February 2023

On Saturday, January 21, ORCA hosted its first ever high school Winter Social at the school’s Wilsonville facility. 

The event lasted two hours and was split between two adjacent rooms. One was primarily for dancing and music, and the other was mainly a game room. 

Winter Social started with a lively game of charades, ending with both teams tied. Charades prompts varied from easy to quite difficult, such as “toasting a marshmallow.” 

After the charades, Student Government’s Grace Peterson hosted a live Kahoot with questions related to ORCA, pop culture, and winter themes. Afterwards, attending students split their time between dancing, talking with friends, and playing games. The Mega Jenga and UNO were some of the most popular games. Music in the dance room ranged from party staples and classic hits such as "Sweet Caroline" and "YMCA."

ORCA teacher and event chaperone Lisa Rollot commented that the event was “lots of fun” and that her favorite part was the dancing. “And watching Mr. Lacy have fun, because that’s always the best part,” she added. 

The event’s most popular aspect was its in-person setting, as many students and teachers commented that making friends and meeting people they recognized was their biggest highlight of Winter Social. 

Student Government Vice President Ahnalya De Leeuw mentioned that her favorite part of Winter Social was seeing students in person. “It’s definitely a change from online, but it’s definitely a welcome change. It’s amazing to see everyone,” she said.

ORCA student Riah Monjay commended the event’s social aspect and was glad to meet “people I actually recognize.”

ORCA teacher and chaperone Paula Leifer added that “it was really nice seeing everybody get together, and you can see friendships from last year that are continuing, which is awesome to see. I think prom is going to be even more amazing, so make sure you come!”

Besides the socialization and dancing, Winter Social was also an opportunity for ORCA students to help those in need. The National Honors Society hosted a canned food drive that collected 50 pounds of food. 

"Keep an eye out for Prom, which is May 6!" Tristan Hughes, Student Government’s Website Committee Leader, said in her closing speech. After the success of Winter Social, Prom is expected to be just as exciting and fun.

Event photos are featured in the image carousel. 

Poetry is found in many places, including rap music, haikus, and Shakespeare’s famous plays. It’s a unique type of literature that focuses more on feelings, symbols, and structure, rather than proper grammar and conventions.

The Current is calling all student poets at ORCA to participate in our first poetry contest. In honor of Valentine’s Day and ORCA’s upcoming Poetry Out Loud competition on February 3, your prompt is to create a unique twist on a “Roses are red, violets are blue” poem. You may take those lines and turn them into whatever speaks to you.

Here are the guidelines for entering this contest:

• Your entry must be school-appropriate (no inappropriate language, political agendas, or discrimination).

• Your entry must be your own work.

• Your entry must follow the prompt.

• Your entry must be submitted by February 24.

• 2 pages maximum.

• A title and your name. (The Current is a public site, so please note whether you want to have your full name or last name initial).

Here is the link to the form for submitting your poem. Good luck!

“Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

The Current is excited to read poems by you.”

-Ms. Mapel

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The PlayVS spring season will begin on February 13. 

Director James Cameron’s 2009 film Avatar remains a weird blip on the radar in pop culture. It’s the highest-grossing movie ever made, but in terms of lasting impact, the Avatar franchise has next to none since its release year. 

Sure, Avatar still gets brought up occasionally, generally as a piece of trivia, but it’s the other films on the highest-grossing list that dominate popular discourse: Marvel films, Star Wars films, Jurassic Park films, even Frozen and Minions are talked about more. Avatar is hardly the most popular Cameron project of all time, either. It’s fair to say that Terminator, Aliens, and Titanic have all had a greater cultural impact than Avatar despite their lesser box office performances.

Perhaps one of the biggest factors behind Avatar’s forgotten legacy – besides the fact that superhero films have taken over just about all of modern cinema – is its lack of sequels. Franchise films are the cornerstone of modern Hollywood, but despite the Avatar IP being a proven moneymaker, it took Cameron over a decade to finally release the follow-up. Avatar: The Way of Water was released in December of 2022, around 13 years after the original. 

It wasn’t exactly a Top Gun-to-Maverick sized gap between films, but still a lengthy one. According to Cameron, the delayed sequel date was largely due to the need for modern CGI technology to catch up with his vision for the film. 

And to Cameron’s credit, the visuals are absolutely worth the wait. The Way of Water is a gorgeous film, with near-flawless visual effects for both the character models and the scenery. The hyper-realistic feel of the CGI rarely falls into uncanny valley territory, with only a few scenes having a noticeable computerized feel. It’s hard to understate how much work the VFX team must’ve put into the film, as their incredible effort is easily apparent in every frame. It’s not hyperbole to say that The Way of Water has some of the best CGI in film history. 

The Way of Water’s strength is in its visuals, and Cameron leans heavily into that aspect of the film. Some scenes exploring the film’s setting, the planet Pandora, are shot with as much care as a nature documentary. At times the plot subtly slows down so the audience can spend time enjoying the beautiful cinematography and scenery. These scenes are among the film’s best, but they can drag a little long. With a duration of 190 minutes, The Way of Water is far lengthier than the average blockbuster film, and it could’ve easily been trimmed down to well below three hours. 

This is especially true, as despite the immersive visuals, The Way of Water doesn’t have the substance to match its style. There just isn’t enough story to fill the movie’s marathon of a runtime. The plot is incredibly simple with minimal story threads, which isn’t inherently a bad thing, but at times The Way of Water feels more like a side plot than a part of the franchise’s central storyline. The culprit may be the film’s upcoming sequels which will likely explore more of the story, but regardless, it still hurts the quality of this movie. 

The character work of the film could have elevated the story but it too is rather simple and bland. Some of the character motivations and choices are fuzzy at best, and the dialogue is hilariously awful. It’s predictable, clichéd, and at times cringe-inducing, especially when it comes to the younger characters’ lines. 

The overall acting is solid throughout with some impressive motion-capture work. However, the voice casting of a 73-year-old Sigourney Weaver as a much younger character is puzzling. She’s an accomplished actor in her own right and it’s a shame she couldn’t have been given a better role, because hearing a septuagenarian’s voice from a teenage character just never feels right. 

But at the end of the day, despite the number of issues in The Way of Water’s storytelling, its splendor and spectacle remain undeniable. If you have the spending money, it’s undoubtedly worth the watch on the best 3D IMAX screen around. This film has those magical, jaw-dropping visual moments that make excellent blockbuster material. 

But when the 3D glasses are off and the movie is playing on a small home TV screen, its flaws will begin to show and its impact will lessen. The Way of Water is more of a theater experience than a rewatchable film. It may suffer the same fate as the first Avatar flick: a box office giant with minimal staying power. 

The verdict: 6.5/10

Vegetables aren’t real. 

No, it’s not some conspiracy theory. In fact, it’s based on science more than anything.

And it’s not like that juicy stalk of celery you’re munching on right now doesn’t exist (we know you’re eating that and not chocolate right now). It’s very real, but it’s not a vegetable.

Let’s explain.

For as long as you can remember, you’ve probably always classified edible plants into two categories: fruits and vegetables. Sure, there’s nuts and berries and other smaller, more specific categories, but for the most part, the two heavy hitters have always been just fruits and vegetables. 

Let’s start with the first: fruits. What exactly are they? Per the New Oxford American Dictionary, a fruit is “the sweet and fleshy product of a tree or other plant that contains seed and can be eaten as food.” An additional, botanical definition is listed as “the seed-bearing structure of a plant, e.g. an acorn.” 

Let’s look at vegetables now. From the same dictionary, the definition reads as “a plant or part of a plant used as food, typically as accompaniment to meat or fish, such as a cabbage, potato, carrot, or bean.” And as for the botanical definition… Well, there isn’t one.

Wait a minute. 

How can a term so widely used – regarding a topic so incredibly scientific as plants – not even exist in the realm of botany? 

The definition of “fruit” works in both culinary and scientific terms, because a fruit is an actual, specific part of a plant. Vegetables, on the other hand, can be a number of different things. The definition is absolutely useless in science, as “vegetable” can refer to tomatoes (technically a fruit), lettuce (a leaf), potatoes (a root), and so on.

“The parts of plants we eat include flowers, fruits, seeds, stems, roots, bulbs, and various other plant parts that few people have heard of,” explains ORCA science teacher Michael Rodriguez. “To a botanist, these terms have precise meaning. In fact, botanists even have dozens of names for each of these different plant parts.”

Fruits are easy to define and therefore the term is used by many non-scientists in everyday life. It would seem like everything else would get lumped into the category of “vegetable,” but unfortunately it’s not that simple – because there’s really no accurate way to describe a vegetable. You can’t say “edible plant parts that aren't fruits,” because then you’d exclude cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplants, and more. You can’t call them “green, edible parts of plants,” because then you’d exclude vibrantly colored vegetables like squash and carrots. Even “edible plant parts that aren’t sweet” doesn’t count. Ever heard of sweet potatoes, peppers, and beets? 

Perhaps vegetables could be described as a social construct because even though there’s no great way to describe what they are, nearly everyone knows deep down inside what makes a vegetable a vegetable. 

But vegetables don’t exist. They’re a made-up definition of something we can’t even define. But that doesn’t mean we should stop using the term. 

“For non-botanists, which includes the vast majority of people, it is fine to refer to peanuts as a type of nut even though they are actually root nodules,” Mr. Rodriguez continues. “It is fine to refer to brussel sprouts as vegetables rather than axillary buds. Imagine a parent saying, ‘Eat your axillary buds so you grow up big and strong!’ And it is fine to place peppers, avocados, string beans, and tomatoes separately from apples, oranges, and peaches in the supermarket even though they are all fruits.”

“What matters is that we eat lots of ‘fruits’ and ‘vegetables’ so we grow up big and strong!” he concludes. 

Mr. Rodriguez is right. Although you might get laughed out of a botanical convention for calling something a vegetable, the term still serves as a simple and useful definition in everyday and culinary life. 

So, vegetables don’t exist. Well, not in science, but definitely in the common vernacular. So are they actually real? Who knows? Semantics is a confusing topic. Maybe we’ll find the answer for sure one day. 

But in the meantime, continue to ask questions, grow big and strong, and eat your axillary buds!

The Current’s January poll sparked an interesting debate throughout ORCA over some controversial topics. 

The poll asked students and staff for their opinions on a number of incredibly controversial, but non-political subjects. Questions included how "GIF" should be pronounced, whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza, and many other questions regarding disputed topics. 

One of the most controversial debates was whether a hotdog was a sandwich, with 59.5% of respondents saying that it is not. 

“The bun of a hotdog connects in the middle, making it one piece of bread and therefore not a sandwich (which requires two slices of bread),” explained one student. “If the bun breaks in half, congrats, you've sandwich-ified your hot dog.”

However, a student who argued the opposite pointed out, “If you look up the definition of a sandwich in the [Merriam] Webster dictionary, it's either two slices of bread with a filling, OR a split roll with a filling.”

“All hotdogs are sandwiches, but not all sandwiches are hotdogs; hotdogs are merely a subcategory of sandwiches,” another student added. 

Many respondents were also split over whether pineapple belongs on pizza, with a little over half of respondents saying that it does match with pizza. 

“Pineapple belongs on pizza for the sole reason that tomato belongs on pizza,” a student explained, noting that both pineapple and tomato are fruits.

Another respondent agreed, but added that it does not belong on every pizza. “It's a nice thing to add to a homemade pizza to add some sweet to contrast the saltiness,” he commented. 

There were few topics that the majority agreed on, including the pronunciation of the term "GIF" as “gif” (with a hard g-sound) and that chocolate is better than vanilla, with 66.7% and 59.5% of the votes respectively. However, some have pointed out that the creator of the GIF confirmed that it is, in fact, pronounced as “jif”. 

Many were also split over what day starts the week. Though the majority of respondents said that Monday is the start of the work week, others pointed out that Sunday is the first day of the week on an actual calendar. 

“Who wants to start a week on a Monday?” retorted a student. “Talk about a drag.”

While many debated over which was the best season of the year, a third of the respondents agreed that fall was their favorite, as the weather is not too hot or cold and it is a time to appreciate the golden leaves outside. Spring came in as a close second, with many saying the nice weather and sunshine are the best parts. Winter was another popular choice due to the holidays and snowy weather, while summer voters praised the sunny days and absence of school. 

The majority agreed that the best seat on an airplane is the window seat, where you can enjoy the view and have your own space. The aisle seat was a second popular choice, with many noting that it’s a great seat with a lot of room. 

However, a few respondents argue that the middle seat is the best choice, offering an interesting take. 

“You can take over both armrests and be that person and just absolutely ruin the flight for everyone else,” argued a middle-seat voter. “It gives you a nice sense of power that you control the whole flight. You can make it either the best flight ever or the worst flight.”

Marvel and DC fans were brought together for an intense debate over which was the superior cinematic universe. 

“Marvel's phases 1-3 still are some of the most iconic pieces of media to ever grace the big screen,” said a Marvel voter. “It was filled with heart, character, and bittersweet moments not even haters can forget… Not to mention that Marvel offers a wider variety of characters, worlds, and alternate universes to get lost in.”

“Marvel has more good movies, but DC has Batman. And Batman is the best,” another contended. 

However, if there’s one answer almost everyone agrees on, it’s that cereal should always be poured before milk. 

“You can easily get the exact amount of cereal that you want, and the milk doesn't splash around as much as when you do milk first,” explained one student. Though some added that the only exception to adding cereal afterwards is if you’re on a second bowl. 

The full results of the poll are shown below: 

• Is a hotdog a sandwich?

  • Yes: 40.5%

  • No: 59.5%

• Does pineapple belong on pizza?

  • Yes: 52.4%

  • No: 47.6%

• Is GIF pronounced "gif" or "jif"?

  • Gif: 66.7%

  • Jif: 33.3%

• Should you pour the cereal or milk first?

  • Cereal: 97.6%

  • Milk: 2.4%

• What is the best seat on an airplane: window, middle, or aisle?

  • Window: 66.7%

  • Middle: 7.1%

  • Aisle: 26.2%

• What is the first day of the week?

  • Sunday: 57.1%

  • Monday: 42.9%

• Which is better: chocolate or vanilla?

  • Chocolate: 59.5%

  • Vanilla: 40.5%

• Is Marvel or DC better?

  • Marvel: 69%

  • DC: 31%

• What is the best season of the year?

  • Spring: 28.6%

  • Summer: 23.8%

  • Fall: 33.3%

  • Winter: 14.3%

• What comes first: the chicken or egg?

  • Chicken: 57.1%

  • Egg: 42.9%

• Solve 6 ÷ 2(1+2)

  • 9: 52.4%

  • 1: 47.6%

ORCA math teacher Dr. Cynthia Lofts confirmed that the answer to the math problem is 1.

Student Government is hosting its annual school-wide Spirit Week from February 27 to March 3. 

Spirit Week is a competition where students dress up every day for a week, with different themes for each day. Contestants can enter pictures of their costumes for the different days in a form that will be provided, and Student Government then votes on winners from the entries they receive.

Students in all grades are welcome to enter the Spirit Week contest. Two winners per theme will be sent a prize, making 10 winners total. 

“Spirit Week is always an incredible way to build community and increase school spirit, and it's one of my favorite ORCA traditions,” says Grace Peterson, Student Government's Public Relations Officer. “With the themes we're looking at this year, which will be released soon, my excitement has tripled! I can't wait to see everyone's costumes. Picking a winner is always so hard.”

Last year the themes were Animal/Pet Day, Crazy Sock Day, Vacation Day, Monochromatic Day, and ORCA School Spirit Day. Look out for updates on this year’s themes on the Student Government website and in the Principal’s Corner/Office Canvas course. 

ORCA’s Student Government has announced its first virtual “Open Gov” Meeting based on student interest and the growing recognition of Student Government. 

The Open Gov Meeting will be held on February 27 at 2:30 p.m. in ORCA teacher Stephanie Vitro’s Zoom room. A Principal’s Announcement will be posted before the meeting with the link and reminders. There is no need to RSVP; the meeting is open to any and all high school students interested in attending. 

The meeting will give introductions to the Executive Board, sneak peeks regarding what Student Government (SG) is working on, recap some recent events and accomplishments, and provide a time for students to ask questions. It’s recommended that attendees take a look at Student Government’s FAQs page beforehand to familiarize themselves with questions that have already been answered and dig deeper for follow-ups. 

“Your suggestions and ideas can help shape the Student Government’s agenda to create a tighter community at ORCA,” says Student Government President Brady Cruse. He encourages all students to attend and bring their questions. He and the rest of SG are prepared and excited to present answers.

The event is meant to connect the student body to SG and provide open communication. “We hope to build a better connection with the student body by listening to students’ concerns and ideas,” Cruse adds. He also notes that SG is made by students for students and requires feedback so they can continue working on what benefits ORCA’s student body. 

More details on the meeting will be provided on the Student Government website and through upcoming Principal’s Announcements on Canvas.

Driving. For teens, it’s a word that strikes fear into the hearts of some and the hope of freedom into others. For many, it’s an even mix of both. 

Like any process, learning to drive doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, there’s a set of steps to follow if you want to be successful. 

Below, you’ll find a list of everything you’ll need in taking the first step of learning how to drive: getting your permit. 

What is a permit? 

A learning permit, or Provisional Instruction Permit, is what you’ll need to legally be able to drive on roads (with adult supervision) as an unlicensed minor. In Oregon, you can get your permit as early as 15 if you can pass the permit test. A permit is valid for two years, but once you’ve completed the criteria for a driver’s license and have had a permit for at least six months, you can then apply for a license if you’re 16 or older. 

Get your permit as soon as possible 

When learning to drive, you’ll never want to push yourself too far past your comfort zone, and certainly not take risks. But in this case, while it might be outside of your comfort zone to go to the DMV and take the permit test, the sooner you do it the better. 

Why? Because you don’t need to know how to drive to get your permit. But when you do want to learn how to drive, you’ll need it. 

Long story short, even if you don’t feel like learning to drive right away, getting your permit as soon as you turn 15 makes it so you don’t have to worry about getting it when you eventually do want to learn. Another bonus is that once you get your permit, every minute you practice driving can count towards your experience hours required for eventually getting a license. 

Studying for the permit test 

The first step for studying for the permit test is not being afraid to fail. A lot of people fail their permit test the first time, and if you’re one of them, don’t stress about it. You have an unlimited number of tries: once every consecutive day for the first four attempts, and then once every 28 days after that. Obviously, you still want to pass the test on your first attempt, but if not, it’s certainly not the end of the world. Knowing that can lower your stress level heading into your first test. 

Beyond that, you’ll want to pick up the latest Oregon driver’s manual before you take your first test, either by finding it online or by stopping by your local DMV for a paper copy. Everything on the test will be in that booklet, so you’ll want to read it from cover to cover at least once. Even though you won’t be able to commit everything to memory from the text, you’d be surprised what sticks in your brain. Although each permit test has a different mix of questions, you’ll want to make sure you know the basic rules of the road and what different road signs mean at the very least before you take the test. The driver’s manual is also a great resource to brush up on any driving topics you’re unsure about. 

Once you have a good grasp of the content of the driver’s manual, you can start gauging your readiness for the permit exam by taking the many practice tests that can be found online. There are plenty of free test websites available, but the most accurate portrayal of what you’ll find on the actual permit exam is the one on the DMV’s website. 

The final tip for preparing for the permit exam involves paying attention when in the car with an experienced driver. You can ask them to explain their thought process when driving and talk you through various roadway scenarios. Even if you don’t know the textbook answer to a question on the permit exam, you can often use these common sense rules of the road to help decipher the correct answer. This real-world experience can also pay dividends when you eventually sit behind the wheel yourself. 

Taking the permit test 

Check your local DMV to see whether or not you need to schedule an appointment to take your permit test. Whether you schedule ahead or not, you’ll still want to block out a lot of time for the permit exam as DMV lines can move very slow, appointment or not. 

Another important step is to verify ahead of time to see what paperwork you’ll need to bring with you to get your official permit. You’ll need proof of your identity and date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport. Your parent or legal guardian’s signature will also be required to give consent for you to get your permit. You’ll need additional paperwork with you if you want to get a Real ID. Make sure you bring the right items with you to the DMV, as you don’t want to pass the test and still be unable to get your permit. 

You can find the full list of the requirements on the DMV’s website. 

Also, be aware that there is a very simple vision test you’ll have to take to get your permit. The caveat is that if you take the test wearing corrective lenses or contacts, you’ll be legally required to always drive wearing them. 

There’s also a $23 fee you’ll have to pay to receive your permit upon passing the test. It costs an additional $30 for a Real ID. 

Once you eventually do sit down to take the test, don’t panic. Remember that you don’t have to pass the first time, the time limit is a reasonable hour, and the test is only 35 questions long. There are also no essay questions and a helpful button that pushes confusing questions to the end of the test so you can build confidence by answering the ones you know. You might not even have to answer those confusing questions if you reach the required 80% (28 correct answers) to pass before you reach them. 

Getting your permit

Once you’ve passed the written test, the vision test, and have filled out the required paperwork, all you’ll have to do is sit down for a photo to be taken for your permit. You’ll receive a paper copy to use until the real one arrives later in the mail. 

Once your real permit does arrive in the mail, make sure you keep it in a place where you’ll never lose it. You’ll legally need to have it with you whenever you drive, and it can also serve as an ID. If you don’t carry around a wallet yet, now is a great time to start.

When you get your permit, you’ll also be automatically pre-registered to vote. 

You’ll also receive a new driver’s booklet with some tips for learning how to drive along with a space to log your experience hours, which you’ll need to get your license if you plan on getting it before you turn 18. 

Be aware of the driving restrictions that come with a permit. For instance, you can’t drive on the road without an adult 21 or over in the vehicle’s passenger seat who has been licensed for at least 3 years. 

Finally, take a moment to congratulate yourself. You’ve taken the first step in your driving journey. 

Stay tuned for the second part of this series, which covers building driving experience with a permit and getting a driver’s license.   

Have you ever been confused in math class and thought to yourself, Well, I guess I’m just not a math person.

It’s easy to think that there are some things we're innately good at and other things we just aren’t, but research involving neuroplasticity – how your brain’s neural networks can change over time – has seemingly proven otherwise. Just like how a muscle can go from weak to strong with consistent training, neuroplasticity shows that the same concept applies to the human brain. 

With this in mind, it’s clear that your mindset can have a significant effect on how you respond to challenges and life-changing events. Having a positive mindset helps people learn from mistakes, break out of restrictive boundaries, and think from a realistic perspective. With a negative mindset, it’s easy to feel stuck or incapable of success, or even punish yourself for making mistakes instead of learning from them.

Stanford professor and psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck and a few of her colleagues were determined to understand how these concepts applied to students’ attitudes in academics. As they conducted their studies, they coined two mindsets that set students apart from each other when it came to success and failure: growth and fixed mindsets. 

A growth mindset and fixed mindset have many different characteristics and can work differently in each individual. This was noted by Dr. Dweck, who stated, “Many growth-minded people didn’t even plan to go to the top. They got there as a result of doing what they love.”

Although scientific research is still ongoing regarding how growth and fixed mindsets affect academic performance, it’s undeniable that your attitude toward school can make a big difference.

Here are a few differences between growth and fixed mindset:

Fixed mindset

A fixed mindset typically leads to reduced motivation. Those with fixed mindsets often aren’t capable of sustaining motivation, especially when it comes to learning new things. Students with a fixed mindset often focus too much on getting the right answer. These individuals fear making mistakes, and with this belief, they reject advice and criticism from teachers and peers. Without realizing that making mistakes helps them learn, they believe that improvement is unachievable and that their skill level is innate, stuck, and “fixed.”  

Growth mindset

Those with a growth mindset recognize that mistakes have value. It’s natural to get frustrated when you make mistakes, especially obvious ones. But it’s important to understand that mistakes are inevitable and help you grow. Mistakes should be taken as an opportunity to improve instead of as an outright failure. Understanding why something happens allows people to find the root cause of a problem and fix it. 

If you believe that you have a fixed mindset, it is still possible to change it into a growth mindset. Changing the way you think about mistakes by reframing your attitude towards challenges is a great way to start. Failing a math test does not mean that you are “just bad at math.” Instead, failing a math test can be an opportunity for you to zero in on areas of struggle, learn something new, reassess your approach, or even improve your study habits. By learning to look for lessons in mistakes, accept criticism, and seek challenges, anyone can develop a growth mindset.  

Growth and fixed mindsets help shape career choices, personalities, and future endeavors. While a fixed mindset hinders personal development and learning, a growth mindset allows students to overcome challenges and learn from mistakes. 

So the next time you get a low score on a quiz, don’t wallow in despair. Instead, remember that your brain is a muscle, and work it! With the right mindset, you too can be a math person. 

ORCA's National Honors Society and National Junior Honors Society will host their annual virtual Club Fair on February 17 at noon. Students in all grades are welcome to join and participate in finding new clubs or representing clubs they are already a part of. 

In past club fairs, each ORCA club hosted its own breakout room in a school-wide Zoom meeting where students can learn more about the club, meet the advisors and members, and ask questions. 

Not only is the club fair a great time to learn about new student opportunities, but it is also a chance to connect with friends, classmates, and teachers, as well as advertise clubs to prospective members. 

“The NHS wants to connect students with the fun clubs ORCA has to offer," says NHS Vice President Brady Cruse.

For more information, visit Field Trip Central, which you can find in your Principal's Office or Principal’s Corner Canvas course.

ORCA’s new high school Creative Writing course makes its debut in the second semester of the 2022-23 school year. It is a new Language Arts-based, single semester elective. 

ORCA teacher Erica Hand will teach the new high school writing course. This class will focus primarily on short fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and even memoir. Students will learn from experienced writers and even fellow student writers to help support and encourage each other. 

Ms. Hand is quite qualified for this course with her personal background and interests. “I’ve been writing and telling stories since I was six,” she said. “I [also] grew up with a mother who is a writer.” She has taken many writing workshops prior to teaching this course and has also participated in a writing critique group led by local Oregon novelist Karen Karbo. Additionally, Ms. Hand taught creative writing at other schools and is one of the advisors for Pens & Prose, ORCA’s creative writing club. 

Ms. Hand spent her entire life surrounded by creative writing and feels it second nature, which will provide the course with much knowledge and fun. 

“I’m very excited for this class,” said a Pens & Prose club member. “Mrs. Hand gives incredible writing insight and advice, and I know this course will better my writing skills.” 

The point of the course will be to teach students the essential skills of good writing while enabling them to express their creativity. With the wide range of what constitutes creative writing, students will be exposed to numerous perspectives and ways to improve their critical thinking.

Students will learn from writers of all ages – including other teenagers. This is to guide students towards improving their progress and help classmates encourage one another to push towards their best writing abilities. “The [work of] student writers will be samples from published and professional students and students from the class to help others learn,” Ms. Hand added. 

The course is expected to be a massive hit due to Ms. Hand’s experience and the fact that Creative Writing will be one of the only Language Arts electives ORCA offers. To sign up for this class, contact your Advisory Teacher. 

On January 13, members of ORCA’s high school Music Club hosted a virtual field trip to showcase their musical talent. Open for all grade levels to attend, the hour-long Zoom session included performances from both ORCA students and teachers in the club. 

“Music Club had a great showcase at the end of semester one!” said ORCA teacher and club advisor Mark Cralen. “I am always very impressed by the range of music that gets presented. We had sweet odes to friendship, daring tales of the sea, expressions of the pressure of life, experiments with time signatures, and some well polished dubstep.” 

For those who missed the live performances or want to hear some of the songs that were performed for a second time, Mr. Cralen put together a website that features a number of compositions from Music Club members. The website can be accessed through this link. Many of the tracks on the website have additional information that features the background of each song. 

“Even more impressive than the range of music is the incredible appreciation and encouragement that all of the Music Club members support each other with,” Mr. Cralen added. “It's truly a special environment that I am honored to be a part of.”

ORCA’s Music Club will put together another showcase sometime in May of 2023. High schoolers looking to join the club, which is open to musicians and music fans alike, can do so via the ORCA Club page. 

There are a number of benefits to attending an online school, but one downside of doing schoolwork on a computer can be eye strain. Thankfully, there are many ways to prevent eye strain while completing online assignments.

Blink More Often

When the human eye stares at a computer screen, it tends to blink significantly less than normal. This can result in dry, uncomfortable eyes. You can fight this by simply making a conscious effort to blink more often. Once you realize that this can help with eye strain, your brain will automatically tell your eyes to blink more. Also, consider using eye drops to relieve dry eyes.

Take Breaks: The 20-20-20 Rule

Giving your eyes a rest from constant screen time is a great way to prevent eye strain. There is a 20-20-20 rule that is easy and doesn’t take much time at all. Every 20 minutes, look away from your computer screen and instead at an object about 20 feet away. Do this for 20 seconds. It’s a great practice to keep your eyes healthy and happy. This is because the 20-20-20 rule improves your eyes’ ability to focus by having them switch from fixating on the computer to something further away. Also, consider taking more frequent breaks from schoolwork. Walk around, get a glass of water, and give your brain, body, and eyes a rest.

Lighting

A major cause of eye strain is the lighting on your computer and the lighting around you. If you are working late at night in a dark room, a bright screen can cause eye strain. If you are able to, try adjusting your computer’s brightness to match the room around you. There are also blue light glasses and settings on devices that can limit exposure to the harmful light rays that screens produce.

On school Chromebooks, there is a setting called “Night Light” which can make it easier for your eyes to look at your computer screen. Go to settings and search “Night Light” to find the adjustable filter.

Position of Your Computer

If possible, the best position for your computer is an arm’s length away and at a level so your eyes are just above the screen. Adjusting your chair or placing the device on a raised platform can help you position your eyes and computer correctly. 

Taking care of yourself will improve your mental state and school performance. You can find these tips and more on mayoclinic.org.

The Portland Workforce Alliance is hosting the in-person Expo Breakfast and NW Youth Careers Expo events on February 22. 

The Portland Workforce Alliance (PWA) is a non-profit organization partnering with Oregon Charter Academy. Its annual Youth Careers Expo is a career exploration experience for high school students to explore a broad range of career fields in business, healthcare, engineering, public services, and more. 

The PWA Expo Breakfast, which will run from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m., will feature guest speakers from various Portland-based businesses and colleges. Students will have the opportunity to “celebrate the work of [PWA] partners, connect with like-minded leaders who believe in developing young people’s career aspirations, meet students inspired by their career-education experiences [and] learn how to get involved,” according to the PWA website. 

Attendees can purchase tickets or sponsor a table. Donations are also allowed for students to attend at no cost. More registration details can be found here. 

The NW Youth Careers Expo will follow from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event allows students to explore a wide range of career opportunities, along with the skills and education needed for those jobs. Students will also learn about various college and career options with industry professionals through hands-on demonstrations, mock interviews, and career workshops. 

“The Expo's goals are to connect employers to their future workforce and help students make informed, inspired decisions about their education after high school – whether they choose a four-year university, community college or apprenticeship training center,” reads the event description. 

In the past year, the Careers Expo had over 6,000 students from more than 75 high schools in Oregon and southwest Washington, with over 195 exhibitors representing the state’s leading businesses and partners. 

More event details can be found on the PWA website and event brochure. 

“Students of Oregon Charter Academy, are you ready to step into compassion?” announced a video sent in a school-wide announcement on January 9.

The video went on to announce ORCA’s recent partnership with Sparrow Clubs, a charity organization. Per their mission statement, “Sparrow Clubs changes lives by empowering kids to help kids in medical need through compassion, kindness, and sponsored community service.”

On their website, Sparrow Clubs explains how their organization works using three stages. The first is introducing a “sparrow,” a local child under 17 years of age with “a life-threatening or life-affecting illness or condition.” 

The second step is when a school “adopts'' the sparrow and commits to “rally together and complete 300 hours of community service.” Through these hours of service, students can raise money to help pay for the sparrow’s medical and daily expenses. 

Finally, local businesses and individuals can provide money that students “unlock” by performing community service. These “Community Club Sponsors” cover all the expenses of the project, “making this life-changing program 100% free to schools.” 

“ORCA ASCEND CTE Business Students will be partnering with Sparrow Clubs this year to bring this program to ORCA,” says ORCA teacher Summer Highfill. “Students in the business pathway have the opportunity to do Work Based Learning.  They apply what they learned in class to an outside project.  This year we are bringing in Sparrow Clubs to provide ALL ORCA students with the opportunity to give back, serve others and support our sparrow.”

ORCA’s first sparrow, Noah, was introduced in the video sent out to ORCA students. Noah is a seven-year-old that is fighting through liver issues. Oregon Charter Academy has set a goal of performing over 300 hours of community service to send $3,000 of assistance to Noah and his family. 

“Every hour of service counts,” says Ms. Highfill.  “Students can do projects in their local neighborhood to help a neighbor or to work with a formal agency/organization to do project work.” 

Students can log their service hours using digital vouchers. The Elementary voucher can be found here and the Middle School/High School/Staff voucher can be found here.

“What is really important is that for every hour you volunteer or serve, we need students to fill out a digital voucher,” adds Ms. Highfill. “This is how we track the hours worked and how we are able to make sure Noah receives his $3,000.  Part of the voucher has a space to tell what the service meant to you.  This section is really important because a book will be made for Noah to share what students shared about their experiences.  The family will value this treasured gift.”

A Nearpod presentation that was put together by ORCA’s ASCEND Business program can be accessed here. It contains more information on ORCA’s Sparrow Clubs commitment and how students can help Noah through community service. 

Students with questions can contact Ms. Highfill.

Everyone has that sudden craving for something sweet at one time or another. Many people have come to call this “having a sweet tooth.” Perhaps the craving occurs on a random Tuesday afternoon, when there isn’t much time in the day to do something extravagant. Here are some recipes that can be completed in a short amount of time, while still yielding a delicious sweet treat.

Seek parental guidance when using kitchen equipment.

Pink Sugar Cookies

Sugar cookies are a classic baked good everyone has had before. They’re easy to bake, delicious to eat, and even better with a thin layer of frosting on the top.

Ingredients:

Red and black food dye

2 cups powdered sugar

¾ cup + 4 tbsp softened butter

1 cup white granulated sugar

2 eggs

½ tsp vanilla extract

2 ½ cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

Steps:

1. In a large bowl, mix together ¾ cups of butter and granulated sugar until thoroughly blended. Add in eggs and vanilla, then slowly add the flour, baking powder, and salt. Once everything is combined, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

2. As the dough chills, combine the powdered sugar and 4 tbsp of butter together slowly to make the frosting. If you do it too fast, the powdered sugar will make a colossal mess. If the frosting is too runny, you can add more powdered sugar, and if it’s too thick, you can add more butter.

3. Carefully add in the drops of red food coloring. The exact amount needed depends on the brand, and if you feel like you’ve added a lot but haven’t received the proper results, you can add a small amount of black food coloring to deepen the red. Set aside the bowl once complete.

4. Preheat the oven to 400o Fahrenheit and take the dough out of the fridge. Lightly flour a flat surface and roll the dough out to ½-¼ inch thick. You can use any shape you’d like to cut them out, but this recipe uses a heart shape one. Place the dough hearts onto a baking sheet with either a silicon mat or one that has been greased and bake in the oven for 6-10 minutes. Carefully transfer to a wire rack when done and let cool completely before decorating. 

5. When decorating the cookies, use a piping bag with a relatively small tip so that it is easier to pipe out of the bag. It is also easier to do smaller designs like polka dots or miniature hearts. It’s also easier to use room temperature frosting, but make sure it’s not too warm or it will get runny.

Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins are one of the most classic baked goods. There are many different ingredients you can add, including chocolate chips or nuts. This is a blueberry-only recipe so don’t worry if you don’t have anything extra to add.

Ingredients:

⅔ cup flour

½ cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)

¼ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

8 tsp canola oil

1 egg

¼ cup milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp sugar

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 400o  Fahrenheit.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the flower, salt, sugar, and baking powder together. In a smaller bowl whisk together the egg, oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix together thoroughly.

3. The batter will be pretty thick. Fold in the blueberries carefully so as to not break them. 

4. Prepare the tin by placing the muffin liners in, making sure there are a couple empty cups to place water in. The water helps the tops bake better. When spooning the batter into the liners, only fill them up around halfway since they will rise as they bake.

5. Once the liners are full, sprinkle a little bit of sugar on top and carefully put them in the oven. Let them bake for 15-20 minutes. Once finished, let them cool in the pan and enjoy. 

Easy Bake Crème Brûlée

People may think making crème brûlée is a difficult task, especially when the thought of “burnt” comes to mind. Crème brûlée is a custard with a hard, burnt sugar layer on the top of it. The layer of sugar is burnt to create a caramelization effect, allowing for the fanciness in desserts to live up to its name. Most of the time, people burn the sugar with a small propane torch designed for use in the kitchen. However, there is another, and much simpler, way of creating the same effect.

Ingredients:

¼ cup sweetened condensed milk

¼ cup milk

1 ½ tbsp white granulated sugar

1 egg yolk 

¼ tsp vanilla extract

Water

Steps:

1. In a smaller sauce pan, combine the sweetened condensed milk and the milk until they’re one liquid. Bring to a simmer on low-medium heat then add vanilla.

2. Preheat the oven to 325o Fahrenheit. While the milk/cream is heating, beat the egg yolk with 1 tbsp of the granulated sugar.

3. Once the vanilla is added to the cream, slowly mix the cream into the sugar-egg yolk mixture. It is critical that you do this part slowly or the custard will not set properly. 

4. Find an oven-safe bowl around 4 inches across and 2 ½ inches deep and pour the custard into it. Place this bowl in a small bread tin filled with enough water to go about halfway up the sides of the bowl. Place in the preheated oven to bake for 40 minutes.

5. After you take it out of the oven, set it on a small baking tray and let it chill in the fridge for at least an hour. You could do this overnight but if you really want something sweet sooner, an hour is fine.

6. Once it’s done chilling, evenly sprinkle ½ tbsp of the granulated sugar over the top. It must be even so some spots don’t caramelize before others.

7. Place a tiny bowl in the oven and broil it on a high temperature. You must keep an eye on it to ensure that it is safe and kept under control. Once the top is an even golden brown color, you can take it out of the oven and let it completely cool. You can then enjoy this lovely treat!

There are many different kinds of books available to ORCA students through SORA, Epic, or your local library. If you aren’t sure what kind of books you like, check out these fun recommendations. 

Ghost by Jason Reynolds

• Ghost is a book recommended for middle school students. The story is centered around a young boy named Castle, who lives with his mom, a nurse. A track coach sees his potential as a runner and offers him a spot on the track team. Castle receives the nickname “Ghost” from his fellow teammates.

Warrior Cats series by Erin Hunter

• Warrior Cats is a series of 14 books. The series is about clans of cats who must protect their land from enemy felines, and train the young cats to survive. This book is recommended for grades 3-8.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

• Jade is a teenage girl who is desperate to leave her neighborhood and shine among the successful. Her mother always tells her to take any opportunity, but sometimes it feels like more work than necessary. Piecing Me Together is recommended for ages 12 -18 (Grades 7-12). 

Dream On Amber by Emma Shevah

• Dream On Amber is a book about a half-Japanese and half-Italian girl named Amber Miyamoto. She and her sister Bella live with their mom after their dad left. Amber creates an imaginary dad to help her work through losing her father. Dream On Amber is recommended for children ages 10-13 (Grades 5-8).

When you need a break from the screen, strain your eyes the old fashioned way: with a good book. 

ORCA hosted its second High School Hangout on January 27 and it was a smashing hit. The number of students that attended doubled since the first one, which bodes well for upcoming Hangouts. Attendees had a lot of fun playing board games and chatting. 

So much so that the noise factor was astronomical. Students could be heard from the opposite side of the building. It got so loud that Mr. Lacy ended up coming into the room and remarking on the noise — in a positive way. 

“No, keep being loud!” the Principal exclaimed when everyone immediately quieted. He proceeded to explain that he was happy students were enjoying themselves, and that noise wasn’t something commonly heard from a virtual school. 

The next High School Hangouts is February 24 from 1-3 p.m. It’s expected to be just as noisy and twice as fun.

Photos from the January Hangouts can be viewed in the image carousel. 

At times, school can be stressful. When you see all of the assignments and work you have to do pile up over the week, it can feel overwhelming. One way to let go of these feelings and relax is to take ten minutes to yourself and breathe. Deep breathing and mindfulness, which is focusing on the present moment instead of worrying about the future, are some of the many great ways to let go of stress. 

Whenever you have a moment to yourself in the school week, try these three calming techniques to take a break and breathe:

Square breathing

For this breathing technique, you will need to go through four different steps, like corners on a square. For step one, inhale through your nose while slowly counting to three. For step two, while you inhale, think of one memory that causes you to feel happy or calm. In step three, exhale slowly and count to three. Finally, close your eyes and think of the same happy memory you thought about earlier. You can repeat this process over again. 

Your Word 

For this breathing technique, you will need to think of one word. The word of your choice needs to make sense to you. For example, a word choice may be "kind" because you are trying to be more kind. Once you have picked your word, close your eyes and use that word in a way that is positive like these sentences: 

Example:

1. I am kind

2. People around me are kind

3. I will show kindness 

4. Kindness is real and important

Through the use of these affirmations, you are creating a more positive mindset and uplifting yourself instead of needing affirmation from outside sources. 

The Hand Breathing Technique

Put your hand out. Simply put your index finger from the opposite hand on the outside of your pinky and trace it from bottom to top. As you go up, breathe in. Then, exhale as you trace the finger down on the inside of your hand. Repeat with your other fingers. By focusing on multiple feelings and actions, such as tracing your hand and breathing, this activity can help you focus on the present instead of outside distractions. 

When school gets tough, take a few minutes to use the techniques above to calm down and focus on the moment instead of stressing about the future.  

The wide array of field trips available to ORCA students, both virtual and in-person, helps everyone 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 February.

Poetry Out Loud School Contest (2/3)

Poetry Out Loud is a school competition for high school students. At this event, students will have the opportunity to recite poems to compete for a chance to represent ORCA at the Oregon Regional Poetry Out Loud competition.

All students competing must be signed up ahead of time through ORCA’s Poetry Out Loud club. All ORCA high schoolers are welcome to be part of the audience. This event will be in-person, so attendees must RSVP beforehand using the link in Field Trip Central. 

iRobot Education Virtual Field Trip (2/8)

In this field trip, students in grades K-12 can go through a virtual tour of the iRobot Cool Stuff Museum via Zoom. Students will learn about and explore over 30 years of robotics history. This virtual field trip is sponsored by the Amazon Future Engineers Program.

This virtual tour will take place in ORCA’s Large Capacity Webinar Zoom Room from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lego STEM Challenge (2/10)

On February 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. students in all grades can connect with peers through Legos at this in-person event. Students will build items, participate in fun challenges, and share ideas with peers. 

Students must bring their own Legos to this in-person event. Sharing and/or trading of Legos is not permitted.

Vintage and Clay Studio Tour and Art Project with Mrs. Champlin (2/10)

In this field trip hosted by ORCA teacher Jen Champlin, K-12 students will have the opportunity to tour a clay art studio and participate in a collage workshop from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

There are only six available spots, so please register as soon as possible if you would like to participate.

STEM Careers in the NBA Virtual Field Trip (2/17)

In this virtual field trip, students in all grades can get a glimpse of how NBA staff use STEM skills in their work. The 30-minute program will take place in ORCA’s Large Capacity Webinar Zoom Room from 10:00-10:45 a.m.

The program will be provided by Discovery Education and the NBA.

UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History (2/17)

In this field trip, elementary students can expect to learn about the history of Northwest Native cultures, build a replica of a camas oven, and “cook” camas bulbs.

This event will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the Eugene area. The fee is $2 for ORCA students, free for adults, and $4 for non-ORCA minors. The payment deadline is February 10.

High School Hangouts (2/24)

For the month of February, there will be another High School Hangouts from 1:00-3:00 p.m. High school students will have the chance to connect with each other through board/video games, movies, and group activities. Students may also choose to bring their school laptops and work on homework assignments in study groups.

The field trips listed above are just a few of the many field trips offered by ORCA this February. Make sure to check out Field Trip Central in the Principal’s Office/Corner for a listing of every available field trip, location information, and how to RSVP.

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

ACROSS

2. Roman god of love who shoots arrows

6. Something that cardinals, cherries, and stop signs have in common

7. A close companion

8. Confections known to contain sugar

10. To love and admire someone/something

12. Center of the circulatory system

13. Flowers with thorns that are commonly red

DOWN

1. Common Valentine’s stuffed animal (2 words)

2. Made from cacao

3. A form of literature used mainly to express feelings

4. “What About Us” singer

5. Something you give to someone

7. Often gifted in bouquet form

8. A decorated and folded piece of paper with a note inside

9. Pure white birds

11. Used in the greeting of a letter

12. Embrace

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

Below are the answers to the Finals Crossword from the January issue of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Class rank = System that compares students’ grades in their graduating class (2 words)

2. Flashcards = Study tool used to practice vocabulary

6. Transcript = Summary of grades that colleges view

8. Semester = Half of a school year

9. Deadline = The time an assignment is due

11. Focus = Concentrate

DOWN

1. Caffeine = Chemical often found in coffee that makes you feel more awake

3. Study = Take time to learn material before a test

4. Catch up = What to do when you are behind (2 words)

5. SAT = Test created by the College Board

7. Cornell = Name of note-taking method

10. Essay = Written school assignment

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

I have ADHD and a tendency to hyperfocus on some things and not at all on others. I can't seem to control this, and I end up hyperfocusing on things that are not school. How do I control this and start turning my hyperfocus towards school instead of everything else?

- Aidy H. D.

Dear Aidy H. D., 

In regards to the topic of ADHD, it is best to reach out to clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, or developmental pediatricians, as well as trusted adults, to get the support that you need. As fellow students, we can address the topics of distraction and procrastination. Communication is key to getting the help you need. We encourage you to reach out to ORCA counselors who can assist you. Procrastination can lead to distractions and vice versa. Eliminating distractions in your environment can help you to stay focused. If your school workspace is clear of non-school related projects, it can help you stay focused. Try to find a natural balance between school, breaks, and extracurricular activities that are not overwhelming. Remember to always stay positive and reach out when you need support.

Sincerely,

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS

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