April 2023

Grab your formal attire and dancing shoes, because ORCA’s in-person prom is back this year for all high school students.

ORCA seniors voted earlier this year on 2023’s prom theme and the results are in. Over 50 students participated in Student Government's poll, and the “Head in The Clouds” theme won with around half of the votes.

Prom will take place this year on May 6. A prom announcement video will be in the April video newsletter with more details. You can also find more information on the Field Trip Central website.

“The Dance Committee has worked very hard for this to be the best prom yet!” says Kenna S., Student Government’s Dance Committee Leader. “We have a lot planned in terms of great food, rockin' music, and some awesome decorations. I'm excited to party with my friends and meet new people. I hope to see you there!”

At prom, there will be photo booths, dancing, and music. 

Each student will be allowed to bring one guest outside of ORCA. The guidelines for this will be on the Field Trip Central information page. There is a 120 attendee limit. 

You can RSVP for prom on the new Field Trip Central website found in the Principal's Office Canvas course.

Which movies and TV shows were the best of 2022? Oregon Charter Academy’s students and staff decided in the second annual Orcas, The Current’s take on the prestigious Academy Awards. 

Which films and shows took home the distinguished Golden Orcas? 

Best Picture

Nominees: The Fabelmans, Top Gun: Maverick, The Batman, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Samaritan, Avatar: The Way of Water

Winner: Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water collected the majority of the votes, with Maverick emerging as the winner late with 32.4% of the vote. 

“Beautifully filmed and well acted, Top Gun: Maverick is a true modern classic and one of the best movies of the year,” wrote The Current’s Hannah Ma, who nominated the film. 

Best TV Show

Nominees: Light & Magic, Andor, Stranger Things (season 4)

Winner: Stranger Things (season 4)

Stranger Things’ fourth season was far and away ORCA’s favorite TV show of 2022, garnering 63.2% of the total vote. 

“For classic sci-fi horror fans, film enthusiasts, or anyone wanting to stay in tune with pop culture, Stranger Things’ season four is worth the watch,” Ma wrote. 

“Season four overall embodies a darker, poignant tone with a great underscoring psychology about the power of music that allows for climactic, iconic scenes (and a well-deserved resurgence of Kate Bush),” added a student who voted for the show. 

The Current would like to congratulate the winners as well as thank each voter for their participation in the Orcas. There was a record number of votes in this year’s Charter Academy Awards. 

April 23 is National Take a Chance Day. This holiday provides great motivation to get outside of your comfort zone and try something new.

There are many ways to get involved in the school community and put yourself out there. It may just be participating more in live classes or turning on your camera once a week. Small steps will eventually get you to your destination. It doesn’t take a grand experience that takes you far out of your comfort zone to have an impact on your life. 

In the month of April, members of Student Government decided to take the first step by turning on their cameras in their Zoom classes. If you see a member of Student Government taking initiative to be on camera, join them if you can. It’s a lot less scary than you might think to turn on your camera and show your face. People at ORCA will notice your bravery and that courage can spread quickly. Seeing the faces pop up after being the first to turn on your camera is an amazing feeling. 

If you want to be more involved at ORCA, one of the best opportunities is all the clubs you can take part in. Joining a club means learning more about your interests and meeting new peers and club advisors. ORCA clubs are welcoming communities and one of the best ways to make new friends.

Attending school events is a great way to build your confidence and interact with peers. If you’re in high school, you should go to ORCA’s prom on May 6. You never know what new things you’ll experience or who you’ll meet. Everyone has at least a small amount of social awkwardness, and ORCA events like prom are an opportune way to get out of the house and have a good time with your classmates.

For those who want more opportunities to get their writing noticed, ORCA is launching a new literary magazine this spring called The Waves. This is a great chance for high school students who like to write poetry or fiction to get their first piece published. Participating in student-run publications is a way to get your voice heard and have a positive impact on the ORCA community. Check out this article for more information on how to get your work showcased in the next issue of the magazine. 

Another great opportunity to get involved is by joining the Broadcasting Club. The group of students in this club organize and film videos for the monthly video newsletters. A few of them also run ORCA’s first student-run podcast called The Whalepod. By joining this club, you can get your ideas out there and participate in schoolwide outreach. It’s a great platform for ORCA’s community to hear your unique voice.

Putting yourself out there can definitely be a hard task, but it pays off in the long run as you learn more about yourself and those around you. ORCA is a great place to “take a chance.”

If you missed out on submitting your photos in The Current’s photography contest last year, it is back again! This year, the theme is nature. So go outside, take your best nature photo, and submit it through the form below. 

This photography contest is open to all ORCA students. Filters and photo editing are accepted; the photo just has to be taken by you. You have to follow the guidelines below for your entry to be considered. 

The top submissions will be featured in The Current’s next issue. Use this form to submit your photos.

Please be sure to follow these guidelines:

• Your entry must be school-appropriate.

• Your entry must be related to nature.

• Your entry must be a photo taken by you. 

• Your entry must be submitted by April 21.

• Add your name.

  • (Keep in mind that The Current is a public site, so please note whether you want your full name or first name and last initial noted.)

• Only one entry per person.

Entries must follow the rules listed above and be submitted through this form.

Films are shared experiences that contribute deeply to the zeitgeist of each era. But there are so many movies available that it can be intimidating to know which ones are the most important to watch, not just for personal enjoyment but also to keep a finger on the pulse of pop culture. 

The Current is here to help with our first-ever edition of The 101 Movies to Watch Before You Graduate High School – a definitive list of the most important films to see as a Generation Z teen. The one caveat is that all the movies chosen are rated PG-13 or lower to comply with school-appropriateness standards, but there are still plenty of quality flicks listed below. Keep in mind that you can put the best R-rated classics on your Before You Graduate College list, okay? 

In the selection process, the quality of each movie wasn’t the only factor that was considered. Cultural relevance and popularity were considered just as, if not even more, important. Because although Shrek is no Casablanca, the former is certainly a more popular conversation subject among Gen Zers. As a result, both films are considered essential viewing, just for different reasons. 

For easy navigation, the movies selected have been organized into rough categories, but keep in mind that many of the films listed could easily fit under a number of different classifications. The titles will be listed under each category in order of release date. 

Without further ado, let’s get to the 101 movies you should watch before you graduate high school:

The Classics 

These films may be grainy or black and white, but their quality and importance to the history of film are clear as ever. If you’re a fan of cinema you’ll absolutely want to watch these influential classics. 

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Citizen Kane (1941)

Casablanca (1942)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

Rear Window (1954)

12 Angry Men (1957)

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

The Pop Culture Essentials

Not all of these films will land on any all-time lists (although maybe some should), but you’ll want to watch them to stay caught up on the countless memes and iconic quotes they have generated over the years. 

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Ghostbusters (1984)

Back to the Future (1985)

Top Gun (1986)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)

The Princess Bride (1987)

Home Alone (1990)

Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999)

Shrek (2001)

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002)

Elf (2003)

Napoleon Dynamite (2004)

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Despicable Me (2010)

Frozen (2013)

The Superheroes

Superhero movies are the film genre of Generation Z for better or worse, so you’ll want to make sure to watch the essentials.

Superman (1978)

Batman (1989)

Spider-Man (2002)

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Iron Man (2008)

The Dark Knight (2008)

The Avengers (2012)

Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Black Panther (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

The Musicals 

Love them or hate them, these song and dance-filled movies hold an important place in the Hollywood landscape. 

The Sound of Music (1965)

Grease (1978)

La La Land (2016)

The Greatest Showman (2017)

Hamilton (2020)

The Franchises 

If you look at the highest-grossing movies of all time list, you’ll see that franchise films dominate the box office. Familiar characters and settings have always been popular with audiences, and they are equally important in pop culture. 

Jaws (1975)

Rocky (1976)

Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

​​Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983)

The Karate Kid (1984)

Jurassic Park (1993)

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001)

Ocean's Eleven (2001)

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Casino Royale (2006)

Avatar (2009)

The Hunger Games (2012)

A Quiet Place (2018)

The Animated Classics 

Animation is a fantastic style of artwork that can be in far more than just kid’s movies. Many of the films below are exactly that, but their emotion, nostalgia, and style might still have older and younger audiences alike tearing up. 

The Lion King (1994)

Toy Story (1995)

The Emperor’s New Groove (2000)

Monsters, Inc. (2001)

Finding Nemo (2003)

The Incredibles (2004)

Ratatouille (2007)

Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Wall-E (2008)

Coraline (2009)

Up (2009)

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse (2018)

The Sci-Fi Masterpieces

From thoughtful space operas to alien invasion popcorn flicks, the science fiction genre contains some of the most ambitious and entertaining films ever made. 

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Independence Day (1996)

Inception (2010)

Interstellar (2014)

The Martian (2015)

Dune (2021)

The Modern Classics

These standalone movies may not fit under any of the other categories, but they are still worth a watch based on their uniqueness and quality. 

Dead Poets Society (1989)

Forrest Gump (1994)

Apollo 13 (1995)

Titanic (1997)

The Truman Show (1998)

The Sixth Sense (1999)

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Cast Away (2000)

Catch Me If You Can (2002)

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

The Social Network (2010)

Life of Pi (2012)

Hidden Figures (2016)

Dunkirk (2017)

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Knives Out (2019)

Little Women (2019)

So there you have it, the 101 most important films to watch before you walk across the graduation stage one day. How many of these movies have you seen? And how many important titles are missing from the list? Feel free to let us know in The Current’s contact form. 

Cookies and legislation – just a typical day in Salem. 

On March 14, ORCA students visited Salem to celebrate virtual education on the annual Capitol Day field trip, presented by the Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance. Students from several virtual schools first met at the Willamette Heritage Mill to learn about legislation.

“The annual Oregon Virtual Schools Capitol Day was back in person this year and it was wonderful to see so many students and families from around the state representing ORCA and other virtual schools,” says Laura Dillon, ORCA’s Family Support Specialist. “I love this field trip because our students participate in a fun activity, meet students from other virtual schools, and get first-hand experience on Oregon's legislative process.”

Students learned about legislation through a mock election with a sugary sweet theme: cookies. All attendees were given ‘ballots’ and listened to speeches from the candidates: Sugar Cookie, Oatmeal Raisin, Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, and Snickerdoodle. Attendees were also encouraged to ask the candidates questions. 

“What about the other cookies?” one ORCA student asked, seeing as there were only five kinds of cookies. “What about Oreos?” 

A board member from OVPSA – standing in as an Oatmeal Raisin cookie – explained that the sandwich cookie might not have made it to the final ballot. This prompted another ORCA student to ask the candidates what they would do to support and represent the cookies that were not on the ballots. 

After the questions and speeches, attendees voted upon their favorites, and, to no one’s surprise, Chocolate Chip won by a landslide, followed by Snickerdoodle and Peanut Butter. Oatmeal Raisin, though healthy and nutritious, received the least amount of votes. 

Students were then educated about HB 2557 and the “outdated” 3% cap. The cap allows public schools to prevent students from attending virtual schools if over 3% of the district's students have already left for a virtual school, which greatly limits the number of students that can choose an online school option. The cap was placed in 2011 when most Oregonians didn’t know virtual education existed. But post-pandemic, with more students searching for virtual options, this cap limits the ability of students from certain districts to enroll in a virtual charter school once that district has hit the 3% cap. 

For more information on the enrollment cap, check out this article. 

After closing statements, students left the Willamette Heritage Center and walked to the Capitol Building. Afterward, ORCA students toured the House Member Offices and the Senate Member Offices. There, they met with an aide from Representative Andrea Valderrama and an aide from Senator Mark Meek to discuss the importance and flexibility that comes with virtual schools. 

Then, the students got to meet Senator Fred Girod. After introducing themselves, the students shook his hand and he said, “I already know what you’re here for, and I support it!” Girod stated that he opposed the 3% limit, reviewing some facts about the enrollment cap. 

Students ended the day by visiting the Senate floor. Many students stated that Capitol Day was truly an experience they wouldn’t forget.

“Visiting the Capitol was an incredible experience!” said ORCA student Julia Ma. “The building was beautiful and very sophisticated. I learned many things from this event, such as the process of lawmaking and the different careers in government. I would love to visit the Capitol again!”

Pictures of the event are featured in the image carousel.

A new student publication will be coming to ORCA this year. The Waves, the school’s first ever online literary magazine, will publish its debut edition May 1, showcasing the creative writing of ORCA high schoolers. 

ORCA students Grace Peterson and Victoria Fischer will be the editors of the magazine. Language Arts teacher Erica Hand will serve as the advisor. 

“I have always wanted to start a literary magazine here at ORCA for student writers to share their work. I had a literary magazine at my high school and I submitted work to it. It was called Accents. I still have my copy of it!” said Ms. Hand. “I am so excited for students to have a place to showcase their amazing writing.” 

Peterson and Fischer explained their reasons for joining the leadership team of the magazine. 

“Writing has been a profound passion for me since I was in 2nd grade. As soon as I could, I started ORCA's creative writing club (Pens & Prose) to help connect the art of writing with more students,” said Grace Peterson. “That was how I was able to meet Mrs. Hand, as she's been our club advisor. I've also joined Mrs. Hand's Creative Writing course. It was through there that she reached out and presented the opportunity of an ORCA literary magazine! She asked for a few students to help spearhead the project, and I jumped at the chance… I have great experience with literary magazines, and I definitely want to help grow ORCA's writing community.”

“I wanted to be part of this literary magazine because of the writing!” said Victoria Fischer, adding that she is excited to read fellow students’ pieces. The Waves “will display those unique works.”

After its May issue, The Waves will be following a quarterly publication schedule starting this fall. High school students are encouraged to begin submitting their written work for consideration using this form. The deadline for submitting literature, which can include both stories and poems, is April 26. 

The May issue’s theme will be “footsteps.” 

“Light taps or heavy stomps, echoes of the past, or sharp prints of the present,” explains The Waves’ website.

“The creativity is exciting!” Fischer added. “We're leaving the themes open – virtually limitless. So many different short stories and poems could come from our one-word prompts, and that is incredibly exciting.” 

You can check out The Waves’ website here. If you have any questions regarding the publication, you can contact the staff of the magazine through this form. 

“I am so enthused to read the submissions!” said Peterson. “There's nothing I find more fun than reading prose and poetry, and I just can't wait to see how the submissions connect with our themes.” 

Ms. Hand concluded with an encouragement for ORCA high schoolers to share their work. “If you are trying to decide whether you should submit your work or not, do it. Don't let fear hold you back!” 

For more information related to The Waves and its submission guidelines, check out the magazine’s flier here. 

This spring, ORCA’s The Whalepod podcast announced a website to showcase new and past episodes. 

The Whalepod is a monthly podcast put together by K-12 students in ORCA’s Broadcasting Club. The Whalepod’s episodes are around 15 minutes each and cover school news, student life, and popular culture. 

“My favorite part of being on the podcast is probably seeing other points of view on upcoming news and seeing how other people on The Whalepod are getting excited about events,” said co-host Keagan S., who built the website. 

Club advisor Carly Pederson praised the students on the podcast team. “I really enjoy the creative ideas and collaboration that I get to witness when The Whalepod meets,” she said. “The students come up with everything and I am just there in the background to record, really.” 

Students who regularly check The Whalepod’s website will be the first to listen to new episodes. They will also be able to read about the members of the podcast team through the website’s “Meet The Voices” page. 

Ms. Pederson hopes that the list of names on that page will continue to grow, adding, “If any students would like to be a part of The Whalepod, that would be wonderful! Either as a guest or a host, all are welcome!” 

Keagan hopes that The Whalepod will have a positive effect on ORCA students, concluding, “I hope students tuning in to the podcast will not just listen to the podcast, but also relate to it because it really is a point of view of the students at ORCA.” 

You can view The Whalepod’s full list of episodes here. 

Learn. Lead. Serve. Innovate. This is the slogan for HOSA, Health Occupation Students of America.

HOSA is an organization that prepares students for future careers in healthcare – whether it be dental work, neurosurgery, veterinary, and more. It teaches students clinical skills and provides them with experience to prepare them for medical school.

ORCA sent five ASCEND students to the annual HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) to compete in medical competitions. The event ran from March 16-18 and was advised by Amy Lee and Dr. Beth Washak.

“SLC was an amazing chance for me to go beyond the limits and go outside my comfort zone,” Chapter Vice President Chloee C. said. 

Day one was the opening session, built primarily around getting the ORCA HOSA members to get acquainted and acclimated to the setting. ORCA students roomed together and spent the day on team-building activities. 

“I feel like I’ve found my home,” said Chapter President Claire Jennings. She spoke on the ease of building community and growing friendships within the ORCA HOSA chapter, along with how memorable the SLC was. “Being open and comfortable with these gals has completely changed my life forever.” 

“The real treasure really is the friends you make along the way,” said HOSA member Cara S.

Day two was busy, starting early and ending late. It was filled with workshops, speeches, competitions, and even a hypnotist. There was a sense of nonstop action. Students could even volunteer to help the event run more smoothly. 

“There were moments where they needed a volunteer for the nursing test,” Alexis Tucker said. “When you volunteer, you get a feel for how things should work. You get to see how other students act. You get to see what to and not to do. Cool, calm, and collected is the way to go.” 

Ingrid Peterson, secretary for HOSA, explained that the day provided a good bonding experience for the ORCA chapter. 

“There was emotional support before and after the competitions,” Peterson remarked. “I’m so proud of everyone coming out of their shell and trying new things.” She continued to express her pride in her chapter and how well they’d competed. 

There were 81 competitions, ranging from dental work to medical terminology. Each was hard and rigorous, and they required a lot of study and hands-on practice. Some, like the Healthcare Issues Exam, were 50-question quizzes, relating to recent medical articles. Others, like Veterinary Science, were simulations of medical processes, like operating an incision or wound. 

Day three wrapped up the event with speeches and an award show. Organizers posted results from the previous day’s competition, and individuals and teams were presented with recognition from the 2022-23 Oregon HOSA State Officers. The top five of every event were welcomed on stage, with the top three finalists receiving medals and qualifying for the HOSA International Leadership Competition, which will take place in June. 

Each of ORCA’s chapter members did incredibly well in their events. Cara S. took top five in Human Growth and Development. Ingrid Peterson took top five in Veterinary Science. And Claire Jennings received special recognition for the Healthcare Issues Exam, as she placed in Oregon’s top 20% based on her score. This qualifies her to compete in the International Leadership Conference this June.

Tucker said, “Even though we were competing against each other, it was fun.”

Dr. Washak was thrilled with how the SLC went. “I am very proud of our team," she said. "They worked very hard, represented ORCA well, and most of all, had fun! They interacted positively with other HOSA chapters from all over the state, they bonded as a team, and they all learned something new.” 

Disney Plus’ flagship Star Wars TV show, The Mandalorian, comes back for another fast-paced, action-packed season after the success of the first two.

Even though the show is directed by a handful of people, the balance of action and story is better managed than in past seasons. The plot flows nicely, and every episode builds suspense for the next one.

Pedro Pascal delivers an excellent performance as Din Djarin as he tries to redeem himself after the events of season two. His dynamic as both a father and warrior keep viewers invested in the story and characters. It is truly heartwarming watching Grogu, Mando’s force-wielding sidekick, learning how to talk in the first few episodes.

The character Bo Katan Kryze, who first appeared in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, was brought to life by Katee Sackhoff in earlier episodes of The Mandalorian, and she returns as a key character in the third season. We get to see more of her character’s backstory and internal struggle as she reflects on the tragic events in her life, and Sackhoff does a great job portraying these complex emotions.

While the story arcs build at a more intriguing rate than in past seasons, that doesn’t mean that this season is better than the others. In the many episodes of the past seasons, only a few stood out, and this issue is also prominent in season three.

The Mandalorian season three has a solid start. Star Wars fans are already excited for season four, which was announced to be in development earlier this year by Jon Favreau, a showrunner of The Mandalorian.

Overall, this season is definitely worth watching, and the quality holds up well compared to the past two seasons. It may not have as compelling of a storyline as Star Wars’ Andor, but The Mandalorian sure comes close.

The verdict: 8/10

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Scrambling through dozens of tabs or misplacing a file are regular challenges for most online students. However, there are better ways to keep your work organized. 

Fortunately, there is a wide range of tech tricks and hidden features available on your computer that can help you work more efficiently. When working on a computer with many files and applications, keyboard shortcuts are your best friend. 

Keyboard shortcuts are keys or combinations that can perform a variety of tasks, which are often faster than using a trackpad or mouse because there’s no need to move your hands off the keyboard. Most web features and shortcuts are universal – once you learn them, you can use many of the same shortcuts in a variety of applications. 

Though some shortcuts may be different on Windows or Mac computers, these tips will mainly focus on Chromebooks and Google applications. 

With these 10 easy tech tricks and features, you can help streamline your tasks and go beyond your Chromebook's basic functions to boost your productivity.

General Chromebook Features

Chromebook’s system-wide shortcuts are good to know because they can be used no matter what website or app you're in. These features can help you lay things out more productively on your screen, find what you're looking for quickly, and help you work through tasks without distractions. 

Tip 1: Screen Display: Chromebooks can access a number of apps and websites at the same time. However, switching back and forth between windows can be tedious and confusing. To combat this, the split screen feature is a neat trick to multitask without getting disorganized. This feature allows your screen to split from different tabs to show two windows side-by-side on the same screen. It’s an efficient way to have a Zoom class open on one side of the screen and a note-taking document on the other.

To activate the split screen mode, click and hold the Maximize/Restore button on the upper-right corner of the window and drag it to the side of the screen you want to pin it to. Alternatively, the Alt + [ shortcut can be used to snap it to the left or the Alt + ] to snap it to the right. Use the black bar in the center and drag it to adjust the size of the windows. 

You can maximize a window to fill the full width of your screen with the Alt + = shortcut or minimize any open window by pressing Alt + /. Repeating either of these commands will revert the window to its previous size and position.

Tip 2: Managing Desks: Chromebooks include a handy 'Desk' feature, which allows you to create separate workspaces for different projects you're working on. Virtual desks help you organize windows, apps, and resources, especially if you’re prone to having dozens of open tabs at once. 

There is a right-click option available to send an open window to a different Desk or move windows around to a new one. A three-finger downward swipe on your touchpad will let you switch between Desks as well. 

Once you get the hang of it, virtual desks can be made better by using keyboard shortcuts to move between open desks. Shift + search + = creates a new Desk, while the search + ] or search + [ shortcut moves to the Desk on the right or left, respectively. 

Tab Shortcuts and Features

For most students, it can be easy to end up with dozens of open tabs at once. However, these running tabs in the background can cause your computer to lag, reduce functionality, or make it harder to sort through tabs while trying to find a specific page. If that’s the case, managing your tabs is the best way to organize your tasks. 

Tip 3: Tab Groups: If you ever find yourself with too many tabs open in Chrome, the tab grouping feature is a simple solution. This feature allows you to organize tabs into groups and collapse them to save space in the tab bar. These groups can be moved all together and labeled with colors and names. It’s a handy feature to organize specific tasks and keep tabs from taking over your browser window. 

To create a new group, right-click on an opened tab. Once you hover over “Add tab to new group,” you’ll have the option to create a new group or move the tab to an existing one.

Tip 4: Switching and Selecting Tabs: Switching back and forth between tabs is made easier by using the Ctrl + number keys shortcut to move to a tab in order from left to right. For instance, the Ctrl + 1 shortcut switches to the first tab in the window. This feature only works for tabs one to eight and does not open tabs that are under a collapsed group. 

A handy feature on Chrome is the ability to select multiple tabs by holding down the Ctrl key and clicking on the tabs you want to pick out. This is an easy way to manage multiple pages at once, such as grouping them or dragging them out into a new window.

Tip 5: Searching Feature: Do you have so many tabs open that you can’t find what you’re looking for? There’s an easy fix for that. Google has a simple shortcut feature to search for specific tabs and websites in your bookmarks or history. Simply type @tabs, @bookmarks, or @history into your search bar to begin searching for websites. The tab-searching feature can also be found by the Shift + Ctrl + A shortcut. 

Tip 6: Reading List: Reading Lists are a way to have easy access to a number of websites without having to open multiple tabs or save a bookmark (Ctrl + D to bookmark the current page). To add a site to the reading list, right-click on the tab and select “Add Tab to Reading List.” Another way to access the Reading List is by clicking on the side panel icon next to the address bar and pressing “Add current tab.” There, you can also find your Bookmarks.

Google Files and Applications

When working with a file, shortcuts can be used to create new files, find words, and print a document. In many applications such as Google Docs, you'll find keyboard shortcuts next to menu items or by hovering over a button to display its keyboard shortcut. 

Tip 8: Managing Files: Some shortcuts can easily help you manage applications, such as printing an open file or active page (Ctrl + P) and saving a file (Ctrl + S).

Did you know you can open up a new Google Doc file in just seconds? Simply type docs.new into the address bar of your browser and press enter – it’s that simple. This shortcut can also be used for Google Slides (slides.new) and Google Sheets (sheets.new).

Alternatively, there’s an easy shortcut for opening a new file from your Google Drive. The Shift + T shortcut creates a new Google Doc, while Shift + S opens a new Sheet, Shift + P for new Slides, and Shift + F for a new folder. 

An extensive list of keyboard shortcuts on most Google files can be found using the Ctrl + / shortcut. 

Working With Text

Some keyboard shortcuts are useful when working with text on an application and can help you perform commonly repeated tasks like copying or formatting text.

Tip 9: Managing and formatting text: Some of the universal and most common shortcuts include the cut (Ctrl + X), copy (Ctrl + C), and paste (Ctrl + V) features. The Ctrl + A shortcut selects all the text on a page or active window. 

Keyboard shortcuts allow an easy way to format text and styles, such as making a text bold (Ctrl + B), italicized (Ctrl + I), or underlined (Ctrl + U). Some shortcuts can also be used to change styles such as adding superscripts (Ctrl + period key) or subscripts (Ctrl + comma key).

Tip 10: Unicode and special characters: The average keyboard only has so many characters labeled on it for use. However, there are plenty of other symbols and punctuations worth using that have no home on a Chromebook’s QWERTY keyboard. Fortunately, there’s a quick trick to finding these unique characters with the press of a few keys. 

On whatever computer you use, there is a system that allows you to type special symbols and characters, called a unicode. On a Chromebook, the process of accessing these unicodes is simple but requires a specific order of steps. 

On a writing program, press Ctrl + Shift + U and then let go of the keys at the same time. When an underlined “u” appears, type in the code for the symbol (for example, 2013 for an en dash) then hit enter. 

There is no need to remember every character and the code that corresponds to it, as there are simply too many. That being said, it may be a good idea to memorize a couple that you use most often on a regular basis. A full list of unicodes – including emojis, mathematical symbols, and shapes – can be found in most Google applications in the “Special Characters” menu under the Insert menu. 

By accessing the "Preference" section under the "Insert" menu in Google Docs, you can change your autocorrect settings with commonly-used special characters.

You can also find a quick way to insert emojis on a Google file by typing in a colon, which opens up a menu of emojis that you can search from. 

A full list of keyboard shortcuts on Chromebooks can be found by pressing Ctrl + Alt + /. 

Tech Tips With Mr. Cralen

ORCA teacher Mark Cralen is known for his extensive knowledge of tech tricks and keyboard shortcuts that he shares in class. 

“It’s a slow process,” Mr. Cralen says. “You can’t just learn a mountain of keyboard shortcuts overnight. It’s like you learn a little, and then you incorporate it… Before you know it, you’ll have a huge pile of them and you’re zooming around, barely touching your mouse, and [you have] tabs, pages, and windows.”

“[Learning] some of the basic stuff about using computers can really speed you up,” he adds. Once you learn a few of the basic features and shortcuts, you can later build on that knowledge to find new ways to improve work efficiency. 

“You got to interrupt your work flow to take a minute and learn a way to hopefully make your work flow faster in the future,” Mr. Cralen says. He explains that a counterintuitive way to speed up your workflow is by slowing down and taking a break every once in a while to find a more productive way to get things done. 

“Computers are central to our lives,” he says. “So just spending a little time to become more proficient at using them saves you a lot of time.”

Some of these keyboard shortcuts or features may be learned accidentally. If you find some new features that work out for you, share them with classmates and peers. People can be great resources for sharing ideas and tips on managing workflow. “There’s definitely been some learning from my peers at ORCA about how they do their work flow and just watching somebody else on their computer,” Mr. Cralen adds. 

It’s hard to list every Chromebook and Google feature available, as the system is always updating with new and improved features. However, with these tech tips, one day you may be as cool as Mr. Cralen. 

Each spring, ORCA families are sent information about the Intent To Return (ITR) form, a survey that lets ORCA know if students will return the following year. Completing this survey sooner than later is important because it helps ORCA plan and prepare for the upcoming school year.

ITR plays an important role in planning for next year’s staffing and curriculum. The form doesn’t close until the end of the school year, but it is recommended that you fill it out by the end of April. 

If you are uncertain whether or not you are returning to ORCA, you can reach out to your advisory and homeroom teachers for help and guidance. Of course, you can say you are uncertain in the form, but if you are leaning towards returning to ORCA, then you can say ‘yes.’ Nothing is final, but if you select ‘no,’ you might have to re-enroll in ORCA for the next school year. 

“We have so many great things in development for ORCA in the coming year,” says Dave Yanowitz, ORCA’s Lead Advisory teacher. “But to do the best job building your schedules and figuring out who teaches what, we need to have a clear picture of your plans for next year. That's why we want families to fill out their ITR as soon as they can.”

You and your family can fill out this form to let ORCA know whether or not you are returning next year. More information regarding ITR can be found in the letter sent to ORCA families. 

ORCA is hosting a 2023 Oregon High School Regional Math Tournament on April 6. The in-person event will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

Students who wish to join the tournament will be tested on their knowledge of mathematical skills from categories including algebra I and II, geometry, precalculus, and calculus. Contestants will compete in the subject area of their current math course or the class they most recently completed if they are not currently enrolled in one. 

Students are responsible for bringing their own calculators, and paper and pencils will be provided there. There will be pizza for lunch afterward. 

The top students will be able to qualify for the Oregon Invitational Mathematics Tournament on May 20 at the University of Oregon. 

Students who cannot attend the tournament can register for a qualifying test in the region. More details can be found here. 

Be sure to register for the event on Field Trip Central by April 3.

Zoom transcripts and new courses – what could go wrong? Let’s take a look at some of ORCA’s top news stories this week.

ORCA Launches New Gen Z Language Class

ORCA’s high school Gen Z course makes its debut this semester as an all new language-based elective. This class explores the infinite memes and slang that make up the Gen Z pop culture. 

“This class will be slayin’ fr fr,” said the teacher. He is well qualified for the course, with a Ph.D. in Gen Z-ology at the prestigious University of Phoenix. 

However, some students have suspicions about whether the teacher is really part of Gen Z. 

“The teach is lowkey sus,” a student said. “He likes flexing that he’s all fax no printer, but that doesn’t pass the vibe check.”

“Skrrrr,” another student added insightfully. 

Recent reports reveal that the tea was spilled: the teacher was born in 1996, and therefore is not a Gen Zer. 

Zoom Transcript Goes Wrong

Tragedy struck in Thursday’s class this morning when the teacher enabled the Zoom transcript. However, the transcript failed to accurately dictate what the teacher was saying, leaving many students confused. 

The Nearpod showed steps for parabolas and quadratic equations, but the transcript was talking about windsurfing and chicken dances.

“What does not go on pizza with parmesan?” the transcript asked. 

“Uh, pineapple?” a student guessed. 

“I thought this was a math class,” questioned a confused student. 

“The teacher was getting frustrated when none of us were answering the questions right,” reported a student. “We didn’t even understand half of what she was saying!”

The Current reached out for a quote, but the teacher went on to explain something about a purple elephant on a tricycle eating nine hats. 

Fail: Student Tries to Connect to Hotspot

Amid the recent weather storms, many students lost power across the state. One unfortunate student had a particularly hard time with the internet outage. 

“I tried to log into class, but then the power just went out,” the student said. After trying to refresh the page again and again to no avail, he resorted to testing out his hotspot. But that didn’t work either. 

“I watched the whole Lord of the Rings trilogy three times and it was still loading,” the student lamented.  

Without being able to log into class or complete lessons, his teachers and classmates are becoming more concerned about his absence. 

“He’s definitely missed in class,” one of his teachers said. “He’s such a bright kid.” 

After the 81,367th attempt, the student finally got the hotspot to work.

“I just forgot to turn it on,” he said. 

ORCA Unblocks eBay for Students to Sell Their Stuff to Pay for College

At 12:04 a.m., an ORCA student discovered that eBay had been unblocked on school Chromebooks. 

“I was just trying to look up ex and it brought me to eBay.com,” she said. 

“I started selling random things like calculators and pencils," the student continued. "But then I realized that was not going to cut it for college tuition, so I ended up selling my desk and my computer, which I low-key got two people bidding on, ending up with 100 bucks!”

Another student found out about the unblocked website, exclaiming, “I didn't even know that people wanted to buy used math notebooks, but I guess anything titled vintage on it will sell.”

Some teachers joined in on the fun, too. “Who needs a monitor anyways?” remarked a humanities teacher. 

“I don’t even use half the stuff on my computer. I sold it so now I teach class on my iPhone,” said another teacher. “It’s not that bad to be honest.”

The Current found out that Mr. Lacy collects rare baseball cards and was selling them for $150 a pop. “I just wanted to unblock eBay on my computer – not on all of ORCA’s – but I guess it turned out pretty well,” exclaimed the high school principal. 

The Current was not able to reach out for additional quotes because the staff sold all of their computers. 

A lot of good, hearty meals come along with a side dish. Whether you’re at a restaurant or having a home-cooked meal, a good side dish can elevate the quality of the entire meal. Here are some recipes that are good for the back-burner and delicious on the taste buds.

Sweet Potato Soup

A classic side in many restaurants is a small but flavorful bowl of soup. Here’s a simple way to recreate that feeling in your own kitchen.

Ingredients:

1 large sweet potato

1 medium red onion

4 tbsp olive oil

4 cups chicken broth OR 4 cups water mixed with 2 tbsp chicken bouillon

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp cumin

2 tsp salt

2 tbsp oregano

2 tsp ground black pepper

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp basil

2 tsp thyme

Sriracha (optional)

Steps:

1. Add oil to the bottom of a saucepan and set the unit to medium heat. Thin-slice the onion into half rings and add it to the oil. Let it sauté for about 10 minutes.

2. Add the paprika, cumin, salt, oregano, black pepper, coriander, basil, and thyme to the onions. Give it a thorough stir and then add the broth.

3. While it is coming to a boil, cut the sweet potato into large cubes and add it to the broth as you cut them.

4. After arriving to a boil, let it simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes, then serve.

5. Optional: add a drizzle of sriracha over the top of the bowl.

Breakfast Potatoes

This potato style is a well-loved classic suited for any mealtime. The crunch is a bonus to a savory flavor.

Ingredients:

6 medium russet potatoes

1 small red onion

½ cup cashews

1 cup spinach

½ cup sliced baby carrots

⅔ cup parmesan cheese

3 tsp salt

4 tbsp paprika

5 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp cumin

1 tbsp coriander

3 tsp cardamom

1 tbsp basil

1 tbsp garlic powder

3 tbsp rosemary

4 tsp black pepper

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and cut the potatoes into cubes. Layer evenly on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for 20 minutes.

2. Roughly dice the red onion and add it to a pan on medium heat with the oil. Let it cook for five minutes then add sliced baby carrots. Let it simmer until the potatoes are done in the oven.

3. Add the salt, paprika, cumin, coriander, cardamom, basil, garlic powder, rosemary, and pepper with the onions and stir until it's thoroughly mixed in with the oil.

4. Add the potatoes and let them fry together for 5-10 minutes. The sides of the potatoes should be golden brown. 

5. Take the pan off the heat and add the spinach, parmesan, and cashews. The remaining heat will make the spinach wilt and allow it to mix with the other ingredients more smoothly.

6. Let it cool for 5-10 minutes then serve. 

Creamy Veggie Rice

With rice being the most commonly eaten food in the world, it’s no wonder this little grain squirms its way into millions of recipes. From main courses to side dishes, even to the crispy crunchy snack known as rice cakes, it can be found just about everywhere. This side dish combines it with some surprise ingredients but flows out towards a lovely side dish that can also serve as a snack.

Ingredients:

½ cup white rice

1 oz cream cheese

¼ cup sour cream

3 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tsp salt

¾ cup spinach

¼ cup each of diced red, orange, and yellow sweet bell peppers

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

½ tsp black pepper

1 cup water

Steps:

1. As the water boils in a separate container, add the washed rice into a small saucepan and turn it on medium heat. Wait until the water has sizzled off and add the vinegar. Adding vinegar in the middle of toasting the rice takes away the sharp acidity, though make sure not to inhale the steam as it will burn your nose. 

2. Add the cup of boiled water and let it cook the rice until it is boiled off. Add the cream cheese, cumin, paprika, black pepper, salt, and sour cream then mix until it's all combined. 

3. Take the pan off the unit and add the diced peppers and spinach, then stir until the spinach is wilted. Let it cool and serve.

As a virtual school, ORCA is all about learning outside the classroom and wherever studies take you. Whether that is from the comfort of their own home or on the go, students never have to pause their education. 

This is why ORCA is announcing their new social media campaign, #SpringIntoLearning. 

“We are running a hashtag campaign during spring break for families to share how their students are learning beyond the classroom,” the school's announcement reads. “We would love for you all to participate, too! Snap a picture of you and/or your family learning outside the classroom during break - it can be at the zoo, at a museum, finding bugs in the yard, or reading in the sun.”

ORCA’s social media platforms include Instagram (@oregoncharteracademy), Facebook (Oregon Charter Academy), and Twitter (@oregoncharter). To participate in the fun, students and their parent/guardians can upload photos onto their social media, use the hashtag, and tag ORCA. The school can then repost and reshare the photos. 

Use this as a chance to spring into learning and show your ORCA support with #SpringIntoLearning.

“We know the game, and we’re gonna play it.” 

The March Middle School Hangout took place on the 17th and was an incredible success. Students from across the state took part in socializing, playing games, and making friends. The event had the largest attendance that the Middle School Hangouts has seen and went on without a hitch. 

Well, almost. 

One seventh grade student, Audrey Peterson, brought her keyboard. “I brought it so we could sing to Mrs. Kris,” Peterson said, explaining that it was the teacher’s birthday. 

After playing “Happy Birthday” on her keyboard with her surrounding classmates singing along, Peterson sneakily segued into Rick Astley’s iconic song, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” inciting a group-wide groan as they realized they’d been rickrolled. 

The Current reached out, asking Peterson why she rickrolled her classmates. “I did it because I can. No one can stop me. I’m never gonna give it up, never gonna let anyone down, never gonna run around and—” 

Did you know ORCA offers in-person and virtual field trips for students to further their learning and create bonds with teachers and peers?

Let’s take a look at some of the offerings for the month of April.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Walk (4/13)

Take a hike around the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge with teachers Nikki Coleman, Jeremy Vandenboer, and Katie Alikin. According to the event description, students can “get outside for some fresh air while checking out local wildlife.” 

This field trip is open to students in grades K-12. 

Coast Guard Tour (4/14)

The Military Leadership Club and ORCA teacher Mary Massey organized this group tour around a Coast Guard ship to learn about simple boating skills and end the day with some friendly competition.

This field trip is open to students in all grades. 

Dorris Ranch Living History (4/21)

Immerse yourself in the history of Oregon Trail pioneers and experience their daily life by participating in activities such as visiting a trading post and lending a hand at a pioneer cabin. According to the event description, “During this educational tour, students experience the lives of Kalapuya Indians, Hudson’s Bay Co. trappers and Oregon Trail pioneers.” 

ORCA teachers Courtney Whittington and Elizabeth Coleman will host the field trip, which is open to grades K-5.

Middle & High School Hangouts (4/21)

Join teachers Jeremy Vandenboer and Nikki Coleman for the Middle School Hangout in the morning or the High School Hangout in the afternoon of April 21.

According to the event description, “You are welcome to bring your school laptops and work on homework in study groups, connect with people that you are in clubs with, bring board/video games to play, movies to watch on your laptops, or just come to hang out.”

These in-person events are open to students in grades 6-8 and 9-12, respectively.

Scavenger Hunt/Self-Guided Tour Tillamook Creamery (4/21)

Come enjoy the Oregon Coast’s flagship dairy experience, the Tillamook Creamery. “Participants will have a chance to explore the creamery independently with their family or fellow ORCA students and learn about the cheese-making process,” the event description reads. 

This field trip is open to students in grades K-12.

NASA Live Stream #7 Explore Flight (4/21)

From 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. students can partake in a virtual visit to the Wallops Flight Facility Center and learn about the efforts in space exploration from NASA representatives and ORCA Applied Programs Administrator Dan Vasen. 

The field trip will "uncover how NASA explores the full range of Earth’s atmosphere and achieves flight on Mars!” according to the event description. 

This field trip is open to students in grades K-12. 

The Glass Forge (4/21)

Join event organizer Susan Pearl-Weese to learn all about Italian glass artwork. According to the event description, “You can stop by for a tour and see our on-site gallery or come by the studio, you will see demonstrations of this ancient art.” 

This in-person field trip is open to students in all grades.

Boeing Future U. Virtual Field Trip #2 (4/28)

Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with Boeing and Discovery Education representatives through this virtual field trip. According to the event description, “Students will investigate the themes of air, land, water, and waste as they explore how they can do their part to improve the environment as well as how a large company like Boeing is doing its part, too.” 

This field trip is open to students in grades K-12. 

These field trips are just some of the many ORCA events available in the month of April. Check out more activities in your area through the Field Trip Central website in the Principal’s Corner for a listing of all events, location information, and how to RSVP.

You can print The Current's Springtime Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

1. The a.m.

5. ORCA’s K-12 end-of-the-year event (2 words)

9. Flies when it’s windy

11. Premature plant that grows from a seed

15. The flower that means spring is here

17. A place where plants grow

18. Another word for bloom

DOWN

1. A fungus that can be good to eat 

2. Bees do this to flowers and blossoms

3. Animal that has hollow bones and can fly

4. Small animal that hops

6. Where baby birds live

7. Cup shaped flowers with bold colors

8. From a caterpillar, to a ___

10. May 14 holiday (2 words)

11. A sweet fruit the color of a fire truck

12. A plant with a trunk and roots

13. The spring month with 30 days and rain showers

14. What forms when it’s raining and there’s sunshine

16. An amphibian known for leaping on lily pads

17. Green, dewy, and needs to be cut regularly

18. An insect with yellow stripes

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

Below are the answers to the Math Vocab Crossword from the March issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Desmos = A math student’s favorite website

2. Right angle = Third angle of a triangle with two 45° angles (2 words)

5. Pythagorean = A theorem that can solve for missing sides of right triangles

7. Decimal = Separates dollars from cents

8. PEMDAS = You would use this to solve 7 × (8 + 9)

10. Fraction = Contains a numerator and denominator

11. Inverse =  f −1 is the __ of  f

13. Perimeter = The sum of all side lengths

14. Quotient = The solution to a division problem

17. Data = Statistics collected that can be analyzed

18. Calculator = Solves math equations in the blink of an eye 

19. Perpendicular = Two lines that intersect at right angles

20. Unit = An individual whole piece of a measurement

21. Slope intercept = Equation in this form: y = mx + b (2 words)

DOWN

1. Diameter = Radius × 2

3. Area = Commonly length × width

4. Variables = X, Y, or S

6. Trigonometry = In which you’ll learn about the unit circle

8. Parabola = y = x2 

9. Linear = Equations with constant slopes

12. Exponent = The power of a number

14. Quadrants = Quarters of a graph

15. Percent = Ratio or fraction of 100

16. Ellipse = A circle or an oval, in math terms