December 2021

Students with good grades aren’t any smarter than anyone else; they’re hard workers. Academic success doesn’t occur because a student is intelligent, it comes from determination and good study habits. To be successful in school, you have to put in the work and be willing to challenge yourself. 

Here’s a list of tips on how you can improve your overall academic performance.

Preparing for the school day

• Get dressed and drink water and snack throughout the day. This will help you feel confident and think easier. Sleeping at least eight hours a night will improve your productivity.

• Each day, make a checklist of the live classes you need to attend and assignments you need to complete. Be sure to check your weekly starter pages every day, in each class, so that you don’t miss anything like a weekly journal that is due at the end of the semester. It will feel good when you mark things off on your to-do list.

• Set alarms/reminders on a phone or other device so you don’t forget live classes. There is a Canvas app that you can download on your phone that will notify you when assignments are graded and when you get messages. You can access your gradebooks and all your classes just like on a computer.

Communication and attendance

• Go to all live classes, and if you can’t make it to one, watch the recording. If you are having trouble finding the recordings or your teacher didn’t post them, contact them and they will help you.

• If you struggle understanding something in class or in a lesson, contact your teacher. You can schedule a one-on-one meeting with your teacher for extra help. Teachers are there to help you. Even if you feel awkward asking for help, you can send a Canvas message to them and work through many of your questions without having to call your teacher.

Taking notes

• There’s a few ways of taking notes, and finding the way that suits you best is very important. You should choose between handwritten notes or notes through Google Docs, Word, NotesApp, or another method. For some, it works best if you decide based on the class. If your classes outline notes for you to use, make sure your notes have the same material. When teachers design notes for you, the material will most likely be on tests and quizzes.

• When taking handwritten notes, write the title of the lesson or live class at the top of the page. If you add in the date, you’ll be able to find sections when a teacher refers to a specific day and lesson. Fill the page with definitions, charts, important dates, events, and people along with information that the teacher says is important. When you are finished with your notes, go back with a highlighter or colored pen/pencil and mark anything of high importance that you want to remember and study later.

• When taking notes in Google Docs (or your preferred method), use a legible font and make sure you can see all the words well. You can use tables to separate sections of your notes. When highlighting, choose a light shade so that you can still read the words when you look back. Underlining can help you see what needs the most attention while studying. While taking notes, it can be helpful to save the document to a folder in Google Drive so all your notes for that class are together.

Your study environment

• While studying, your environment should be free of distractions and clutter. For example, if you are studying at a desk, clear your desk of anything that doesn’t relate to school. 

• Listening to music is great while studying, if it doesn’t distract you. Listening to music without lyrics can be less distracting as well. According to the Vaughn College blog, some of the benefits of listening to classical music include improvement in test scores, reduced learning time, an improvement in creativity, more efficient learning, and an increase in IQ scores.

• Natural light is better for your eyes and helps lift your spirits. Match your computer screen brightness with the rest of the room you are in. This will decrease eye strain.

Good habits make test prep easier

• Use flashcards for vocabulary words and short definitions. You can study by yourself and make flashcards out of a piece of paper cut into squares.

• If your class has a study guide, use it.

• Go through your notes and create a study sheet full of all the most important information, such as definitions, formulas, and key concepts. Study that first and then get to the smaller details later.

• At the end of a module, go back and look at class materials in Canvas modules and watch videos again for a refresher.

Taking tests and quizzes

• If you read questions twices before answering, there is a smaller chance you will make a simple mistake by accident, and you will comprehend the question more effectively.

• When struggling with a true or false question, look for words like most, all, never, and always. For example, if the question states “paper is always white,” you’d choose false because paper is usually white, but not always.

• For multiple choice questions, look for options that aren’t correct. Rule out those and see what’s left. If you are still struggling, make an educated guess.

• When you come across short or long answer questions, start by rephrasing the question. For instance, if a question asks “Why is carbon important to life?” start your response with “Carbon is important to life because…”

Reading in the off-season

• It is highly recommended to read during the summer, during breaks, and on weekends. University of the People says “Reading has been proven to keep our minds young, healthy and sharp, with studies showing that reading can even help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.” Reading books in your spare time can help you improve your writing, spelling and vocabulary.

In summary, there are many different ways to improve your performance in school. Raw intelligence matters much less than how much effort you put into your school work and how prepared you are for tests and quizzes.

On October 25th, Oregon Charter Academy announced that the school would be partnering with the Portland Workforce Alliance. 

“Oregon Charter Academy and the ASCEND Career & Technical Education team is proud to partner with Portland Workforce Alliance to bring high quality, regionally focused career opportunities to our students both virtually and in person,” said John Meyer, the school’s ASCEND administrator. “As Oregon's largest online public charter school, we are committed to providing exciting and relevant career content to our students throughout the state of Oregon, and our partnership with PWA is a key component in this effort.”

The Portland Workforce Alliance is a nonprofit organization intended “to educate students about career opportunities as part of a strategy to boost Oregon’s graduation rate and build a resilient, prosperous and well-educated workforce,” according to the Alliance’s website. 

The partnership will be through ORCA’s ASCEND program, which focuses on career and technical education. 

“Students will have options for real-life work experiences and career-learning opportunities, while PWA and ORCA staff unite to enrich student academic knowledge, inspire students to graduate and help them make informed choices after high school and college,” added Mr. Meyer. 

Per the Alliance’s website, PWA provides around 10,000 career-learning experiences for students each year. 

"Through this partnership students will be able to access leadership and teen council opportunities, industry trade talks and field trips with professionals at the top of their game in their industry and have first access to virtual and in person working opportunities with some of the best in the business!” said Benjamin Whitcomb, an ORCA ASCEND advisory teacher. “Also, there is a huge career fair in the spring. Virtual for now but keep your eyes out for more information in the future."

ORCA will be hosting two virtual PWA field trips in December where attendees will be able to hear from professionals in a number of fields, such as applied technology, construction, home remodeling, and many more. For more information, check out the field trip information documents here (December 1st field trip) and here (December 3rd field trip). 

Struggling with remembering a topic is a common occurrence. The best way to combat this is by taking notes. Research done at the University of California, Los Angeles shows that writing by hand increases memory and understanding. Below are some of the best note-taking methods.

Cornell Method

The Cornell Method revolves around the 5 R’s: Read, Respond, Record, Recite, and Review. First, define an essential question that will keep you focused. Draw a vertical line a third of the way in from the left side of the page. The left column is where you put the main topics and important questions, and anything else to cue your memory. In the right column, expand on the topics from the left column; this is where the bulk of your notes will go. Recite what was written out loud, and then reflect on the topics while working. Take time to reflect on what you learned at the bottom of the page and review what was written on the summary area of the page. 

Here’s a link to an example by a former AVID student of what a page of Cornell notes looks like: Cornell Notes Example 

Outline Method 

Start with the main topic, then for each subtopic add a bullet point, number or letter slightly more to the right of the one prior. 

Example:

Main Title

1. First idea

   1. Subtopic

2. Second idea

   1. Subtopic

3. Third idea

   1. Subtopic

Mapping Method 

The mapping method consists of bubbles that help show the connection between ideas. Start by drawing a central bubble that will hold the main topic. Then, connect extra bubbles that will hold the subtopics. You can also make other bubbles to hold questions, ideas, or related concepts, which you can connect to the main idea or subtopics. You can comment on the relationship between two bubbles by labeling the line that connects them.

Charting Method 

Start with a table that holds the appropriate amount of boxes you’ll need for each idea. You can insert main ideas at the top, insert topics, subtopics, and key points into each of the boxes. You can revise and reflect on each one after writing them down. 

Note Taking Tips

• Organize your notes in the style that suits you best. If something doesn’t work for you, then try something else.

• Limit your main ideas to very few words; keep it simple. 

• If you’re note-taking on a Google Document, you should save all your notes on a folder for better organization.

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.

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, 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. 

Are you bored and need inspiration to get crafty? During winter, it is a good time to make some fun crafts. Here are six fun crafts so you can get creative with the materials you have at home. These examples include a paper airplane, a catapult and a friendship bracelet.

1. Have you seen those videos of people making origami cranes but don't know how to make one? An article written by Dana Hinders on thesprucecrafts.com shows a tutorial on how to make an origami crane with only seven steps! You just need a piece of origami paper or a square piece of paper.

2. Have you ever seen your friend make a friendship bracelet out of string but you don’t know how to make one? A tutorial written by Anna Morrissey on craftjam.co helps with some directions so you can impress your friends with the new bling. All you need is some string! 

3. Do you want to make an easy paper airplane with just five steps? Instructions by Sam Henderson on hgtv.com show how to make easy paper airplanes. After you follow the steps you're ready for takeoff! There are five different planes you can make with just a piece of paper.

4. Want to fling some stuff across the room? A post by Trisha on Kidsactivities.com provides instructions on a DIY catapult. When you're done with four simple steps, just crumple up some paper and get flinging! You will need 7 craft sticks, 3 rubber bands, a bottlecap, and something to fling.

5. Have you seen people playing with slime, and now you want to play with some slime too? Meghan Splawn on thekitchn.com solves your problem with just three ingredients. You will need glue, baking soda, and saline solution. Then watch a 29 second video and you're finished. You can squish, pop and stretch your slime, and even blow an air bubble in there.

6. Do you have some yarn laying around? If you like bunnies, Megan Kapple wrote a blog on Onelittleproject.com, and it has instructions on how to make a yarn pom pom bunny with 13 easy step instructions. You will need yarn, felt, clear thread, a glue gun, felt, a white cotton ball, and scissors.

There's no better time to get crafting! So pick a project and make some crafts!

“The height of my leadership career” is how ORCA senior Rory Petersen describes being elected student body president in the spring. 

“I am honored that my peers have given me the opportunity to represent them and the trust to organize amazing events,” she continues. 

Petersen’s ascension to the top student leadership position at ORCA hasn’t exactly been surprising, but it’s certainly been impressive -- she’s only in her second full year with Oregon Charter. 

However, Petersen isn’t exactly new to leadership positions. 

“I have been involved with leadership ever since I can remember,” she says, adding later that her work as a regional representative for the Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC) had helped as well. “I learned about many organization strategies such as When2Meet, which is a website that allows users to input their schedule into a weekly calendar. I implemented this in [student government] in order to choose our executive board meeting time.”

But that isn’t all Petersen is doing as a member of student government. In her speech during elections she promised to raise awareness for mental health and increase student government’s social media presence as well as student communication. And she’s started to work towards those goals during the school year. 

“Now that the school year has begun, we are currently starting some conversations about raising awareness regarding mental health and will make progress with that soon,” says Petersen. “We are still working on getting a student government social media account, but for now we are posting on the ORCA Facebook account and the [student government] website.”

Another goal of Petersen’s was to establish a school yearbook, which was achieved successfully with yearbook clubs being established at every grade level this school year.

“I was excited to see the addition of a yearbook club to ORCA this year and as soon as registration was sent out I joined the team,” Petersen says. “A yearbook is a wonderful way to save memories. The yearbook club is just starting so I do not have a lot of information about it yet, but I am excited to get started creating the first ever ORCA yearbook.”

Becoming student president wasn't the final goal for Petersen. She plans on “attending a four year university for engineering, specifically computer science and mechanical engineering.” She is also working towards a computer science certification through ASCEND at ORCA.

It’s been a busy yet worthwhile two years at ORCA for Rory Petersen. “I am amazed by the kindness and inclusivity of everyone. I have never felt more welcomed into a space,” she says. But Petersen wants to give back as well, concluding, “I have loved becoming a part of the community at ORCA and I look forward to making my last year here amazing for everyone.”

The full interview can be read below: 

The Current: Congratulations on being elected as the president of student government for this school year! What was it like to be elected to this position by the student body?

Rory Petersen: Thank you. I have been involved with leadership ever since I can remember. I feel that this is the height of my leadership career and I am honored that my peers have given me the opportunity to represent them and the trust to organize amazing events. 

The Current: You’ve stated before that you’re still fairly new to ORCA. What would you say has been your favorite part of the school and what has surprised you the most? 

Rory Petersen: Although this is only my second full year at ORCA, I am amazed by the kindness and inclusivity of everyone. I have never felt more welcomed into a space. My favorite part of ORCA has been the flexibility to design my own schedule. 

The Current: In your speech during the student government elections, you mentioned that your biggest goals for the school if elected would be to raise awareness regarding mental health, start a student government social media page, and make it easier for students to communicate with each other. Have these goals changed or been updated in any way since the spring? What progress have you made towards reaching these goals? 

Rory Petersen: Now that the school year has begun, we are currently starting some conversations about raising awareness regarding mental health and will make progress with that soon. We are still working on getting a student government social media account, but for now we are posting on the ORCA Facebook account and the student gov website. 

The Current: Establishing a school yearbook was also a goal of yours, and it looks like it has been reached with yearbook clubs at all three grade levels this year. If you’re involved in these clubs, would you mind explaining what their goals are and how the student body can help/get involved with making a school yearbook? 

Rory Petersen: I was excited to see the addition of a yearbook club to ORCA this year and as soon as registration was sent out I joined the team. I was on the yearbook committee in middle school for two years and was the yearbook editor my eighth grade year. A yearbook is a wonderful way to save memories. The yearbook club is just starting so I do not have a lot of information about it yet, but I am excited to get started creating the first ever ORCA yearbook. 

The Current: You’re a part of the Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC). How has being a part of this organization helped you, especially regarding your work in student government? 

Rory Petersen: I am now the former OASC Midwestern Regional Representative. The ORCA Student Government Public Relations Officer Grace Peterson has recently taken over my position because my term ended. OASC has been a big part of my life for the past year and it has taught me about how important communication and organization are. There were eleven members of OASC Student Executive Council (SEC) and it was incredibly complicated to get everyone in a Zoom meeting to plan events. I learned about many organization strategies such as When2Meet, which is a website that allows users to input their schedule into a weekly calendar. I implemented this in student gov in order to choose our executive board meeting time. 

The Current: With this school year being your senior year, what are your plans/goals for after ORCA? 

Rory Petersen: I cannot believe it is already my senior year! Right now my plans for after high school include attending a four year university for engineering, specifically computer science and mechanical engineering. I am currently working towards my computer science certification through ASCEND at ORCA. 

The Current: Is there anything else you would like to add? 

Rory Petersen: I have loved becoming a part of the community at ORCA and I look forward to making my last year here amazing for everyone. 

The Current: Thank you for your time! 

Rory Petersen: Thank you!

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!

High school sports are uniquely special. 

From the pageantry of Friday nights, to the team dynamic, or even the honor of being able to represent an entire community, high school sports are a valuable and impactful experience for those who take part in them. 

But don’t think that being an online school student means that you have to miss out on such  opportunities. 

While club sports have long been an option for athletes who homeschool or attend public charter schools, they have often been expensive, less-localized experiences. Only recently, through mandates passed in 2017 and 2018, did the possibility of playing in the athletic programs of local brick-and-mortar high schools become available for such students. 

In ORS 339.460, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the governing body regarding high school sports in Oregon, declared that both homeschooled and public charter school attending students may not be denied access to interscholastic activities at their local school district. This is only relevant if the student's current schooling system “does not provide interscholastic activities,” which applies to Oregon Charter Academy’s online setting. 

Interscholastic activities are defined not just as sports, but other school activities such as band.

While some restrictions still apply regarding age, grades, and other such eligibility criteria, ORS 339.460 remains a fairly streamlined window into playing local high school sports as an online student. Whether it’s football, track and field, pep band, or the many other options available in high schools across the state, there’s an incredible opportunity available to stay connected and involved with your local community all while reaping the benefits of ORCA’s online environment. 

It was always clear that Eternals would try to be different.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe had made a name for itself with fast-paced, entertaining films that were as much action comedies as they were superhero movies. That formula had resulted in a critically and financially successful franchise that had stretched nearly 15 years and over 25 installments. 

But that tried and true formula has been getting old, and by selecting 2021 best-picture winner Chloé Zhao to direct their latest film, it seemed that Marvel was planning on heading in a new direction. Zhao’s introspective, naturalistic style could result in a film that focused on the philosophical and emotional side of the story rather than the standard CGI-filled, studio-controlled toy commercial that more recent Marvel films were becoming. 

Well, in theory, at least. 

Zhao’s Eternals tries its hardest to be a meditative sci-fi drama, but it can never break free from the restrictive mold that is the MCU.

The film revolves around an ancient race of immortal, superpowered beings as they struggle with infighting and the usual task of defending Earth from evil monsters -- but the concept has the potential to be much richer than the final result. There’s flashes of the universe-trotting, time-stretching epic that Zhao likely intended, but in the end the film feels remarkably anticlimactic. 

Perhaps the first mistake made was attempting to introduce 10 protagonists, along with multiple side characters and villains, all in one movie. That isn’t to say that the cast is horrible; it’s largely a veteran group that gives a solid performance across the board. Gemma Chan is somewhat understated as the lead, but it fits the quiet, meek nature of her character Sersi. But while Chan is technically the main character, the other nine eternals share a lot of screen time filled with their own side plots and motivations. 

It’s impressive for a film with as many characters as Eternals to feature as many well-defined character goals as it does, but unfortunately they remain only surface level. It’s hard to care about any of the faces on screen, especially as some are shoved abruptly out of the plot to focus on the others, leaving the audience uninvested in any of them.

The villains are even worse. The film has a few different antagonists, all of whom possess varying levels of blandness, bad CGI, and poor development.

As hard as Eternals tries to be emotionally moving, it remains remarkably cold throughout. 

The pacing and the story itself underwhelm, as the film is overlong in unimportant moments and rushed when it comes to crucial exposition and action. Beyond that, there’s a few distracting plot holes and head-scratching moments, while the ending doesn’t really feel like one at all. 

Humor is another major issue, as some of the biggest moments of Eternals can’t be taken seriously as the script has far too many sub-par one-liners. Multiple scenes that could have explored a big idea or been emotionally impactful are ruined by out of place quips. 

That isn’t to say every joke doesn’t land. Nearly every exchange between Kumail Nanjiani’s Kingo and his human valet, played by Harish Patel, is comedy gold. The two of them save what could have been an incredibly boring second act. 

Eternals’ biggest strength is coincidentally what separates it the most from the other installments of the MCU. Zhao’s eye for natural scenery really shines at times, making it a far-cry from the heavy use of green screen prevalent in the majority of modern superhero flicks. 

In fact, Zhao’s insistence on using real locations can clash at times with the film’s more effects-heavy shots, but it’s a small price to pay for the impressive cinematography.

In the end, Eternals feels like a cautionary tale to any talented indie filmmaker who tries to direct a major studio blockbuster. Some creative touches may shine through, but the final result can be an incoherent mess, overrun by studio executives prioritizing the safe blockbuster format even if it clashes directly with the core creative vision of the film in question. 

Verdict: 3.5/10

Dealing with stress is a prominent aspect of going to school and it's not easy. However, no student should have to deal with this alone. 

ORCA’s school counseling team has announced “Monthly Meets” for all grade levels to help students with stress management. 

“We offer a fun, safe, supportive environment where we can share perspective, learn new skills, and problem-solve together,” reads an announcement about the meetups.

As the name suggests, these groups, divided by grade level, meet once a month. 

"Meet ups are a great place to get tips from your counselors, interact with peers and have a fun activity to attend. This is a safe and fun group," said Sara Magas, a high school counselor. 

For more Monthly Meet information at your grade level, you can access your school counselor’s course for meeting times and Zoom links.

The beauty of being a reader is all the available options. Everyone has their own interests and curiosities, and the wide variety of book genres gives you so many styles to choose from. Whether you like to be transported into a world of magic and mythical creatures or tales of a futuristic sci-fi world, these are some great books for you to try.

Mystery 

• Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson

  • Ellingham Academy is the best school for the smartest of children. It was founded in the early twentieth century by Albert Ellingham who wanted to make learning a “game.” Shortly before he opened the school, his daughter and wife were kidnapped. The only clue was a note signed by “Truly Devious.” When mystery-loving Stevie Bell begins her first year at Ellingham Academy, she plans on solving the cold case mystery of the Ellinghams. All is not what it seems, and Stevie will have to learn and unlearn who to trust as the stakes begin to rise. 

• A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

  • This series follows the tragic tale of three orphans -- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire -- who are investigating their parents’ mysterious death. They’re sent to live with an evil guardian named Count Olaf, who will do whatever it takes to get his hands on their inheritance. The three siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, thwarting his devious plans and disguises. 

Science Fiction

• Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

  • The iconic Steven Spielberg movie, Jurassic Park, was inspired by this Michael Crichton novel of the same name. While the novel follows the same story beats as the film, it is far more detailed, dark, and interesting. In the end, Crichton’s Jurassic Park is as much an action-packed dinosaur story as it is a warning of the dangers of meddling with the rules of nature and technology. 

• Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

  • This futuristic novel revolves around a young genius tasked with saving Earth from a mysterious race of aliens. Readers follow Ender Wiggins as he is thrust into a vicious world of war, politics, and emotional struggles. Although a fairly easy read, Card’s novel contains some incredibly deep themes, and his commentary on military ethics has landed Ender’s Game a spot on the recommended reading list of the United States Marine Corps. 

• The Martian by Andy Weir

  • Andy Weir’s first published novel is a brilliant survival story set on Mars. Astronaut Mark Watney is stranded on the red planet and needs to stay alive until help arrives, relying on his own intelligence, will to live, and sense of humor. Weir melds surprisingly accurate science into his fictitious tale. 

Romance

• Glitter And Sparkle by Shari Tapscott

  • Lauren, a high school senior, has her whole life planned out. Graduate, get a degree, continue with her crafting blog, marry Prince Charming and live happily ever after. Unfortunately, she doesn’t know what she wants a degree in, and there is no Prince Charming in sight. When her brother’s friend moves in, throwing a wrench in what’s left of her plan, Lauren immediately hates him. But as she gets to know Harrison better, bringing back memories of their past, she finds she doesn’t hate him as much as she should. 

• Instant Karma by Marissa Meyer

  • Prudence is often told she works too hard and doesn’t have fun. After a night of karaoke, she finds herself with the powers of instant karma. She can reward people based on their most recent action...or punish them. Pru is delighted, and sets off to right the world’s wrongs. However, every time she tries to use her powers on Quint, her lazy lab partner, they backfire. Desperate to get a good grade in class, she is stuck putting up with Quint over the summer, unable to wreck him with karmic justice. Filled with redemption arcs, Beatles songs, adorable first kisses, and sea otters, Instant Karma is not a book to miss!

Dystopian

• Uglies by Scott Westfield

  • Tally is sixteen, and excited to undergo her surgery and become a Pretty, leaving her sad life as an “Ugly” behind. But Tally’s friend, Shay, does not want to become a Pretty, and it leaves Tally questioning everything she’s believed for so long. When Shay runs away, Tally has to choose between the life she’s always wanted, and the chance of a lifetime. 

• A Face Like Glass by Frances Hardinge

  • In the underground city of Caverna, facial expressions must be taught. Only the richest people can have training for a wide range of expressions. Deep underground, you meet Neverfell, a young girl with no memories, and the ability to naturally produce all expressions. This ability makes her dangerous, and makes everyone and everything dangerous to her. 

There’s always time to step out of your comfort zone, and a new book in an unfamiliar genre might be the way to do it. A book is a journey and you might just enjoy the ride.

What pet does our school like more: cats or dogs? Well, now's the time to find out. Help us learn by filling out our survey. Which one will come out on top?

This has been an ongoing debate regarding our furry friends, and everyone has a different opinion.

Now’s the time to cast your vote. Help us find the answer by filling out this survey. We’ll keep you posted on the victor, whether it be loyal dogs or independent cats. 

Let’s look at some totally real headlines about things that totally happened at ORCA this week: 

Zoom Meeting Turns Into Anarchy When Teacher’s Internet Goes Out

Thursday’s math class was going well until the teacher was accidentally logged out of the Zoom meeting due to an internet outage. 

“She was saying something about quadratics, and then she just disappeared,” said a student who witnessed the event. 

Not sure if they could leave or not as there was still 45 minutes left of class, the students scrambled to make the best of their remaining time in Zoom. A total societal collapse ensued. 

“At first we sat there in stunned silence,” said a student, “and then everyone went crazy.”

For around 15 minutes the students were hunter-gatherers before slowly joining in bands led by those brave enough to have their cameras on. The first squabble occurred when one faction claimed that they should start recording, and a second began over who should reign as the meeting host. 

Recent reports show the students experimenting with a parliamentary system. 

Rick Astley Joins Music Club 

In a surprising turn of events, singer Rick Astley has joined ORCA’s Music Club. 

“I asked him to join, and he agreed because he couldn’t let me down,” said the student who invited the ‘Never gonna give you up’ singer. 

“You know the rules, and so do I,” the singer added remorsefully. 

Despite being a massive success for the club, attendance hit an all time low the first meeting Astley attended. Many claimed that a fear of being “Rickrolled” led to their absence. 

“They ran around and deserted me,” Astley concluded. 

Speech and Debate Club Struggles as Members Agree on Everything 

ORCA’s popular Speech and Debate Club is beginning to struggle as its members are agreeing on everything. 

In their last meeting, members were asked about their views on world peace. 

“Yeah, that would be nice,” said one student to a chorus of “I agree” in the chat. 

“Ok, how about ending world hunger?” asked the club leader, with a similar response. 

After several other attempts the meeting was ended early. Members voiced their displeasure with having nothing to argue about. 

Reports showed that the club finally had a successful debate after a member claimed that a hot dog is a sandwich. 

Career Ed Student Still Waiting to Meet Ed

An ORCA student has been waiting all semester to meet someone he calls “Ed.” 

“When I first joined my Career Ed class, I was looking forward to meeting the person the course is named after,” he said. 

Other students have joined in on the movement, claiming that the title of the course was false advertising. 

“This Ed guy has to be really cool, right?” said the student. “He knows so much about all of these careers and colleges. All I want to do is meet him!” 

“I’m starting to think he may not be real,” another student added crossly. 

Teacher Still on Mute

Tragedy struck in Monday's English class as the teacher managed to share his screen and turn on his camera, but not his microphone. 

“His mouth was moving but no sound came out,” said a disappointed student, “and he just kept going through the slideshow.” 

The teacher reportedly went through the entire meeting without ever realizing he was muted. 

“He looked so sad when no one was answering his questions, but we didn’t know what they were,” said another student. 

The Current reached out for a quote, but the teacher was muted in his response as well. 

The wide array of field trips available to students, both virtual and in-person, are one of ORCA’s greatest strengths as a school. 

Let’s take a look at some of the field trips ORCA is offering for the month of December: 

The View From Powell Butte (12/3)

This in-person field trip is open to grade levels K-12, but it has a limit of just 10 students. If you’re interested, then you’ll want to sign up fast. 

The field trip location is at Powell Butte on Portland’s east side. It will start at the main parking lot of the visitor center, from which  attendees will hike up to the summit and the accompanying view. 

“It’s a hike in Oregon in December, so dress accordingly,” warns the description. 

For more information, make sure to check out the field trip’s document here. 

Kyle Wallace Set Dresser and Props Stylist (12/3) 

December’s offering in what has been an impressive run of theatre and film-related speakers, this field trip will feature freelance set dresser, props stylist, and filmmaker Kyle Wallace. 

“[Wallace] has worked in the film industry since 2015 and has worked on numerous commercial, television and film sets,” reads the event description. “He also makes his own film projects from time to time--he’s even been nominated for some awards for his most recent project.”

This field trip for high schoolers has a one-hundred student limit and will be hosted virtually. You can find more information on the field trip’s document here. 

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Live Stream #2 (12/3)

On what should be a busy December 3rd, the latest ORCA NASA Club live stream should be yet another out-of-this-world opportunity. 

For this session, the team of NASA employees leading the meeting will go over the details of living in space. “People are living and working in space right now! Participants will discover many of the different ways that scientists, engineers and astronauts have developed to help humans live in space,” reads the field trip description. “They will also learn about the parts of an astronaut’s spacesuit and then look at actual food items sent to the International Space Station.”

As always, more field trip information can be found here. You can also sign up for the ORCA NASA Club for even more space-related information and activities to accompany the NASA live streams. 

Portland Community College Info. & Campus Life Virtual Tour (12/3)

Free, virtual college tours are a tremendous opportunity for every high school student at ORCA, and the PCC tour should be no different. Even better, attending this field trip can help 12th graders meet their senior project assignment requirements. 

The field trip will tour the college and cover important details like admission and financial aid. 

“Come learn about Portland Community College from Rock Creek Campus Admission Coordinator  Heidi Edwards. This presentation will include information on degree/certification options, the admissions process, financial aid and scholarship opportunities,” reads the event description. “Since we are an Oregon-wide high school they customized the presentation to make sure to include content related to all 17 Oregon community colleges and the Oregon Promise Grant which can be used throughout the Oregon CCs.”

Make sure to check the tour’s document here for more information and times to mark on your calendar -- and yes, this one happens on December 3rd as well. 

Make a chocolate yule log for the holidays (12/8)

Test your baking skills and get into the holiday spirit with this food-centric field trip hosted by ORCA’s own Dr. Rollot. Open to all 8-12 grade students, this field trip is a chance to make your own chocolate yule log. 

You won’t want to miss the field trip information document for this one, as it doesn’t just include the date and time, but also all of the ingredients you’ll need. So get your flour, chocolate, and mascarpone cheese ready as you bake a fun holiday treat to share with friends, family, and of course, yourself. 

“Advancing Technology” - Cryptologic Museum (12/17)

This unique and virtual field trip should be a great opportunity for any 7-12th graders interested in the world of spies, codebreaking, or history in general. 

The tour will be led by Jennifer Wilcox, the longtime Director of Education for the National Security Agency’s National Cryptologic Museum. 

“[Wilcox] has conducted extensive research in cryptologic history particularly pertaining to the World War II German cipher machine Enigma, the Allies’ ability to solve those messages and the women in American cryptologic history. Her research has resulted in brochures, articles, presentations and museum exhibits,” according to the description. 

The field trip will cover advances in cryptography dating from the Roman Empire to the modern day. The advances in such technologies are fascinating enough, but the museum itself should hold some interest as well. 

“The National Cryptologic Museum is an American museum of cryptologic history that is affiliated with the National Security Agency,” adds the information document. 

Make sure to check out the field trip document here for more details. 

Virtual Holiday Kahoot (12/17) 

Middle school students from grades 6-8 will be treated to this holiday Kahoot on the last school day before winter break. 

“Come join us for some holiday movie trivia! Questions will cover a large array of classic holiday films!” reads the description. 

There’s no better way to finish out the last week of school in 2021. Make sure to check out the field trip information form here so you can mark your calendars. 

The seven field trips listed above are just a few of the many field trips offered by ORCA through this December and the rest of the school year. 

Make sure to check out the school’s constantly updating Field Trip Central for a listing of every available field trip. 

Throughout the whole of the city, Eugene has diverse and plentiful public art. Over the last few years, in preparation for the hosting of the 2021 Olympic Trials and the 2022 World Athletics Championships, improvements, parks projects and beautiful art installations have joined the urban collection. The city has commissioned talented artists from all over the world to paint new murals around the Downtown area, as a part of the 20x21 EUG Mural Project. This outdoor of 20 murals is an initiative of the Eugene Cultural Service’s Public Art Program.

Editor's note: Images mentioned can be seen via the links below or in the image carousel to the left of the article title.  

Mural by Robezio Marqs and Tereza Dequinta 

Mural by (Unknown Artist), located on the historic Vitus Machine Shop wall

As noted by The City of Eugene’s website, the 20×21 Project “aims to bring color and life to Eugene’s urban landscape to foster pride and contribute to a sense of identity.”

Artwork by Matthew Small. This is a portrait of track and field legend Jesse Owens using recycled materials the artist collected from Bring Recycling as well as wood from the recently dismantled Hayward Field. 

Mural by Unknown Artist

Graffiti piece created by the Lane Arts Council

As summarized by Eugene's Public Art Program, the goal is to “support public art that authentically expresses the timeline we live in, inspires wonder and invokes dialogue.” 

Downtown Eugene has become a cultural hotspot for artistic expression. On almost every corner, you'll see buildings and alleyways adorned with colorful motifs that brighten the atmosphere. In addition to the beautiful bronze sculptures that have memorialized some of Eugene’s most cherished people and events, the art throughout the Downtown area is meaningful and plentiful. There is something for everyone!

Downtown Eugene Artwork #1

Downtown Eugene Artwork #2

Downtown Eugene Artwork #3

Stenciled mural by French artist Blek le Rat.

Artwork by AIKO. A colorful reverse image of a Maiko — an apprentice geisha who is in training to be a dancer.

On the official website for the 20x21 EUG Project, more murals can be found, along with their location, description and artists’ information.

Chances are that if you’ve ever felt the need to use an internet calculator, you’ve used Desmos. 

The math website, known best for their free graphing calculator, has long been a valuable tool for teachers and students alike. And if you’ve become an expert at using that particular feature, you might be able to cash in on your talents. 

In an announcement featured prominently on their website, Desmos.com has announced that they will be hosting a math art contest for the second year in a row.

“Did you know the Desmos Graphing Calculator is a fantastic tool for making art?” reads part of the contest’s description. “Using only graphed mathematical expressions, people around the world have created awe-inspiring masterpieces, from geometric patterns and architectural scenes to self-portraits, renderings of famous paintings, and beyond.”

Open to students from ages 13 to 18 as well as individuals over 19, the contest promises cash prizes to the top three winners of each of the four age categories. The top 40 finalists will receive T-shirts and a social media shout-out as well. 

The Desmos graphing calculator allows for a multitude of possible shapes, colors, animations, and even sounds. The contest rules simply state that submitted art must be original and not based on any copyrighted material. 

Contestants must submit their art before January 15th, 2022 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. Entries can be turned in by simply clicking the trophy icon above the graphing calculator plane.