usually considered to be a string instrument, despite the mallet mechanism that technically classifies it as percussion.

The month of December is significant for numerous historical events and inventions, including the first airplane and the electric light bulb. But did you know December was once the tenth month of the year? This change reflects the evolution of our calendar, and enriches our understanding of timekeeping.

The original Roman calendar identified December as the tenth month, consisting of only 29 days. This designation is consistent with the meaning of the term “December,” which originates from the Latin word for “ten.” In order to enhance the alignment of the calendar with the lunar cycle, which averages approximately 30 days, the months January and February were added. 

It is also noteworthy that the prefix “octo” in October signifies eight, alluding to its historical role as the eighth month of the year. The Roman senate changed the calendar to start in January, and end in December in 153 BCE. 

The original calendar was developed through careful observations of the changing seasons, and the movement of celestial bodies, specifically the stars. However, over time, the focus shifted to a lunar-based calendar. 

Numa Pompilius, a Roman king, is credited with reforming this calendar system by establishing the 12-month year. This significant change helped standardize the way time was measured throughout the Roman Empire and laid the foundation for the calendar systems used in many cultures today.

Last month, The Current challenged students to demonstrate their support of Bullying Awareness through the power of art. Congratulations to Ike B., the winner of this month’s art contest.

Bullying Awareness Month may be over, but the awareness continues to thrive in defiance.

Thank you to all of the students that participated in the art showcase. On behalf of The Current, please stay tuned for more upcoming polls, contests, and other student interactive content in future issues.

The printable version of The Current’s Instruments Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1.  The proper name of a large stringed instrument, cousins with the bass and viola, typically used with a bow. 

3. The largest brass instrument in the orchestra, known for its deep, resonant sound.

6. Metal disc that creates a sharp, ringing tone when struck; a member of the Percussion family.

7.  The most well-known instrument in the string family, played with a bow and essential in the orchestra.

8. String instrument larger than a violin, with a deeper sound, often playing inner harmonies in orchestral and chamber music.

10. Iconic wind instrument featuring a bag and drones, known for its unique, haunting sound, traditionally linked to Scottish and Celtic music.

12. Grand keyboard instrument that creates music by directing air through a series of pipes, renowned for its powerful sound in cathedrals and concert venues.

13. A colossal string instrument that produces the lowest pitches in orchestras, played with levers for bowing.

DOWN

2. Stringed instrument popular in Renaissance music.

4. Woodwind instrument with a double reed, known for its rich, deep sound.

5. Small, egg-shaped wind instrument known for its sweet, melodic sound.

9. Colorful percussion instrument featuring wooden bars and played with mallets.

11. An 88 keyed instrument usually considered to be a string instrument, despite the mallet mechanism that technically classifies it as percussion.

The answers will be published in The Current’s December issue.

Below are the answers to the Fall Crossword from the October issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. October = The month of tricks and treats.

2. Apple = Caramel ___

4. Cornucopia = The horn of the river god Achelous, usually depicted with food sprouting from it.

7. Cranberries = A bitter round red fruit, used to make sauces.

8. Pecan = Brown, edible nut from a hickory tree, popular in pies.

10. Marshmallow = A sticky white treat that pairs well with chocolate and graham crackers.

12. Tangerine = A small, sweet citrus fruit; a cousin of the orange.

13. Root vegetable = Potatoes, carrots, yams, and radishes are all examples of this.

DOWN

1. Orange = A warm, sunset color into which leaves change.

3. Equinox = When a day is exactly the same length as the night– happens two times per year.

5. Nutmeg = A spice often used in baking and cooking, known for its warm, slightly sweet flavor.

6. Scarecrow = A straw figure typically placed in fields to frighten away birds.

9. Rake = A broom-like gardening tool used to gather up fallen leaves.

11. Nature =  The general word for the great outdoors.

Welcome back, ORCA!

We are pleased to announce the return of The Current for our fourth full year as the school’s best digital news source. 

Since our debut in June of 2021, we’ve written and published well over 500 articles, covering a wide range of topics, from controversial polls highlighting the famous Ducks vs. Beavers rivalry, to articles about how vegetables don’t exist, at least not in botany. It’s been quite a journey, and your support along the way has made all the difference.

This school year, our team is looking to keep our articles educational, professional and engaging, while also keeping our lighthearted spirit. We’ll continue writing club spotlights, informative ORCA news pieces, updates about Student Government, hard news stories about changes in our school, profiles of students and staff who do cool stuff, reviews and much more. We want our readers to feel connected to what’s happening within their school community and we’ll strive to make that happen in a fun and enjoyable way. 

We also recognize the importance of hearing from students and teachers. Each student and faculty member brings a perspective that we value, and we want to hear from you! Your experiences and stories give us insight to the school community as a whole so please share them with us through our contribution and contact forms. We’re eager to hear from you and help you get involved.

In addition to school related news, we’ll be offering a variety of content that keeps everyone informed and entertained. Keep an eye out for our Field Trip roundups, which serve as a guide for finding events and activities in your area. We’ll also have polls of varying levels of seriousness, along with fun crosswords to bring a quick brain-break to your school day. 

This year, we also want to shine a spotlight on the diverse creative talents within our school community. Whether you’re an animator, musician, photographer, or if you're gifted in some other creative way, there’s a place for you in one of our issues. As long as you follow our content guidelines and your work is school-appropriate, it can be spotlighted on our Showcase tab of our site for the student body to see and appreciate.

A huge thanks goes to our past Editors-in-Chief Ryland Bickley and Hannah Ma, whose hard work and efforts helped shape our publication into what it is today. 

Bickley, who founded the club, grew our content and nurtured our club into one of ORCA’s most visible student organizations. He's now Editor-in-Chief of Linn-Benton Community College's student paper, The Commuter. Ma continued that growth and expanded our coverage of school programs like Student Government, NHS, and Esports. She's now bringing her spirit for journalism and business to Portland Community College's Rock Creek campus. Their contributions will not be forgotten, and we’re looking to build on the foundation they created.

I’m proud to have been a part of Newspaper Club for the past year and a half as a writer and through the influence of many great club mentors, I’ve grown immensely from an eighth grader that just liked to write about sports to the editor I am now. 

Our editorial board and dedicated writers have been key in young journalists’ development through Newspaper Club. If you like to write, start writing for The Current.  Or you can just check out our meetings. Observe what we do and the fun we have while doing it. We’d love it if you’d join us.

Finally, thank you for your continued support of The Current. We’re so proud to be messengers for important information and to help entertain our school community. We’re excited about the year ahead and can’t wait to share more stories with you all. 

There’s this saying, “it’s a big city, but a small town,” and we genuinely feel that way about the community of students that read our monthly issues. You might be one person among many, but we value each and every single reader that adds to that tally. You don’t have to contribute to make a difference; just reading this is already a fantastic start.

Oregon Charter Academy, we thank you for reading The Current!

The printable version of The Current’s Fall Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. The month of tricks and treats.

2. Caramel ___

4. The horn of the river god Achelous, usually depicted with food sprouting from it.

7. A bitter round red fruit, used to make sauces.

8. Brown, edible nut from a hickory tree, popular in pies.

10. A delicious white treat that pairs well with chocolate and graham crackers.

12. A small, sweet citrus fruit with orange skin.

13. Potatoes, carrots, yams, and radishes are all this.

DOWN

1. A warm, sunset color that leaves change into.

3. When a day is exactly the same length as the night.

5.  A spice often used in baking and cooking, known for its warm, slightly sweet flavor.

6. A straw figure typically placed in fields to frighten away birds.

9. A broom-like gardening tool used to gather up fallen leaves.

11. The general word for the great outdoors, the opposite of synthetic.

The answers to the crossword will be published in the November issue of The Current.

Below are the answers for the Summer Traveling (States) crossword.

ACROSS

2. New Mexico = UFO sightings (two words)

4. Maine = Known for moose and lobsters

6. Colorado = The Centennial State

8. Tennessee = Home of country music

10. Virginia = One main tourist attraction is Colonial Williamsburg 

11. Idaho = Known for their potatoes 

DOWN

1. Oregon = The Goonies was filmed here 

3. Washington = Home to five major volcanoes and has a relatively rainy climate 

5. Florida = This state has more golf courses than any other state in the country

7. Iowa = The hawkeye state

9. Delaware = First state to ratify the Constitution

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato

Every year in October, Bullying Awareness Month and World Unity Day serve as reminders of the ongoing fight against bullying. This month, ORCA’s counselors are working hard to raise awareness with an assembly and a sticker contest, so look out for info about that.

In commemoration of the struggles individuals face, The Current invites all students to participate in our own contest. The contest will focus on student creativity by capturing the theme of Bullying Awareness Month and World Unity Day through an artistic lens.

Students will be given an opportunity to submit their entries through this form. Submissions will be accepted until October 20. Selected pieces will be featured in The Current’s November issue.

The rules for the art showcase are as follows:

• Submissions must portray a message of unity and/or inclusion.

• Submissions must be school-appropriate.

• Submissions must be original work.

• Submissions are encouraged to have the themed colors: blue, orange, or both.

• All art forms are allowed.

• Only one submission is allowed per individual.

• Submissions that are created through the use of AI are prohibited.

Bullying Awareness Month and World Unity Day aren’t just there to tell us about the constant silent struggles that many face; they demonstrate defiance. Every brushstroke, dash of a pen, or creative thought is a reminder to cultivate inclusion and celebrate students’ uniqueness–through the power of art.

During the month of May, The Current appointed their new editorial leaders for the 2024-25 school year. 

Current freshman Lily Dixon is leading the newspaper as the next Editor-in-chief, a role formerly held by ORCA senior Hannah Ma, who is graduating this year. Dixon has been a writer for The Current for the past year and is bringing her experience with her. 

“I'm excited to step into the role of E-in-C and grateful for the amazing team of writers, editors, and contributors who make our newspaper outstanding,” she says. “We're looking forward to expanding our coverage on Esports, SG, NHS, HOSA, and school news next year, and to grow within Newspaper Club as well. Thank you, ORCA, for a fantastic year with The Current. We're eager to continue next year. Yeehaw!”

Avery Khoury is transitioning into the role of Managing Editor, replacing former editor Keagan S., who has stepped down from The Current’s editing team. 

“I'm so excited to work with Lily as a wonderful Editor-in-Chief, and alongside Annalaina as Managing and Layout Editors!” Khoury says. “I am so happy to be able to expand on my role, and while I have less experience than most of the rest of the editorial board, I can't wait to work hard to write, edit, and help out in general wherever I can. I truly appreciate this opportunity that Newspaper Club has given me to expand my writing and be in this awesome group of people that The Current has become."

Annalaina Yip will be taking on the position of Layout Editor after 2024 graduate Grace Peterson. Yip has been a long-time member and writer of Newspaper Club, bringing the most experience to the editorial board. 

“I’m honored to have a position on the editorial board as the Layout Editor, since I’ve humbly only been a staff writer for the whole three years that I’ve been in the newspaper, but it was by choice,” Yip says. “Although I have the keys-to-the-kingdom by managing the website alongside Lily Dixon and Avery Khoury, I’m more delighted by the fact that I get to continue to work side-by-side with the rest of the The Current team next year, in hopes that we can make our founders proud with our work in and outside of the club. I hope these positions will allow us to wield our strengths and balance one another’s weaknesses to tighten the quality of our articles and how we report ongoing events that are currently happening in the ORCA community. I also hope this will be an inspirational calling to help students become more involved in the newspaper in the coming years.”

Joining the copyediting crew are Wilder Kersey and Riley Mullanix, with Grace Choi and Arabella Mullanix returning in their roles. 

Along with Ma and Peterson, The Current’s seniors Zachariah M., Kenna S., and Ahnalya De Leeuw are graduating in 2024. As the veteran members of Newspaper Club move on to life after ORCA, this year brings in a new generation of student leaders to the editorial board. 

Reflecting on their year at The Current, the former editors are proud of the work the newspaper has accomplished this year, introducing a sports section to the site, expanding news coverage in our monthly issues, and growing the team for the next generation of writers. 

“The Current has been such a special part of my life over the past few years, and it means a lot to me being able to contribute to the growth of our club,” shares Hannah Ma, the former Editor-in-chief. “It's been truly incredible to see the growth of our newspaper over the years, and I couldn't be more grateful for all of ORCA's support since its beginning. It feels very bittersweet moving on from ORCA, but I'm confident that our new fearless leaders of The Current will lead the club into greatness next year. Thank you ORCA for a wonderful year, and to Mr. Yanowitz, who has been the greatest club advisor, teacher, and mentor.” 

“I'm beyond honored to be a part of such a special team at The Current,” she concludes. “I wish everyone the best of luck. Best believe I’ll remain a loyal reader in the future and can't wait to see where The Current goes next!”

Is a hotdog a sandwich? 

A question so simple yet so widely controversial has long fed debates across generations. Everyone from Supreme Court justices to the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council’s “Queen of Wien” have weighed in. Yet, over the years, no one has seemed to agree on a satisfactory verdict to this mind-boggling conundrum. 

This topic has long been the center of investigation at The Current – and in the pursuit of truth and authentic journalism, we are determined to find out. 

In January of 2023, The Current hosted a debate poll asking ORCA students and staff their opinions on a number of incredibly controversial questions. But none sparked a dispute as much as the topic of whether a hotdog is a sandwich. 

Some argued that the two are not the same, as a sandwich must have two distinct slices of bread. Others contended that any filling wrapped in starch qualifies as a sandwich or at least a sub-category of it. But in the end, with 59.5% of the votes, the common consensus ruled wieners as un-sandwich-like. 

But that didn’t mean the debate stopped there. 

Discussions at ORCA’s 2023 prom, among other events, refueled this never-ending discourse when staff of The Current asked event attendees their opinions on the matter. Even ORCA science and math teachers have weighed in on the debate. 

Once again, this baffling topic remains the subject of infinite philosophical quarrels, and we’re still left wondering: how can you tell if a hotdog is a sandwich? 

To answer this question, we must first define a sandwich. What exactly is it? 

Looking at the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it is defined as “two or more slices of bread or a split roll having a filling in between.” With this logic, it is safe to say a hotdog fits within this category, as it is simply meat wrapped around a slice of bread, bun, or any kind of starch. The same can be said of tacos, subs, and even a slice of meat pie on its side. 

So there you have it. According to the official dictionary definition, a hotdog is, in fact, a sandwich. 

Or is it? 

Math says otherwise.

The fact is, the hotdog versus sandwich problem is not a question about bread and the unique nature of its cylindrical beef. It’s a geometry problem. 

Enter the cubic food rule.

Using a cube as a guideline for where the starch goes on the food, this rule is an easy way to determine what a food really is – and whether it is a sandwich. 

In an interview with ORCA precalculus teacher Paula Leifer, she explains the mathematical reasoning behind the cube rule, which places food into six different categories, each defined by the placement of starch.

Bread only on the bottom? It’s a toast. Bread on the top and bottom that is not connected is a sandwich. But bread covering three sides of the food is a taco, she explains. 

A hotdog, therefore, is a taco. 

Only if your bun breaks in half would you have successfully sandwich-ified your hotdog.

Starch rolled on all four sides makes sushi – think enchiladas, falafel wraps, and pigs in a blanket. If starch is covering every side except the top, it's a quiche, and food fully enclosed in starch would be a calzone. A corn dog is a calzone. A ravioli is a calzone. And a burrito is most definitely a calzone.

Well, until a judge in Indiana recently ruled tacos – and in the same case, burritos – as sandwiches, declaring them “Mexican-style sandwiches.”

However, the Indiana court is not the first to consider the legality of food categorization, as a Massachusetts judge in 2006 contrarily ruled that tacos, burritos, and quesadillas were not sandwiches.

That leaves us with an unsettled predicament. Who’s going to argue with math, the dictionary, or the law? 

This contentious issue would likely remain one of the greatest mysteries of our time – rivaling universal questions about the meaning of life. 

So is a hotdog really a sandwich? Depends on who you ask. 

But math, semantics, and legality aside, perhaps a hotdog is just that: a hotdog. 

Author’s note: This list only features movies released last year that the author has seen. The opinions expressed below are solely those of the author.

2023 was a year filled with record-breaking blockbusters and pop culture phenomenons. But only a few movies were highlights of the last season. 

Let’s take a look at some of the top movies of 2023, ranked from worst to best. 

11. Leo

Within the first two minutes, the movie opens with a musical number. Yes, this film is a musical. And it’s not great at it. 

The opening scene shows several fifth graders singing their hearts out to a song about feeling all grown up and the excitement of starting a new day of school. Mind you, nobody joyfully bursts into song about going to the classroom – unless you’re Sid the Science Kid. 

Adam Sandler and Bill Burr, both great comedians, have a wonderful dynamic as an on-screen duo. Sandler’s slapstick jokes and Burr’s sarcastic quips complement each other well, and their witty banter is thoroughly entertaining to watch. As far as the humor goes, the movie does it pretty well. Well, except for the not-so-kid-friendly jokes that are shoehorned in for the adults who are likely watching this with their kids but are actually on their phones the entire 164-minute runtime. That’s another problem: this movie did not have to be two hours and 44 minutes long. The product placement is also painfully apparent. 

The musical numbers may be campy, and some jokes may fall flat, but for the sheer value of entertainment and positive life lessons, Leo doesn’t fail to amuse. 

The verdict: 5/10

10. Asteroid City

Wes Anderson movies are like modern art. It’s supposed to be introspective and full of meaningful themes, but you don’t really understand it. 

This mostly sums up the viewing experience of watching Asteroid City. To his credit, Anderson had a creative, original idea and made an interesting premise out of it. The execution, however, is where it falls short. The film is possibly best described as a never-ending onion, layers of stories within a story within a story. At some point after diving into the first few layers, it gets too convoluted. Pretty soon, Asteroid City gets lost in its own meandering, overly complicated script that even it struggles to understand. 

Wes Anderson is a talented director in his own right. He’s given us plenty of beautiful films like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Mr. Fox that remain modern classics. Unfortunately, Asteroid City does not make it on that list. 

The verdict: 6/10

9. The Super Mario Bros. Movie

The Super Mario Bros. Movie is by no means a bad film. It’s a story filled with creative potential and an inspired source to pull from, but the worst thing is that it does nothing with it. 

As an adaptation of the classic video game series, The Super Mario Bros. Movie had the perfect opportunity to bring the beloved characters to the screen, introducing unique, video-game-inspired art designs and soundtracks. But what does the movie do with it instead? Fall to generic Illumination-styled animation, tired mainstream songs, and a predictable plot. You could have slept through half of the movie and still caught on to the plot like nothing was missed. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the film was Jack Black’s musical masterpiece and all-out performance of “Peaches.” 

As a video game adaptation, more could have been expected, but in the end, it remains an enjoyable story that brings all your favorite characters and Mario game references to life. It’s good, but not super. 

The verdict: 6.5/10

8. Wonka

Come with me, and you’ll be in a world of mediocre spinoffs... 

Ronald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory has already inspired its share of movie adaptations, but there’s none quite like Paul King’s 2023 remake. While Gene Wilder was sly and enigmatic, and Johnny Depp was part loopy, part nightmare, Timothee Chalamet is full of joy and candy-coated wonder, ready to jump to the next jaunty musical sequence at any chance. Unlike the previous Wonkas, Chalamet’s character does not have an ounce of guile. 

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to milk a giraffe? Look no further. This movie has a scene – and a song – all about it. As well as a number of other bizarre scenarios you could only find in a Wonka musical. 

But in the end, the movie is whimsical, sweet, and full of scrumdiddlyumptious treats. What more could you ask from a Willy Wonka film? 

The verdict: 7/10

7. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One

The Mission Impossible franchise has spanned a few decades and spawned a number of entertaining summer action flicks over the years. It’s even fair to say there hasn’t been a bad Mission Impossible film throughout its history. 

However, after nearly 30 years, the franchise is now coming to a close, and it’s determined to end on an epic note. Dead Reckoning brings us the penultimate sequel to the series with significantly higher stakes. Action star Tom Cruise is known for choreographing death-defying stunts, and this time, he’s jumping off cliffs from a motorcycle and driving drifts in intense car chases. His action sequences are never short of breathtakingly impressive. 

Dead Reckoning may not be the blockbuster of the summer, but it’s absolutely worth the watch and anticipates a promising finale to the grand series. 

The verdict: 8/10

6. Priscilla 

Priscilla Presley is a name often associated with the king of rock n’ roll, but the latest in Sofia Coppola’s directorial repertoire puts her life in the spotlight, painting a raw and realistic portrait of her relationship with Elvis. 

Based on the memoir by Priscilla Presley, the film carefully details the life of stardom through the perspective of a young girl suddenly swept into the world of Hollywood and fame. 

Cailee Paeny and Jacob Elordi are perfectly cast in their lead roles, doing an impeccable job playing their larger-than-life roles. While Baz Luhrman’s 2022 Elvis was an exuberant and lavish depiction of the titular figure, Priscilla offers a more subdued, complex version of Elvis stripped of the glitz and glamor. 

Like much of Coppola’s catalog, Priscilla is heavy on atmosphere and driven by characters rather than narrative. The result is a beautifully crafted though slow-paced film complemented by sweeping cinematography, riveting performances, and a perfectly curated soundtrack. 

The verdict: 8/10

5. Air

There’s only one movie that can manage to make business dealing look interesting. That movie is Air. 

Based on the real-life story of Nike and their billion-dollar partnership with Michael Jordan, Air revolves around the inner workings of creating one of the most successful shoe brands. The film is as inspiring as it is entertaining; the characters are compelling, and the dialogue is slick, filled with clever banter in Moneyball style. 

25 years after co-writing and starring in Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon mark their return as talented film collaborators in this timeless underdog story about grit, passion, and finding potential. 

The verdict: 8/10

4. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the perfect example of a sequel done right. It builds upon the strengths of its predecessor, including numerous easter eggs from the previous films, while still offering something new. Despite the broad cast of characters, each Spiderman is compellingly written, from its loveable protagonists to its clever villains. 

This movie does the multiverse concept justice, with every character, setting, and subplot equally fleshed out with their own unique personality and art design. A tour de force of colorful comic-styled animation and an incredible soundtrack, Across the Spider-Verse remains not only one of, if not the best Spider-Man film, but also a pop culture staple and one of the most brilliant animated features of our time. 

The verdict: 8.5/10

3. Anatomy of a Fall

What happens when a wife becomes a suspect in a tragic incident, and her blind son bears as the sole witness? 

Anatomy of a Fall answers this question, but not in the way you’d expect it to. Delving into moral dilemmas and finding the truth, the script plays out in the most clever ways possible, as mystery, tension, and unsettlement build throughout each scene. Each performance is phenomenal, but the most unexpected stand-out comes from Messi, the dog. 

In fact, it may just be a good thing that there isn’t an Oscars category dedicated to dogs because this border collie would have far and away swept the awards. 

The verdict: 8.5/10

2. Oppenheimer 

Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus is cinema at its best, a three-hour spectacle of some of the best performances, cinematography, and music put to screen in the past decade. Rich in nuanced storytelling, Oppenheimer thoughtfully illustrates the life of one of the most influential physicists in history, detailing his personal life and the creation of the most destructive invention ever created: the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy's depiction of the brilliant character of J. Robert Oppenheimer is done with skill and passion, and Robert Downey Jr. is show-stopping with the best performance of his entire career. 

At times, the pacing is slow, and the final act drags a bit long, but as it builds to its epic climax, each minute of its three-hour runtime is worth sitting through. The film brings out Nolan’s best as an accomplished filmmaker, a culmination of his life’s work and dedication throughout the years. Ultimately, it is a film that begs to be seen on the biggest screen possible to fully appreciate it in all its glory, worthy of its golden accolades as the best depiction of history’s worst and greatest achievement. 

The verdict: 9/10

1. The Holdovers 

The Holdovers is a delightfully surprising film that feels like a breath of fresh air amongst the slate of big-budget blockbusters and grand productions. 

Marking director Alexander Payne’s return to form, The Holdovers is a beautifully crafted film in every aspect. The cinematography is gorgeous, the soundtrack is well-curated, and the characters add a great layer of heart and genuineness to the story. Its dialogue-driven narrative thoughtfully balances dramatic elements with witty humor, heartfelt moments, and a touch of nostalgia, coupled with phenomenal performances by Paul Giamatti and the supporting cast. 

Set in a 1970s New England prep school, this movie exudes a classic charm with its exquisite period details. A passionate and heartwarming story wrapped up in an endearing holiday spirit, The Holdovers is a film that truly feels like a warm hug – which is exactly what anyone needs. 

The verdict: 9/10

The printable version of the crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

2. UFO sightings

4. Known for moose and lobsters

6. The centennial state

8. Home of country music

10. One main tourist attraction is Colonial Williamsburg 

11. Known for its potatoes

DOWN

1. The Goonies was filmed here 

3. Home to 5 major volcanoes and has a relatively rainy climate 

5. This state has more golf courses than any other state in the country. 

7. The hawkeye state

9. First state to ratify the Constitution

The answers to the crossword will be published in the October issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the Movie and TV show crossword from the May issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1.  Super Mario Bros = The movie adaption of the beloved video game featuring a plumber and his brother. (3 words) 

3. Dune Two = The masterfully crafted sequel to a movie adaption of a book by Frank Herbert. 

4. Miraculous = Based on the beloved TV series, this animated film features a girl and a boy who use special stones to transform themselves into superheros inspired by a spotted red bug and a black feline.

7. Haunted Mansion = Movie inspired by a scary ride at Disneyland. (2 words)

9. Oppenheimer = The last name of the engineer who designed the first nuclear bomb.

11. Percy = The first name of the protagonist of a TV series adapted from the books by Rick Riordan.

13. Leo = Nominated for The Orcas, this movie’s protagonist is a 74-year-old lizard who is trying to escape his home.

DOWN

1. Spiderman = This arachnid-inspired superhero stars in the movie that won the 2024 Orcas. 

2. Barbie = While expected to be silly and have no substance, this record breaking film tackles feminism and the patriarchy, being the highest-grossing movie to ever be produced by a woman.

5. Ballad = The first word of the movie adaptation of the spinoff prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy.

6. Wonka = Last name of a character who's portrayed by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothee Chalamet.

8.  Taylor = The first name of the famous pop star who stars in the movie following her groundbreaking tour across the world.

10. Mean Girls =The famous line 'On Wednesdays, we wear pink' comes from this 2024 musical. (2 words)

12. Asteroid City = Directed by Wes Anderson, this movie follows a grief-stricken father as he follows his genius son to a small, rural town, where they discover romance, sorrow, and an alien. (2 words)

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

How can I make sure to keep up with classes and communicate with teachers as final tests and projects are due?

• S. T. Ress

Great question! The end of the semester is a busy time of the year, so it’s important to stay caught up on schoolwork and communicate with your teachers. Here are some ways to manage your workload and create a plan to finish the year strong:

• Create a to-do list and calendar of priorities. Use this checklist to organize tasks into what you have finished and what you still need to finish. 

• Understand grading policies and be flexible. Consider if some classes have late penalties and prioritize completing work for these courses first. 

• Talk with the teacher, especially if you need to make a better catchup plan. Teachers can help you decide if one assignment is better to do first. The bigger assignments might need more time.

• Prioritize the assignments based on “Available Until” dates. For example, if your LA course doesn’t allow late work after two weeks, then do the older assignments for LA first and then finish the assignments that can come in later or aren’t overdue. 

• Sign-up for an 1:1 help session with your teacher to ensure you are targeting the right priorities. The Peer Tutoring program is another great resource to get support from your classmates who are knowledgeable about a particular subject you may be struggling on. 

• Be honest with yourself about what you can actually do in the time you have. 

Good luck!

ORCA’s NHS/NJHS

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS Advice Column using this form. All submissions will be anonymous.

Editor’s note: The June issue will be the last of the school year, so questions that are submitted through the form will not be answered until the next school year.

From head-banging rock to country music about trucks… What is ORCA listening to?

Music is a powerful tool to find emotional connection, start conversations, and even help with studying. 

At ORCA, there are plenty of music fans among our staff and student body, presenting a great opportunity to share your favorite music with the school community. 

This month, ORCA students and staff are welcome to submit one song each in this form to be featured in The Current’s 2024 playlist. 

Songs should be school-appropriate both lyrically and thematically, with appropriate album artwork as well. Songs can be either mainstream or obscure just so long they adequately represent your music taste at the current time. When the playlist is released, your name will not be featured alongside the song you suggested. 

Check out this article for last year’s ORCA playlist. 

Let’s finish the 2023-2024 school year with an awesome soundtrack, ORCA!

Did you hear about the guy who is afraid of hurdles? He got over it.

Last month ORCA students and staff submitted their cheesiest dad jokes to The Current’s Dad Joke Contest. Below are some of the top responses from last months contest: 

Faith Y.: “If you cut down a tree, and the tree doesn't know why you cut it down... Is it stumped?”

Kendra L.: “Which rock group has four guys that don't sing? Mount Rushmore.”

Elly Esquivel: “Do you know what it's called when a spider crawls up your nose while you're sleeping? Arachnosephobia.”

Hannah Smith: “I was going to tell a joke about sodium, but Na.”

Keagan Stewart: “How do lawyers say goodbye? We'll be suing ya!”

Julia S.: “Yes, I will keep telling dad jokes. That's just how eye-roll!”

Thank you to everyone who submitted a dad joke! Congratulations to all the winners.  Please stay tuned for future contests! 

Cabbage. A vegetable everyone knows of, but no one really knows. 

Unless you’re an Avatar: The Last Airbender fan, there’s a good chance you don’t think about cabbage on a day-to-day basis. Few people know the power that these little rolls of green truly hold. 

Cabbage is often compared to lettuce due to its similar appearance. But there are actually a lot of differences between them, including taste, texture, and nutritional value. 

Low in calories, cabbage is chock full of necessary vitamins and nutrients, including fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, protein, potassium, and much more. Just a little bit of cabbage can help supplement you for an entire day. It’s heart-healthy as well – cabbage can lower cholesterol and blood pressure. 

It’s also festive! Cabbage is more than just green; it can be white, red, or even purple. Shake up your meals with different combinations of these fun colors. 

Cabbage is delicious raw but can be even better cooked. There’s a wide variety of cabbage recipes one can find online, from soups to casseroles and kimchi. Cabbage can have a unique taste, and finding your favorite recipe can really be the healthy punch needed. 

This vegetable can also be easily stored. Whole or sliced, if properly refrigerated, cabbages can be preserved for a long time. Unlike many other vegetables, you don’t have to stress to try and eat it immediately. You can save it and keep it for a while. No stress, no panic – that’s the motto of cabbages. 

With spring rolling through, many people may consider starting up gardens. Oregon is perfect for growing cabbages, with a cool, dependable climate – so if you’re looking at gardening, consider growing cabbages. As we move towards spring and begin to plan gardens, don’t hesitate to plant these vegetables. 

If you’re looking for something fun, fabulous, and fresh to add to your diet, don’t overlook cabbages.

The printable version of The Current’s May crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1.  The movie adaption of the beloved video game featuring a plumber and his brother. (3 words) 

3. The masterfully crafted sequel to a movie adaption of a book by Frank Herbert. 

4. Based on the beloved TV series, this animated film features a girl and a boy who use special stones to transform themselves into superheroes inspired by a spotted red bug and a black feline.

7. Movie inspired by a scary ride at Disneyland. (2 words)

9. The last name of the engineer who designed the first nuclear bomb.

11. The first name of the protagonist of a TV series adapted from the books by Rick Riordan.

13. Nominated for The Orcas, this movie’s protagonist is a 74-year-old lizard who is trying to escape his home.

DOWN

1. This arachnid-inspired superhero stars in the movie that won the 2024 Orcas. 

2. While expected to be silly and have no substance, this record-breaking film tackles feminism and the patriarchy, being the highest-grossing movie to ever be produced by a woman.

5. The first word of the movie adaptation of the spinoff prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy.

6. Last name of a character who's portrayed by Gene Wilder, Johnny Depp, and Timothee Chalamet.

8.  The first name of the famous pop star who stars in the movie following her groundbreaking tour across the world.

10. The famous line 'On Wednesdays, we wear pink' is referenced in this 2024 musical. (2 words)

12. Directed by Wes Anderson, this movie follows a grief-stricken father as he follows his genius son to a small, rural town, where they discover romance, sorrow, and an alien. (2 words)

Below are the answers to last month’s Prom crossword:

ACROSS

1. Photo booth = A place with a backdrop and fun props (2 words)

5. DJ = Person in charge of the music

7. Head in the clouds = ORCA’s 2023 prom theme (4 words)

9. Disco ball = A spherical decoration that lights up the room (2 words)

10. Limo = A fancy car you can rent for special occasions

11. May = The month that ORCA’s prom takes place in

DOWN

2. Bow tie = Both a type of pasta and an accessory that goes with a tuxedo (2 words)

3. Bouquet = A bundle of flowers

4. Ed Sheeran = A popular singer known for his slow dance song “Thinking Out Loud” (2 words)

5. Dress = Common formal attire at a prom

6. Macaron = A French decadent that was on the dessert table at the most recent prom

8. Leesy = First name of the Student Government Activities Director who is in charge of planning prom

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

How can you deal with stress? 

-  War. Reid

Thank you for the question! Stress is completely normal and happens to everyone. Although it is crucial to find your own best method of stress relief, here are some ideas:

• Take social media breaks and put your phone away if you have one. Decreasing screen time can help you be more “in the moment” and improve your mental health.

• Go outside. Small, active breaks, even a ten-minute walk, can be extremely beneficial. Especially on days packed with live classes and school work, getting fresh air can help clear your mind and can help you go back to work feeling refreshed. 

• Getting good sleep is a very crucial part of reducing stress. When you can turn off your brain and take some time to clear your mind, you will always start to feel better. 

• Stay hydrated throughout the day. Drinking water does wonders for your health, boosting energy and preventing headaches from stress. 

• Don’t skip meals, and try to find a healthy balance in what you eat. Try to eat a mix of whole grains, legumes like beans, lean proteins, and produce in all the main colors. Try not to lean too much on any one food. 

• Consider talking with your family about stress. Sometimes it’s best to have someone you trust give you advice, provide some support, or just listen. 

• Do something you love!

There are many valuable resources on stress as well as ways to approach it in a healthy manner. For more tips on how to manage school stress, check out this article.

Good luck,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

Which movies and TV shows were the best of 2023? After a record-breaking number of votes, Oregon Charter Academy’s students and staff decided in the third annual Orcas, The Current’s take on the prestigious Academy Awards. 

Which films and shows took home the distinguished Golden Orcas? 

Best Picture

Nominees: Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Wonka, The Super Mario Bros Movie, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, Haunted Mansion, Miraculous: The Ladybug & Cat Noir Movie, Leo, Asteroid City

Winner: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

After an incredibly close race with Barbie, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse emerged as the winner with 28.6% of the vote. 

“A thrill from its start to its cliffhanger ending, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse proves to be a pop culture phenomenon and one of the best animated features of the decade,” wrote The Current’s Hannah Ma, who nominated the film. 

Best TV Show

Nominees: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (season 1), The Summer I Turned Pretty (season 2), Erin & Aaron (season 1)

Winner: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (season 1)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians’s debut season was far and away ORCA’s favorite TV show of 2023, garnering 68.8% of the total vote. 

“Percy Jackson is a dramatic adaptation of a book, a great example of following the book for plot and worldbuilding, but not being afraid to adjust some moments for the screen and current events,” wrote a student who voted for the show. 

Congratulations to the winners, and a big thank you to everyone for your participation in our 2024 Orcas!

How can you tell if a pig is hot? It’s bacon! 

A dad joke is a cheesy joke or pun that is overly simplistic. It is meant to be predictable and is also called a groaner for its corny results. 

April is the month of jokes and silliness, so now is the best time to come up with the cheesiest puns to share with a classmate and teacher. As always, please keep responses school-appropriate, light-hearted, and, of course, fun!

Please fill out this form to compete in the Dad Jokes Contest. All responses must be submitted by April 26 to be entered into the contest. Responses will be judged based on creativity and humor.

Stay tuned for the contest winners to be announced in next month's edition. Please be sure to share this contest with other students and teachers at Oregon Charter Academy, and have fun!

It’s a normal day at ORCA. You are steadily and efficiently getting work done. You join class expecting a fun and interactive lesson about peer pressure and confidence. You relax in your seat, attentively listening as the teacher starts screensharing. Your eyes flick up to the screen. A familiar melody fills your ears. You involuntarily freeze in your chair as the chat pod erupts with protest. Your heartbeat quickens as a shiver runs down your spine. The realization hits you like a ton of bricks: You’ve been rickrolled.

To understand how to react to this cunning – and punning – trick, we must dive deep into the history of the rickroll and learn about this globally-known meme and how it evolved from an 80s club banger to a worldwide phenomenon bound to cause cringes. 

In a nutshell, rickrolling is a popular bait-and-switch internet prank that involves misleading someone into clicking a link that leads to the music video for Rick Astley's hit song "Never Gonna Give You Up." The joke is considered successful when the unsuspecting person clicks on the link expecting to see relevant content but instead is taken to Astley's music video. 

The term "rickrolling" originated from an earlier internet prank known as "duckrolling," where a person was tricked into clicking a link that led to an image of a duck on wheels. The first known rickroll occurred in 2007 and quickly spread across the internet.

Another precursor to rickrolling, one of the earliest recorded, was performed in 2007 by a resident of rural Michigan, Erik Helwig, when he called a radio station. Instead of conversing with the news anchor, he played “Never Gonna Give You Up,” leaving the DJs speechless.

Also in 2007, an episode of the TV show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia included the song, which led to the producers of the show mistakenly claiming that they had invented the trend.

In March of the same year, the highly anticipated trailer for Grand Theft Auto was released, with so many people watching it that the entire website crashed. When the link was clicked, instead of finding the promo for GTA, viewers were directed to the official music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Chaos ensued.

Then, in 2008, during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rick Astley himself made a surprise appearance on one of the floats and proceeded to lip-sync the song, making that the biggest rickroll ever recorded.  

Today, the rickroll is so widely feared that there is now a word for it: ericopseudoaesthophobia.

Now that we understand the importance and history of the rickroll, it is time to take action. How do you get back at your friends for rickrolling you? This short video has all the information you need for revenge. 

The printable version of The Current’s Prom Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. A place with a backdrop and fun props (2 words)

5. Person in charge of the music

7. ORCA’s 2023 prom theme (4 words)

9. A spherical decoration that lights up the room (2 words)

10. A fancy car you can rent for special occasions

11. The month that ORCA’s prom takes place in

DOWN

2. Both a type of pasta and an accessory that goes with a tuxedo (2 words)

3. A bundle of flowers

4. A popular singer known for his slow dance song “Thinking Out Loud” (2 words)

5. Common formal attire at a prom

6. A French decadent that was on the dessert table at the most recent prom

8. First name of the Student Government Activities Director who is in charge of planning prom

The answers to the crossword will be published in the May issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the For the Love of Pi Crossword from the March issue of The Current.

ACROSS

2. Nine = 3.1415__

3. Life Of Pi = 2012 movie about a boy and a tiger stranded after a shipwreck (3 words) 

8. Irrational = A real number that cannot be expressed as a ratio or integer is __

9. Pi = Oh my, here comes…

10. Repeating = Non-terminating 

11. About = Approximately 

DOWN

1. Circumference = Pi is the ____ of a circle relatable to the diameter 

4. Infinite = Forever

5. Ratio = Fraction, decimal, irrational number, and…

6. Circle = A form of an ellipse 

7. Tau = Double of Pi 

12. Cosmology = A field that utilizes Pi to explore the stars

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

I am finding myself procrastinating a lot, and I was wondering how I can stop waiting until the last minute to do not only schoolwork but also chores and things I used to do on time.

- Pro. Crastination

Thank you for this wonderful question! Procrastination is a challenge many students face, so you’re not alone! The great thing is there are ways you can beat procrastination by organizing your tasks and creating systems for yourself. Here are a few ideas: 

• Reach out to your teachers. They are here to help hold you accountable for your assignments and give support if you’re struggling in a particular area. Asking for help early can prevent a cascade of procrastination in the future. 

• Reach out to your advisor to stay on track and find academic support. Talk with your counselor if any recurring issues inhibit your ability to participate in school. 

• The Peer Tutoring Center provides a great resource for anything, from schoolwork to studying support. Getting help from your peers is a good way to create a "buddy system" to stay accountable and get personal advice from someone who has mastered a particular subject you're struggling with.

• In addition to the "buddy system," find an accountability partner in a friend or family member. Schedule times to work together to bring an element of socialization to your schedule. 

• Create initiative and set up a reward system. While it’s important to always check in on yourself and know what you need as a student, framing tasks through a system like, “If I get this assignment done, I’ll go get a snack” or “If I finish this class for the day, I will take a walk” encourages self-motivation. Have something later in the day to look forward to, like a break, an activity, etc.

• Understand how you prefer to study. Some students work best by completing work uninhibited, while others may thrive by taking scheduled breaks.

• Use a time-blocking method such as Pomodoro to break your work time into small, manageable chunks. Outlining your work also helps to organize and prioritize important tasks. Even if you only do part of an assignment, it’s better than nothing. 

• Create a blurt list to put all impromptu tasks you’re expected to complete throughout the day and not let them distract you from your goal. 

• If you enjoy checking off tasks from your to-do, put all assignments from each class into color-coded groups. Close out tabs by the end of the day once the task is finished. Doing this will give you a sense of accomplishment after completing your work. 

• Use a calendar! Whether you prefer a physical or digital one (i.e. Google, Notion, or Canvas), make good use of this tool to help plan out your schedule. Utilize the To-Do list on your Canvas app for automated notifications on your phone. Find apps that hold you accountable or silence distracting notifications. 

• “Eat that frog” – try to do the hard tasks first to motivate yourself and get it out of the way.

• Eliminate distractions to help you focus and get your work done. Consider muting your phone of distracting notifications or setting aside electrics such as TVs or cell phones until the work is done.

• Find a healthy balance of work and life to manage stress effectively. Take breaks between classes, plan how many hours you want to study, and account for life events and appointments. Allocate time for hobbies and extracurriculars, and be realistic about the timelines needed for each activity. School-life division is key, so make sure to prioritize both but keep them separate. 

• If you like to have a particular time of day off, plan out your schedule and look ahead so you can limit the amount of work you have during that period. Give yourself some extra time for the things you want to do. 

• Take a look at why you’re procrastinating. Maybe you’re trying to put off a big assignment or have fallen behind on schoolwork. No matter the case, it’s important to find new methods to get the work done that will make the task easier to approach and accomplish. Remember that procrastination is human; even if you struggle with it, do not break the pattern of progress. 

Good luck,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS Advice Column using this form. All submissions will be anonymous.

The 96th Academy Awards are just around the corner, meaning that it’s the perfect time to find out what films and shows Oregon Charter Academy enjoyed the most in 2023. 

The Current is proud to announce that the third annual Charter Academy Awards, the Orcas, will be taking place this March. Our team of writers will make the nominations, and the school can vote to decide the winners. Which films and shows will be taking home the legendary Golden Orcas? 

You can check out last year’s winners here. 

As always, this year’s criteria include that the piece of media has a school-appropriate rating and was first released some time in 2023. Nominees are listed below: 

Best Picture

Grace Peterson: Barbie

Hi Barbie! A cultural phenomenon, Barbie is a movie that spans generations of dolls, memories, and change. It centers around womanhood and highlights rich female relationships that are incredible to see on the silver – and pink – screen. Each character undergoes a different arc and grows beyond just their predestined path. With an iconic soundtrack — featuring Critic’s Choice Award winner “I’m Just Ken” and Grammy nominee “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish — it’s definitely a film that will keep you entertained.

Hannah Ma: Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

The much-anticipated sequel to the Spider-Verse trilogy brings us another visually dazzling and action-packed superhero adventure. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the perfect example of a sequel done right, effectively capturing the magic and creativity of the first film while building upon its strengths. Everything from its magnificent soundtrack, colorful comic-style animation, and slick storytelling sprinkled with easter eggs is a thrilling experience. The talented cast all bring their A-game, portraying each character with heart and humor. The movie does a fantastic job of spinning together a multiverse that brings depth to the story, paying homage to the original Spider-Man films while still offering something new. A thrill from its start to its cliffhanger ending, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse proves to be a pop culture phenomenon and one of the best animated features of the decade. 

Avery Khoury: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

As a prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes covers President Coriolanus Snow before he was the brutal president of Panem that movie-watchers know from before. The film stars Tom Blyth and shows Snow’s journey at only eighteen years old. Once Snow meets Lucy Gray Baird, a sharp and rebellious heroine, the film depicts his influence and gradual descent into evil. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a wonderful prequel to the classic trilogy that viewers know and love.

Wilder Kersey: Wonka

Filled to the brim with cheesy jokes and wonderful songs, Wonka is a scrumdiddlyumptious treat that will captivate viewers of all ages. This delightful musical, directed by Paul King, is the prequel to the beloved book by Roald Dahl. The movie stars Timothée Chalamet as a wide-eyed Willy Wonka on his quest to open his own chocolate shop. With all-star actors including Calah Lane, Olivia Coleman, Tom Davis, Keegan-Michael Key, Rowan Atkinson, and Hugh Grant as the Oompa-Loompa, this beautifully made movie is sure to tickle your funny bone and have you laughing throughout the film.

Annalaina Yip: The Super Mario Bros Movie

Centered around the classic Super Mario Bros video game series, whose characters have touched millions of hearts, this is the second effort at a film about two heroic sibling plumbers. Filled with references to the many games in this series, the movie immerses viewers into a world that riffs on the origin of the characters while building upon them. The story centers on Mario’s ambitions to become more than a plumber. As he tries to convince Luigi to dream bigger, they stumble upon a new world and a nearly impossible quest. Princess Peach is highlighted as the only human in the Mushroom Kingdom, and Bowser’s infamous “Peaches” song adds a truly cringe-worthy but hilarious dynamic to their relationship. With threats on all sides closing in on Mario, his only hope lies in saving his friends and achieving his dreams. Before the end, this cartoonish tapestry depicted other beloved characters from the games, ending with a teaser for a potential sequel that diehard fans will relish. 

Lily Dixon: Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour

Purely a concert film representing Swift’s 10 studio albums (or eras), Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour brings her record-breaking, economy-shifting concert to screens near you. Following her journey through the lover house, folkloric woods, and smashing cars with golf clubs, and snakes slithering down the stage, it is filled with endless excitement. Boasting 40 of the 45 songs played each night on tour, the film provides two hours and 49 minutes of audiences screaming to their favorite lyrics and offers a high-quality view of the bejeweled performer. 

Riley Mullanix: Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion begins when a woman and her son embark on a journey to rid their new house of supernatural spirits. They soon discover that anyone who enters the place ends up haunted. The story follows everyone who has entered the mansion as they work to rid the house of spirits. This movie, based on the classic Disney ride, combines horror and comedy with a paranormal theme and just enough jokes to maintain a lighthearted mood. This perfect combination of scary and hilarious makes Haunted Mansion a treat that kids and adults will enjoy. This film stars a well-rounded cast with Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Hadish, Rosario Dawson, and many others. Haunted Mansion has many references to the Disney attraction, but it is a great film to watch, whether or not you have been on the ride. 

Abbi Dilley-Gumm: Miraculous: The Ladybug & Cat Noir Movie

Based on the TV show, Miraculous: The Ladybug & Cat Noir Movie follows two average teens – Marinette Dupain-Cheng and Adrien Agreste – as they are given two magical jewels that grant them superpowers. When these jewels, known as the Miraculous, are activated, these two teens become Ladybug, with the power of creation, and Cat Noir, with the power of destruction. However, becoming a superhero is a lot harder than it first seems, especially with a romantic subplot. These teens don’t know who the person behind the other mask is, which makes things even more complicated. And together, the Miraculous grant a dangerous wish. It’s up to our teens to keep this wish away from a bad guy one of them knows all too well. But these heroes only have their powers, a yo-yo, and an “all-in-one thingamajig” at their disposal – can they do it?

Julia Ma: Leo

This lighthearted animated comedy stars Adam Sandler as Leo, a loveable talking lizard who shares life advice with a class of fifth graders. With entertaining musical numbers and a perfect mix of sweet humor and satire, the movie offers an enjoyable premise that appeals to all ages. Its slick animation and catchy songs bring a whimsical element to the story. The film displays impressive voice work from Sandler and his comedic partner, Bill Burr, who plays a sarcastic classroom turtle. Their partnership has a wonderful dynamic. Leo's lighthearted humor and uplifting message about helping others and living life to the fullest make for a fun animated movie the whole family can enjoy. 

Dave Yanowitz: Asteroid City

If you want a think piece that is also a love letter to America’s postwar era, look no further. Wes Anderson is a director who asks a lot of his audience, and this film can be challenging. The fourth wall is repeatedly broken, and there is a sometimes confusing interplay between the core story and a small-town theatrical production of it. The main plot revolves around a crowd of science enthusiasts and their families who converge on a desert military base/motel in the American West for a stargazing event. Within that, we find compelling characters coming to grips with loss and regret. The film features Anderson’s signature visual style, deeply unique personalities, and bone-dry dialogue. It’s not an easy film to like, but the characters stay with you, the visuals are gorgeous, and there’s a plot twist that will leave your head cocked sideways like a puppy who’s been shown a card trick.

Best Show

Avery Khoury: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (season 1)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a TV series streaming on Disney Plus about a demigod (half-human, half-Greek God) tween who figures out that there is more to his world than he previously realized. Percy is trying to make his way into the world while making sense of himself and those around him, which is a difficult task. Along with his friends at Camp Half Blood, Percy will learn what it means to be a demigod and find his place in his new world. 

Lily Dixon: The Summer I Turned Pretty (season 2)

The second season of Jenny Han’s The Summer I Turned Pretty book adaptation came out on July 14. It instantly made shockwaves on social media with nine Taylor Swift songs featured throughout the eight episodes and a re-recording of her song “August” in the season preview. After all eight episodes were released, fans were prompted to choose their team: the brooding, lovesick Conrad, or Jeremiah, his Golden Retriever younger brother. The choice became a cultural phenomenon and nearly broke the internet. Fans were torn. Returning to the Summer House, the kids have to fight to keep Susannah’s memory alive and continue their meetups for future summers to come. With love affairs, love games, and love triangles, there is no lack of drama here. 

Abbi Dilley-Gumm: Erin & Aaron (season 1)

Erin & Aaron is a sitcom about two musical teens with the same name and who live in the same house. The cast includes Jensen Garing as Aaron, Ava Ro as Erin, Pyper Braun as Natasha, and more. With music all around and an entertaining premise, Erin & Aaron is sure to keep you laughing.

Vote in this form (open to both ORCA students and staff) to decide which nominated movies and TV shows are most deserving of winning the third-ever Orcas! 

Are you an electrician? ‘Cause you're lighting up our day with these pickup lines!

Last month, ORCA students showed off their wits and creativity with a number of fun one-liners in The Current’s Pickup Lines Contest. Here are some of the top pickup lines of the month:

Kendra L.: “No pen, no paper, but you still drew my attention.”

Penelope H.: “Are you a Pokémon? Because I want to take a Pikachu.”

Breanna Stowell: “Are you caffeine? Because you keep me up at night!”

Wilder K.: “Was that an earthquake, or did you just rock my world?”

Felix B.: “Hey girl, are you a koala? Because you smell really bad.”

Anonymous: I believe in following my dreams. Can I have your Instagram? 

Do you believe in love at first sight — or should I walk by again?

Valentine’s season may be over, but it’s never too late to share the fun with these wholehearted pickup lines!

Thank you everyone for participating in the contest! Be sure to look out for another exciting contest coming up next month. 

Every year, musicians and other recording industry insiders get together to recognize the biggest songs, albums, and artists of the year. Now, let’s take a look at some highlights from the 2024 annual Grammys hosted by comedian Trevor Noah.

Meryl Streep and Mark Ronson presented the Grammy for Record of the Year. The nominees included “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo and “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift. However, the award was given to Miley Cyrus for her hit song “Flowers,” which spent eight non-consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100. Cyrus also won her first Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance for the same record-breaking song earlier that night. 

Victoria Monét took home the award for Best New Artist. During her acceptance speech, she said, "I feel like today I am sprouting, finally above ground. I would like to thank my team of visionaries who could see through that soil."

Lionel Richie presented Song of the Year to Billie Eilish for her hit “What Was I Made For?” from the blockbuster of the summer, Barbie. Other nominees included pop hits from Miley Cyrus’s song “Flowers” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night.” 

One of the most memorable highlights of the night was when Billy Joel sang his first song in 17 years, “Turn The Lights Back On.” The song was released on February 1, just days before the award ceremony. 

Another unforgettable moment was Joni Mitchell’s first-ever Grammy performance. Joni Mitchell is a legendary folk singer from the 60s, famous for her unique style of playing guitar. After taking a hiatus in her career and recovering from a life-altering stroke, she had to learn how to sing again. At the Grammys, Mitchell performed “Both Sides Now,” beside many other artists, including Brandi Carlile. She also took home her 10th Grammy later that night, winning Best Folk Album for Joni Mitchell at Newport.

Celine Dion presented the Album of the Year Award to Taylor Swift for her pop album Midnights. During her acceptance speech, Swift said, “For me, the award is the work. All I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much. It makes me so happy.” 

Earlier that night Taylor Swift was also awarded Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights. During her acceptance speech, she announced her new album titled The Tortured Poets Department, which will be released on April 19. 

There were many other memorable moments from the 66th annual Grammys:

• Lainey Wilson took home the award for Best Country Album for “Bell Bottom Country.” 

• SZA won the category Best R&B Song for her song titled “Snooze.” 

• Former first lady Michelle Obama won her second Grammy for her book The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times under the category Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording.

• Jack Antonoff was awarded Producer of the Year, Non-Classical. 

• Chris Stapleton took home two awards for his new song “White Horse,” winning Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance.  

• Best Rock Song was awarded to Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Davis of the band Boygenius. 

• As a surprise, Tracy Chapman joined country singer Luke Combs to duet “Fast Car,” a song popularized by Chapman in 1988 and redone to wild success by Combs this year. 

• R&B artist SZA debuted her new single “Saturn” in a partnership performance with Mastercard.

We all seem to view music through the lens of our own streaming accounts, so an awards show like the Grammys offers a wider view of which artists made news in the music industry this year.

The printable version of The Current’s For The Love of Pi crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

2. 3.1415__

3. 2012 movie about a boy and a tiger stranded after a shipwreck

8. A real number that cannot be expressed as a ratio or integer is __

9. Oh my, here comes…

10. Non-terminating

11. Approximately

DOWN

1. Pi is the ____ of a circle relatable to the diameter

4. Forever

5. Fraction, decimal, irrational number, and…

6. A form of an ellipse

7. Double of pi

12. A field that utilizes pi to explore the stars

The answers to the crossword will be published in the April issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the Oregon Landmarks Crossword from the February Issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Oregon Garden = This Silverton site is home to a collection of plants and beautiful landscaping, and features a display of holiday lights each year (2 words)

3. Multnomah Falls = The most visited nature recreational site in the PNW (2 words)

7. Pittock Mansion = French Renaissance style building in Portland’s west hills that was built by a well known publisher of The Oregonian (2 words)

8. Blockbuster = A video rental store located in Bend; last one of its kind

9. Astoria Column = This tower serves as a monument and tourist attraction on the Oregon coast (2 words)

10. Crater Lake = An iconic volcanic pit (2 words)

DOWN

2. Mount Hood = Oregon’s tallest mountain, named after a British admiral (2 words)

4. Powell’s Books = The largest bookstore in Oregon (2 words)

5. OMSI = Famous institution for technology and education

6. Rose Garden = A tourist attraction in Portland known for its showcase and testing of flowers (2 words)

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

What are some ways to deal with frustration from not knowing the answer to a question?

- Frust Rated

Dear Frust Rated,

This is an excellent question, and the important thing to remember is that frustration is human! Everyone makes mistakes or gets confused, and it’s scientifically proven that mistakes actually help reinforce learning. That being said, it’s really hard to remember while you’re in the moment. So, here are some top tips for making the most of a mistake and reframing it in your mind!

If you find yourself projecting your frustration onto yourself, pause and ask, “Why am I blaming myself for not answering this question correctly?” Perhaps you feel you could have answered it correctly if you had double-checked or re-read the question. This can remind you to be a little more thorough next time. Or maybe you find yourself comparing your academic level to that of someone else. While there’s no easy way to suddenly stop making comparisons in our minds, it’s essential to note that you are not every student, and you have your own strengths to bring to the table. Despite your current area of challenge, perhaps you’re good at writing, scientific inquiry, interpreting history, mapping geographic locations, making art, or even soft skills like empathy or communication. And if you’re good at math, I envy you! 

But it’s essential to remember that being “good” at those things is not a reflection of a spontaneous acquisition of knowledge but a long-term learning process you might not even have given yourself credit for. Think back to your interests: they could be one of the many listed at the end of the previous paragraph or something else entirely. How were you motivated to learn about them and apply them to your life? Likely, the answer is you enjoyed it. As a result, you were devoting more time and care to it without even realizing it. This is where a clichéd – but relevant – idea comes into play: a growth versus a fixed mindset. I think we’ve all heard about the dangers of a fixed mindset on things we view ourselves as “bad” at, but it’s also possible to be fixed about our perceived talents. When we take a step back and simply congratulate ourselves on the hard work we’ve done, we can not only motivate ourselves to continue working hard on those interests. We can apply some of the same motivation to answering questions we’ve gotten wrong (and frustrated about) in other classes. The key is understanding why you got something wrong – the academic “why” and the emotional “why” – and processing it in some way. Some may want to take notes, while others may be able to memorize it. Also, some may benefit from reviewing questions from a quiz with their teacher, a study group, or through the peer tutoring program before taking the test.

Ultimately, disregarding all the nitty-gritty advice, it’s essential to remember: you did the best with what you knew at the time!

Good luck,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS Advice Column using this form. All submissions will be anonymous.

Are you a fisherman? Because you got us hooked with these pickup lines!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Do you have what it takes to come up with the best pickup line? It's time to show off your wits and creativity with The Current's Pickup Lines contest!

Whether it’s a witty one-liner or a “roses are red” poem, we want to hear your best pickup lines. Submit your entries to this form by February 23. Make it witty, lighthearted, and fun!

Submissions will be judged on originality, creativity, and humor. Please be sure to keep them both school-appropriate and respectful. 

While you may not be able to use your pickup lines in live classes, you can certainly have fun and submit them for a chance to appear in next month’s article. So bring your A-game, get creative, and have fun!

Fresh from the oven, the results from the cookie poll are in. 

Last month, The Current hosted a poll to find the best cookie flavor. ORCA students and staff voted for a cookie of their choice or picked from chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, sugar cookie, Oreo, snickerdoodle, and peanut butter. 

“All cookies are delicious,” said one student. “I refuse to pick just one.” 

The votes are tallied, and the grand winner of the cookie poll is…chocolate chip! 

“Chocolate chip may be plain, but it will ALWAYS be the best, simplest cookie,” one student contended. Another goes on to describe the gooey chips and the splendid texture that comes from a chocolate chip cookie. 

“There is a wide variety of cookies, all having niche tastes that serve the consumer's needs,” added another avid chocolate chip supporter. “Yet, chocolate chip is a classic that can be customized for a bit of flare or left plain for the simplistic childhood nostalgia. It isn't controversial like oatmeal raisin, possibly dangerous like peanut butter, frankly boring like sugar, or modern like Oreo. Chocolate chip is beloved by all, lacing together generations of families.” 

Oreos, sugar cookies, and snickerdoodles were tied for second, and oatmeal raisin, peanut butter were tied for third. 

“I'm not a huge sweets person but when it comes to sugar cookies, I'll continue to shove them in my mouth until I have a stomach ache,” a student commented. 

“Oreos are like having two cookies at once,” another student argued, adding  more is better. 

“Oatmeal Raisin is not just for grandmas, it's for us all, and it knows it,” one student said, strongly convinced of oatmeal raisin supremacy. 

Many students were very passionate about their choices and defended them to the end. 

Chocolate chip may have been the winner of this poll, but any cookie is a good cookie. Baking and eating cookies can be fun, but the real joy is in sharing cookies with friends and family.

Annually on February 2, we celebrate an event called Groundhog Day. Punxsutawney Phil is famous for his predictions, as he comes out of his burrow to look at the seasons each year. 

In 2022, researchers analyzed a group of U.S. citizens. Six in ten of these Americans found Phil's prediction trustworthy. Studies show that the groundhog’s predictions are only right about 39% of the time. You may be left wondering how this mammal is so trusted and why he is famous for his yearly outlooks. So, how did this odd tradition start, and is there any science to back it up?

Whether you know them as a groundhog, marmot, woodchuck, or land beaver, they are one interesting species. History.com claims these 15-pound creatures live an average lifespan of six to eight years and enjoy roaming on bright and sunny days. Things like grass, clovers, leaves, berries, and insects are part of a groundhog’s preferred diet. 

This so-called rodent meteorologist was first used for its predictions in 1887 in the town of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Celebrated in most areas of the U.S. and Canada, The Library of Congress explains this holiday was derived from an old Christian tradition called Candlemas. Each winter, candles would be distributed for winter necessities. The shape and length of the candles represented how long and cold the winter would be. An animal was chosen to further expand their tradition: the fellow hedgehog. After settling in Pennsylvania, the Germans continued practicing their tradition. Hedgehogs were replaced by groundhogs, which had a larger in-state population. Newspaper editors began featuring articles claiming Phil was the world’s most accurate weather-predicting mammal. 

To this day, this tradition is famously celebrated in a small town called Gobblers Knob, Pennsylvania. Thousands of tickets are purchased each year for a chance to attend the Groundhog Day banquet, ball, live prediction, and more. You can view a countdown to the prediction, purchase a commemorative t-shirt, or even enter the “Gobbler’s Knob Got Talent” contest by visiting the official site: groundhog.org.

You can print The Current’s Oregon Landmarks Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

1. This Silverton site is home to a collection of plants and beautiful landscaping and features a display of holiday lights each year (2 words)

3. The most visited nature recreational site in the PNW (2 words)

7. French Renaissance-style building in Portland’s west hills that was built by a well-known publisher of The Oregonian (2 words)

8. A video rental store located in Bend; the last one of its kind

9. This tower serves as a monument and tourist attraction on the Oregon coast (2 words)

10. An iconic volcanic pit (2 words)

DOWN

2. Oregon’s tallest mountain, named after a British admiral (2 words)

4. The largest bookstore in Oregon (2 words)

5. Famous institution for technology and education

6. A tourist attraction in Portland known for its showcase and testing of flowers (2 words)

The answers to the crossword will be published in the March issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the New Year’s Resolutions Crossword from the January Issue of The Current.

ACROSS

2. Saving money = Actively trying to grow your bank account (2 words)

5. Time management = An effort to use each hour wisely and limit procrastination (2 words)

6. Sleep schedule = A plan to go to bed and get up at the same time daily (2 words)

9. Vegan = A word describing a diet in which people don’t consume any animal products

10. Diet = A plan to eat more healthful

11. Clean = Tidy and neat

12. Routine = A set of actions regularly followed

13. Travel = To go a distance from one destination to another

DOWN

1. Journal = Where people write down their thoughts 

3. Bed = Something you make every morning only to reverse it every night

4. Goals = Specific plans for the future

5. To be read = A term used by hardcore readers for a list of books to start reading (3 words)

7. Exercise = Physical exertion

8. Hobby = An enjoyable activity that one does in their free time

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries.

While it’s amazing to have a restart on my goals in the new semester, I still find myself falling behind and getting unmotivated. How can I stay consistent with my schoolwork?

~ Constance Stacy

Great job planning ahead for the semester! The most important thing to remember is that consistency looks different for everyone. Not fulfilling your goal one day doesn’t mean your goal is over, and developing a growth mindset can help with adaptability. Even if you can’t maintain your habit every day of the new school year, repetition can still take the form of completing a task every other day, every week, etc. Ultimately, you decide what works for you and your schedule! That being said, there are many techniques you can use to maximize your proficiency and keep up with your schoolwork: 

• Make your goals fit the “SMART” framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely. 

• Represent your goals visually. Whether you use Slides, Canva, or a physical format, associating images with affirmations can solidify your goals. 

• Making a daily or weekly to-do list alongside a long-term schedule can help you organize important tests, budget time to study, and remind you of deadlines. Consider sticking to one online or one physical copy so you don’t lose track of tasks between the two locations. 

• Save your teachers’ numbers in your contacts, and don’t be afraid to ask them questions! You can also reach out to your advisor for personalized advice regarding staying on track. Your teachers are here to help you! 

• If you’d like academic help outside the classroom, take advantage of peer tutoring. Tutors serve middle and high school in all core course areas, and each tutor has their own academic specialties.  

• Keep a notebook or Google Document of questions that come up during your classes that you can bring to your teachers or tutors. 

• Don’t discount the role of a work-life balance. Budget time for breaks, and when planning for scheduled appointments, athletic events, performances, or any other activity, account for how much schoolwork you’ll be missing that day and when you’ll have time to complete it. Pay attention to your teacher’s grading policy regarding late assignments to avoid falling behind. Some classes also offer extensions, so be in communication with your teachers if your plans change. 

• While it’s easy to lose motivation when note-taking, keeping track of information is essential. Consider different ways to take physical notes, typing instead of writing, or draw pictures alongside your notes for visual reminders.

• Reconnect with the meaning behind your schoolwork. Reassessing the interest you have in your electives, considering getting involved in a club, or going on a field trip are all options to heighten your school spirit and see school as more than just a checklist. 

• Finally, identifying your distractors is essential. Maybe you’re consistently distracted by notifications from a group chat, social media, a particular app, or a video game. There are several apps and settings on many devices designed to help you pause non-urgent notifications and limit unnecessary screen time. 

Good luck in the second semester! 

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS 

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS Advice Column using this form. All submissions will be anonymous.

Nothing quite beats the feeling of a warm cookie fresh from the oven. And with so many cookie flavors to choose from, there’s something for every occasion. 

But some cookies are better than others, which is why The Current is hosting a cookie poll! Vote now to decide ORCA’s favorite cookie. 

Choose from chocolate chip, sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, peanut butter, and Oreos. At The Current, we have two passions: authentic journalism and food, so help us combine the two and reach our absolute dream of true peace. 

To fill out the form, simply select an answer for each question and click submit. You can also include a few comments to explain why you picked the best cookie. All responses are anonymous, and the popular results will be included in The Current’s February issue. 

Happy eating!

The Current received a number of excellent submissions to the Instrumental Song Contest in December. 

A song titled "Non-binary Code" by Derek M. won the competition. You can hear the winning song by clicking on the audio player on the left. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest! Stay tuned for another fun contest coming up next month. 

You can print The Current’s New Year's Resolutions Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

2. Actively trying to grow your bank account (2 words)

5. An effort to use each hour wisely and limit procrastination (2 words)

6. A plan to go to bed and get up at the same time daily (2 words)

9. A word describing a diet in which people don’t consume any animal products

10. A plan to eat more healthful

11. Tidy and neat

12. A set of actions followed regularly 

13. To go a distance from one destination to another

DOWN

1. Where people write down their thoughts 

3. Something you make every morning only to reverse it every night

4. Specific plans for the future

5. A term used by hardcore readers for a list of books to start reading (3 words)

7. Physical exertion

8. An enjoyable activity that one does in their free time

The answers to the crossword will be published in the February issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the Winter Crossword from the January Issue of The Current.

ACROSS

2. Kwanzaa = A holiday based on traditional harvest festivals from various parts of Africa

6. New Years Eve = The last day of the year (3 words)

7. Olympics = An international sporting event held once every four years

8. Hot cocoa = A warm chocolate beverage associated with cozy winter feelings (2 words)

10. Christmas = A holiday when Santa Clause leaves presents under a decorated tree

11. Snowflake = A feathery ice crystal

DOWN

1. Hockey = It’s like lacrosse on ice

3. Winter Solstice = The longest night of the year and the first day of winter

4. Hanukkah = A Jewish holiday that lasts eight days

5. Sledding = Sliding down a snowy hill

9. Frosty = The name of a talking snowman

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries.

What are some ways to gain experience in school for college or a job?

~ Needa L. Otto-Help

Thank you for submitting a wonderful question, and great job planning for the future! There are many ways to get involved at ORCA and gain experience for college or a job, and you likely can refine your skills through activities you already do. Here are some ideas:

• Find a club, hobby, or passion project. For example, a debate club or a business communications class would be great ways to practice speaking in front of large groups while staying professional and organized. Even leading an art or writing club can teach you valuable collaboration and management skills, and learning more about your hobby and continually practicing it can teach commitment.

• Practice organization and notetaking skills. These are great for keeping track of scholarships, job interviews, class schedules, as well as your important documents, forms, spreadsheets, and so on.

• Get involved in leadership roles. ORCA offers many outlets, each with their own unique benefits: NHS/NJHS, Student Government, & ASCEND chapters. 

• Community service is another way to grow your leadership skills. Volunteering at your local library, animal shelter, or other community-based service can teach you a vast variety of skills, prepare you for the responsibility of a job, and be an experience you can list on a resume. Examples of service-based organizations here at ORCA are ORCA Cares & NHS.

• If you are interested in a particular career path, look into the ASCEND Career & Technical Education program. You can get industry-recognized credentials while in high school, and pursue work-based learning! 

• Get involved in Peer Tutoring. Whether you tutor a subject, receive tutoring to keep up with studies, or a mix of both, the skills learned in this environment can prepare you for study groups in college or team projects in a job.  

• Practice your reading skills! Reading is an important skill to have for college, for a career, and for life. Reading for at least 30 minutes a day – whether it’s a magazine, news article, novel, graphic novel, or even audiobook – will boost your reading skills. You can practice speaking and reading aloud to help prepare for any future interviews as well. 

• Finally, reach out to leaders at ORCA! Whether they be your Student Government representatives, NHS officers, The Current, or even a teacher you admire, they can each give you personalized advice about how to get involved. 

We’re excited to see your new skills in action! 

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS 

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS Advice Column using this form. All submissions will be anonymous.

Show off your musical talent by participating in The Current’s second song contest! Whether it’s your first song or you’ve been making music for years, this contest is a great opportunity to write and record your own original composition for the whole school to appreciate.

Students can submit their entries for the contest using this form. The winning song will be featured in The Current’s January issue.

Please review the rules of the contest before submitting your song:

• Submissions must be under 3 minutes in length.

• Submissions must be original work. Covers are not allowed due to copyright issues.

• Submissions must include instrumental music with no lyrics.

• Songs must be submitted before the deadline of December 15.

Students can record themselves playing a musical instrument or use a copyright-free digital tool, such as Soundtrap, to create their songs in any genre. Students who join the ORCA Music Club gain access to a premium membership of Soundtrap. 

Check out this article for last year’s song contest winner. 

The Current’s second debate poll in November sparked a fun debate throughout ORCA over some controversial topics. 

Students and staff shared their opinions on a number of incredibly controversial but non-political subjects. Questions ranged from whether the Ducks or Beavers are a better football team to who is the best Spider-Man and many more widely disputed topics. 

The two Oregon state football teams were brought to a civil war with the debate: are the Ducks or Beavers better? Amid the last rival game between the two colleges in November, this question sparked an intense dispute among fans. Both teams came close with the results, with the Beavers emerging as the late winner with 52.5% of the votes. 

Some fans voted for the Beavers to represent the university and Oregon’s state animal. But many Ducks fans argue that theirs is the better football team. 

“I come from a history of OSU graduates,” a student explained. “If I don't say Beavers I will not survive.”

“Let's be real, you see a lot more avid Ducks fans out there than Beavers,” argued another voter. “Plus, it never rains in Autzen stadium!”

The Apple versus Android comparison is another never-ending debate. After a close tie, 52.5% of respondents agreed that Apple is the better phone.

Many Apple users argue that the brand comes with better products, such as iPads and Airpods. 

One student offered a technical take on it: “I like Apple not only because of the better design, but also the software,” she explained. “The apps are better synchronized within the same software for easy access, such as contacts and messages. However, iPhones tend to be at a higher price range, but there isn’t much difference between the latest model compared to one that’s a couple years old. It sure isn’t worth $500 more.”

However, a respondent who particularly disliked iPhones said, “If I wanted to be controlled by meaningless restrictions from one of the world's biggest companies, I'd get myself tangled up in some 3M duct tape. At least it would not announce itself in every email I send.”

There were several topics that the majority agreed on, including Star Wars being a better movie franchise than Star Trek, with 92.5% of the votes.

“Anyone who says Star Trek is old,” retorted a student. 

“What even is Star Trek? Never watched it,” another voter added. “Star Wars is newer and more relevant in pop culture and media. Plus they got Yoda. Best character Yoda is.”

Marvel and DC fans were brought together for an intense debate over which is the better superhero team. The Avengers was far and away the most popular choice, beating the Justice League with 87.5% of the votes. 

“The Avengers has Iron Man, and Iron Man is the best!” one student said. “They’re the power team of the MCU!”

“Marvel and DC both have low stakes, but one has better heroes and bigger threats, and that's Marvel,” added another respondent. 

The question on the best Spider-Man was another fun Marvel discussion. Tom Holland was without doubt the most popular choice, garnering 67.5% of the votes. Tobey Maguire was second place with 20% of the votes, while Andrew Garfield received 12.5%. 

“Tobey Maguire is the one true Spider-Man, and don't you ever forget it,” a student asserted. “He is the only real Spider-Man, all the rest are poor imitations of his perfection. The Rami trilogy is the golden trilogy, even with Spider-Man 3.”

“Andrew Garfield got so much hate for literally no reason!” another argued. “He was the best Spiderman, goofy yet serious, and was so slept on when the movies came out. Justice for Garfield!”

“I chose Andrew Garfield because of Garfield the Cat,” a student added. 

One respondent offered an interesting take on both sides. “Honestly though, all the Spider Mans are great in their own right (even Miles Morales and his spiderman crew),” she said. “Overall, Toby Maguire is the best Spider Man, Tom Holland the best Peter Parker, and Andrew Garfield is the best at both.”

Many movie-goers preferred popcorn as their favorite snack, while candy was a second popular choice. 

“Who wants to eat either copious amounts of sugar, or a small amount slowly, when they could eat a giant bucket that'll last them through the whole movie?” a respondent commented. 

“Candy has no kernels to get stuck in your teeth!” argued another voter. 

However, a student pointed out, “Might I add, candy mixed in with the popcorn? 10x better!” 

When asked if they would rather have the ability to fly or become invisible, many respondents offered interesting takes on both sides. 

“Flight for sure,” a student responded. “Saves money on gas and it's a much faster and efficient way to travel. Plus you get all the weather reports before the news does.”

However, many agreed that invisibility was the better choice. 

“It's cold in the sky,” one student contended. “Best you can do is fly around in circles, very obviously, and become a new cryptid.”

“I could spook my friends and make things appear to float,” added a voter who chose invisibility.  

Another split debate was whether the countryside or the city was better. After a close tie, country was the winning choice, with 56.4% of the votes, for the nature and slow, peaceful pace. 

“I love both the country and city,” explained a student. “You got the nature, sunsets, and peaceful life of the country, whereas city life is more fast-paced and has everything to do there. I'd like a nice balance of both. But as a cowgirl, I am obligated to choose country.”

The full results of the poll are shown below: 

• Ducks or Beavers?

  • Beavers: 52.5%

  • Ducks: 47.5%

• Apple or Android?

  • Apple: 52.5%

  • Android: 47.5%

• Star Wars or Star Trek?

  • Star Wars: 92.5%

  • Star Trek: 7.5%

• The Avengers or The Justice League?

  • The Avengers: 87.5%

  • The Justice League: 12.5%

• Which Spider-Man is best?

  • Tom Holland: 67.5%

  • Tobey Maguire: 20%

  • Andrew Garfield: 12.5%

• Movie theater food: popcorn or candy?

  • Popcorn: 65%

  • Candy: 35%

• Would you rather have the ability to fly or become invisible?

  • Invisibility: 64.1%

  • Flight: 35.9%

• Country or city?

  • Country: 56.4%

  • City: 43.6%

You can print The Current’s Winter Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

2. A holiday based on traditional harvest festivals from various parts of Africa

6. The last day of the year (3 words)

7. An international sporting event held once every four years

8. A warm beverage associated with cozy winter feelings (2 words)

10. A holiday when Santa Clause leaves presents under a decorated tree

11. A feathery ice crystal

DOWN

1. A team sport with ice skates

3. The shortest day of the year and the first day of winter

4. A Jewish holiday that lasts eight days

5. Sliding down a snowy hill

9. The name of a talking snowman

The answers to the crossword will be published in The Current's January issue.

Below are the answers to the Movie Quotes Crossword from the November issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Forrest Gump = “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates.”

5. Cast Away = “Wilson!”

8. Shrek = “In the morning, I’m making waffles!”

9. Iron Man = “I am Iron Man.”

10. Toy Story = “To infinity and beyond!”

12. Casablanca = “This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

14. Titanic = “I’m the king of the world!”

15. The Wizard of Oz = “Toto, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore.”

DOWN

1. Finding Nemo = “Just keep swimming.”

2. Mary Poppins = “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

3. Barbie = “It is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever.”

4. The Sound of Music = “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.”

5. Cars = “Speed. I am speed.”

6. The Godfather = “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

7. Top Gun = “I feel the need – the need for speed.”

11. Home Alone = “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.”

13. Jaws = “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

What’s a good way to find sources for my research paper?

- R. E. Search

Dear R. E. Search, 

The quality of your sources is key! A good way to start is to open a Google Document where you can throw links to keep track of them. 

Search for sources with domains of .org, .gov, and .edu. They are often more reliable than .com because they aren't commercial sites and are put together by an organization, the government, or an educational institution, respectively. Many .com sources are still trustworthy, but be aware of if they are selling something.

Use Boolean search terms. Every browser uses them differently, but putting “AND,” “OR,” and other words can help narrow or broaden your search. 

Also, read laterally! This means that you have several sources open at a time and jump between them to compare information and fact-check. This can help identify biases or ulterior motives of the sources that could affect the information found there. 

You may have heard certain sources aren’t trustworthy, like Wikipedia. It’s important to know each of your teacher’s expectations within your individual classes regarding sources. Even if you can’t use certain websites, always check the sources’ “Works Cited” page. These pages can lead you to other trustworthy sources. 

If you can, go to your library or a location relevant to your research (like a historic museum). These places can have many resources in-print that you can reference. 

Finally, remember your teacher’s expectations for citing your sources. A common citation format at ORCA is MLA format, but expectations vary per class. To help you make citations, you can use an online generator, research the general format and add it manually, or reach out to your English teacher on how they want citations formatted. 

Research is a large process, so best of luck breaking it all down!

Best wishes,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

I’m a senior and balancing deadlines in the season of postsecondary planning is getting to be a lot. How can I cope? 

- O. Ver Whelm

Dear O. Ver Whelm,

First of all, great job for balancing so much! Students have many responsibilities with each unique year of high school, and senior year is no different.

If you haven’t already, make a calendar. Put college/vocational school deadlines, the FAFSA, Oregon Promise, OSAC, and other opportunities on it so you don’t forget! Budget your time and plan ahead for the deadlines. If you write planners, try and budget an extra hour in your day for time devoted to college and career planning. 

Second, don’t be afraid to make lists or bullet journals. Have a place to compile scholarship sources, pieces of advice you hear, or questions you have about postsecondary plans. Whether that’s a folder in your Google Drive or just one document is up to you! 

Bring questions to your counselor during your senior call! Also, don’t be afraid to ask your favorite teachers about their experiences in college. They may have advice unique to your situation or goals.

Finally, be kind to yourself. The postsecondary planning process is rarely straightforward for everyone, and you’re allowed to make mistakes and grow now more than ever. 

Good luck with those applications! 

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS advice column! All submissions will be anonymous. 

Are the Ducks better than the Beavers? Maybe. Is Android better than Apple? We’ll see about that. If you want to change that, contribute to this month’s poll: Fun Controversial Debate Topics Part 2.

Discussions are a fun way to bring people together by sharing ideas and connecting with friends. However, a few topics can easily spark a friendly – though heated – debate, like the controversial question: “Which Spider-Man is the best?” 

Get ready to have some friendly debate with these fun, controversial (but non-political) questions. At The Current, we’re determined to find out what you think – and you can help us by filling out this poll. If not, we will find some other creative way to learn your opinion in a completely and totally legal way.

To fill out the form, simply select an answer for each question and click “Submit.” You can also include an explanation behind your reasoning as to why your answers are the only correct ones. All responses are anonymous, and the popular results will be featured in The Current’s December issue. 

For the results of last year's debate poll – including whether a hotdog is a sandwich or if pineapple belongs on pizza – check out this article. 

Thank you everyone for participating in the Back to School Meme Contest! The Current received a number of excellent submissions last month and it was great seeing the creativity and humor students showcased in their work. 

The top three submissions by Cara S., Riley Mullanix, and Audrey Peterson are featured in the image carousel. 

Congratulations to our winners! Be sure to stay tuned for another fun contest coming next month!

Disclaimer: Includes mild spoilers.

On September 9, 2019, Bluey made its grand debut on Disney Junior. Bluey is a kid’s cartoon featuring an anthropomorphic six-year-old Blue Heeler named Bluey and her family, who get up to imaginative adventures. The reason this show is so popular is because everybody has a way they can relate to it. From parental issues to kid things to middle schoolers transitioning to high school, everybody can see a part of themselves in these cartoon characters.

And in the seventh episode of season one, a little gray-colored Blue Heeler named Muffin made her first appearance.

For those who don’t know who Muffin is, she is Bluey’s cousin. She could be the best character on the show. Sometimes she is funny and sometimes she is a bratty toddler who just wants her way. Nonetheless, she is definitely taking over!

Ever since her debut, Muffin has been one of the most beloved characters. She is blowing up the internet and becoming a main attraction, appearing in fanart, memes, and YouTube videos starring the toddler. Her best-known and most adored appearance is the episode 39 of season one, also known as "The Sleepover."

In "The Sleepover," Muffin has "skipped a sleep" and is spouting out all sorts of hilarious sentences, like "I hate plants!", "My name is Bububabu!", and her most famous line: "Coconuts have water in them!”

Muffin is also known for her spoiled type of personality that brings her character to life. In the 11th episode of season two, Muffin, Bluey, and Bingo (who is Bluey’s sister) are going to their grandmother’s house. They decide to play Charades – which is also the name of the episode. Muffin wants a certain card: the ballerina card. She said the following during her turn: "I don’t want the frog card! I want the ballerina card!" She also demanded a tutu and "ballerina music."

Another well-known episode is the 43rd episode of season two, called ‘Muffin Cone.’ This episode begins with a drive to Bluey’s house. Muffin and her mother, known as Aunt Trixie, are in the car. Muffin sneakily raises her thumb to her mouth, watching her mother. When Trixie doesn’t notice, Muffin starts sucking her thumb. Trixie asks Muffin to stop sucking her thumb and Muffin says she "wants to do what she wants!"

Just as the episode’s title suggests, this results in the  “cone of shame,” which refers to the punishment or misbehavior of a pet.

When Trixie and Muffin reach their destination, Muffin attempts to play "sandwich shop" with her cousins. Bluey and Bingo repeatedly correct Muffin on what she is doing, especially when she makes a "baby sandwich" with Bingo’s stuffed toy. It’s guaranteed there’ll be at least an inner chuckle when you watch this episode.

The final episode that will be referenced is "Bumpy And The Wise Old Wolfhound," the 32nd episode of season one. In this episode, Muffin is filmed as the cook, using the "good vase" as a bowl, which she drops later on. This is another example of Muffin’s extraordinary hilarity.

Incidents like these have made Muffin one of the most popular Bluey characters by far. Sometimes she is funny and sometimes she is a bratty toddler who just wants her way. Either way, Muffin has definitely taken over the internet and charmed many viewers with her stickler personality and energy.

If you need more Muffin, take a look at the selected Bluey episodes located on Disney Plus.

You can print The Current’s Movie Quote Crossword HERE. Quotes are the clues and movies are the answers. The clues are listed below: 

ACROSS

1. “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates.”

5. “Wilson!”

8. “What are you doing in my swamp?”

9. “The suit’s a gold-titanium alloy. But, it’s kind of evocative of the imagery..”

10. “To infinity and beyond!”

12. “This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

14. “I’m the king of the world!”

15. “Toto, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore.”

DOWN

1. “Just keep swimming.”

2. “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

3. “It is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever.”

4. “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.”

5. “Speed. I am speed.”

6. “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

7. “I feel the need – the need for speed.”

11. “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.”

13. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

The answers to the crossword will be published in The Current's December issue.

Below are the answers to the Gen Z Slang Crossword Part 2 from the October issue of The Current.

ACROSS

2. Rizz = Short for “charisma;” the ability to flirt 

3. Savage = Describes someone who is audacious

6. Clapback = A sharp and witty response to criticism

7. GOAT = Someone who is the absolute best at what they do

8. Mood = Shows that you relate with another person’s feelings

9. Bussin = Describes something that is exciting and fun

11. Slay = When someone does something great

14. Shook = Blindsided, shocked

15. Ick = Something that grosses you out

16. Whip = Car

17. Hype = Excitement

DOWN

1. Girlboss = A female who is ambitious or successful

3. Stan = A devoted and obsessed fan

4. Glow up = Improving in confidence or attractiveness (2 words)

5. Hits different = When something is better than usual (2 words)

7. Gatekeep = To keep information to yourself 

8. Mid = Low quality or mediocre

10. Noob = A video game term used to describe someone who is new or has poor skills

12. Lowkey = Quiet or casually

13. Yoked = Describes someone who is muscular 

14. Slaps = Exceptionally good

Do you have a school-related question or need some academic advice? ORCA’s National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society are here to help with an advice column intended to provide answers to all of your educational inquiries. 

How can I get involved in clubs at ORCA and find ones that fit my interests?

- Ex. Tra Curricular

Dear Ex. Tra Curricular, 

All clubs offered at ORCA are listed on their website with descriptions of what each club offers! There are many clubs in each grade band that vary from music to writing. If you aren’t sure which clubs to join, you can ask your classmates what clubs they are a part of and what their experiences have been. Certain clubs are also chapters based within the ASCEND program or a chapter of the National Honor Society. Some clubs can also help academically, from honing public speaking skills in Speech & Debate to practicing reading skills in Book Battle. Another way to discover clubs is the National Honor Society’s annual Club Fair which will take place in December of 2023. The Club Fair is a great opportunity to meet club advisors and see which students are in clubs. 

Good luck,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

Have a question about academics? Ask the NHS advice column! All submissions will be anonymous. 

Welcome back to The Current!

As the first edition of the 2023-24 school year, this marks the beginning of our third full year of operation as Oregon Charter Academy's digital newspaper. It’s been amazing to see our growth throughout the years, from what started as a small group of writers to a fully-functioning student-run newspaper and one of the biggest clubs at ORCA. 

But The Current wouldn’t be where it is now without our readers and the immense support from our school. To all students, parents, and staff of Oregon Charter Academy, thank you for your support in facilitating and contributing to The Current from its beginning to now. 

However, this is just the beginning of many bigger plans we have this year. And for that, we’ll need your help. 

It all starts by doing exactly what you’re doing now: reading The Current. 

In this edition of The Current, we wanted to include articles that can help get students old and new to engage in the school community. This month, you can find a great selection of news about the latest happenings at ORCA, summer movie reviews, student life pieces, and even a fun contest. We have more great content planned for this year, so stay tuned for our monthly issues throughout the year. 

Each month, we feature a wide array of articles on our website, with fun-themed crosswords, reviews of the latest movies and TV shows, student success tips, interactives, and so much more. Reading and engaging in our monthly issues is a great way to contribute to our community, stay informed with the latest ORCA news, and spread school spirit. It really helps give purpose to our staff who have worked hard each month to put together our newspaper. 

One of our focuses this year is to increase coverage of student-interest features to spotlight all the clubs, programs, and amazing things ORCA students and teachers have accomplished. It’s important for us to connect with our student body in further uniting our school community. 

But with ORCA being such a vast school, we need your help. If there’s something fun happening in your class or club, share it with us! Have you or a classmate recently accomplished something you’re proud of? Let us know! The Current is a great place to share about all the exciting activities and programs ORCA has to offer. 

You are more than welcome to reach out to us via our contact form, which can be found under the “Contact” dropdown menu on our website. Please use this to share your feedback with our staff, whether it’s letting us know you enjoyed a particular content, sharing an idea for an article, or providing constructive criticism. Any and all feedback will help us improve our future editions and fine-tune our articles to what you want to read. 

If you have a story or artwork you’re proud of and want to have it recognized with a wider audience, sharing it on our Showcase section is a great way to do so. Over on our contribute form (located under the same “Contact” menu), you can submit articles, stories, photography, art, and other such content for an opportunity to showcase your talents. 

You could even join our monthly contests – from art, music, writing, and photography – or participate in our fun polls for another chance to be featured in an edition and get involved. 

If you’re someone who’s interested in journalism or writing or just wants to make a positive impact at our school, Newspaper Club is a great group to join. Our club offers a creative and collaborative environment where you can develop your skills as a writer, accomplish a lot, impact our school, and make some friends. 

As a student at a virtual school, I’ve been at ORCA since kindergarten, but took for granted the opportunities to get connected at ORCA and make friends. I was never one to join clubs or participate much, but in my sophomore year, I decided to try something different: I joined Newspaper Club.

The Current was the first club I’ve ever been a part of. As someone who’s a bit more on the introverted side, especially being a home-based student my whole life, I was nervous to step into new waters and join a club with most people I’ve never met before. 

Fortunately, I was introduced to a welcoming and incredibly supportive group of students, where I have been able to learn from my peers and grow as a writer myself. It gave me an amazing opportunity to grow outside my shell and try something new. Pretty soon, I realized I found a passion for journalism and writing and even made some best friends along the way. 

Joining The Current was the best thing I did in high school. 

Hopefully being a part of the school community – whether it be joining a club, doing something you are passionate about, or even getting involved in the newspaper yourself – will help you as much as it helped me and many others. 

With another school year starting, our team is looking forward to making the most out of a fantastic year at ORCA, and we are excited to share it with you. 

Oregon Charter Academy, thank you for reading The Current!

Get ready to show off your comedy chops with The Current’s second meme contest!

Until October 22, all ORCA students and staff are welcome to create their own meme relating to fall or the back-to-school season. Memes can include a funny image with a humorous commentary about fall or being a student at an online school. 

To keep entries original and within copyright guidelines, meme images must be selected from a free-use website or non-copyrighted source, such as Unsplash. You are also welcome to create your own image. Submissions will be judged on how they relate to the topic, originality and creativity, and most importantly, how hilarious they are. 

Top submissions will be featured in The Current’s next issue. You can use this form to submit a meme. 

Meme submissions must follow a few simple guidelines:

• Entries must be school-appropriate and positive about school.

• Entries must be your own original idea and related to the prompt. 

• Images must be from a non-copyrighted source.

• Submissions must include a link to the original image.

• Please submit your entry by October 22.

Please be sure to follow these guidelines and submit your meme through this form. Have fun!