Spotlight

There are many clubs to choose from when looking for a community of students who share the same interests. For audiophiles, Music Club is a great place to showcase original compositions or just listen to the creative works of others. For hobbyists who dabble with Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) or with acoustics, Music Club is an opportunity to learn more about an interest. 

Open to middle school and high school students, members can enjoy student performances that showcase a community of like-minded people who understand the heart of music, as well as the fears of showcasing new genres. 

Music Club is designed for fans of any genre of music. Not only are students able to participate in a supportive community, but individuals also gain access to a Premium Soundtrap account, exclusively for performance use. Soundtrap, one of many Digital Audio Workstations or DAW and an ORCA approved platform allows students to record their voice or instrument, or create tunes digitally using its vast array of library tracks.

Students that join the club will be given an opportunity to share and obtain knowledge from their peers through attending live meetings, sharing tracks in mini-sessions, and getting advice from workshops. Students will also get to participate in fun activities where they can learn about audio production techniques. At the end of each semester, there is a showcase where students are invited to perform their creations in front of the rest of the school through a virtual field trip. Participants can upload a recording for these showcases or perform live. Additionally, submissions can be added to Music Club’s website so students’ creations live on. To see submissions from last year’s participants, please click here.  

Music Club sessions are held on Zoom every Thursday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information regarding how to sign up for the club, please click here to access Oregon Charter Academy's student club website, and join a community of people who enjoy music as much as you do.

The month of February is widely celebrated as Black History Month — a time to reflect on the past and to celebrate the future of black businesses, entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and people as a whole. Striving towards the goal of equality, whether in the government or in the classroom, remains at the forefront of the work being done to commemorate this month. 

In ORCA classrooms, teachers took extra care to ensure that the stories of those who faced severe racism and inequality were told throughout the month, while educating their students on the importance of a balanced curriculum.

“We want to read stories by black and brown writers throughout the school year, because we want to read stories that have been shared by all different kinds of people from all backgrounds and cultures,” says Language Arts 9 teacher Calla Mapel.

Two of the three novels her students read each year focus on black stories, creating the opportunity for discussions about the Civil Rights Movement, empowerment, and activism. They read both “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson and “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Mapel’s focus for LA9 is to teach her students the consequence of a sole perspective, something that is highlighted in Adichie’s TedTalk titled, “The Danger of a Single Story,” which her class watches together at the beginning of the year. 

Connecting to her classes’ current module on “The Magical in the Mysterious,” she introduces a lesson on Toni Morrison and magical realism, and a science fiction short story by Octavia Butler, an African American writer who frequently challenged racial and gender stereotypes. 

Stephanie Imig, another Language Arts teacher, celebrated Black History Month by starting each live class with a poem by a black author. The poems she read include: "Poetry Means the World to Me" by Tony Medina, "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou, "Frederick Douglass" by Robert Hayden, and "Praise Song for the Day" by Elizabeth Alexander.

“The poems allow us the opportunity to explore ideas around the importance of remembrance and history, the complexity of freedom, and the importance of having the power to tell one's story,” Ms. Imig expresses. 

But, spotlighting black history in education doesn’t stop with Language Arts at ORCA. U.S. History teacher Casey Comstock is integrating black history year-round, putting extra importance on their stories during the month of February. 

“In the not-so-recent past, black history was mostly left out of textbooks and minimized in the classroom,” says Ms. Comstock. “For me, Black History Month is an annual reminder to reflect on my practice and continue to work towards a more inclusive curriculum.”

This past month her class learned about Hiram Revels, the first African American member of the senate, and later in the course she’ll be spotlighting anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells, along with Civil Rights Movement leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. 

“Some stories will feel personal and accessible and true to our own lives, and some will feel strange and different and eye-opening or completely foreign, and both of those experiences are really valuable for readers to have,” Ms. Mapel states, highlighting the need for diversity in education. 

“I don't want to limit exposure to black and brown voices to just 28 days of the school year.”

Stephanie Vitro, who taught 10th grade Language Arts until last year, is now an AVID teacher for grades 10-12. She also was the advisor for high school Student Government from 2021-23.

After graduating from Bowling Green University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, she worked as a property manager in Ohio for four years. The experience motivated her to go back to school so she could become a teacher. She taught 10th grade Language Arts for four years before moving to Oregon.

First hired as an advisory teacher, Ms. Vitro has been with ORCA for ten years. She spent two years in that department, and then moved on to teach 10th grade Language Arts. For the past four years, she has taught AVID, and this year she has chosen to focus solely on teaching that course.

When she was in high school, Ms. Vitro found her passion for teaching. “When I was in tenth grade, I had an English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, who was so inspiring to me,” she shares. “She was smart, funny, kind, and I felt so comfortable in her class. I loved the confidence she gave me to engage in discussions and share my ideas.”

Ms. Vitro has been involved with her students in several ways, sharing that her fondest memories of her time at ORCA are chaperoning prom, mentoring her AVID students, meeting students through SG, and all of the inside jokes from Honors Language Arts 10.

The Youth Research & Advocacy Club (YRAC) is generating excitement by offering students opportunities to engage with issues and let their voices be heard. Founded this year, YRAC focuses on youth involvement in advocacy through various organizations, emphasizing the importance of intentional and informative representation.

The club has established active connections with multiple networks and organizations, including those in health care, STEM support, and organizations that focus on climate change:

• Good DeEds, which focuses on addressing global issues with STEM problem solving through education for elementary and middle school.

• Our Future, dedicated to tackling climate change and promoting environmental justice.

• Youth HPV Champions, which aims at preventing HPV-related cancers through awareness and vaccination campaigns.

• Oregon School-Based Health Alliance, which advocates for student health and well-being in schools.

• American Red Cross, offering numerous volunteering opportunities.

• Girls Inc., which empowers young women through leadership development and advocacy programs.

• Local youth advisory boards throughout Oregon, which provide platforms for youth voices in local government.

YRAC provides students the chance to get involved with these organizations while learning about effective leadership and research skills. The club’s unique approach to research allows members to pursue projects that interest them, whether it's literature reviews, case studies, historical research, or scientific research in a lab. Beyond their connections to organizations, YRAC supports students throughout the research process, offering resources, feedback, and connections to local labs for hands-on experience.

“We want to create a space where students can make a real impact through informed advocacy and research,” says club founder Grace Choi. “The goal of this club is to provide more opportunities for students to get involved not only within the school but throughout Oregon.”

With its strong network and focus on meaningful engagement, YRAC is poised to become a dynamic part of the ORCA community. Students interested in learning more about the club are encouraged to check out these slides or join the club by filling out the club interest form. The club plans to meet once a month, but the day and time are yet to be decided.

Debuting in November 2024, a few weeks before the club creation deadline, the Cubers Club, also known as Puzzlers Unite, became the first puzzle club at ORCA. 

Puzzlers Unite was founded by Arthur Berry, an ORCA sophomore, who aims to share his passion for puzzles. Inspired by a Rubik’s cube that was gifted to him as a birthday present by his parents, he grew fascinated by the complexities and began to explore other puzzles. The club will incorporate various other challenges from Rebus and Sudoku to chess, as well as an assortment of brain teasers.

Patiently waiting for such a club to appear up until recently, Berry took the situation into his own hands.

“I have always loved puzzles and Rubiks cubes and I always hoped there would be a puzzle related club at ORCA,” Berry said. “After a while, I just decided to start one myself.”

Kellen Sherwood, Puzzlers Unite’s club advisor, and one of ORCA’s 10th grade advisors, recalls the moment when a remark about having a Rubik’s cube led to an invitation to become the club’s advisor.

“After [an] advisory live class one day several weeks ago, I got a Canvas message…asking if I would be willing to serve as the staff advisor for a new Cubers and Puzzlers club he wanted to start,” Ms. Sherwood said. “I suspect Arthur [Berry] might have gotten the idea to ask me because I happened to mention (though I can't remember how the topic came up) in that morning's live class that I had a Rubik's cube.”

Inspired by Berry’s enthusiasm and willingness to take on the role, Ms. Sherwood expressed her own interest with puzzles, while highlighting the importance of leadership and enlightening students on pursuing their interests.

“After considering the request, and discussing it a little more with Arthur, I agreed - because I love puzzles of all kinds, especially escape rooms and logic puzzles,” Sherwood continues. “Starting, organizing, and leading a club can be a fantastic way to develop and practice many skills that can be very useful throughout life. Plus, I think this will be a really fun way to connect with other ORCA community members.”

Puzzlers Unite was one out of the many new clubs offered at ORCA that participated in the 2024-2025 NHS/NJHS club fair. During the club fair, Rebus puzzles enticed potential new members to engage in unconventional, abstract thinking. Berry enjoyed the experience, learning two things: “One: there are a lot of different types of puzzles, and two: people who do a lot of puzzles tend to think outside-the-box more than those who don’t.”

Berry understands that puzzles aren’t a one-size fits all activity, but he hopes to prove that students that have an interest in something should pursue it, no matter what it is. “There are bound to be people that will think it's cool that you are doing that.”

For most individuals, the endgame boils down to two choices: they can keep their passion to themselves or they can share it. “I think everyone should have a chance to share the things that they like to do” and “[i]f at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Mark Cralen is a chemistry and physics teacher at ORCA who also co-advises Music Club. He is a DJ in his free time, pursuing his passion for music outside of teaching science. Additionally, he takes every opportunity to deepen his knowledge of sciences and his career.

Recently, Mr. Cralen received a grant funded by M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust program. The grant began in the summer 2023 and ran for two summers. The grant gave him the opportunity to work alongside undergraduates with the guidance of Portland State University's Dr. David Stuart and a PhD student, Riley Roberts, who guided him day to day. 

The grant gave him the opportunity to work with the Stuarts Lab Group and in Dr. David Stuart's lab for two summers. The summer of 2023 they were able to get the results they wanted, whereas 2024 didn't go quite as smoothly.

They were trying to make a carbazole, a functional group that contains two benzene rings connected by a direct bond and another bond to a common amine, which is commonly found in biologically active compounds and could be used to assist in development of any drugs that contain that carbazole structure. 

“It was really valuable for me to see the process of science play out first hand.  The lab experience has definitely changed the way I teach my course and empowered me to talk about science in a clearer way,” Mr. Cralen explained. In the end, he wasn’t able to get that process to work as well as they had hoped, but he learned more techniques and strategies than he knew going into the program.

“Doing science is hard,” he mentioned. “Generations of brilliant minds building on each other have pushed the edges of scientific knowledge very far.  More brilliant minds than ever are continuing to push the edges of knowledge even farther. It's a process that is both inspiring, intimidating, and a very stimulating challenge.”

Brady Jacobs, a middle schooler at Oregon Charter Academy, is making (sound) waves in the music composition field, becoming one of 17 finalists for the National Young Composers Competition. 

After hearing famous composers' work like Chopin and Mozart, he was inspired to create his own compositions, leading to a love of classical music, and the process of creating it. “I took inspiration from Chopin and Mozart in the piece I submitted to the competition because those are who I look up to most,” Jacobs says. 

He is currently waiting for the judging panel to decide whether his piece is worthy of a top three finish, which would grant him $500, and the chance to hear his composition played by a professional orchestra. 

“I wrote the melody on my piano at home, but I continued the rest of the piece on a notation software (noteflight.com). I made the piece [and] added the realistic sounding audio,” Jacobs describes. “I only play piano and violin so I couldn't do all of the instruments. I could not record this one, but I do look forward to recording some of my own compositions in the future.”

He hopes to continue his musical journey in the future, looking towards post-secondary education with music colleges and programs tailored to classical composition. He says being at ORCA has enabled him to have notation software, and that has helped him grow in his composing. 

“The biggest takeaway I had from this competition was that if you work hard and learn, then you can achieve anything.”

Claire Jennings, an ORCA 2023 graduate, is a sophomore at Indiana University at Bloomington. Throughout her time at Oregon Charter Academy, she was involved in numerous clubs and activities, including HOSA, National Honor Society, Student Government, Pens & Prose, ORCA’s student-run newspaper, The Current, Broadcasting Club, Breakfast Club, and Yearbook. Her dedication and leadership are evident through her roles as the former President and Secretary of HOSA, Co-President of NHS, and State Finalist in the 2023 Healthcare Issues Exam. 

Claire’s journey with ORCA began on October 31, 2017. After experiencing bullying at her previous school, her sister’s positive experience at ORCA influenced her to enroll in a safer, more supportive community. With a flexible learning environment, engaging teachers, and memorable field trips, she quickly fell in love with the new platform. Despite facing bumps in the road, Jennings’ determination to graduate from ORCA never wavered, resulting in cherished memories and lasting friendships.

Although Jennings initially aspired to be a pediatrician and pursued her passion for medical sciences through the ASCEND program, her creative talents eventually led her to the field of film. She often submitted medical science projects in media formats, such as instructional videos and short skits. Pursuing her passion as a film student, she embraced her artistic path, never regretting the decision to follow her dreams.

During her time at ORCA, Jennings faced challenges throughout 11th grade, struggling with three AP classes and numerous extracurriculars while battling personal challenges. However, the support from her social worker, friends, NHS crew, and teachers helped her overcome these obstacles. She learned to prioritize her well-being and recognize her limits, developing an understanding that self-care is more important than perfection. 

"Work at your own pace and recognize 'the maximum.' The maximum is the point in any effort which ends up being unhealthy,” Jennings states.

Jennings fondly remembers the impactful teachers who shaped her educational journey: Ms. Lee and Dr. Washak, her HOSA advisors, were compassionate, creative, and inspiring mentors, while Dr. Eide, her 8th-grade Gifted and Talented Literature Study teacher, ignited her passion for film by encouraging innovative projects. These teachers were not only cornerstones who provided academic guidance but also formed lasting personal connections that Jennings continues to cherish to this day.

“I went to ORCA so I could feel safe in my home and try out a new experience. I immediately fell in love with it,” she shares. “I knew from the moment I joined my first Live Lesson that I wanted to graduate from this school.”

HOSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) required for ORCA’s Medical Science CTE pathway. ORCA's HOSA is just one chapter of an international organization with over 4,500 branches, and it is a student-led association of future health professionals. 

Students interested in careers in the medical field would highly benefit from HOSA’s instructional content, increased leadership skills, and the challenge that comes with it. 

Members of the organization are invited to compete in 60 online, in-person, and hybrid competitions. The State Leadership Conference is a hybrid competition and by far the most popular. Depending on how students place, they can be invited to compete at the International Leadership Conference. In the past two years, an ORCA student has qualified and gone on to compete there. This year, it is hosted in Houston, TX.

“One of my favorite parts is attending the State Leadership Conference where I get to meet these students in person and watch them shine,” says HOSA advisor Amy Lee. “They never cease to amaze me!”

ORCA sophomore Grace C. adds that the best part of HOSA is getting to connect with peers while preparing and participating in a competition. “You are surrounded with so many like-minded students, making it easy to connect with others,” Choi comments. “Personally, I have been able to form deeper relationships with friends and acquaintances through a common interest, HOSA!"

The Oregon State Leadership Conference is coming up this April in Portland, and for many ORCA students, this will be their first time experiencing the electric medical environment that the Leadership Conference provides. The competition will start on April 1 and end on April 3. 

HOSA President Cara S. and Secretary Grace C. will present their social media mental health campaign during the State Leadership Conference as a part of the competition.

“I love watching students excel at HOSA!” Ms. Lee comments. She adds that students continue to step up to the challenge of leading the group and dedicating hours to studying, volunteering, and demonstrating their skills in front of judges. “They are exceptional and I know they will go on to do outstanding things!”

In addition to the learning perks, HOSA continues to be a great resource to put on college applications and resumes. The program also connects students with medical professionals and provides them with the skills to succeed in the medical science path beyond the classroom. 

HOSA President Cara S. encourages students looking to advance their careers to have fun and participate in competitive research. “HOSA is for everyone in the healthcare field. Join us next year!” 

Oregon Charter Academy’s Scrub Club is a community of high schoolers who share a passion for medical science and want to learn about the field, providing a great outlet for students to interact and support each other. The advisor of the club is Amy Lee, and the student leaders are Riley Mullanix and Aubrey C.

“Scrub Club has been a great place for me to learn more about health science with my peers,” shares Mullanix as co-leader of the club. “I have honestly learned so much and I continue to be fascinated by the medical field.”

Students often engage in hands-on medical science-related activities such as Jeopardy, Kahoots, and more. They sometimes feature guest speakers with experience in the medical field as workers or volunteers, offering insight into what a job in a hospital setting will entail.

“I would say Scrub Club is a lot of fun. I enjoy talking to my peers at our monthly meetings, and it's great to connect with others who are interested in a medical career,” shares club member Olivia F. “We've also had some presenters, including student presenters, come in to discuss various topics related to health and wellness. While Scrub Club is small, which I hope will change in the coming months or even the next school year, it is filled with great minds.”

Scrub Club meets twice a month, alternating between a presentation and a medical professional guest speaker who shares about their job and a day in the life of a hospital worker. 

“Co-leading this club with Aubrey has been a great experience for me,” Mullanix adds. “I always enjoy creating activities for club meetings and having fun with my peers! I can’t wait to see how this club grows and evolves over time as more people join and contribute.”

Ms. Lee also advises ORCA's HOSA club, which is centered more on competitions. While HOSA is similar, the Scrub Club offers a more relaxed environment for students potentially interested in a medical career. 

“I am very proud and thankful for Riley and Aubrey who have stepped up to lead this new club," she shares. "They have volunteered countless hours to organize games, create presentations, and recruit members. This club was requested by students who weren't ready to or couldn't commit to HOSA and these two have turned it into a reality. I couldn't have done it without them!”

Scrub Club is a wonderful place for ORCA high school students to enjoy socializing with peers and learning more about future medical pathways.

Writers, take up your pens. ORCA’s Writing Club features middle school students interested in creative writing. Students will gain the opportunity to meet others with the same passion, share their work, gain advice, and improve their writing. 

The club advisors are Emily Strocher and Katherine Wallig. Ms. Strocher teaches eighth-grade Humanities and middle school Mythology, while Ms. Wallig is a sixth-grade Humanities teacher. The two work together to keep the club fun, interesting, and inclusive for students to collaborate. Students also have the chance to build meaningful friendships through writing.

While Ms. Wallig and Ms. Strocher are the advisors, the members agree that their corgis, Tater Tot and Oscar, reign supreme. The two dogs are featured quite frequently on camera. 

The club meets every Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. for weekly "quick write" activities and a fun hour of chaos. Their quick writes are fifteen minutes long each and based on one or two prompts. There is usually quite an array of responses, as each writer will interpret the prompt differently.

“Writing Club is chaos in a good way,” says Elijah Pyke, a long-time club member and author of many heart-wrenching short stories that he shares in the club. “Writers of all sorts write on the same prompt, and you can see the difference in everyone's style. There will be stories that will make you die of laughter and stories that will make you cry, but we all write!” 

For many students, the meetings are the highlight of their week. The enthusiastic attitude of writing club members has helped build the community they have now.

“I can truly say that the Writing Club meetings are one of my favorite parts of the week,” says club advisor Ms. Wallig. “We have such a fun, creative, and collaborative group of students. Everyone has their own writing style, from fantasy to comedy, romance, suspense, and everything in between, but everyone is so supportive and encouraging to one another.” 

According to Ms. Strocher, who has been with the club since last year, there is a core group of members who are regular attendees. “Between having members participate so regularly and having had many of them in Creative Writing in the past two years, I feel like I've really gotten to know each person’s individual writing styles and personalities,” she says. “Writing Club members are very supportive of each other's writing, always eager to give compliments and feedback, and also hop on the mic to read for other members when they can't or don't feel up to it.”

ORCA’s MS Writing Club supports the development of a community of young writers, each with their own styles, genres, personalities, and voices, and they’re always willing to help each other. Whether it’s giving feedback, reading for someone else, or even collaborating on a piece, they are always there and together have built a beautiful space full of chaos and fun.

ORCA’s Photography & Film Club is for students in middle and high school who enjoy taking pictures, regardless of their skill level. This club was founded by freshmen students Lily Dixon and Leesy L., with Mark James as the advisor. 

“Photography & Film Club has been a rollercoaster of fun,” Dixon says, as co-founder of the club. “As a group, we've gotten to share our artistic abilities through mini films and photographs, and meet other students in the process.” 

“In our ORCA photography community we have tons of talented students that are always willing to take constructive feedback to hone their skills and provide the same for others,” she adds. “It's been a special experience being able to be amongst such talented and remarkable people and I hope the club will continue to grow as the months and years go on.”

Photography & Film Club is a great place where students with the same hobby get to socialize and make friends with other students who share a passion for photography and videography. Club members participate in fun bi-weekly meetings and discussion boards to hang out with old friends, along with making new ones. 

“Photo club is an awesome club to share photography with others and converse with people that share a hobby!” says Wesley Robbins, a 10th grade photography student. “And, of course, nerd out about camera stuff!”

“The one thing I like most about Photography & Film Club is that the discussions are very active, and it's just a bunch of camera nerds having fun talking to each other. Not only do we share photos, but we are also all friends,” freshman Keagan S. shares. “I also like that the meetings are very organized as well. Overall, this is one of my favorite clubs!”

Photography & Film Club is a popular activity with students, providing a wonderful opportunity for high and middle school students to socialize with other people who enjoy photography and just have fun. It is one of ORCA’s newer clubs and everyone’s excited to see new members join and how this club evolves.

The Drama Club is a newly founded club for middle and high school students who want to explore performing arts and theater. Students in this club participate in fun drama games and activities. They will also perform in a creative production by the end of the year.

The Drama Club meets bi-weekly on Wednesdays. Club advisor Calla Mapel and student leader Chelsia Henry host the meetings. 

“I realized that ORCA didn't have a drama club, and as someone who wants to be an actress, I decided – why not bring two of my favorite things together: acting and getting a chance to meet others?” explains Henry. “That’s how Drama Club got its start! We are now working with Music Club, too, for the songs and music for [a theatrical production]. I'm so happy and grateful for everyone who has helped us on this journey!”

Auditions happened in November, and after that, students were assigned roles that best fit their personality and character. The next step is to begin rehearsals — which are just like practices in sports. By the end of the year, members will perform in a virtual theatrical production.

This year’s first play is called Willow In The Woods, which is about a group of friends who go searching for Willow, who had recently gone missing. They must solve all the clues they are given or else they’ll fail. Written by Chelsia Henry herself, it’s an incredible debut play for the Drama Club.

“Drama Club is an amazing way for me to practice acting,” says Abbi Dilley-Gumm, a member of the Drama Club. “My dream is to be a famous actress, so this is perfect for me!”

“I'm glad I decided to join the Drama Club because I get to meet students who want to be in a play and bring entertainment to my peers!” adds club member Solange Guitterez. 

The Drama Club is a fun and creative way to express your acting skills and use your singing voice in the unique online plays and musicals this club produces. If you are looking for a great way to make friends while participating in a fun activity, look at ORCA’s Club homepage and sign up for Drama Club today.

At a statewide virtual school, team sports can be hard to come by. But Oregon Charter Academy offers a great opportunity for students to get involved in online sports through the high school esports club. 

Esports are a form of competitive video gaming that helps students engage with classmates, work as a team, and highlight their school’s talent in a fast-paced and collaborative environment. 

The ORCA esports club was created in Spring of 2022. What started as a small group of about six students, with advisors Gabriel Elliott and Todd Shaffer, the esports club has now grown to a team of 18 players and 47 members. 

ORCA’s esports team started only competing in Rocket League in their first year, but now has teams for Rocket League, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and Super Smash Bros. 

Members play games competitively, learn interactively as a community, and support each other’s skills as a team, explains eleventh grader Nova Hughes. As esports' Public Representative and Relations Manager, she helps oversee club operations and makes sure everything is running as smoothly as possible. 

“From homework, to getting better at a game, or even general advice, esports is a community oriented to bettering ourselves and each other,” adds Elijah L., the League of Legends team captain. “I love the community that esports has created. My favorite part about esports is meeting new people and watching my peers grow.”

This club offers members an opportunity to participate in a competitive format, developing teamwork, communication, and accountability to be successful. In addition, esports is a great way to introduce STEM topics to students interested in game design, software engineering, and coding.

However, esports is more than just the competition. The club also provides students with an opportunity to socialize with peers who share a passion for gaming. 

“I really enjoy esports and it has helped me be much more social,” says Berry C., a dedicated League of Legends player.  

As a team, community is an important aspect of the club. Members of esports each have their own roles and work together to practice and compete in competitions. 

“I have had the honor of seeing this club grow so much, witnessing the evolution of the culture and comradery amongst its members,” says Coach Elliott. “My favorite part about this club is the incredible personalities of the club members. There is such a diversity of background and personalities amongst the team members, and seeing them all work together for a common goal in competition is amazing to witness!” 

As club advisor, Mr. Elliott explains that his initial role was a traditional coach, in charge of running practices, coordinating games, and developing strategies. As the club expanded in student members and the number of teams, his role has shifted to more of a team manager, primarily acting as an administrator for student enrollment, coordinating team rosters and roles, recruiting for future seasons, and representing the club to school staff and board members.

“I love being in esports,” says Lucy Dias, esports’ moderator and Overwatch co-captain. “I've made many friends and gotten significantly better at the games I play with my team. I'm very proud to have made it to the playoffs last season and I'm excited to see how the club progresses this year!”

The team competed in various competitions and playoffs last year in two different games, sharing many accomplishments and development as a team. 

“I enjoy being able to use my passion for esports to be able to support the school,” says Cody C., a top Rocket League player. “My favorite part is, of course, the competitions. I haven't been here for long enough to have any major accomplishments, but if I had to choose one thing it would be our RL Team's perfect sweep over our opponent [in an October competition].”

Hughes feels pride when thinking back on how the club almost made it to the playoffs last season and notes how well the teams are doing this season. “I personally am proud of the way our Discord server and community is functioning now that I, along with Coach Elliott, have reworked it to be the safest it possibly can be, and also as inclusive as possible,” she adds. 

The team’s next playoff runs from November 27 through December 8. Esports will be streaming the playoffs on their Twitch channel, TheTeenageeSports. 

“I'm super excited for this year because I feel like I have really improved in my main game,” adds Berry. “I'm hoping we make it back to the playoffs and win at least one game there!” 

Esports experienced significant growth in recruitment and expansion over the past three seasons, with plans to expand further this year by recruiting new members and exploring new games. 

“I am really excited to see how our team leaders continue to effectively coordinate, motivate, and hold themselves as well as their peers accountable throughout the competitive season,” Coach Elliott says. He explains this is the first time the club has implemented a robust expansion of leadership to students, hoping to provide opportunities for growth in teamwork and competitive achievement. 

“I joined the eSports club because I wanted to meet people, and engage with people over a common interest,” adds Elijah. “As a result, I've made some of my closest friends and [it’s] an awesome community.”

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is an elective offered to middle and high school students at Oregon Charter Academy. In the AVID program, students focus on academic success and college preparation. 

“AVID has given me a multitude of opportunities to hone my group collaboration, leadership, questioning, organization, and communication skills,” says AVID student Sofia Dier. “Learning such things has allowed me to be prepared for my future academic career.”

The elective is made up of many key components tied to academic growth.

Tutorials 

Through a three-step tutorial process, students document a question or inquiry they have about a class topic and find a point of confusion. The documentation will happen through a Tutorial Request Form, or TRF. Through the pre-work process, each AVID student will find academic vocabulary related to their question and record the information they already know about their initial question. Through a critical thinking process, students work to find the answer to their question, and once they reach a roadblock, they’ve found their Point of Confusion (or POC). 

During tutorials, students are placed into groups that are run by an AVID tutor. The presenter will start with a 60-second explanation of their pre-work and then turn the responsibility over to their peers for questioning. The groups will work together to identify the issue and through the questioning process, they will come to a solution that provides the presenter with clarity. 

After everyone has presented their tutorials in the group, each student will work on post-tutorial work. They will answer questions regarding their learning and reflect on what went well in their tutorial group. 

"TRFs are very beneficial for students," explains AVID student Audrey Peterson. "They allow no students to get left behind in their learning and to understand their work from new and different perspectives."

College & Career Preparation

Did you know that 92% of Oregon AVID graduating seniors completed four-year college entrance exams? The AVID program strives to give students the resources and confidence to apply to post-secondary education and assist them in their preparation. 

“If you're curious about career options and future potentials, AVID is a great place to start,” adds eighth grader Julia Ma. “Through this program, I've met exceptional students with unique abilities and skill sets. I've learned important lessons from them, including teamwork, responsibility, and critical thinking.” 

AVID teachers encourage students interested in higher education to take rigorous courses like AP and honors in high school and maintain a passion for education throughout their academic careers. In addition to inspiring students to take higher-level courses, teachers also help students with study skills and methods of note-taking. 

SMART Goals

Students in the AVID program are determined and ambitious. A vital part of achieving their ambitions is creating goals. Through the SMART goal process, students take extra time to make their goals specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. By expanding on the goal itself and creating a plan in which you will accomplish it, you’re more likely to achieve your goals in a shorter amount of time. 

Philosophical Chairs

During philosophical chairs, students work in groups to support and defend their answers to critical thinking questions. Much like a debate team, there is no “right” answer, but rather a process of inquiry to develop deep understanding. Everyone is welcome to comment and students are often encouraged to make an agree or disagree statement about the topic.

WICOR Strategies

WICOR stands for Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization and Reading. WICOR strategies are a wide array of exercises and strategies that teachers and students can apply to any course. Among other things, they can enhance note-taking, improve group work, and increase memorization.

Focused Note-Taking

During students' time in AVID, they will be equipped with many methods of taking notes and strategies to best retain information. To add the “focused” part to the note-taking, students follow certain routines with their notes. These include marking times to return to their notes, adding more information as their learning increases, and annotating their notes to highlight the key points and questions.

Much like the acronym, AVID students are individually determined to succeed and work towards the overall goal of pursuing post-secondary education.

“Teaching multiple grade levels of the AVID elective course has allowed me to see how the foundational skills of AVID – utilization of WICOR strategies, focused note-taking, and collaborative study groups – not only supports academic success, but builds confidence as well,” says AVID teacher Stephanie Vitro. “I often teach students who join the AVID program earning mostly B's and C's in standard classes early in high school, and by the end of their career in the program, they are enrolled in Honors and AP level classes, earning all A's. It's incredible to see students thrive both academically and personally, and it's evident that these foundational strategies truly do support student success.”

Are you interested in joining the AVID program? Check out this page on the ORCA website. 

Spanish Buddies is an ORCA club open to students who want to further their learning and comprehension of the Spanish language. The club members participate in frequent Duolingo practices and engage in group activities through Zoom meetings. 

Club advisor Señora Pfenning hosts the Spanish Buddies’ Zoom meetings and runs Kahoots, Spanish-themed escape rooms, vocabulary studies, and many more activities for members to enjoy. 

“We have a very dedicated group of students who are committed to daily practice,” Sra. Pfenning comments. “Through Duolingo classroom ‘XP’ assignments, students get the chance for asynchronous language drills, and they even compete for a spot on the weekly club leaderboard. Through our twice-a-month club meetings, students collaborate with peers, practice conversational Spanish, and learn about cultures and traditions of the Spanish speaking world.”

Did you know that Spanish is one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world? With Central and South America’s rich heritage, food, dances, songs, and festivities, Spanish Buddies boasts geography content and an appreciation for the culture these countries have to offer. 

“Spanish Buddies is a way for students of middle and high school background – regardless of their knowledge in Spanish – to [learn about] their Hispanic heritage, if they have one, share their culture with others, understand their roots, and become [interested] by the new journeys and opportunities ahead,” says communications manager Annalaina Yip. “We hope this encourages our classmates to understand and explore a wider community, so we can all learn from each other.”

“Spanish class is what you’ll want if you care about the Spanish language and having in-depth knowledge and practice,” explains overseer Demetrius Kanios. “Our Spanish Buddies [club] has very little dependency on the language, and is mainly about the culture of the Spanish-speaking world. For the fullest experience you’ll want both, but they are independent of each other.”

The Spanish Buddies club is open to all middle and high school students. You can pursue this club on top of your current Spanish language elective for further understanding and comprehension, or if you just simply have an interest in learning something new. 

If you are interested in joining the Spanish Buddies club, click here.

As an online school, Oregon Charter Academy doesn’t have traditional team athletics like football or basketball (ORCA students can still play them, though) – but that doesn’t mean that the school doesn’t sponsor any sports. ORCA’s very own esports program was founded last school year, and it has grown into one of the school’s most unique and interesting student programs.

Esports are competitive video games, and at the school-sanctioned level, they are used as a way for students to engage with classmates, learn to be a part of a team, and represent their school’s talent. ORCA’s team is part of the Mountain West region of PlayVS, a platform for high school esports. The team plays other schools as close as Portland and as far away as Texas in video game titles Rocket League and League of Legends. Overwatch 2 was added this year.

Esports coach Gabriel Elliott provided details on the inner workings of the program. Much like any other sport, team members have to practice and coordinate with each other to prepare for games. ORCA’s esports team generally practices twice a week for 90 minutes each during the preseason, and in the regular season, one practice and one game per week.

“[In practices] the players of the particular esport will join a voice chat together on our Discord team page and then coordinate games together, usually playing 2 games in League of Legends or 8-10 games of Rocket League,” explained Mr. Elliott. “We also take time to discuss strategies, constructive criticism, and ways we can implement that to improve our practices and game performance.”

At the end of each game, Mr. Elliott adds that the team takes the time to “discuss the results and point out successes and areas of improvement.” 

But the program isn’t all about wins and losses. Players and coaches list the socialization aspect of esports as one of its biggest highlights. 

“Honestly, I think my favorite part of being on the team is the social aspect,” said ORCA student Keagan Daugherty. “I think we're a very social group, we hang out between games and joke around during them and just have fun in general.”

“My favorite part is practicing with the teams,” added senior Eric Traub. “It is really fun and challenging to work with the team and improve together, and build off of each other's skills.”

Mr. Elliott echoed the sentiments of his players. “My favorite part [of esports] has just been getting to know the club members, learning from their awesome personalities, and watching them improve in the game they love to play and make new friends,” he said. “I am really excited to see the students who have been in the club for nearly a year now begin to take charge as the veterans and teach as well as integrate new players and members with each season.”

ORCA’s esports team currently has 14 active members, a number Mr. Elliott hopes will grow as the season continues.

“This is still a very new club and we have big dreams and goals to expand it into a full fledged sport that will represent ORCA, and make our program a unique place to attract new students,” he said. “Because of that, our short term goal is to create a strong base of members we can use to expand our membership, promote our club, and slowly increase our competitiveness.”

Students interested in competing can do so on Xbox Ones and Series Xs, PlayStation 4 and 5s, Nintendo Switches, and gaming PCs and laptops.

Mr. Elliott noted that all the games the team competes in are free-to-play.

ORCA high schoolers who wish to join the esports program can fill out the Student Interest Form.

“If someone was interested in joining I would say go for it!” said team member Berry Cardona-Hurd. “We are a community of nice people of varying skill levels who are willing to help new people and learn from more experienced players! Esports has been a very positive experience for me and I highly recommend it.”

“If you're worried about fitting in or just nervous, don't be. I'll speak on behalf of my team and say we will all be happy to have you,” added Traub.

For students who don’t want to compete in esports but still want to support the club, Mr. Elliott noted that a way for ORCA students to watch live matches is in the works. “We are really optimistic we will be able to do that by the spring season!” he stated.

The PlayVS spring season will begin on February 13. 

Social interactions are a key part of human culture, forming connections and making new friends. 

With that in mind, Nikki Coleman and Jeremy Vandenboer, high school Health and PE teachers, are calling all high school students to bring books and games, meet friends, and build connections at ORCA’s second HS Hangout in January. This event will continue after January as a monthly recurring event. 

ORCA held the first HS Hangout at the Wilsonville facility on November 18, with hopes that the success of the event will help kick-start future opportunities for social occasions.

The event aims to allow ORCA students to meet friends outside of virtual classes, where they can socialize, play games, and study with other classmates on specific subjects. Allowing these formations strengthens connections between students who enjoy school.

Like any field trip hosted by the school, students should follow ORCA’s Honor Code guidelines when tutoring other classmates or bringing study material. This event is for interactive purposes and casual studying between friends and classmates.

A few days prior to the initial event on November 18, Ms. Coleman mentioned that more hangouts could be in the works if the first one was a success. She hoped to enable an in-person academic community where ORCA students can interact both in and outside the virtual environment.

Participation at the first hangout was the driving force that allowed this event to continue. “It was a really successful field trip, and afterwards the students said they would come to the next one.” Ms. Coleman said, adding, “We're thinking this will be a regular event, and there is also potential for something like this in other areas of the state.” 

Organizers hope for an even better turnout at the scheduled January hangout. “There were only about 10 students and 5 or so adults, so hopefully next time we'll have more,” Ms. Coleman said. 

ORCA will host the next HS Hangout in Wilsonville on Friday, January 27, from 1-3 p.m. “We play games, visit, all sorts of things!” Ms. Coleman said, humorously adding, “Also there is a Starbucks next door.”

There are many more opportunities where students can hang out with one another, and this event is just the first chapter. Teachers are encouraging students to seek opportunities like this to become more socially well-rounded for their future endeavors. 

For more information regarding this event, please check out Field Trip Central located at the Principal's Office and RSVP to attend.

Philosophy Club is a community of philosophically-minded students working together to foster personal growth and connections with their classmates while pondering the big ideas in life. 

The high school club is a place for members to have insightful conversations, learn about the history of philosophy, and socialize with ORCA peers in a welcoming environment.

"Philosophy Club started as a joke in my 10th grade English class, then it became a real idea, and now a real club,” says club leader Kenna Stewart. “The goal was to create a fun environment for students to connect with others.”

The club currently meets twice a month on Fridays at noon. During meetings, members engage in fun debates, share favorite quotes, and participate in group activities to share insights on meaningful topics. “In our first meeting we had a great and lively discussion about totally random topics!” Stewart adds. 

Members practice using Socratic dialogue methods to actively engage in discussions and develop thinking and communication skills. During discussions, members reflect, explore, and challenge themselves and others to analyze complex ideas. Club leaders encourage members to answer thought-provoking questions without being politically charged.

“Philosophy Club is a great opportunity to have guided discussions and work on skills related to communication, collaboration and just having fun!” says club leader Ahnalya De Leeuw. “It’s great to have a place to get better at working with others and articulating my thoughts with friends, and we’re really excited to see our community grow.”

Interested in joining the Philosophy Club? Sign up through this link. 

The ORCA Cares Club meets once a month to discuss what its members have been working on to spread kindness in their local communities. 

“The ORCA Cares club is a place for students to find ways to spread positivity and kindness in their local communities,” said club advisor Erin Wooten. “Goals of the club are to give back to our communities, spread kindness, have a positive impact on the people around us, and in general be a force for good.”

Some of the main things ORCA Cares Club focuses on include neighborhood cleanups, volunteering, random acts of kindness, and more. As part of the club, you can learn more about what you can do to help your local community and spread kindness in many ways. 

“Anyone who wants to explore this topic is welcome to join this club,” said Ms. Wooten, adding, “...we can make an impact for good even with small acts of caring and kindness. These acts can be done for family members, neighbors, neighborhoods, and on up to bigger levels of the community.”

Members are encouraged to attend the monthly club meetings but it is not required. 

“The ORCA Cares Club is a place for students to find ways to spread positivity and kindness in their local communities.” Ms. Wooten adds. 

Click here to sign up for the club. If you have any further questions, contact Ms. Wooten at her YouCanBookMe page or via Canvas. 

“Help show Oregon our school cares by joining ORCA Cares,” Ms. Wooten concluded.

Are you someone who loves to travel and learn about different cultures? If so, the ASCEND Hotel and Tourism Management pathway might be the right place for you. 

Launched in the 2021-2022 school year, the Hotel and Tourism program is a new career pathway brought to you by ORCA ASCEND. Through this pathway, students will have the opportunity to develop essential work-related skills and earn industry-recognized certifications in high school. Courses offer exclusive expert sessions and field trips with top professionals about experiences in the industry that will help students prepare for success in their careers. 

Hospitality and tourism is a vast and growing industry that caters to the needs of travelers through managing hotels, restaurants, resorts, and theme parks. Whether you see yourself owning a restaurant or managing a hotel, this program helps prepare you for a wide range of opportunities  in the hospitality industry. Careers in this field include hotel and restaurant management, event planning, and marketing, which all revolve around providing high-quality customer service, spotting trends and helping others plan their next grand adventure. 

As the first course in the pathway, Intro to Hospitality and Tourism Management is a career exploration course that introduces students to the thriving industry of entertainment and travel. Students can practice real-world applications and skills that are essential in this field, such as management, communication, and critical thinking. 

Principles of Marketing is an intermediate-level course that focuses on the fundamentals of business, communication, and market research. Through interactive class projects, including a social media marketing simulation, students will learn how to create a successful marketing strategy, analyze data, and implement a business plan to target customers and manage revenue. 

The pathway will continue to expand with future courses in the 2023-2024 school year – including a Work-Based Learning course that will provide the Certified Hospitality and Tourism Management Professional (CHTMP) credential. ORCA is the first high school in the state to offer this credential to students in high school. In addition, the program has teamed up with Chemeketa Community College to offer a broad range of post-secondary options for high school students to launch their future careers. Through college-level courses and programs, students can earn eight to twelve credits toward five industry-recognized certifications in management and AAS degree programs. 

“Hospitality and tourism is a consistent and growing industry in Oregon,” says Ms. Highfill, the pathway master teacher. “Hotels, cruise ships, recreation, restaurants, theme parks, and road trips are all part of the Oregon hospitality landscape, and we are excited to give students the opportunity to plan and prepare for this exciting career choice.”

Start here, go anywhere with ASCEND Hotel and Tourism Management. 

Interested in joining ASCEND? Check out this link to learn more. 

How do we use math in our daily life? This is a question many students ask every day. It’s easy to wonder if algebra is a practical skill that can be used outside of school – and fortunately, it is. Whether you use it to pay your bills or calculate costs, math is a relevant skill that is integrated into almost every part of our daily lives. 

The new ASCEND Math pathway introduces students to the broad field of business and finance, where they will have the opportunity to practice relevant math-related skills through real-life applications and develop 21st-century skills for success. Whether you see yourself going into management, trades, or any other field, personal finance is the first step to exploring a wide range of career fields and prepares you for the rigorous world of business and entrepreneurship. 

The ASCEND career and technical education program offers a four-year math series opening to all pathways. This series features honors and college-level courses that integrate math and business-related topics through real-life applications and interactive projects. As a part of this program, students have the opportunity to create a personal brand, participate in college-level courses, and earn industry-recognized certifications in high school. It is currently only open to students in the business management pathway, but these courses will be available to all ASCEND pathways starting in the 2022-23 school year. 

The first courses in the pathway, Integrated Math 1 and 2, are a two-year series that emphasize the use of mathematics to model financial applications and explore topics involving independent living, employment, business modeling, investing, credit, and more. This course introduces a new innovative course plan through interactive class projects and simulations – one of which includes a stock market simulation where students can practice investing money and managing revenue, as well as a year-long personal finance capstone project. 

Additionally, these classes offer one math and one CTE credit each year of the program and are taken concurrently with a CTE Lab course about various business-related skills such as personal finance and entrepreneurship. Completing the Integrated Math 1 and 2 courses with the CTE labs will satisfy the algebra 1 and 2 and geometry standards, as well as two of the three math credits required for graduation.

Math 111 and 112 are advanced college-level courses that focus on algebra and trigonometry where students can earn dual college credits in high school. 

In the 2023-24 school year, the ASCEND pathway will introduce a new addition to the math series with a year-long Data Science course, where students will have the opportunity to explore relevant data associated with their pathways and career interests. 

"I am excited to be part of offering this opportunity to our students here in our ASCEND program at ORCA,” says Dr. Cynthia Lofts, the pathway’s leading instructor. “These courses have a tailored focus on relevant mathematics for all of the ASCEND pathways and preparing students for future real-life experiences.”

“I think we have a lot of fun in our math class!” she adds, “I have enjoyed working with students this year as we launched the first course and look forward to the roll out of the complete series in 2022-2023."

Interested in joining ASCEND? Check out this link to learn more. 

Adventist Health Portland is a hospital in Portland that hosts the Student Healthcare Leaders Program.  This program allows ORCA ASCEND high school students to learn about different healthcare careers by meeting current healthcare professionals and visiting their work environments. The Student Healthcare Leaders program is a great opportunity for students with an interest in a healthcare career. 

The ASCEND Medical Science program is for students who strive to gain healthcare knowledge and experience. Through the program, students will learn about human diseases, disorders, diagnostic tests, and treatments. They also learn how to act ethically and professionally in a variety of healthcare settings, perform and interpret routine medical exams, don and doff personal protective equipment, and perform CPR/AED/First Aid. On top of this coursework, students will have numerous opportunities to visit local clinics, converse with healthcare professionals, and learn about a wide range of healthcare career choices. 

Each tour focuses on a specific part of the hospital, opening up a variety of work environments in a hospital setting. These are surgical, plant, nutrition, pharmacy, therapy, and board services. In each session, students meet with experts and directors who give advice not only on the healthcare field but also on life. During the surgery tour, students meet the surgery director and the vital surgery staff. Students were taught how to wash their hands before surgery, put on scrubs, use a Da Vinci machine, and intubate the lungs of a test dummy. 

Even if surgery is not for you, remember that there are other departments in a hospital.  The plant department is vital in keeping the hospital clean and organized. The nutrition department is vital for patients’ health and energy. The pharmacy department is essential for giving out and taking medications and prescriptions. The therapy department is necessary for patients who need help in the muscular and nervous aspects. And finally, the board’s services are vital to the hospital’s management and finances. All these departments consist of a larger hospital environment similar to that of a busy city. But the point is, if you are interested in the healthcare field, seize this opportunity to grow and better understand which career path you might take.

Even though the deadline to apply for this program has passed, keep this opportunity on your radar. You can visit the Student Healthcare Leaders program website to learn more about this amazing opportunity and stay updated on any news. 

Are you a gamer? Do you spend your weekends playing video games? Then you should join the Gamer’s Lounge if you are in high school or Gamers 'R Us if you are in middle school. 

The Gamer’s Lounge is a club where you will be able to see some of your friends, ask questions about gaming, share tips and tricks with one another, and talk about easter eggs in games. This club is open to all ORCA high school students.

Gamers 'R Us is not just a club where you can chat about video games; it is also a place to talk about D&D campaigns, video game strategies, artwork inspired by games, word games, and more. The Gamers ‘R Us club meets every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. This club is open to all ORCA middle school students.

Ms. Wooten, a club advisor for the Gamers 'R Us club, said, “The Gamers 'R Us club started this school year as I saw a need to support the interest of students who love to play games of all sorts. Being a gamer myself, I felt this was something I could enjoy and that hopefully students could enjoy.” She adds, “It is important to provide students with the opportunity to meet with other students who have similar interests and to see that they are not alone.”

She started the club because “opportunities such as clubs [in online school] are essential. Anyone who loves to play games of any sort is welcome in the club.” Gamers 'R Us club and the Gamer’s Lounge are great ways to meet new friends, socialize, and talk about games.

Gamer’s Lounge and Gamers 'R Us are two of the best places to meet other students who want to expand their knowledge of gaming. Click this link to sign up to be a member of one of the two clubs, depending on your grade level.

ORCA’s chess club is a community where students can improve their chess skills, make friends with other students who like chess, and compete in tournaments. 

The Chess Club is advised by Mr. Justin Turcotte and Mr. Shawn Bundy, both high school science teachers.  According to Mr. Bundy, the club has a “great community” of players at all skill levels, ranging from 6th-12th grade. “We have recently seen a spike in quality play from a few of our 8th and 9th graders and we are looking forward to competing in live high school tournaments in the coming years…we have a great group of players who only continue to improve.” He adds that his favorite part of advising is “watching players improve and have fun with each other in our live meetings and tournaments.”

Mr. Bundy created the club in the 2020-2021 school year, when ORCA became an independent charter school. He had previously helped run the Connections Academy national chess club before the change.

Club meetings are every other  Wednesday at 2 p.m.. During club meetings, activities range from playing online games against teammates and coaches to chess puzzles. The club also studies tutorials on improving play.

The Chess Club is available for high school and middle school students to join and have fun playing chess. If you want to join the Chess Club, click here.

The Military Leadership Club, which is advised by Ms. Massey, is open to all ORCA middle school and high school students.

Ms. Massey, the club advisor, announced, “The Military Leadership Club, which meets the second and fourth Wednesday at 2:30, inspires its members to live a life of honor, discipline, teamwork, and leadership.” 

The club provides an introduction to the U.S. Military. They have tons of community service opportunities, and the Military Leadership Club has opportunities for leadership growth outside of NHS or Student Government. They also study for and have opportunities to take the military aptitude test (ASVAB).

She also described what they do in the club: “To achieve our goals, we host military guest speakers and student presenters to hear about military life, careers, and history.” She said, “As we return to in-person events, we plan on meeting for hikes, close order drills (marching and facing movements), and community service. This is our fourth year, and we'd love to have you join us to make this the best year ever!”

If you are interested in joining the military leadership club, then click this link.

There are many pathways to a career in education. Oregon Charter Academy’s ASCEND program offers an education pathway with classes that walk participants through child safety, nutrition, and child development. If you plan on working towards a career as a teacher, social worker, or daycare owner, trying your hand here might broaden your outlook.

The ASCEND Education program works on projects such as meal planning, understanding health issues, and looking into food-borne illnesses. They offer courses such as Intro to Education, Child Safety and Nutrition, Preschool Child Development, and much more. Classes focus on stages of growth in children and provide opportunities for field trips and hands-on activities. Students graduate with credentials in Child Care Health and Safety, Oregon’s Early Learning Standards, Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, and Safe Sleep for Oregon Infants. 

Education teacher Niky Bojorquez provides engaging content to help  students understand what to expect after high school. “The Education pathway is one of the newest programs to be added to the ASCEND program,” Ms. Bojoquez explains. “It has undergone several student-driven changes in the last 3 years! I continually strive to provide opportunities that are relevant, applicable, and aligned with industry standards, so that students are prepared for life after graduation -- be it college or a career.”

Ms. Bojorquez adds, “In the future, I hope to add more Family and Consumer Science (FCS) courses to the pathway that include topics like family finance, culinary arts, housing, and textiles and apparel design.” 

If you are interested in joining any of the ASCEND pathways you can fill out the sign-up application through this link. 

The ORCA Prayer Club was started by a student who was “looking for a place to belong and to connect with other students,” according to former advisor Kathleen Dingle. 

This club has stood strong in its goals and mission to make a safe environment for students to learn about prayer and have some fun doing it.

Ryland Bickley, who’s a leader in the club, says, “Prayer Club is one of ORCA's longest running student-led clubs. We meet for a half hour each week, where we hang out, listen to music, and provide an encouraging, uplifting community for each other.” The club was started in the 2016-2017 school year, and is currently in its fifth year. They meet every Thursday at 3:00 p.m. with enjoyable activities planned.

This year, Prayer Club is run by Ms. Katy Naylor and Ms. Devon Johnson. They both agree that their favorite part of this club is the fact that it is completely student-run. They both celebrate the amazing members who make this club possible.

“Prayer Club is a safe environment,” states Ms. Katy Naylor. She also explains that all students are welcome and everyone is expected to respect each other.

The Prayer Club is a great place to meet other students who want to grow in their religious knowledge and faith, and be part of a supportive, positive community. Click this link if you want to sign up to be a member of the Prayer Club.

Want to develop your debate and speaking skills with your peers? The Speech & Debate Club is just the place for you! Available for all high school students, this club is a new way to improve your communication skills.

Created by ORCA high school student Isaac Choi, the Speech & Debate Club meets every other week on Friday at 11 a.m. to help students improve their debate skills. With the help of club advisor Stephanie Vitro, the club has been running smoothly since last year.

Why might this club be helpful for you? Many members join because “they want to improve their speaking skills and gain confidence in their voice,” as Ms. Vitro remarks. You can join this club to help you speak more confidently during future events and experiences.

If you’re wondering what happens in the meetings, the Ms. Vitro explains that the club members try to structure the meetings with a “speaking activity to encourage communication, active listening, and memory skills.” She adds, “Students participate in a debate game to practice debate structures, academic dialogue, and quick-thinking skills.”

Speech & Debate Club member Grace Peterson says that the club has helped her grow her skill set because it teaches the “fundamentals of a quality debate, alongside how to apply them in everyday situations.”

The club is now open to all high schoolers who wish to join. You can join the club by filling out the form that is accessible through the High School Principal’s Corner or by clicking this link. 

If you are a fan of crafting anything, seeking some extra social time to get to know some of your other crafty peers, or just looking for something new to try, the middle school's Craft and Chat Club would be right for you! 

“This club is a place where you can be yourself, no judgement. You can share art, chat with your fellow students, and it doesn’t have to be just artwork! It can be embroidery, painting, drawing, and much more! Anything can be shared here as long as it’s appropriate, of course!” says Anna Holcomb, a member of the Craft and Chat Club. Many students like her love to attend club meetings, share their work, and connect with others who have the same interests.

The Craft and Chat Club meets every other Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. to share crafts, encourage one another, and get to know each other. The club also has a monthly discussion in which all members talk about their crafts. For example, November’s discussion was about craft inspirations. The club has created a very strong community this way. The club homepage also has optional tabs where the club advisor, Ms. Wooten, known as “Woot” by club members, gives the members resources to learn different crafts. There is also a section where you can submit your work to be seen by other crafters in the club. 

Ms. Wooten says, “This is a safe space where you can celebrate your arts and crafts and spend time with friends. Celebrate your artwork and the artwork of others. Grow your skills and chat with people who have the same interests as you.” 

All it takes to join this community of crafters is to go to your Middle School Principal’s Corner. From there, you can navigate to the club homepage to fill out the form, where you’ll soon be on your way to joining the funny and crafty ways of this club. You can click this link to sign up for the Craft and Chat Club. They can’t wait to see some new members join!

Business is more than just cold-calls and selling. In the real world, understanding finance and marketing is a relevant skill that can be integrated in almost every aspect in life. Business is the foundation for many paths and will open doors to a wide range of career options. Whether you see yourself owning a business, going into the trades, joining the military, or heading to college, it is essential  to effectively communicate with people, solve problems, and promote yourself. In the ASCEND pathway, we are able to create our own personal brand, build our social capital, and earn industry-recognized certifications in high school. The ASCEND Business Management pathway is ideal for students who are interested in finance, management, and leadership. 

Our class integrates both math and business through real-life applications and team projects. We focus on a wide range of mathematics, including algebra, geometry, and statistics. In addition, our class covers a variety of business topics -- such as entrepreneurship, marketing, investing, personal finance, and  much more. 

One of our latest projects is a stock market simulation where students have the opportunity to learn about investing money and managing revenue. We invest in a number of successful companies and endeavors to apply what we’ve learned through real-life applications. For those who are driven by competition, the Stock Market Game ranks each player among all of the students competing across the state of Oregon.

Our team leader is business and math teacher, Ms. Lofts, who combines her expertise in business marketing and a multitude of real-life experiences to support our class. Our goals in this class include developing our skills in business and mathematics, and focusing on 21st century skills such as digital literacy, communication, and leadership. This will make us successful in both school and work and open opportunities to many potential careers.

Pens and Prose is a new ORCA literary club created and designed by student Grace Peterson. 

“Pens and Prose is a club designed for creative writing,” Peterson said. The club was created because students were wondering why there were two poetry clubs in Poetry Pals and Poetry Out Loud and yet no creative writing programs. 

“I myself am a flash fiction writer, and it was brought to my attention that students wanted more help with this,” said Peterson. With the help of Mrs. Hand and Mrs. Thew, Pens and Prose was created from what had formerly been Poetry Pals. 

Pens and Prose will help “students learn how to write creatively. Much of English class teaches how to write academically, but Pens & Prose wants to help students learn how to embrace the creative side to writing and add a little bit of a fun twist,” Peterson said. The club was originally called Poetry Pals in February 2021. Since then it has transformed, or “evolved” as Peterson puts it, into Pens and Prose, which started in September 2021. 

Students will submit work that revolves around a monthly theme. At the end of the month, those pieces will be shown in club meetings, where other members provide  constructive criticism. The meetings will be held on the last Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Peterson says that the live classes are going to be alternated between Mrs. Thew and Mrs. Hand’s Zoom rooms, but they always take place at the same time. 

Regarding any changes in the club, Peterson concludes, “Pens & Prose is very open to trying new things, and if this is what the students want, then this is what the students will get.”

“By signing up for this optional club you've agreed that science is cool!” is a phrase featured prominently on the homepage of Oregon Charter Academy’s NASA Club. That phrase is just about the only requirement for joining the club, which is open to all students in the school from kindergarten to 12th grade.

The NASA Club doesn’t require a lot of commitment, with its hour-long meetings occurring just once a month. However, the lack of quantity is more than made up for with the quality of the club’s meetings, which consist of school-exclusive live streams with actual NASA staff from either Space Center Houston in Texas or the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.

“My favorite part of this club is seeing all of the excellent questions ORCA students ask the NASA staff during the live streams and learning new facts about space that I didn’t know before,” said club advisor and elementary school principal Dan Vasen. 

The meetings are open to the entire school regardless of club status, but the NASA Club brings an added focus to the subject. Besides offering helpful reminders of when the live streams occur, members have access to additional STEM-related content that applies to the subject matter of the club’s meetings. Members also receive access to the recordings of the live streams. 

“By joining the club, students gain access to the NASA club course in canvas [sic] where they can learn more about NASA programs, get monthly updates on space exploration and related topics and share their interest with other students,” added Mr. Vasen. 

In the club’s inaugural meeting, attendees were treated to an in-depth look at the James Webb Space Telescope, a NASA project that is planned to launch on December 18th. Viewers were given a glimpse at the process of constructing the giant telescope, which per NASA’s website, is over 100 times more powerful than its predecessor, the Hubble Telescope. 

A request to publish pictures from the impressive meeting was denied, which means only one thing -- you’ll have to join the club yourself to access the recording and the seven remaining meetings the club has planned for the rest of the school year. 

The ORCA NASA Club can be joined by any student through the Google Form on the “Clubs” section of the ORCA website or the Principal’s Corner. 

Editor's note: "Poetry Pals" has since become "Pens & Prose." Please refer to Ezekiel Bruijn's October 2021 article on the new club for updated information.  

Formed in February 2021, Poetry Pals was developed as an outlet for high school students to write, share, and grow in a collaborative environment via poetry writing. The group has about ten members - a fairly small club - but it is interested in further growth for the 2021-2022 school year. Club members have access to the Club page (which resembles a course in Canvas), and this is where students can access poetry-related resources, places to submit their work, and links to Zoom meetings. These meetings are every other Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. with club advisors Mrs. Hand and Mrs. Thew, and they serve as spaces for students to share their work, listen to other poets, and provide constructive criticism. 

Freshman Grace Peterson is credited with submitting the club application, and she is a published poet working under the pen name Gratia Serpento. In regards to how students could gain motivation for writing, she stated, “Poetry is about writing what you feel, and letting go. If you see something, write. Never stop.” 

Themes and poem styles showcased within the club are also meant to embody that freedom, as they alternate to keep the concepts fresh for students. While club members are never required to share their work, Ms. Peterson claims a growing number have opted to present. What results are thirty minutes sessions reminiscent of an English teacher’s writing workshop where a poet presents, peers listen, and then constructive criticism is provided. As Poetry Pal’s Co-Advisor Mrs. Hand summarizes, “Poetry Pals is a safe and fun environment for students to share their work. Constructive, positive feedback is given. We support one another and celebrate our successes. All are welcome!”

Poetry has found a place in mainstream media lately as spoken word poets like Amanda Gorman have brought poetry to new settings. Likewise, poetry is a prevailing element to Oregon Charter’s English curriculum: students are accustomed to analyzing the works of seasoned poets like Shel Silverstein, Shakespeare, and E. E. Cummings. It can be overwhelming understanding poetry’s stanzas, and feel daunting to write powerful pieces at the level of spoken word artists. However, Poetry Pals focuses on the impact of writing regardless of skill level or commitment, all while having fun. In the words of Ms. Peterson, “[Poetry] doesn't have to be weird and ugly, but it can be weird and ugly. It can be whatever you want it to be. Poetry can be so much more in a modern era. We come from a generation of people who see the past and make it better.” 

If you’re a high school student interested in joining the club, you can find the Google Form in the Clubs section of the High School Principal’s Office or ask your Advisory teacher to add you.