December 2022

There’s nothing more magical than student leaders supporting one another.

The Oregon Association of Student Councils (OASC) hosted their Fall Conference: The Wizarding World of Leadership from November 6 to 7, where student councils from across the state met in Seaside, Oregon. The event was a major success, with over 1,500 student leaders attending. The days were filled with Zumba, booths, workshops, dances, keynote speakers (Jarom Smith, Sabrina Thompson), and skits. 

“There’s an energy in here that makes everything feel possible. It’s magical, and not just because it’s Harry Potter themed,” one attending student from Hillsboro High School commented. 

Three ORCA Student Government members attended the conference with Applied Programs Administrator Dan Vasen as an advisor. 

The 2022-23 Student Executive Council (SEC) elections took place, and in many ways was a tight race. 

Each position was up for grabs, and students from across the state worked hard at the event to secure spots, including Regional Representatives, At-Large Representatives, and the State President. Regional Representatives support schools in their regions, providing key reach from across the state. Two At-Large Representatives directly aid the State President and the Regional Representatives. The State President leads the other positions in pursuit of the SEC’s goals, hosts meetings, and presents speeches at events.

There were three candidates for the State President Position: Gracelyn Chaffee from Canby High School, Raymond Seng from Mountainside High School, and Grace Peterson from Oregon Charter Academy. Each presidential candidate gave a speech, attended a questions panel, and hosted a workshop during the Sunday session.

Seng opened the stage with his speech, talking about his experience and standards. He later presented a workshop titled Student Bodybuilding, which covered ways to build and strengthen connections in their Student Councils and fellow students, with bodybuilding references throughout. 

Peterson followed with a speech about luck, skill, and dedication. She led a Taylor Swift-themed workshop called Shake It Off: Keeping Negativity At Bay, offering resources to attendees about ways to “shake off” negative experiences. 

Chaffee was the last to give a speech. She spoke about her years of service and the new skills she could bring to the table. Her workshop, titled Student Empowerment, was based on her own Student Council growth. She gave attendees ways to personalize the word “empower” and left many takeaways for students to use in their own schools. 

All candidates also participated in panels to answer questions from OASC members. Some questions were more relevant to the position, with topics such as experience and goals, while other questions were more light-hearted, as Lianna Smith, a former At-Large Representative, asked about the presidential candidates' heights. 

“The 2021-22 SEC average height was five feet, four inches. Would you bring the height average up?” Smith asked.

“I’m five feet, eight inches,” Chaffee said. “I would bring it up.” 

“I’m five feet, eight inches as well,” Seng agreed. 

“I’m five feet, two inches on a good day – I’m the reason the average height is so low,” Peterson remarked. 

The attending schools participated in the panels or workshops and watched the speeches before casting their votes Sunday evening. 

Chaffee’s hard work paid off, and on Monday morning, she was announced as State President. Peterson and Seng were appointed as At-Large Representatives. Regional Representative positions are as follows:

• Midwest: Jay Riggs (Taft High School)

• Southern: McKenna Tenney (Henley High School)

• Metro-West: B Genduso (Century High School)

• Metro-East: Patricia Campbell (Canby High School)

• Eastern: Gisselle Rivera (Hermiston High School)

• Central: Caylie Grande (Ridgeview High School)

• Northwest: Cesar Flores (McMinnville High School)

It was a successful event, and ORCA is proud to have Grace Peterson serving as At-Large Representative, as she is the only one on the SEC representing a virtual school. 

Please refer to this article for additional information. Don’t forget to visit OASC’s website for more event details or check their social media page. 

So you fell behind in school. It happens. Maybe you were busy with something else, had tech issues, or it was just some good old-fashioned procrastination. No matter what, you’ll still need to have a passing grade by the end of the semester. 

Thankfully, ORCA’s flexible format makes it possible to get back on track. If you’re starting to fight through a backlog of old assignments, here are some steps you can take to get back on schedule: 

Step 1: Don’t panic 

Falling behind and then panicking about it will generally just lead to falling even further behind. Even if you have a lot of catching up to do, it’s still fairly possible to salvage your grade, especially this early in December. Many classes also have a grace period to submit overdue work without a penalty. 

Keep in mind that your teachers’ goal is to have you succeed in school. If you show the requisite effort with enough time left, they can do a lot to help you out. 

Step 2: Make a list

To catch back up you’ll need to know what overdue assignments you need to complete. You can find this list by clicking on the bell icon in Canvas’ List View or by looking at your grade book. 

If your class uses external tools for some of the assignments, such as Nearpod or Edpuzzle, they might not always show up as missing in Canvas. However, you can still look at the due dates in your grade book to find out if something is overdue even if it isn’t marked as missing. If you’re running into that issue, it can help to write the missing assignments down on paper so you don’t forget them. 

Sometimes, the satisfying feeling of checking something off a to-do list can be a useful motivator. 

Step 3: Find out when assignments lock 

If you have a lot of missing assignments you’ll probably notice plenty of “temporary” zeroes in your grade book. But when do those become permanent? It differs with each class, so you’ll want to check to see what permanent zero policies each course has. 

You can generally find this information by accessing the class syllabus in the modules of each Canvas course. If you can’t find an answer there, you can always message your teacher or just look at the “Available until” header on each individual assignment.  

You’ll want to make sure to prioritize the assignments that will permanently lock soon. 

Some classes have a process for unlocking assignments that were given permanent zeroes, but this varies with each course. Generally, it involves catching up on every assignment that is still unlocked. You can find information on these policies in each course’s syllabus. 

Step 4: Never be afraid to ask for help

Your teachers want to pass you in your classes, so it never hurts to contact them for help. If you’re confused about a certain topic, you can request one-on-one help, and if you’re confused about a grade book policy you can always ask for clarification. Later in the year, there might even be opportunities to gain partial credit on permanently zeroed assignments. 

Many courses also have pages accessible via Canvas modules or on starter pages with class-specific instructions on how to catch up if you’ve fallen behind in your school work. 

You might not even need to contact any teachers for help when catching up. But if you do, never be afraid to reach out. They want you to succeed if you are willing to work for it. 

Step 5: Eliminate the roadblock assignments 

After using the four prior steps to get started, now the actual work begins. To catch up, you have to actually complete school work assignments, and the hardest ones to finish can best be characterized as roadblocks: big essays, tests, and projects that take up so much time and energy that they can be intimidating to even start in the first place. Procrastinating working on these assignments can delay you from completing the easier ones on the other side. These roadblocks can be the biggest culprits when it comes to procrastination and falling behind. 

As a result, these are the projects that should be prioritized when catching up. Completing them will result in a major boost of confidence and remove the biggest obstacles early on. There are three tips that can help you defeat roadblock assignments, whether or not they are overdue. 

The first is to take advantage of the instructions your teacher provides. Before big assignments, teachers will often provide links to helpful resources as well as a set of steps to break up the work into manageable chunks. Following these steps can make big projects much easier to complete and less intimidating. 

Another helpful tip is avoiding the blank page. When writing an essay, nothing kills productivity and creativity more than staring at a blank document. To prevent this, tell yourself to write anything that comes to mind, whether or not it sounds great. By doing so, you’ll give yourself some material to work with initially. It’s much easier to edit and refine subpar writing into a great final product than it is to have a perfect first draft. 

If you completed a pre-writing activity, such as an outline, before the assignment, copying and pasting some of the sentences and ideas from it into a first draft can have a similar effect. 

The final tip, and possibly the hardest, is to simply tell yourself to start working on the project and not stop until it is finished. Sometimes that’s the only way to get a roadblock assignment done. You don't have to submit it right away – you can take a break and review your work later with fresh eyes to catch errors – but try to get as much of your assignment finished as possible in one sitting. 

Developing the self-discipline to do so can be very hard at first, but the more often you commit to sitting down and getting something done, the easier it will become. 

Step 6: Stay active in your classes

Sometimes, when students get behind, they stop attending live classes and submitting newly-assigned work to focus solely on overdue projects. This is never a good idea. 

While it may seem difficult to learn in live class when you’re behind in the material, attending is a great way to show your teacher that you’re engaging in class, and you can still take notes that can help when you complete assignments in the future. Participating in a healthy learning environment with other students can also be a motivating factor. 

Some courses like math and science build directly upon prior material each week. However, there is often newly-assigned work that you can complete while still being behind. Try to stay as caught up in the present as possible while still catching up on overdue schoolwork. 

Step 7: Take advantage of time off

Take time to relax and recharge during weekends and breaks – but also recognize that when no new schoolwork is being assigned, it’s a prime opportunity to make some major headway in a backlog of overdue assignments. 

Even if it’s just one small project or a single paragraph a day, every little bit of work done while out of school is less you have to complete during the school week. It’s a great way to catch up and you’ll thank yourself later. 

Step 8: Stay caught up

Once you’ve used the prior steps to get back on track, don’t start coasting immediately. If you follow ORCA’s guidance of “every class, every day,” you’ll find that you’re only assigned a manageable amount of schoolwork each day. It only gets difficult when it piles up.  

Also, try to identify the root problem that had you running behind in the first place. If life was busy and you legitimately didn’t have the time, that’s one thing. If it’s procrastination, you might have some work to do in fixing bad habits. Check out this article for tips on how to stop procrastinating. 

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.

Calling all music lovers and songwriters! The Current’s latest contest is a song competition. 

ORCA students will have the chance to write and record their own original compositions – possibly for the entire school to hear! Students can submit their entries for the contest using this form. The winning song(s) will be published in The Current’s January edition.

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

• Submissions must be between 1-3 minutes in length.

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

• Any lyrics must be school-appropriate.

• Recordings should be as clear and as free of background noise as possible. 

• Songs must be submitted before the deadline of December 13. 

Students can record themselves singing and/or playing instruments or use copyright-free digital tools such as those found on Soundtrap.com. Students who join the ORCA Music Club gain access to a premium membership of the website. 

Entries will be judged based on originality, creativity, and quality. All genres will be considered. 

The holiday season is a great reminder of the importance of giving back to your community. Helping others doesn’t have to be in the form of donating thousands of dollars to a charity – it can be the little things that brighten someone's day. Even if we can’t single-handedly change the world, we can still make a difference through our actions toward others.

Volunteering is a great way to give to others. There are many opportunities to serve others within a community. Whether it’s feeding people in soup kitchens or helping out at an animal shelter, volunteering is a great opportunity to spread the holiday spirit.

A homemade gift can feel even more special than a store-bought one. If you like to knit or make clothing, you can give hats, blankets, and scarves that you’ve made to homeless shelters or other charities like Project Linus, a program that donates homemade blankets to children in need. People also love to receive simple and thoughtful gifts. For example, a handmade bookmark would be perfect to give to a librarian or book lover.

Random acts of kindness go a long way and don't cost anything but time. Here are some random acts of kindness that you can do yourself during the holidays.

• Video call an old friend who might need cheering up. Simply letting someone know you are thinking about them can be an amazing gift.

• Leave encouraging notes, cards, or a gift basket of homemade items on a neighbor’s porch.

• Send a message to an old teacher saying thank you or wishing them a happy holiday.

• Sharing cookies or another holiday treat is a great way to make deeper connections with neighbors.

• Giving simple compliments to others is one of the easiest ways to brighten someone’s day. You can even make it a challenge to compliment one person every time you're at a store.

Making donations can also help people get through tough times. There are drop-off sites for used clothing, shoes, and books almost everywhere. Fire stations, schools, and other organizations run toy and food drives. Even if you’re not able to give a lot, every donation adds up and helps so many people.

Giving to others is special because it helps them and makes you feel good. Doing something that feels small to you, like complimenting someone, might be just what that person needs to get through their day. No good deed is too small.

During an evening showing of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the chatter of the audience could still be heard as the film’s hushed start lit the screen. After a short prologue, the iconic Marvel Studios logo finally appeared, tinged a somber purple rather than the standard bright red. As the usual highlight montage of past Marvel films played as the text of the logo appeared, a notable change was apparent. Every clip was of the late Chadwick Boseman from his various appearances across the MCU, throughout an excellent career that was tragically cut short. 

You could’ve heard a pin drop in the theater.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was a film produced in a time rife with tragedy and struggle. Chadwick Boseman was a great actor and by all accounts an even better man, and after he sadly and unexpectedly passed away in the summer of 2020, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was suddenly left without one of its core figures. 

Boseman had captured lightning in a bottle with his portrayal of the Black Panther/T’Challa character in Marvel’s 2016 film Captain America: Civil War and had burgeoned into a full-blown superstar following 2018’s massively successful and influential Black Panther. His equally acclaimed performances in later MCU films had established him as one of the central pillars of the franchise’s future and greenlit a surefire sequel.  

Director Ryan Coogler’s initial script for that sequel, Wakanda Forever, was reportedly finished at the time of Boseman’s death, which added a further challenge to a project already tinged with grief. However, the filmmakers made the necessary rewrites and trudged on through production, leading to the film being released in November of 2022 after some understandable delays. 

Marvel Studios’ decision to not recast Boseman looms large over Wakanda Forever, as his passing is integrated into the plot early on as T’Challa’s death is the emotional centerpiece of the film. As a result, some of the real-life emotions of the actors and director spill over into the movie, making Wakanda Forever one of the most earnest and heartfelt MCU films in a while.  

This is most noticeable in the acting. Letitia Wright’s character Shuri was thrust into the leading role following Boseman’s death, and she carries the weight of the film well. Her performance, and the writing of her character, provide a new depth to Shuri, who becomes far more complex and compelling than before. Similarly, Angela Bassett’s role is greatly expanded, and she absolutely delivers. Her raw emotion, paired with some excellent monologues, result in one of the most riveting performances the MCU has seen. 

On the villain side of things, franchise newcomer Tenoch Huerta does a decent job in his depiction of a classic comic book personality in Namor. However, his delivery of some of the film’s bigger lines can leave something to be desired. Huerta doesn’t necessarily hold the movie back, but he’s definitely a step down from Michael B. Jordan’s memorable antagonist in the first Black Panther film. 

Some of this is the fault of the script, however. While the writing is excellent for Wright and Bassett’s characters, it severely under-develops other aspects of the film. Talokan, the underwater land ruled by Namor, is made out to be a powerful nation with a rich culture and history, but this is told to the audience far more than it is shown. Because of this, Talokan is hard to take interest in and therefore not a compelling threat. Additionally, while the plotting of Wakanda Forever is engaging enough, thinking about the film for a few minutes can result in some plot holes and poor writing becoming irritatingly apparent. 

And while the film is definitely more emotional and serious than the average MCU fare, a number of its few attempts at comedy can still fall rather flat. 

Wakanda Forever is also slightly overstuffed. It has a long runtime, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but the issue lies in the film’s insistence on following up with side characters from the last movie or introducing new ones – largely to set up future films and TV series for Disney to profit from. The resulting storylines are still somewhat essential for the plot, but they could’ve been easily reduced or combined to center less on future projects and characters the audience doesn’t really care about and instead on the film’s major players. 

This issue is punctuated in the final battle sequence, where a number of side characters wear new, specialized superhero suits. Such instances used to be important plot points in past Marvel movies, but in this case, it’s an undeveloped, unnecessary change made for style points and toy sales that distracts from the focus of the scene. 

That being said, Wakanda Forever does deserve credit for being the best-looking Marvel film in… ever? The usual ugly, green-screen look of even the best MCU flicks over the past decade is largely removed. Gone is the poor color grading and mishmash of purple, brown, and concrete. Well thought-out color palettes and lighting in Wakanda Forever give it an artful feel. Which isn’t to say that the film doesn’t have much CGI – just this time, it feels polished and made from a perspective that prioritized the visual aesthetics just as much as the action.  

The one exception is the final battle sequence, which among a number of issues, feels like it was created in a computer graphics sandbox rather than an actual location. In fact, the entire scene is quite underwhelming in most aspects and overshadowed by a much better one earlier in the film. The visual effects still look finished – an upgrade over the first Black Panther film – but everything is bland and uninteresting. It’s a lone weak spot in an otherwise excellent film visually. 

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is undeniably a movie made for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. And unsurprisingly, it falls victim to a number of the franchise’s usual faults. There’s a bland finale, some weak internal logic, a focus on setting up the next project over simply making a good standalone film, and the usual over-the-top clichés of superhero movies. But at the same time, it avoids a number of them. Wakanda Forever has some outstanding visuals and acting, and the inauthentic tone of many past Marvel movies is replaced with a film that is unapologetically sincere. 

These major strengths elevate what otherwise would have been a run-of-the-mill blockbuster, as the film’s moments of brilliance are a fitting tribute to a star who was gone too soon. 

The verdict: 7/10

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. 

Music is a great way to relax and get into the holiday spirit. A good playlist is a great way to set the mood. It doesn’t take too long to set a list of your favorite songs that come in handy when you want music in the background while wrapping gifts or catching up on school work.

Whether you like to listen to holiday music exclusively during December or for months at a time, these five songs are a great fit for your playlist.

“Winter Wonderland” by Michael Bublé 

• This classic winter song may be familiar to most people. Richard Himber originally composed and sang "Winter Wonderland" in 1934. Since then, many artists have made renditions of this song, and Michael Bublé’s is one of the most popular.

“It’s Been A Long, Long Time” by Pentatonix

• A capella group Pentatonix released their holiday album “Evergreen” in 2021. In the music video for “It’s Been A Long, Long Time,” they announced the release of Evergreen and their upcoming tour. It is a short tune – a little over a minute – full of warm and soft harmonies with a peaceful and lovely feeling.

“Winter Things” by Ariana Grande

• This song is a chill, upbeat track about living in a warm place during the holidays while enjoying winter activities with those you love. Even without cold weather, you can make the best out of the holiday season.

“Jingle Bell Rock” by Brenda Lee

• “Jingle Bell Rock” is another well-known holiday song. This one is perfect to play at home while decorating or making your favorite holiday desserts. With a cheerful and fun theme, this song will put a smile on your face.

“Hallelujah” by Pentatonix

• Pentatonix covered this song in 2016, and it was wildly popular. Their voices blend seamlessly and their individual tones make the song dynamic even without instruments. The official music video for Pentatonix’s “Hallelujah” got over 689 million views on YouTube, their most viewed video ever.

The holiday season can be very busy for a lot of people. If you can, take the time to enjoy some winter music.

Nothing spreads holiday cheer better than a delicious seasonal treat. Whether it’s some sweet chocolate nougats or classic peppermint bark, there are many sweet festive desserts to whip up this holiday season.

These three no-bake, delicious delights are a great way to celebrate the festivity of the season. 

Rice Marshmallow Treats

Jazz up your holiday desserts with these classic rice marshmallow treats. 

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter

• 3 ½ cups mini marshmallows

• ⅓ cups tsp vanilla extract

• 3 cups crisp rice cereal

• Sprinkles (optional)

Heat a pan (preferably non-stick) on low heat. Add about a tablespoon of butter, cutting it into slices so it melts easier. This will help keep the marshmallows from sticking when adding it in later. 

Once the butter melts, add 3 ½ cups of mini marshmallows. Use a spatula to mix the marshmallows for about three minutes or until the texture is smooth. Add in ⅓ teaspoons of vanilla extract and mix into the marshmallows. 

Turn off the heat once you have the right texture (about 3-4 minutes). Add 3 cups of crisp rice cereal while mixing it thoroughly into the marshmallows to prevent sticking to the pan. Once this is evenly mixed, grab a container wrapped in plastic wrap or parchment paper to store the treats. Set it aside in the fridge for about 30 minutes to harden and cool. 

Jazz up your bars with colored sprinkles or mini marshmallow toppings.

Note: marshmallows can be sticky business. If you find the leftover marshmallows hard to clean off the pan, running under warm water helps easily rinse off the stickiness. 

Chocolate Nougat Bites

A quick and simple recipe, chocolate nougat bites are the perfect sweet treats for the holidays.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup marshmallows

• ⅓ tsp vanilla extract

• 1 ⅓ tbsp peanut butter (this could also be replaced with a nut-free alternative)

• ¼ cups chocolate chips

• ¼ tsp cornstarch (if needed)

Microwave a cup of marshmallows for about 10-15 seconds. Be sure not to overheat it so the sugar won’t crystalize or burn. 

Add ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract to the marshmallows and mix thoroughly. Add 1 ⅓ tablespoon of peanut butter (or a nut-free alternative if needed) and knead it in with the marshmallows. If needed, use a pinch of cornstarch to keep the mixture from sticking. 

Divide the mixture evenly into 10 small nougat rounds on a tray. Grab out ¼ cups of chocolate chips and heat on a pan for 1-2 minutes using medium heat, stirring regularly to ensure an even consistency. Be sure to keep the chocolate from overheating so the texture is not chunky. 

Once it is melted, spread an even coating of chocolate over the nougats. Pop it in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. 

Peppermint Bark

Peppermint bark is a simple but delicious treat made with two layers of chocolate and chopped candy canes. It’s the easiest holiday treat that doubles as the perfect homemade holiday gift for family and friends.

Ingredients (small serving):

• ¼ cups chocolate 

• ¼ cups white chocolate (or mint chips)

• ⅛ tsp peppermint extract (or vanilla extract)

• Candy canes

Melt the chocolate on a stove or in a microwave. If using a microwave, place the chocolate chips in a heatproof bowl and heat in increments of 30 seconds, mixing in between increments. Be sure to stir it well to keep it melted and not burnt. 

The easiest way to melt chocolate chips, especially if heating a large amount, is using the stove on medium heat, stirring regularly. 

Once the chocolate is melted, add the peppermint extract (or vanilla extract if you’re not into mint) to the chocolate. Mint chips can be a great alternative to jazz up the flavor without needing peppermint extract. 

Pour the melted chocolates onto a parchment-lined plate or baking sheet and spread the layers evenly. Sprinkle the bark with crushed candy canes and pop it in the fridge for 20 minutes until the chocolate sets.

There are few genres of film that capture the magic of cinema better than science fiction. It capitalizes on fantastical locations, head-scratching moral quandaries, and nail-biting action, combining these elements into films perfect for thinkers, escapists, and movie lovers alike. 

As the wind swirls and snow and rain fall outside, consider turning on the TV, getting a snack, and enjoying these 10 great science fiction films: 

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

If 2001 isn’t the greatest science fiction movie ever made, it’s at least the most groundbreaking. Directed by legendary auteur Stanley Kubrick, this 1968 epic was released before humanity knew much about space travel -- the moon landing hadn’t even happened yet. However, 2001 is incredibly accurate in many of its depictions of the solar system and space travel. Much of this is due to the film’s special effects, which were innovative then and still hold up well today. 

From a technical standpoint, 2001 is brilliant, and artistically, it might be even better. The film is deliberately ambiguous but still quite focused thematically, and its classical score, juxtaposed with a chilling use of silence, perfectly captures the equally grand and empty feel of space. 2001 contains one of the greatest villains ever put to screen in supercomputer HAL 9000, and the film’s incredible visuals and scope set it apart from nearly every other movie made in its era.

2001 is on the longer side and may seem a bit pretentious to some viewers. It certainly earns its title of “Odyssey.” However, with some of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history, there should be something to enjoy in 2001 for everyone. It’s certainly a milestone… uh, monolith, in the storied history of filmmaking. 

2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984)

2010 isn’t as good or as iconic as 2001, but it’s perhaps more deserving of a recommendation due to its underrated status. It’s not surprising that this film has flown under the radar -- it was a late sequel to one of the greatest pieces of cinema ever made, and Kubrick wasn’t brought back to direct, no less. 

Predictably, 2010 has less of an arthouse feel than its predecessor, and the traditional structure leads to a less interesting start. However, 2010 improves as the movie goes on, and by the time the characters are exploring the abandoned sets of 2001, the film takes on a haunted feel that continues to build up into a fantastic finale. Comparisons to Kubrick’s magnum opus have lessened the value of 2010, but it still stands as a well-made sci-fi flick in its own right. 

Arrival (2016)

Arrival isn’t about action sequences or space exploration. It’s hardly about alien invaders. Instead, it’s a film about how humanity would go about communicating with the extraterrestrial if they suddenly showed up on Earth’s doorstep. The result is a movie that’s both moving emotionally and surprisingly accurate in its depiction of the science of linguistics. 

Directed by the talented Denis Villeneuve (who would go on to direct 2021’s Dune), Arrival is a gorgeous film with some unique alien designs and superb cinematography. It’s excellently scripted as well and boasts some star power with the likes of Forest Whitaker, Jeremey Renner, and a great lead performance by Amy Adams. Arrival’s deep themes are executed quite well, resulting in one of the best sci-fi movies of the past decade. 

Contact (1997)

Contact’s greatest strength is what it could’ve easily mishandled: the debate between faith and science. Based on a Carl Sagan novel of the same name, Contact treats both sides of the argument with respect while simultaneously exploring several big ideas. 

The film has a great cast with Jodie Foster and Matthew McConaughey in starring roles and solid direction from Robert Zemeckis. Contact’s 90s visuals have aged solidly but not perfectly, and while the film takes a few missteps on the way to its finale, it sticks the landing well. It’s the type of film the viewer will be thinking about long after the credits roll.   

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

Edge of Tomorrow isn’t as much of a thinker as the other films in this article, but it still has more than enough aliens, futuristic tech, and mind-bending time manipulation to fit the tone of the list. The film combines the action of Pacific Rim with the structure of Groundhog’s Day to form one of the most unique and memorable blockbusters of the past few years. 

Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt star in this futuristic war movie as all of humanity is pitted against a seemingly unbeatable army of alien foes. The result is a mix of breathtaking action, some well-placed humor, and undeniably awesome mech suits. The late Bill Paxton’s entertaining performance in a supporting role is a highlight as well. 

Inception (2010)

Inception might be the closest to a true modern classic on this list. Director Christopher Nolan’s impressively original premise of a high-tech thief infiltrating dreams to steal valuable information might sound strange on paper, but Inception spins it into an incredibly engaging final product. 

Every scene is a visual masterpiece, and the action is heightened due to the laws of physics and time shifting constantly. Inception is emotionally impactful as well, with Leonardo DiCaprio, Marion Cotillard, and the rest of the ensemble cast delivering on an equally impressive script. Composer Hans Zimmer’s score, especially the main theme, is worth a listen as well. 

Interstellar (2014)

Interstellar is all about the experience. Watch it on the biggest screen and with the loudest speakers possible. Everything in this film is supersized and ambitious, from the sweeping, organ-led score to visuals that try to portray the infinite vastness and majesty of space. Even Interstellar’s scope is massive, as the film revolves around humanity trying to find a new home away from a famine-stricken Earth, punctuated with themes of love, sacrifice, and the explorer’s spirit. 

But more impressive is that no matter how over-the-top Interstellar can be, it still strives to remain as scientifically plausible as it can. A theoretical physicist was consulted throughout the movie’s production, and as a result, the depictions of time dilation, interstellar travel, wormholes, and more all fit within the realm of possibility. Interstellar showed a black hole on-screen before real pictures of one even existed, and due to the filmmakers’ extensive research, when the first pictures of a black hole were revealed in 2019, Interstellar’s visuals still held up quite well. An impressive feat indeed. 

Jurassic Park (1993)

It’s impossible to talk about sci-fi films without bringing up Steven Spielberg at least once, and this list’s mention of the legendary director’s work will be 1993’s influential Jurassic Park. It’s a near-flawless blockbuster full of iconic scenes, dinosaurs brought to life, and a classic score by the one and only John Williams. 

While Jurassic Park incorporates many horror elements and is at its core a commentary on corporate greed, the film is still permeated by the childlike wonder found in much of Spielberg’s work. It’s a must-watch for anyone with a television. 

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Talk about a difficult pitch. The 2010s’ Planet of the Apes trilogy may have been a soft reboot of an iconic 60s and 70s movie series, but getting a studio to spend millions on a set of films revolving around sentient primates taking over the globe can’t be easy. Especially when the trilogy takes its ridiculous concept as seriously as it does.  

But Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and the following two movies in the trilogy, are quality science fiction. Andy Serkis delivers a compelling performance despite being behind a motion capture suit, and the trilogy tackles some extremely heavy themes behind its flawless CGI. These movies have no right to be as good as they are, yet they remain one of the finest film trilogies in recent memory. 

The Martian (2015)

Based on one of the best sci-fi novels of the past few years, The Martian is a top-notch space film directed by one of the greats of the genre: Sir Ridley Scott. Starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stuck on Mars in the not-so-distant future, The Martian somehow makes science cool with its snarky humor and engaging story. 

Like many of the entries on this list, The Martian contains some impressive scientific accuracy, with its worst case of implausibility being a sneaky reference to the source material -- a scenario the book specifically says wouldn’t happen because it would only work in a movie. At the end of the day, The Martian manages to strike the right balance between a feel-good movie and one that is incredibly suspenseful. It’s an effortlessly watchable film. 

As you might have noticed, science fiction flicks from legendary franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel, and Star Trek were excluded due to most having heard of them or watched them before. And if that’s not the case, take this as a recommendation to go do so. Additionally, any films rated R were left out to ensure this list contains only school-appropriate films rated PG-13 or lower. 

It’s impossible to write a list of every sci-fi film worth watching, as there are just too many great ones. However, with this list, you might just find some new great films for movie nights this winter.

Kristin Brown, or Ms. Kris to her students, is a sixth and seventh-grade science teacher at Oregon Charter Academy. 

A member of the ORCA community for over a decade, Ms. Brown shared her story of how she started and came to work for ORCA, stating, “I have been teaching for ORCA for 10 years, although this is my 11th school year.” She earned her teaching degree in 2012 when she decided to do a little substitute teaching at a brick-and-mortar school. After four months as a substitute teacher, she relocated and applied for a teaching position at ORCA. “Almost all my teaching career has been at ORCA,” she added. 

Ms. Kris was born and raised in San Diego, California. She has been married to her husband, Jeremy, for 23 years. 

“We have two adult daughters, Haley and Linsy, and a four-year-old Chiweenie dog, Bambi,” said Ms. Kris. Both Haley and Linsy work at ORCA as “tutors for our AVID middle school and high school,” she explained.

Ms. Kris explained how she got into teaching while working as an extended daycare teacher at her daughter’s school in Portland. “A year later I was asked to be the middle school instructional assistant for the math department,” she said. “While working with students one day, the principal, Mr. Doran, came in to observe. He pulled me aside after class and told me that he thought I should go back to school and get a teaching degree, because I had a gift working with students.”

Ms. Kris took the advice to heart, graduating from Eastern Oregon University with a teaching license. She has additional teaching endorsements in Language Arts, Science, and ESOL.

Over the past 11 years that she has taught, both at ORCA and as a substitute, Ms. Brown has had many nicknames such as Ms. Bob and Ms. Kris. Ms. Brown is known as Ms. Kris so her students don’t get her confused with Allison Brown, her sister-in-law and an advisor at ORCA. Ms. Kris' other nickname is Ms. Bob because when she was a substitute teacher at a small Catholic school in Portland, one of her students started calling her Bob. Then some other kids started calling her Ms. Bob and pretty quickly, her whole class joined in. The name has followed her all the way to ORCA.

Ms. Kris has taught all courses for first and fifth grade as well as seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade advisory. She loves her current role teaching sixth and seventh-grade science. She said, “I have taught language arts, science, and math in middle school, but science is my favorite!” 

Ms. Kris stated that she had a “wonderful” biology teacher named Dr. Jones when she was in college, who helped her form a passion for biology, which is a component of the general science classes she now teaches. “My favorite subjects to teach are Genetics, Ecology, and all about Earth!” she said, adding that her favorite part of teaching is when her students “fully understand something that was taught.”

“I love to watch a student’s face light up when they get a concept,” said Ms. Kris. “There is no better feeling in the world than to see true learning happen!”

Winter is coming… and decorating is a great way to spread holiday cheer.

ORCA’s Student Government is hosting its annual Deck the Doors contest from December 1-30 for the best winter-themed door decorations. The competition is an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit by making decorations to celebrate winter festivities. The top five winners will be announced after Winter Break in the Principal’s Corner and on the Student Government website. 

“I am excited to see all of the wonderful submissions!” says Student Government President Brady Cruse. “Students at the school are very creative and have submitted wonderful photos of their decorated doors. I believe contests like Deck the Doors helps bring the ORCA community together while allowing students to have fun while competing against each other.”

Students can submit photos through this form. All entries must be school-appropriate and submitted by the deadline. 

The Deck the Doors contest is a great opportunity to showcase your artistic skills and get creative. So grab some holiday lights, design some crafts, and most importantly, have fun!

Check out the Student Government Corner for more details.

Author’s note: Mild spoilers for Rogue One, Episode IV: A New Hope below.

Cassian Andor. You’ve met him in Rogue One, a 2016 Star Wars movie on how the rebels delivered the Death Star plans to Princess Leia.

Set years before Rogue One, Andor focuses on the titular character long before he was a rebel hero, diving deep into his past and the gritty underbelly of the Star Wars universe. However, this time Cassian Andor isn’t delivering the Death Star plans. Instead, he’s delivering the best Disney Star Wars show in ages. Maybe ever. 

Created by Rogue One screenwriter Tony Gilroy, Andor's plot is very well thought out. With a good balance of action and dialogue, the series will surely keep viewers interested in what will happen next. As the show's tension builds, it gets better and better as it goes on. Each one of Andor’s multi-episode story arcs is constructed masterfully, resulting in tense and compelling finales. 

Diego Luna, who returns as Cassian Andor, does a skillful job portraying his complex character yet again. Although the audience knows what Cassian’s future looks like, the challenges he faces are still suspenseful, and Luna does a great job showing Andor’s struggles. 

Andor is a character-driven show, and as a result, the acting has to deliver. Fortunately, the rest of the cast, including Kyle Soller, Fiona Shaw, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly, and the always-fantastic Stellan Skarsgård, excel. There’s a world-weary sentiment every character exudes, leading to Andor’s remarkably grounded feel and some of the best acting in a Star Wars show up to this point. 

Even Andor’s most heroic souls have a moral grayness to them, while the villains of the show differ from the usual, comically-evil blueprint set by the franchise’s previous content. Instead of cackling emperors with purple lightning shooting from shriveled hands, there are corrupt, and at times frighteningly competent, bureaucrats hoping to move up the career ladder. It’s a refreshing change of pace and arguably more terrifying.

In the rare occurrence where Andor does stumble, it’s due to the show’s episodic format. The pacing is slow but actually quite good, although when the story is split into 45-minute sections released weekly, it’s much harder to appreciate. Andor isn’t designed to be a regular series – it’s a 10-hour movie abruptly chopped into TV-sized segments – and as a result, the slow burn of the story can suffer. It’s a much better viewing experience to binge Andor post-release all at once rather than to catch short sections of the show over its multi-month release schedule.  

If there are any other complaints, it’s that Andor’s lack of a true blockbuster budget can show at times despite there being few cracks in the series’ special effects. The entirely human cast of main characters can feel strange as well given Andor’s setting in a universe famous for its collection of memorable aliens and droids. 

Surprisingly, while Andor may be the best Star Wars show Disney has ever released, it hardly contains any of the franchise’s signature elements. Although there are passing mentions of the Emperor, there are no Sith or Jedi appearances, and mud-soaked workmen are more common on screen than stormtroopers. Still, Andor remains more fleshed out than The Mandalorian, far better directed and scripted than the ultimately disappointing Obi-Wan Kenobi, and much better in every way than the mess that was The Book of Boba Fett. 

Andor proves that it doesn’t take nostalgic callbacks, flashy fight scenes, and super-powered characters to make good television. The show may not have lightsabers or force-wielders, but its reliance on rock-solid writing and well-developed plotlines help craft what has become one of the best TV shows of the year.  

The verdict: 8.5/10

The weather is getting colder and colder. With that frigid weather comes the craving for warm comfort foods such as bread, soup, and hot tea. Here are some unique recipes to satiate those cravings and have enough left over to share with the whole family.

Seek parental guidance when using kitchen equipment.

Gluten-Free Veggie Soup

This is a hearty veggie soup with enough volume to serve two people. You can choose to exclude the vinegar for a less pickled taste.

Ingredients:

3 cups water

½ tsp salt

½ tbsp vinegar

½ tsp paprika

½ tsp ground coriander

½ tsp cumin

Juice of half a lemon

⅔ cup canned garbanzo beans 

⅔ cup canned corn

⅓ cup sliced quartered cucumber

½ cup diced onion

1 diced medium tomato

¼ cup diced cilantro

Steps:

1. Boil the water, then add vinegar, lemon juice, salt, paprika, coriander, cumin, and garbanzo beans. Bring back to a boil and let it simmer for five minutes.

2. Add the corn, cucumber, onion, and tomato and simmer for another four minutes.

3. Add the diced cilantro and simmer for another minute. Set aside and let it cool before serving.

Rosemary Herb Bread

This is a homemade bread recipe that is sure to warm the heart and home. The suggested slice size would be around two centimeters thick (roughly three-fourths of an inch).

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup room temperature water

1 tsp white sugar

1 tsp instant yeast

3 cup flour

1 tsp salt

¼ tsp baking soda

2 tbsp ground rosemary

3 tbsp olive oil

Steps:

1. In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup water with the sugar until well combined. Pour the yeast over the water and let sit to activate it.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and rosemary. 

3. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and then pour the yeast mixture in the middle of it. You’ll know if the yeast is ready if it has bubbles forming.

4. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil and slowly mix.

5. Slowly combine the last 1 cup of water. The dough should be a gooey lump and stick to the skin if you try to touch it.

6. If the dough is too watery, add more flour by the tablespoon until it is the right consistency. Add extra water by the tablespoon if the dough is too dry. 

7. Dust the top of the dough with a tablespoon of flour, then cover it with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm, dark place for 90 minutes.

8. Once the dough is done rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. As the oven heats, dust your hands and a flat surface with flour and take the dough out of the bowl. Knead the dough on a flat surface until the oven heats up.

10.  Put the dough ball onto a small baking sheet and spread the last of the olive oil over the surface of the dough. This lets it form a nice crust on the outside.

11. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, then let it cool on the stovetop for 10 minutes. Move it to a baking rack afterward to let it finish cooling before serving.

Loaded Potato Soup

Everyone loves a baked potato, but have you ever considered making it in a soup form? Here’s the answer to that question, and there’s enough to share too.

Ingredients:

4 cups water

2 peeled, sliced medium russet potatoes

¼ tsp salt

2 green onions

4 tbsp bacon bits

⅔ cup sour cream 

½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ tsp cumin

Steps:

1. Put the water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. While the water is heating up, carefully peel the potatoes and slice them into thin circles. 

2. Once the water is at a boil, add the sliced potatoes, bacon bits, salt, and cumin. Let simmer for 12 minutes.

3. After the 12 minutes have passed, use a potato masher to crush the potatoes in the water. It should make the water look cloudy with only small chunks at the end.

4. Add the shredded cheese, sour cream, and green onion, and mix well. Add the ingredients in that order so the cheese melts into the soup properly.

5. Let cool and serve.

Last November, ORCA’s biology department invited all students to participate in the second annual Biology Micrograph Contest. Each student taking a biology class this year at ORCA received a microscope at the beginning of the school year, which they used for the contest. 

Micrographs are photos taken through a microscope. And that’s what the Biology Micrograph Contest is all about. 

There were plenty of great submissions, but only three winners were chosen. Third place went to Caitlin G. for a micrograph of an amethyst crystal, second place went to Ansar M. for a micrograph of raw azurite malachite, and first place went to Shelby C. for a micrograph of a dog paw. The winning students won items from the ORCA swag store.

“I also really wanted to do something different, and I knew other classmates might find things that looked pretty already and when its under [a microscope] it looks just as pretty,” said Shelby C., the winner of the contest. “I wanted to pick something that might not look pretty until you get closer!”

"The Biology classes just announced three overall champions for our 2nd Annual Micrograph Contest!” said Jessica Heisley, one of ORCA’s high school biology teachers. “40 students from all four Biology classes used their digital microscopes to explore anything that interested them. Individual classes voted on class winners and then all Biology students voted on the overall champs.” 

“Congrats to our winners! We're looking forward to next year," she concluded.

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.

ORCA’s list of clubs is getting longer. The school announced the formation of two new clubs in the month of November: the Garden/Farm/Homesteaders Club and the Movie Club. 

The Garden/Farm/Homesteaders Club is open to students in all grade levels. Its goal is to “embrace a healthier way of living through food, to share and learn more about backyard homesteading, animals, gardening, plants, and the food we grow/consume,” per the ORCA club page. 

Club activities will include topics such as learning how to grow food, learning how plants work, and homesteading projects such as caring for animals and making a sourdough starter. The club description notes that topics can be suggested by students. 

The Garden/Farm/Homesteaders Club currently meets twice a month, which could change depending on club growth and student interest. 

ORCA’s other new club is the Movie Club, which is currently open to high school students. 

“[The club] will dive deep into the making of movies, discuss storylines, and character development,” said Matt Foss, the club advisor. “We will do this by sharing fun facts and playing movie and TV related games together.”

The Movie Club will meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 3 p.m. The first meeting will be on December 13. Mr. Foss encouraged ORCA students to attend the first meeting to discuss club operations and decide which movies and TV shows to focus on. 

You can join these new clubs as well as many others using this link to access the sign-up form. 

Pie is a dessert known for uniting people around a holiday dinner table – but in this case, it did the opposite. ORCA students and staff were divided over which pie was the best of them all in The Current’s November poll. 

Despite strong showings from classic pie flavors pumpkin and apple, which placed second and third with 18.9% and 13.2% of the votes, respectively, key lime pie placed first with 20.8% of the total votes, granting it the title of ORCA’s favorite pie. 

“Key lime pie has an amazing, smooth texture, and the pie crust is just like cheesecake crust,” wrote one student who voted. “I also love the citrusy flavor from the limes, it's great! The color helps too.” 

Fourth place went not to a food, but rather a number, with 7.5% of the voters choosing pi as their favorite choice. 

“Who would choose math over food?” retorted a key lime voter. 

Other popular flavors included chocolate, berry, lemon meringue, and rhubarb. 

Many voters shared why they like their favorite pies when voting. 

“Pumpkin pie is such a fall classic,” said one student. “It reminds me of family gathering around the table for whatever holidays they celebrate. I love to make it, and bonus, it makes my house smell like pumpkin spice.”

“My mom makes it,” said a student who voted for rhubarb pie. “It has a good blend of sweetness from fruits as well as some tartness from the rhubarb.”

Another student had an outside-the-box idea. “There is no better pie, only the skill of the pie’s creator,” he wrote, adding, “This is true, only personal bias would be a basis for claiming this claim to be wrong.” 

There might be a valid point there, but for now, key lime is clearly the better pie in ORCA’s collective opinion. 

Now is a great time to explore new careers and opportunities outside of school. The Portland Workforce Alliance, a non-profit organization partnered with Oregon Charter Academy, offers a wide array of programs for students to explore fast-growing careers in various industries. These in-person opportunities are available to all high school students and take place in the Portland metro area. 

Howard S. Wright Career Day

Explore careers in construction management and trades with Howard S. Wright, Portland’s leading construction company. This program introduces students to the fast-growing industry that builds infrastructure, highways, bridges, and waterways. With a tour of the local Ritz-Carlton hotel project, students will learn from industry professionals about project management, modeling, and planning and participate in a hands-on activity to see how those plans come to life. 

The event runs from 8:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on December 8. 

To apply, fill out the student interest form and parent/guardian form on the PWA website as soon as possible – available spots are limited. 

The Oregonian Career Day

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Oregon’s largest media company and meet with top professionals to learn about what it’s like to work in a fast-paced environment. Students will explore media tools, engage in a mock press conference activity, and learn about how to get started in a career in journalism and media. 

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on December 14. 

To register, fill out the student interest form and parent/guardian form on the PWA website for more event details. Available spots are limited. 

These career programs offered through the Portland Workforce Alliance are a great way to explore new fields and learn how to get started in the industry. Be sure to register through the PWA website and Field Trip Central accordingly for these events. Keep an eye out for more PWA career programs in the future. 

Author’s note: minor spoilers for Hamster and Gretel below.

Hamster and Gretel is an animated action comedy series created by Dan Povenmire, the co-creator of the popular TV show Phineas and Ferb. Hamster and Gretel is about a teenage boy named Kevin, his sister Gretel, and Gretel’s pet, Hamster. The show is centered around Kevin, who was supposed to get a superpower along with his sister Gretel when a UFO hovered over, telling them to “use these powers for good!” However, Hamster received the superpowers instead of him. Hamster and Gretel can be found on Disney Plus or the Disney XD channel.

Many of the show’s jokes are well thought-out, with a lot of them centering around TV and superhero clichés. For example, one running gag is an exclamation text bubble that pops up whenever Gretel screams something like, “Disco Punch!” In past series, Povenmire’s grammar jokes have centered around the English language, with jokes about verbs and adjectives. Now, in this series, Povenmire has stepped into somewhat new territory with language jokes centering around American culture and the Spanish language. For example, the show makes fun of Las Vegas for having the word “Las” in its name or how the dish “ropa vieja” is also the same word for “old clothes.”

Most of the songs in the show are funny, but only a few are great.

The show’s episode structures are sound and consistent throughout, usually following a format of something going wrong, a villain arriving, and the characters learning a moral lesson by the time the end credits roll. 

Visually, the series has the usual art style of Povenmire’s previous work – although Gretel has a more defining silhouette and brighter color tone that contrasts her with most of the characters.

The voice acting is good overall. There are a couple of things that are a little weird, though. You can tell that it is Dan Povenmire who voices one of the aliens on the UFO, which is unimpressive compared to when he plays Dr. Doofenshmirtz in Phineas and Ferb. On an interesting note, Gretel is voiced by Povenmire’s child, Meli Povenmire.

The series’ pacing is decent. It would have been nice if the story explained more regarding how Hamster and Gretel gained their powers instead of rushing through to get to the rest of the show. Other than that, following the usual structure, the show’s pacing is just nice and easy-going and picks up when needed.

The verdict: 6/10

Desmos is well-known for its mathematical graphing calculator, a helpful tool used by students and teachers alike. 

Desmos allows users to create visual representations of mathematical equations. Though this is generally used to increase understanding of school work, it can be a great tool to create art. If you’re familiar with this calculator, you may be able to turn your graphs and equations into art and prizes. 

On November 15, Desmos announced that they will be hosting their third annual Global Math Art Contest. 

Individuals aged 13 and up can submit a graph to the competition through the Desmos Graphing Calculator. The top artists will receive cash prizes and merch as well as have their artwork featured on Desmos’ website and social media platforms. 

The Desmos graphing calculator includes a multitude of features for creating shapes, colors, animation, and even sound. The rules of the contest state that entries must be original work and cannot include copyrighted material. Entries will be evaluated based on visual design, creativity, and performance. 

Contestants must submit their art by January 15, 2023. Submissions can be entered by clicking the trophy icon on the top right corner menu of the graphing calculator. 

“Last year we received more than 10,000 submissions from more than 100 countries for our 2nd annual Global Math Art Contest,” reads Desmos’ contest description. “Each year, we’ve been amazed by the creativity and artistry of people from around the world. The Art Contest has inspired new features, pushed our technical limits, and motivated us to improve our calculator to be worthy of the incredible people who use it.”

The 2021 contest finalists can be viewed here. Check out Desmos.com for additional details and resources. 

The wide array of field trips available to students, both virtual and in-person, help ORCA students stay connected and remind us how online school translates into real-world experiences.

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

Board Game Day (12/8)

This two-hour field trip provides students with the unique opportunity to meet with classmates and have friendly competition. The event description reads, “Join us for the opportunity to learn some new tabletop games, enjoy some old ones, and socialize with other ORCA students and families.”

This in-person event is available to all grade levels at the Rainy Day Games in Aloha.

Tour of WesternU Medical and PT schools and Linn Benton Community College’s Health Occupation Center (12/9)

Western University College of Health Science, recently opened in 2021, is giving ORCA high school students a chance to tour their Physical and Occupational Therapy school. This allows high schoolers to familiarize themselves with the campus and explore the Linn Benton Community College’s Health Occupation Center, which includes 13 programs in medical coding, nursing, and diagnostic imaging. After a lunch break, the students will tour the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest and speak with a current medical student.

People in attendance are asked to bring their own lunch and will have a designated 45-minute break to eat and rest. The description also notes that students will not be allowed to drive anywhere during this break.

Portland Art Museum Tour with Mrs. Champlin (12/9)

In this field trip, students will explore exhibits at the Portland Art Museum with ORCA teacher Jennifer Champlin.

Per the event description, chaperones will be free up to a 1:6 adult-to-student ratio. Additional chaperones will have to pay $25 per person for admission unless they are a museum member. "There is a parking lot next to the museum but it is more expensive," notes the event description.

Hot Chocolate Cookie Baking (12/12)

This virtual field trip will take place in ORCA teacher Kylee Putnam’s Zoom Room from 1-2 p.m. The event will consist of baking delicious cookies, hanging out with friends, and a Q&A session with a surprise guest baker at the end.

You can find the recipe, required equipment, and ingredients at this link.

Coffee With a Counsellor/Advisor (12/16)

This annual event will take place in Tigard and gives students the opportunity to sit down and have a cup of coffee with counselors, advisors, and teachers.

It lasts for an hour, allowing students to interact with each other and open up conversations about what might be the best coffee blend, how much sugar is too much, and whether decaf is better than the original.

The event description also notes, “Once you enter the coffee shop we will be in the meeting room to the right.”

The field trips listed above are just a few of the many field trips offered by ORCA this December. Make sure to check out the school’s constantly updating Field Trip Central, which can be found in the Principal’s Office/Corner, for a listing of every available field trip.

You can print The Current's Gen Z Slang Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

2. Not lying (2 words)

5. I’m down

7. I’m going to

8. Acceptable

10. Strongly agreed

12. To get money (3 words)

15. An alternate spelling of “cool”

16. Over the top; excessive

18. Cool sense of style

19. Awesome; Popular red and orange emoji 

20. To throw something; random expression

21. Group of close friends

DOWN

1. Don’t __ me (after saying something controversial)

3. Embarrassing

4. Clothing style

5. Unoriginal; boring

6. Questionable

8. A distinctive feeling/aura

9. Upbeat song

11. To show off

12. Bitter

13. Gossip

14. Enjoyable song

17. Extreme fun; or started a fire

18. For sure

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

Below are the answers to the Fall Crossword Puzzle from the November Issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Boots = A common shoe choice in the fall.

2. Acorn = The nut from an oak tree.

4. Pumpkin = A large fruit that wears many faces in fall.

6. Maple leaf = Canadian symbol that falls from trees.

8. Autumn - Another word for fall.

DOWN

1. Bonfire = People gather around this and tell spooky stories.

3. Rain = Common Oregon weather.

5. Chlorophyll = The death of this changes the colors of leaves.

7. Black cat = Feline that's said to be bad luck.

Every four years, the top international football (also known as soccer) teams from across the globe compete for the greatest prize in football: the World Cup. This year, the World Cup is taking place in Qatar, a small country in the Persian Gulf known for natural gas production, with 32 teams competing in eight groups.

Here are the eight groups, each consisting of four countries:

• Group A: Ecuador, Qatar, Netherlands, Senegal 

• Group B: Iran, United States, Wales, England 

• Group C: Argentina, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Poland

• Group D: France, Denmark, Tunisia, Australia

• Group E: Germany, Japan, Spain, Costa Rica

• Group F: Belgium, Morocco, Canada, Croatia

• Group G: Brazil, Switzerland, Serbia, Cameroon

• Group H: Portugal, Ghana, South Korea, Uruguay

Brazil is currently ranked first internationally and has been predicted to take home the trophy by many media outlets such as NBC Sports. Though Brazil has a statistical advantage, other countries such as Argentina, Germany, England, and France are considered contenders. 

In recent years, no World Cup team has consistently won, so fans are excited to see what fascinating events may happen. 

Despite the exciting nature of the World Cup, this event may mark the end of some great careers. Lionel Messi (Paris Saint-Germain F.C./Argentina) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United F.C./Portugal) have expressed but not confirmed that their fifth World Cup will be their last. These two players are great not only on the international stage but they are also known for many achievements in their clubs. After the World Cup, a spectacular era of football is expected to come to an end.

However, there are a handful of young players that may begin a fresh, new age of football. Players like Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain F.C./France), Gavi (FC Barcelona/Spain), and Edouardo Camavinga (Real Madrid CF/France) have shown that the captivating nature of football will live on. In addition to these players, there are many others that fans are looking forward to.

Some notable absences from the World Cup include Erling Haaland (Manchester City F.C./Norway), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool F.C./Egypt), and Sadio Mane (FC Bayern Munich/Senegal). Haaland and Salah failed to qualify, while Mane suffered a serious injury during a club game prior to the tournament.

After a difficult journey, the United States qualified for the Table of 16 at the World Cup. Though the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) is young and growing, they are determined to surprise the world. The USMNT has the potential to exceed expectations with rising stars such as Christian Pulisic (Chelsea F.C./USA), Weston Mckennie (Juventus F.C./USA), and Tyler Adams (Leeds United/USA).

With the World Cup starting on November 20 and ending on December 18, the whole world will be tuning in to an event that is bigger than the Super Bowl or Champions League final. For the players and coaching staff, it is a fight for glory and a chance to be immortalized in sports history. 

After advancing through the group stage, the USMNT fell to the Netherlands in the Table of 16 with a score of 1-3 on December 3. It was the best finish the team has had since 2014. 

After the remaining Table of 16 matches conclude, the quarter-finals will begin on December 9 as the remaining eight teams try to advance even farther into the tournament. 

In the 2022 World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies faced off against the Houston Astros. 

The World Series is Major League Baseball’s version of the Super Bowl. It’s a championship between the league’s two best teams, the top squad from each of the MLB’s conferences: the National League and the American League. However, instead of the championship being decided in one game, the World Series is decided by which team can win four of seven games.  

Many fans hoped that the Houston Astros would lose at some point in the playoffs leading up to the World Series, as the team was found to be cheating in previous seasons. However, many of the Astros’ players who cheated in 2017 are no longer on the team. The scandal arose from the Astros using cameras to spy on the finger signals opposing catchers use to communicate with pitchers. Team members would then communicate this by loudly banging on a trash can. This would give the batter an advantage because he would know what kind of pitch was coming. 

Sign stealing has a long history in baseball. The league tolerates some of it, but using devices like cameras with zoom capabilities and smartphones is not allowed. The team fired some leaders and was fined by the league but did not vacate their championship title. As a result of the scandal, some baseball fans lost respect for the franchise.  

During the playoffs for the National League Division Series (NLDS), many thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers would beat the San Diego Padres. However, the Dodgers ended their season with one win while the Padres won three games, a loss for Dodgers fans in a best-of-five series. The Padres then went on to play against the Phillies in a best-of-seven series in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), ending up with one win for the Padres and four wins for the Phillies. This earned the Phillies a spot in the World Series.

Meanwhile, in the American League Division Series (ALDS), the Astros played against the Seattle Mariners. In their third game against each other, the results were tight. The score was 0-0 at the top of 18 innings, which is twice the normal amount before rookie Jeremy Peña hit the game-winning home run for the Astros. This exciting win sent the Astros to the ALCS to play against the New York Yankees, a series the Astros won with a sweep. They advanced to the World Series, a matchup against the Phillies. 

Before the World Series began, the Phillies from the National League ended the season with 87 wins and 75 losses, while the Astros from the American League finished off the season with 106 wins and 56 losses. 

Game 1 of the World Series was hosted at Minute Maid Park, the Astros’ home stadium. The Phillies earned their first win 6-5. Game 2 gave the Phillies their second win. However, Game 3 was where the tables turned, as the Astros won 7-0, an unexpected change to the Phillies' ongoing streak. Game 4 and 5 were also in favor of the Astros, meaning that one more win was needed for the Astros to triumph. 

After an exciting ballgame, the Astros won Game 6 with a final score of 4-1, the last victory needed to clinch the series. Houston won the 2022 World Series and lifted the Commissioner's Trophy. This was the Astros’ second World Series win as a franchise, their first being in 2017 against the Dodgers.  

The World Series MVP this year was rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña, who hit the winning home run in the ALDS. Pena is a Gold Glove winner and a third-round MLB draft pick. In the World Series, Peña hit an out-of-the-park home run in Game 4. When the umpire called the home run, Peña apparently started to laugh, unaware that it was out of the park. 

An honorable mention of the World Series was Astros pitcher Cristian Javier, who threw a no-hitter at Phillies Stadium in Game 5. Houston’s leadoff pitcher that game was 9-time All-Star Justin Verlander, but Javier finished off the no-hitter as the Astros earned the win. 

Baseball has weathered a number of scandals in recent years and the Astros have moved past the controversy of 2017 with another World Series title. Will Houston maintain their success in 2023? Or will another team rise up over the course of the season?

If you’re new to watching baseball, the World Series is a great introduction to the sport. Baseball is America’s national pastime, and watching the game at the highest level can deliver nail-biting action that can help you become invested in the sport. Sports are an important part of culture across the globe and are often full of drama, high stakes, and even some controversy. The 2022 World Series was no different – and if you missed it, it will all start again next spring.