January 2024

Get ready to knock your boots off at ORCA’s second high school Winter Social! The event, which was formerly a virtual event, will take place in person on Friday, February 2, between 4 and 6 p.m. 

The Student Government Events Committee is planning this social event for high schoolers to dance, play games, and enjoy a fun evening with friends before Prom in the spring.

The theme of this year’s Winter Social will be Western Winter, so don’t forget to bring your cowboy boots and friends. There will be games, light snacks, dancing, music, and more. 

“I am so thrilled for ORCA’s student body to experience the second annual in-person winter social,” comments Leesy Lindsay, Student Government’s activities director. “Students who attend will be able to create deeper bonds with their online classmates and will be able to say they were involved in ORCA events and are an integral part of the community.” 

She adds that she is excited about the theme. “Western Winter is also a part I’m really looking forward to. I’ve already got my cowgirl outfit ready!”

For more information on this event, make sure to check out the Student Government website and Field Trip Central to RSVP.

A member of the Student Government Events Committee adds, “Hold on to your cowboy hats!”

As finals month approaches, you might find yourself in a crunch preparing for your next big exam. Whether you’re studying for state testing, SATs, or a driver’s permit, the prospect of taking a test can be daunting and often stressful. 

But here’s the good thing: acing a test doesn’t have to require stressful cramming and all-nighters. In fact, many straight-A students don’t work harder – they study smarter. 

The key to successful test-taking is smart test prep and practice. And even though test-taking can still be an intimidating task, there are steps you can take to study productively and power through your finals with flying colors. 

Part One: Preparing for the Test

Preparation is the key to success. Understanding and remembering information doesn't happen overnight, so developing strong study habits well ahead of test day is essential. 

These simple steps, when done habitually, will help ensure that you’re confident about your knowledge of the material when test day arrives. 

Step 1: Take Smart Notes

First, gather the right materials. Taking notes on a Google Doc or writing things down on pen and paper generally depends on personal preference, so use whatever method works best for you. 

However, note-taking styles may look different for each class. Based on the subject, there may be more effective ways to capture the topic. 

For non-technical courses – English, social studies, or history – focus your notes on the big ideas. These tests generally require you to explain, evaluate, and compare and contrast the concepts, so it’s a good idea to grasp the most important topics. While taking notes on long lessons, don’t be afraid to use abbreviations and bullet points. Make use of bold fonts, highlights, or underlines when defining a word or emphasizing a point. 

However, don’t write down the whole lesson word-for-word. Not only is this impossible to do, but it’s also counterproductive. Instead, record your notes in a Question/Evidence/Conclusion format. 

In the case of technical courses – for example, math and science – it’s better to capture important formulas and detailed explanations of problems. Record the steps of the sample problems and review your notes regularly to clarify any points of confusion. 

Helpful hint: Having one folder for each class is a useful way to organize notes. Every resource from class – including outlines, assignment descriptions, or reading excerpts – should be added to this folder. This makes it much easier to find materials when you need them later for review. 

Step 2: Marshal Your Resources

Before you can conduct any meaningful studying, you must first define the scope of the exam. What will the test be about? What type of questions will there be, and how many? Consider if it’s an open-book test and how much time is available. This is a good time to clarify any points of confusion and come prepared to open office sessions if needed. It helps to know in advance what knowledge will be covered in the exam. 

It’s also important to complete class assignments carefully and turn them in on time – falling behind can make it difficult to study productively. If you are behind, make catching up a priority. Review your notes daily (including any recordings or resources from class), write your own study guides, and make use of any practice tests available to you. Memorization aids like flashcards can also be helpful in preparing for an exam.

Step 3: Study Smarter, Not Harder

Now that you have all the necessary materials and have taken thorough notes, it's time to get down to the real studying. This might be a good time to spend hours memorizing all the material the night before the test, right? 

Wrong. The fact is that cramming for a test is highly counterproductive. 

Most last-night cramming sessions result in “pseudo-working," the unfortunate habit of studying in long, low-intensity, fatigue-filled marathons without gaining much retention. Not only are you less likely to retain the information you need, but cramming also increases stress, negatively impacts sleep, and decreases your overall preparedness.

To counter this behavior, it’s best to practice smart time management strategies. Break up studying time into small, high-intensity bursts and avoid the temptation to stay up late reviewing your notes. Last-minute cramming is far less likely to improve your grade than developing good study habits and getting a good night’s sleep.

Part Two: Taking the Test

So you’ve taken the notes and made the study guides. Now it’s time for the most important part: actually taking the test. 

Different types of tests require different test-taking strategies. For instance, you may not want to approach a math quiz the same way you would an essay. And some computerized exams such as SATs require you to work through them in a specific way.

But for the most part, many tests have the same goal: to assess your knowledge of the subject. In any case, you want to go into the exam knowing what the test brings and feeling confident about your understanding of the subject. This is where the next steps come in: 

Step 4: Review the Questions

It may seem intuitive to start a test by diving right into the first question, but your first step should be to review all of the questions. Take your time reading each essay prompt carefully, and if it’s multiple-choice, skim through it quickly to get a feel for which topics are covered. 

This review helps you understand the structure of the test and identify areas that may need more or less time. It also primes your brain for the topics you'll need to address and allows you to think about all the questions in the background, even while focusing on one. Doing so helps you retrieve information relating to the topics still to come and answer later questions quickly. 

Taking a few moments to carefully review the exam will help you break the mounting tension of stress and overthinking about the test. With this step, you can build a better idea of what to expect, and soon the exam becomes less menacing. Your confidence rises, your heart rate lowers, and you say to yourself, “Okay, maybe this isn’t all that bad.” Now you can turn your full attention to providing standout responses. 

Step 5: Build a Time Budget

After going through the test, it's essential to plan out your approach for each section to ensure you can complete the entire exam within the allotted time.

Even if there's no time limit, you should still avoid spending too much time on the test inefficiently. During the exam, it's crucial to be aware of how long you have to spend on the current question before moving on to the next. 

This strategy helps keep your attention focused and prevents you from spending too much time on a question. Some challenging questions, especially essay prompts, might take longer than others, so it’s crucial to keep track of your progress and leave a 10-minute safety buffer at the end to review your answers or add more insights to the ones that you were rushed on.

Step 6: Tackle the Easy Questions First

When possible, do a first pass through the test to answer the questions you know right away before moving on to the more forbidding. This strategy helps focus your energy on the questions you feel most confident about and provides momentum to complete the rest of the exam more easily.

However, not all tests let you skip questions and then return to them. If that's the case, work through each problem in order. 

Step 7: The Devil Is In the Details

It's always advisable to read the questions fully before answering, as it helps to comprehend the question better and avoid simple mistakes. 

For multiple choice and true/false questions, look for cues. True or false statements often require careful reading for tricky wording or small details. Words like most, all, never, and always offer important clues. 

The process of elimination helps you rule out incorrect options and find the most possible answer. Pay attention to grammatical matching between the question and the answers; if an answer seems right but doesn't match grammatically with the question, it’s likely not the correct option. It's also not uncommon for a multiple-choice to have two correct answers. Pick the best one.

Step 8: Provide A+ Answers

Essay questions are the more daunting challenges of an exam. 

When confronted with an essay question, don't just jump straight into writing and see where it goes. This approach leads to rambling answers and missed topics. Instead, your first step should be to create a brief outline. 

Start by carefully reading the question and identifying its main themes. This will help organize your thoughts and ensure that you address all aspects of the question. Jot down relevant keywords and make sure your outline covers each part. 

Only now should you begin writing your essay. Follow your outline, and the writing will proceed smoothly. This should enable you to produce a well-structured response that draws on all relevant points and shows a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Step 9: Check Your Work

Finally, after you’ve completed all the questions, use any and all remaining time to check and recheck your answers. Have you answered all parts of each question? You'd be surprised how often this final review turns up a mistake in a technical problem or an important concept you forgot to mention in an essay. 

It's always a good idea to read your written work aloud, which can help identify simple typos or find better ways to rephrase your answers. Even minor errors in math problems could impact the final answer.

Developing effective test-taking skills isn't something that happens overnight. But with time and practice, you can be well on your way to acing your next big exam and achieving your academic goals. 

After each test, it's a good idea to take a moment to evaluate your performance. Even if you make a mistake or don't score as well as you hoped, don't beat yourself up. Remember that a missed answer is an opportunity to find areas to fill in a gap in your knowledge and spend some extra time studying. What matters is to always do your best and learn from any mistakes to improve next time. 

Nothing quite beats the feeling of a warm cookie fresh from the oven. And with so many cookie flavors to choose from, there’s something for every occasion. 

But some cookies are better than others, which is why The Current is hosting a cookie poll! Vote now to decide ORCA’s favorite cookie. 

Choose from chocolate chip, sugar cookies, oatmeal raisin, snickerdoodles, peanut butter, and Oreos. At The Current, we have two passions: authentic journalism and food, so help us combine the two and reach our absolute dream of true peace. 

To fill out the form, simply select an answer for each question and click submit. You can also include a few comments to explain why you picked the best cookie. All responses are anonymous, and the popular results will be included in The Current’s February issue. 

Happy eating!

Last May, Reagan Stanek was elected Co-Vice President of ORCA’s Student Government during the 2023-24 Executive Board Elections. Stanek shares the position with ORCA senior Ahnalya De Leeuw since Student Government has two elected Vice Presidents after a tie in last spring’s election.

“When I first heard about the election results, I was very surprised,” she says. “I got the news of a tie-in vote with my Co-VP Ahnalya and was asked whether or not I would be interested in sharing the role. I was very happy that the student body elected not only me but also Ahnalya! We both decided that the role would be best shared and so far have been successful.”

The role of Vice President has never been shared before, as Stanek explains. President Grace Peterson and the Co-Vice Presidents collaborate on a set of objectives and work to delegate and assign tasks based on personal strengths. 

As Co-Vice President, Stanek's responsibility is to ensure that Student Government achieves its goals of improvement while also supporting senators and their committees. Additionally, she serves as a liaison between Student Government and school administrators. “Most of my personal goals involve working closely with the admin,” she explains. “I am always happy to bring up the concerns or ideas of senators!”

In her speech as a candidate, Stanek mentioned her goal to increase student participation through peer tutoring and connecting with the ORCA community. Now well into the school year, she outlines what responsibilities she has in making progress toward these goals. 

“So far, peer tutoring has made huge strides from last year,” she says. “It was a shared goal, so I haven’t done much of the brunt work but I am a tutor, and advertising has been more accessible to everyone this year.”

According to Stanek, the peer tutoring center is an important tool to utilize, and making sure students know they have access is a critical part of the program’s success. 

She further explains the progress she's made towards achieving these goals and how her plans have evolved. “We are all collectively trying to find ways to get the student body involved,” Stanek says. “We are trying to work on a format to get open [Student Government] meetings off the ground, but make sure we make the best use of everyone’s time.”

“A big piece of Student Government is planning events, activities, and programs that will best benefit the student body,” she adds. “And what better way to do that than to hear from the student body themselves?”

Stanek has been a member of Student Government for five years, holding the role of Senator and Activities Director prior to her current position. She notes that her favorite part of Student Government is the community it builds. Serving on the Executive Board for the past four years has helped her contribute to building the school community and fostering friendships with others working to make ORCA a better place. 

In her previous role as Activities Director, Stanek was involved in planning Prom and other events for Student Government. 

“Prom is definitely a beast in the sense that it takes a lot of teamwork and organization to plan,” she explains, adding that planning the past two proms has been a project she’s most proud of. “It took long battles over budgeting, persistence for accommodations, and striving to meet the expectations of the student body.”

Stanek highlights the importance of greater inclusion and encouraging participation both in Student Government and in the school community. Now with a larger platform, she brings her experience to support committees and newer Executive Board members. 

Apart from Student Government, Stanek is actively involved in a wide range of extracurriculars, including being a varsity swimmer and tennis player, NHS member, and volunteer at her local library. Despite having so many activities both in and outside of school, she still maintains a good balance between schoolwork and extracurriculars. 

Stanek manages to juggle practices for two sports, both in and out of season, and attend various extracurricular activities, all while keeping up with her grades. “If you haven’t met me yet, something to know about me is that I am a perfectionist,” she says. “It causes me a lot of stress, and managing that is the key to my success in all aspects of my life.”

She shares that it’s important to lean on teammates for support and reach out to teachers for extra resources. 

“Everything I do sounds like a lot, but I have cut a lot of extra activities out of my life to make room for new activities and healthy relationships,” she explains, sharing a piece of advice that has been helpful for her during high school. “Understanding when something is too much can be hard for me at times, but that is how I am able to balance everything. I have always been told to find joy in what I do, and as soon as I don’t find that joy anymore, it isn’t worth my time.”

Stanek also has ambitious goals for herself after high school, with plans to attend University of Oregon and study law. “I am not 100% sure on what kind of law I want to study yet,” she says. “I may find something else I feel passionate about, and plans always change, so I can’t tell you my plans are set in stone. Regardless, I want to pursue at least a four-year degree. My ultimate goal is to find something that I truly enjoy and make a career out of it!”

Stanek continues to look ahead to ORCA’s future and offers support for the student body. “Never forget that the executive board and senators are everyday students and always have your best interests at heart,” she concludes. “If anyone out there has a concern or idea, yes I’m talking to you reader, never hesitate to reach out. And as always, if you are in need of academic support check out the SG Peer Tutoring program!”

From December 1-14, several of ORCA’s Esports teams participated in the Rocket League, League of Legends, and Overwatch 2 playoffs. For the first time in school history, two of the teams, the #9 “Unknown Skies” and #10 “Silly Gooses,” won their first round and advanced to the second stage of the playoffs.

Esports, referring to electronic sports, is a form of competitive video gaming. At ORCA, three teams, “Unknown Skies,” “Silly Gooses,” and “Stardust Crusaders,” all advanced to the playoffs for their designated games. 

The #9-ranked ORCA Rocket League team, “Unknown Skies,” battled the Bountiful High School “Redhawks,” which ranked #8, and ultimately beat the Utah team, advancing to the next match. 

Rocket League player Cody Carter once again led the pack in highest Goal Per Shot percentage, finishing in third place with a shot percentage of 42.86%

Their next matchup was the #1 seed, Holy Trinity Catholic High School Trojans, based out of Edmonton, Alberta. The ORCA team fell short that round but finished with the fourth-top scoring player, Cody Carter, and had a strong season. 

The #10-ranked “Silly Gooses” team battled it out with Montana-based Polson High School, which ranked #7, for their first playoff matchup on December 5. After losing the first of three rounds, they came back to win the playoff match 2-1 to advance to the next round of the playoffs for the second time in school history. In addition to furthering themselves in the playoffs, they became the first-ever ORCA League of Legends team to make it past the first round of the competition. 

The next matchup for the “Silly Gooses” was the #2-ranked Mission Heights Preparatory Academy “Phantoms” out of Casa Grande, Arizona. The playoff game was scheduled for December 6, and the team ended their season with a loss.

The Overwatch 2 team, “Stardust Crusaders," lost their first playoff match against the #4 “Goal SW team” but bounced back strong with a triumphant nine matches. They finished their season with a 5-4 record.

“I am so extremely proud of all of our esports teams in this fall season,” says ORCA Esports Coach Gabriel Elliott. “Every team has progressed and improved over the last two seasons of play. There have been a lot of firsts ranging from introducing an entirely new game in Super Smash Bros Ultimate to winning our first playoff games!” 

He adds that the club has seen an incredible amount of growth and development in teamwork and community culture. “We want to harness these unique traits and strengths of our club to expand our recruitment and add more players, games, and devices to promote a diversity of choices and resources for our students!” he says.

The esports club looks forward to their next season, with goals to have their Rocket League and League of Legends teams in their prospective playoff finals, which have the most varsity players. 

“We are so excited to see what we can accomplish and how we can continue to grow as a program!” Coach Elliott concludes.

If you’re interested in being a part of the ORCA Esports community, you can fill out the student interest form for the spring season. Esports members can participate in a varsity sports-like environment and must be able to commit to daily practices during the school week. Members will also compete in Rocket League, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, and/or Super Smash Bros. 

To learn more about the Esports program at ORCA, check out our esports spotlight article. 

The new Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, has finally arrived at the theater. The question is, was it worth the nearly decade-long wait?

This new film is centered around President Coriolanus Snow, a young man of only eighteen. Actor Tom Blyth puts an interesting spin on the character, proving himself to be an excellent actor and fitting into the role of Snow incredibly well. He shows a kinder side to Coriolanus that nobody thought existed. Blyth shows us his heart while also portraying Snow’s progression into evil, and that evolution helps drive the plot.

Things start to get interesting when Snow is forced to mentor Lucy Gray Baird, a female tribute from District 12. Played by Rachel Zegler, Lucy Gray brings a musical aspect to the 10th annual Hunger Games. With a passionate personality and a fiery spirit, she reminds some fans of Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of the original The Hunger Games trilogy. Zegler does a solid job portraying this young woman, and she is definitely a top-tier actress. Both Blyth and Zegler depict Snow and Lucy Gray’s nuanced relationship and their different personalities. Moviegoers get to see Lucy Gray’s influence on Snow and how she brings a unique twist to the Hunger Games that nobody has seen before. The Hunger Games were never musical films, but Rachel Zegler changed that, giving the film a more musical element to the story. 

The cinematography is another great aspect of the film. Director Francis Lawrence, who also directed the previous Hunger Games, gave the film many unique effects, and many fans had high expectations compared to the original trilogy. The movie has a balanced pacing of exciting, action-packed scenes and emotional moments. With detailed lighting effects that match each scene and good sound work, the special effects enhance the film without distracting from the action.

The movie also features a stellar soundtrack. With many of the songs sung by Rachel Zegler, there are a lot of moments where the songs will play at certain points to enhance the effects and mood, such as soulful songs in emotional parts. Songs such as Olivia Rodrigo’s “Can’t Catch Me Now” and Rachel Zegler’s “The Hanging Tree” really introduces a new element to the story that the previous films didn't have.

However, as a live adaptation of the book, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is considerably different from the original plot of the novel. But while some readers may be disappointed by the movie’s tendency to stray from the plot, the beautiful cinematography of the film makes up for it.

Considering the already great plot of the story, marvelous soundtrack, spectacular cinematography, and cast of actors that wonderfully fit the characters, this is an excellent prequel to a truly epic series.

The verdict: 9/10

From December 4-8, students K-8 stepped up to the ballot boxes in order to vote for the first President and Vice President of the new MS Student Government Executive Board.

The candidates for President included Emma Davis, Julia ___, Arabella Mullanix, and Wilder Adele Kersey, while the vice presidency was narrowed down to Milleah Nguyen and Arabella Mullanix. All had brilliant ideas and unique approaches to how they would support ORCA this year.

Emma Davis won the presidency, and Milleah Nguyen emerged victorious from the Vice President election. 

"I have always thought that leadership is important and I wanted a chance to perform my leadership skills and I think that the role of student body president will be an amazing opportunity for me," says Davis. Students are looking forward to seeing what changes Davis will bring.

"Leadership is very important to have in my mind, and I wanted to show and grow those skills,” Nguyen adds. “Hopefully working alongside my fellow students will help us all to become the great leaders we really are. This is such a great possibility so thanks so much!"

After the announcement of Davis and Nguyen taking up the lead roles, the MS Student Government also appointed members of the new Executive Board. The new leaders include Sophia Dier as Secretary and Solange G.G. as Public Relations Officer. This year, the Activities Director position is split between Arabella Mullanix and Wilder Adele Kersey.

"The whole idea of Student Government is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by organizing and carrying out school activities,” explains Tianna Sigloh, the MS Student Government advisor. “The K-8 Executive Board will also take on a role in fostering school spirit and using their voices to represent the student body. They have so many wonderful ideas! I have no doubt they will accomplish great things with the support of their senators and the administration here at ORCA."

They say revenge is a dish best served cold. But it’s better to address problems before they get that bad. 

Fortunately, Student Government President Grace Peterson shared new ways to deal with conflicts effectively. 

On December 15, she hosted ORCA’s first Presidential Workshop. Titled “Better Than Revenge,” the workshop covered tips on communication and different conflict styles. 

The goal of the workshop was to help participants understand different conflict styles, evaluate their own conflict management approach, and use effective communication to manage conflicts.

As Peterson explained, not all conflict is bad conflict. “It’s often in disagreements that we see beyond our perspective and are able to come to an agreement we wouldn’t have met otherwise,” she added. Conflict can be healthy when based on trust and mutual respect.

During the presentation, Peterson shared a short Conflict Management Style Assessment to help participants learn about their own style of communication and how best to manage different problems. 

The next part of the presentation introduced the Pinch/Crunch method. Peterson explained that addressing the initial conflict at first can help the problem get resolved without lasting impact. When minor issues are ignored and repeated over time, they can develop into a “crunch,” which takes more skill and effort to address. Resolving, or “pinching” the problem before it gets bigger, is a good way to maintain healthy relationships. 

According to the slideshow, “90% of difficult conversations can be traced back to an easier conversation (pinch) that should have happened... but didn’t.”

Peterson then offered ways to resolve conflicts when they arise by keeping an open line of communication. 

“You’re probably going to experience conflicts daily, whether it’s with a person or just your Chromebook crashing in the middle of a Kahoot,” she said. “But it’s important that we take a moment to step back, realize our emotions, validate them, then try to talk to someone about it.”

The final part of the presentation opened the floor for an interactive Q&A activity, where students shared about their own experiences dealing with conflict and gained support and resources. 

“I’m so grateful to have this opportunity to speak with ORCA students about a method and topic I am passionate about,” Peterson concluded. “I hope that I was able to provide support and a new manner of thinking for attendees. Pinch/Crunch for the win!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

During the month of January, ORCA’s Student Government is hosting a scavenger hunt called Where’s Orby for ORCA students to find hidden Orca whales named Orby on the Student Government website. 

To participate, head to the Student Government website and under the Events tab on the heading, you’ll find a section titled “Where’s Orby?” 

After finding all three pictures of Orby and submitting your answers through the form, you will be entered into a raffle where you could have the chance to win an ORCA water bottle prize and get a shoutout. 

While searching for Orby, you’ll run into school-wide events, Student Government announcements, field trips in your area, and get to meet your Executive Board and student senators.

“Our Where's Orby scavenger hunt is an interactive way for students to engage in Student Government activities and have fun,” explains Hannah Ma, the Student Government marketing committee leader. “Orby is a pretty new feature we introduced to the Student Government website last year, but we wanted to find ways to encourage more participation and activities people can get involved in. This is where our new Orby prizes come in. Every month, students who participate in the scavenger hunt will have the chance to win an ORCA water bottle prize and get a shoutout!”

Orby stands for everything Student Government embodies in ORCA student leaders: Optimism, Respect, Bravery, and (being) Yourself. 

“It's great to see Orby become a bigger part of ORCA and represent what Student Government stands for,” Ma adds. “And what better way to stay hydrated than by using a one of a kind ORCA water bottle?”

By submitting to this form, you will be entered into the raffle for a prize and receive special recognition. 

James Pollnow is a fifth grade teacher here at Oregon Charter Academy and is the husband of our middle school principal, Susan Pollnow.

Mr. Pollnow knew he wanted to be a teacher when he was in first grade and decided that was what he wished to do when he grew up. As time went on, he considered other possible outcomes, such as engineering, “but teaching has always been the frontrunner for me,” he said.

He spent 20 years in the Oregon Army National Guard as well as working as an educator at Evergreen Aviation and Space museum.

Mr. Pollnow is also a father to two children, a 10-year-old son named Aidan and five-year-old daughter named Zoe. He has a dog named Hagrid and two cats; one is named Samson, and another one has the given name Bellatrix, but the Pollnows nicknamed her Trixie.

Mr. Pollnow started working at ORCA as a sixth grade teacher for two years, then moved on to fifth grade for six years. After a two year stint teaching third grade, he is now back to teaching fifth grade. 

He helps run clubs at ORCA as well. Pollnow supervises the Military Leadership Club and is a co-advisor for the Science Olympiad club.

Mr. Pollnow concludes with, “I became a teacher because I wanted to make a difference in the lives of students the same way teachers made a difference in mine.”

Disclaimer: Contains minor spoilers.

Leo is a newer movie released in 2023 on Netflix. This animated family comedy stars Adam Sandler as the lovable 74-year-old lizard Leo and Bill Burr as his terrarium buddy, Squirtle the turtle. Leo makes his way through the houses of fifth graders, helping them and delaying a long-planned “escape” — only to find out that he doesn’t actually want to leave after all.

Adam Sandler does a remarkable job voicing Leo, though not quite living up to his performance in Hotel Transylvania as Dracula. In this movie, Sandler sings a lot more than he did in the Hotel Transylvania movies. And Bill Burr brings the perfect amount of sarcasm into Squirtle’s character, making him seem like an average adult human in turtle form. His jokes will appeal to older viewers, too. The rest of the cast also includes Sandler’s wife, Jackie, and two daughters, Sunny and Sadie, who also give solid performances.

Somehow, animated musicals seem easier to believe than regular musicals. In live-action, it always seems so random when a character bursts into song, but since the animation is so thoroughly make-believe, it makes more sense. The musical numbers bring a more whimsical and lighthearted element to the story and while many of the songs seem to come out of nowhere, it definitely leaves an impression. One of the most memorable songs in this musical is where Leo sings that the students shouldn’t cry because “it’s really annoying.” Leo sings a number of other evocative songs, such as one about thinking about the things he’d never done before the final year of his life.

The story’s pacing, however, is where the movie isn’t quite as good. The first half of the story is better than the second half, which suffers from poor pacing and loses steam. Some character arcs feel inconsistent and sometimes convoluted and nonsensical, which contribute to a final act that feels rushed at times and slow at others.

The animation has solid visuals and effects, but it’s nothing really unique or special compared to the usual 3D animation you see in every movie. There are a few scenes in which the animation feels inconsistent or out of place. The movie also crams in awkward product placement and cheap visual gags whenever it can. 

But despite the mild animation issues, Leo is a satisfying movie that will please viewers of all ages. It succeeds in the world of comedy, drama, and hilarious kindergarteners that are absolute gold. 

The verdict: 7.5/10

From December 4-8, ORCA students in grades K-8 stepped up to the ballot boxes to vote for their new MS President. The Presidential candidates included Julia, Wilder Adele Kersey, Arabella Mullanix, Emma Davis, and… someone’s cat. 

The student senators brushed it off laughing, regarding the cat’s candidacy as a mere joke. But the cat was serious about it. The cat’s presidential speech and poster found its way into the K-8 Presidential slide and survey.

While the Student Government deemed it only to be a jest, students thoughtfully considered what the cat had to offer. “I liked what the cat said they would do for ORCA,” one student commented. “It seemed like the cat would help our school grow.”

Another student remarked that a non-human president would be a refreshing change.

After hearing about their fellow ORCA student’s opinions, the presidential candidates started to get nervous about their chances of winning the presidency. “The cat was quickly growing in popularity. The chances of winning the election were getting slimmer and slimmer,” Wilder Adele, a candidate for the presidency, informed us. Even the principal of ORCA’s Middle School was growing anxious. 

Finally, after the election passed, the dreaded day came. The results came in… and the cat won. The Presidential candidates were freaking out at this point and they were desperately trying to make up excuses as to why the cat could not be inducted.

It seemed as if the cat was going to be the first middle school president until someone pointed out that the president had to be a student and that being a student’s cat didn’t count.

After that point was made, an emergency election was thrown together and Emma Davis was elected as the very first MS student body President. Students agreed that a president with the power of speech would be better for the school. 

Still, after logging out of live class and finishing their schoolwork, some students still wonder what could have happened if the cat had been inducted into office.

The Current received a number of excellent submissions to the Instrumental Song Contest in December. 

A song titled "Non-binary Code" by Derek M. won the competition. You can hear the winning song by clicking on the audio player on the left. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the contest! Stay tuned for another fun contest coming up next month. 

Usually, in the winter season, we have to bundle up in our warm winter coats and don hats and mittens, but maybe not this year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a government agency that tracks weather, the weather patterns that have held for the last three years changed this year, and we will see a year of “El Niño.”

The term “El Niño” comes from the phrase that fishermen used in the 19th century when a warm ocean current affected their fishing in the region of Peru. The fisherman named the strong and warm current “El Niño,” which is the Spanish phrase for “the Christ child.” They named this weather pattern “El Niño” because it always occurred around the holiday season.  

According to the article "El Niño" by Brittanica Kids, “During El Niño, pressure in the eastern Pacific falls as pressure in the west rises. This shift causes the trade winds to diminish or even reverse direction, which allows the warm water to move eastward toward South America. These combined oceanic and atmospheric changes make up El Niño.” 

With El Niño present this year, we may see higher levels of rain and possible flooding due to the warm, wet weather across the region. Because of the El Niño pattern this winter, there is only one thing left to say: Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

ORCA offers a variety of field trips, both in-person and virtual, to keep students engaged and provide real-world experiences. Let's take a look at some of the field trips coming up in January.

Game Time! (1/12)

Enjoy a fun morning of board games with friends and teachers in Bend. Students from grades K-12 are welcome to bring their own games and socialize with their peers from 10 a.m. to noon. Board games will also be provided there. 

There is an attendee limit of 25, so be sure to RSVP as soon as possible. 

LAIKA Film Studio Presentation (1/17)

Discover the world of stop-motion animation at LAIKA, a movie production studio based in Beaverton, Oregon. 

This virtual event runs from 1-2 p.m., where LAIKA’s Director of Rapid Prototype, Brian McLean, will share the visual journey of how 3D printing has helped revolutionize stop-motion animation. The presentation will delve into more than a decade's worth of creative and technical advancements and groundbreaking animations, including their well-known works such as Coraline, The Boxtrolls, and Missing Link.

ORCA Hangouts (1/26)

Join the monthly ORCA Hangouts for a fun afternoon of games, socialization, and hanging out with friends and teachers in person. This event goes from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for elementary and middle school students and 1-3 p.m. for high school students. 

The field trips listed above are just a few of the many field trips offered by ORCA this November. Make sure to check out the Field Trip Central website 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 New Year's Resolutions Crossword HERE. The clues are listed below:

ACROSS

2. Actively trying to grow your bank account (2 words)

5. An effort to use each hour wisely and limit procrastination (2 words)

6. A plan to go to bed and get up at the same time daily (2 words)

9. A word describing a diet in which people don’t consume any animal products

10. A plan to eat more healthful

11. Tidy and neat

12. A set of actions followed regularly 

13. To go a distance from one destination to another

DOWN

1. Where people write down their thoughts 

3. Something you make every morning only to reverse it every night

4. Specific plans for the future

5. A term used by hardcore readers for a list of books to start reading (3 words)

7. Physical exertion

8. An enjoyable activity that one does in their free time

The answers to the crossword will be published in the February issue of The Current.

Below are the answers to the Winter Crossword from the January Issue of The Current.

ACROSS

2. Kwanzaa = A holiday based on traditional harvest festivals from various parts of Africa

6. New Years Eve = The last day of the year (3 words)

7. Olympics = An international sporting event held once every four years

8. Hot cocoa = A warm chocolate beverage associated with cozy winter feelings (2 words)

10. Christmas = A holiday when Santa Clause leaves presents under a decorated tree

11. Snowflake = A feathery ice crystal

DOWN

1. Hockey = It’s like lacrosse on ice

3. Winter Solstice = The longest night of the year and the first day of winter

4. Hanukkah = A Jewish holiday that lasts eight days

5. Sledding = Sliding down a snowy hill

9. Frosty = The name of a talking snowman

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.

What are some ways to gain experience in school for college or a job?

~ Needa L. Otto-Help

Thank you for submitting a wonderful question, and great job planning for the future! There are many ways to get involved at ORCA and gain experience for college or a job, and you likely can refine your skills through activities you already do. Here are some ideas:

• Find a club, hobby, or passion project. For example, a debate club or a business communications class would be great ways to practice speaking in front of large groups while staying professional and organized. Even leading an art or writing club can teach you valuable collaboration and management skills, and learning more about your hobby and continually practicing it can teach commitment.

• Practice organization and note-taking skills. These are great for keeping track of scholarships, job interviews, and class schedules, as well as your important documents, forms, spreadsheets, and so on.

• Get involved in leadership roles. ORCA offers many outlets, each with their own unique benefits: NHS/NJHS, Student Government, & ASCEND chapters. 

• Community service is another way to grow your leadership skills. Volunteering at your local library, animal shelter, or other community-based services can teach you a vast variety of skills, prepare you for the responsibility of a job, and be an experience you can list on a resume. Examples of service-based organizations here at ORCA are ORCA Cares & NHS.

• If you are interested in a particular career path, look into the ASCEND Career & Technical Education program. You can get industry-recognized credentials while in high school, and pursue work-based learning! 

• Get involved in Peer Tutoring. Whether you tutor a subject, receive tutoring to keep up with studies, or a mix of both, the skills learned in this environment can prepare you for study groups in college or team projects in a job.  

• Practice your reading skills! Reading is an important skill to have for college, for a career, and for life. Reading for at least 30 minutes a day – whether it’s a magazine, news article, novel, graphic novel, or even audiobook – will boost your reading skills. You can practice speaking and reading aloud to help prepare for any future interviews as well. 

• Finally, reach out to leaders at ORCA! Whether they be your Student Government representatives, NHS officers, The Current, or even a teacher you admire, they can each give you personalized advice about how to get involved. 

We’re excited to see your new skills in action! 

ORCA’s NHS & NJHS 

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