April 2025

With the 97th Academy Awards airing just weeks ago, now is the perfect time to commemorate the films and shows that Oregon Charter Academy enjoyed the most in 2024. 

The Current is proud to announce the fourth annual Oregon Charter Academy Awards, The Orcas, will be taking place this April. Our team of writers will make the nominations, and the school will decide the winners. Which films and TV shows will be taking home the legendary Golden Orcas?

You can check out last year’s winners here.

As always, this year’s criteria include that the piece of media has a school-appropriate rating and was first released some time in 2024. Nominees are listed below:

Best Picture

Avery Khoury: Wicked 

Based on the Broadway play, this musical film tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good, when they were in school, known as Elphaba Thropp and Galinda Upland. Elphaba’s green skin makes her an immediate outcast, and Galinda is the pretty, popular girl that everyone wants to be. When they enroll in Shiz University, they start off as enemies, but after circumstances make them roommates, the two girls become best friends, realizing that there is more to both of them than meets the eye. But the story doesn’t end there…

Lux R.: The Wild Robot

A science fiction animated movie based on the novel written by Peter Brown. The story follows a robot named Roz who was lost during a shipment and washed up on a remote island. She learns to adapt to the wilderness and becomes friends with all the animals after learning about them. After a collision on a cliff, she becomes a mother to a gosling and begins a journey to help the baby bird fly. By the end, she learns that love holds a special place in one’s heart. Does she stay the gosling’s mother after he finds out what happened to his mother? And what other dangers await?

Annalaina Y.: Sonic the Hedgehog 3

Inspired by the classic video game character first seen on the Sega Genesis in the late 1900s, Sonic the Hedgehog 3 is the third film of the series (with the fourth already underway). As in the previous two movies, there is a constant quarrel between Sonic and the forces of evil. From the console to the big screen, the third installment opens with nostalgia, followed by pain that Shadow—voiced by Keanu Reeves—feels after losing his human friend, Maria. After being confined for 50 years after the incident, Shadow’s pain blinds him into accepting Professor Robotnik’s grandfather’s plan to get revenge on the human race. With time ticking down and cracks developing in Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles’ relationship, will they get there in time to give humanity another chance?

Best Show

Lily Dixon: A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Pippa Fitz-Amobi has kept tabs on the Singh family since their involvement in a tragic accident that led to the death of a high school girl. The whole town labeled them as murderers, but without any proof, the police have never been able to close the case. So, when Pippa’s Senior Capstone Project arrives, she commits to uncovering the truth and proving the Singh family are innocent. The problem for her? If she’s right about the killer still being out there—she’s in trouble too. 

Lux Reames: Young Love

Millennial parents, Stephan—a passionate music producer trying to make his presence seen—and Angela Young—a dedicated hairstylist recovering from a traumatic health scare—navigate through the joys and challenges of raising their young daughter, Zuri. While balancing their careers, families and lives, they raise their daughter with love and a passion to help her achieve her dreams. They go through their daily life with humor despite the challenges of being a modern black family and the struggles that go hand and hand with that. 

Wilder K.: Agatha All Along

Starring Katherine Hayn, Aubrey Plaza, and Joe Locke, Agatha All Along follows the resolute Agatha Harkness as she moves past the events of Westview, a town from a previous Marvel series titled WandaVision. Her goal remains unchanged, as she seeks to regain her lost powers while exploring the secrets of the Darkhold, a book of evil spells.

Vote in this form (open to both ORCA students and staff) to decide which nominated movies and TV shows are most deserving of winning the third-ever Orcas!

The United Nations dedicated April 2 as World Autism Awareness day, and Autism Awareness as a month-long celebration. Throughout the month, people can support the cause by donating resources for individuals with autism. This month is dedicated to increasing awareness, recognizing people’s lives with the condition and supporting individuals as they navigate through struggles and learn more about themselves. It is also a time to celebrate and accept people with differences.   

Bernard Rimland, a psychologist and autism researcher, played a crucial role in designating April as Autism Awareness Month. He chose the month because it was his autistic son’s birthday month and the start of spring, which represents new beginnings. To show support for Autism Awareness you can wear blue, the official color of the month. Additionally, the autism symbol is a puzzle ribbon, which was chosen in 1999, or a puzzle heart featuring the colors of yellow, blue, red, and purple. 

Now that you know about this month-long event, what exactly is autism? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disability that affects people in many different ways. Some people with ASD might have trouble with social interaction, repetitive behaviors, or verbal and nonverbal communication. Autism is different for everyone and each individual with autism has different challenges and strengths. In the U.S., most people are diagnosed with the disability around the age of five, though signs can be noticed as early as two or three. ASD is broken down into three levels, and each level decides how much help and support an individual might need. 

“A great way that ORCA students can help support Autism Awareness is by joining in on local opportunities that may be going on throughout the month,” explains Allie Meyer, a middle school counselor at ORCA. “One example is participating in an Autism Walk. The walks take place April through July. Students can also help support by wearing blue and spreading as much kindness as possible.” 

For more information about Autism Awareness, you can visit the Autism Society and  Autism Speaks. Both organizations include helpful information about Autism Awareness. 

Eight students took part in the 2025 Oregon HOSA State Leadership Conference (SLC) and demonstrated their health knowledge through a mix of hands-on and online activities, competing against 880 students across the state. 

HOSA is a student organization dedicated to future healthcare leaders. 

Hosted in Portland, the SLC brought together health students in many different pathways, ranging from dental practices to medical readings. 

Three Oregon Charter Academy HOSA students placed in the top three in their respective categories, earning them a ticket to Nashville where the HOSA International Leadership Conference (ILC) will be held in June. Over the course of the weekend, Tennessee’s capital will welcome over 12,000 students from all over the world. 

The ILC will provide an invaluable opportunity for ORCA’s top finishers to network with healthcare professionals, experience other cultures and perspectives, and compete at the highest level. The prospect of students’ professional development excites both Dr. Elizabeth Washak and Amy Lee, the advisors of HOSA and also the teachers in attendance at the SLC.

“Competing at HOSA not only sharpens our students’ medical skills but also exposes them to industry leaders and peers from across the country,” said Dr. Washak. “These experiences are invaluable as they prepare for their future careers in healthcare.”

Sophomore Gracey P. placed first in Dental Science, while Brooklynn A., a Junior,  secured third, making the cut for the Medical Assisting competition at the ILC. 

Additionally, ORCA Junior Grace C. outperformed other Oregon students in three categories, bringing home a first-place finish followed by two second-place finishes. She beat out all others in the Medical Reading category, then went on to dominate her way to a second place in Human Growth & Development and another in World Health & Disparities.

“Attending SLC with a group of some of the most supportive and passionate students was an unforgettable experience! I'm incredibly grateful for all the encouragement from my HOSA advisors and chapter members,” Grace C. describes. “Beyond the competition, I loved meeting students from across the state and bonding with a larger ORCA HOSA group this year. We got to cheer each other on, learn together as leaders and teammates, and celebrate our successes!”

“We couldn’t be prouder of how our students represented both Oregon Charter Academy and themselves,” said Ms. Lee. “Their commitment and determination truly showed throughout the competition.”

HOSA is currently recruiting its next generation of health professionals and invites all interested high school students to apply and join a group of dedicated medical students united by the mission of helping others.

For more details, follow the link to the ASCEND Career Technical Education Student Organization page. Additionally, the program will be hosting an information session on April 18 at 9 a.m. in the HOSA Zoom room.

Hannah Ma, The Current’s former Editor-in-Chief – affectionately known as "Editor-in-Country" and the club’s resident cowgirl – is moving on to the next chapter of her life. As she balances her aspirations in journalism with college life at Portland Community College (PCC), she reflects on the lessons she learned at ORCA and the impact of her time in Newspaper Club.

Returning to the Newspaper Club’s Zoom room, Ma found herself surrounded by familiar faces she hadn’t seen since high school. The experience brought a familiar nostalgia of the tight-knit community she built during her time at ORCA, reinforcing the lasting connections she made.

How has the transition from online high school to in-person college affected her?

Having spent her high school years in an online setting, Ma found the transition to college surprisingly seamless. Her familiarity with online platforms and digital coursework gave her an edge in a college environment where assignments are submitted electronically, and tools like Excel are frequently used in her business studies.

“I think at ORCA and in The Current, I’ve learned a lot of skills like being able to organize my time, manage my time, and prioritize my tasks because there’s a lot of things going on at once,” Ma explains. “You have many classes and many extracurriculars, and if you have a job, it’s a lot to manage.”

While she expected academic rigor, she was taken aback by the sheer number of opportunities available. “I’m still trying to figure it all out, because there’s so many clubs and so many things that I want to do. But, there’s only so much time to do all of it,” she says. The scale of postsecondary education, with its vast resources and specialized coursework, has been a welcome challenge for her. 

How has her experience in journalism connected to her endeavors in business?

Although she’s currently studying business and management, Ma sees clear connections between her major and her writing and editing background.

“Communication and people skills… is a very crucial skill in journalism and also a crucial skill in business, because you’re working with so many different kinds of people,” she states. “And sometimes you’re working with difficult people, so you have to kind of be able to… communicate and deal with those kinds of situations effectively.”

She also highlights the shared emphasis on deadlines, accountability, and adaptability in both fields.

“A lot of things that I love about journalism, I also love about business. I love being able to work with people, and write and communicate,” she continues. “I’m naturally a very curious person, I’m always asking questions like, ‘Why is this happening?,’ ‘How is this happening?,’ So, journalism is a very cool way to quench that thirst for knowledge, and you have the chance to experience… different kinds of people that you probably would have never had the opportunity to do without.”

For Ma, business offers a similar storytelling element – except instead of writing about biopics or spirit week, she’s learning to navigate and communicate with clients and business professionals.

How has she continued with her passions of journalism in a busy college environment?

Though she isn’t actively pursuing journalism at the moment, Ma hopes to return to writing. She has looked into reviving The Bridge, PCC’s former student newspaper that shut down during COVID due to a lack of resources, but knows the difficulty of bringing back a big organization. While she acknowledges the challenge, she remains hopeful, especially with a committee currently working to bring the paper back.

In the meantime, she has joined the Journalism Club, though she describes it as an empty shell. “Journalism is definitely on my mind as I go through college again; I’d love to get back into it.”

Reflecting on her time at The Current, Ma introduces new members to inside jokes and shares stories from her years in the club. She advises aspiring journalists to step outside their comfort zones and explore different writing styles.

“Be open to trying different things: try writing a recap, try writing an opinion article or a review, and that’s the way you get to kind of develop a more well-rounded skill set in writing different kinds of things.”

She discusses the importance of developing a journalistic voice, giving readers a source to trust and look to for entertainment. 

“If you want to go into journalism in the future, then you kind of start building your portfolio in Newspaper Club. It’s a really great opportunity, because you have more flexibility.” She expands on students’ opportunity to venture out of their comfort category, writing something off the beaten path of their usual beat to gain experience. 

She credits The Current staff for shaping her as a writer, providing her with guidance and experience that will serve her well in the future.

How is she adjusting to college life? 

The transition from online school to in-person learning has been both exciting and challenging for Ma. “The funny thing is… during your last 2 years of high school, you tend to feel very settled and comfortable with every aspect of school.”

“But then, suddenly, when you’re a freshman, it’s kind of a unique experience.” First year students go from “knowing everybody and knowing everything about what you’re doing to knowing absolutely nothing.”

Making connections in person has been a welcome change after years of online learning, but some habits have been hard to break. Ma jokes about struggling to remember names without Zoom’s name tags to rely on.

She also acknowledges the difficulty of maintaining friendships from high school but believes that putting in the effort to reach out keeps those relationships strong. A lesson from her dad resonates with her: There’s something to take from every relationship and connection, no matter how quickly fleeting it was.

Where does she see herself in the future?

As for her future plans, Ma is keeping her options open. While she’s completing her general education courses at PCC, she’s considering transferring to Oregon State University, the University of Oregon, or Pacific University.

She acknowledges the prerequisites required to transfer and is actively taking classes to fulfil those requirements. They include Statistics, Intro to Excel, Public Speaking, and Data Analytics – courses she wasn’t expecting but has embraced.

Her math courses have been surprisingly helpful in her business ventures specifically when calculating values like marginal profits or marginal costs, or when thinking about how to price products to maximize revenue. 

Math hasn’t always been her strongest subject, but she now sees its practical applications. She encourages ORCA students to find value in their math classes because her teacher Mrs. Leifer’s saying has held true: math really is important. 

Outside of academics, she’s considering joining an Accounting Club or tutoring Statistics, though she’s taking her time settling into college life. She also hopes to see an Investing Club form at PCC in the future. 

Jogging back to her high school memories, Ma brings up the age-old debate: Is a hot dog a sandwich? It has become her go-to icebreaker in college conversations.

“I think it is part of my life’s purpose to get down to business and really get to the bottom of the situation. I think the whole ‘is a hot dog a sandwich’ debate is going to be the topic of my dissertation, if I ever write one.”

What impact has she made and how does she see the next ten years of her life?

As she moves forward, Ma remains a dedicated reader of The Current and is eager to see the club continue to grow. She leaves the new writers with one final piece of advice: remember the right line spacing for articles because she will notice when she’s reading the paper with her morning coffee.

When asked if she would change anything about her ORCA experience, she doesn’t hesitate to say no.

“ORCA has been a really special place for me. I’ve spent 13 years of my life going here. I started kindergarten at ORCA and I graduated from ORCA. In a sense, it feels like my home… I couldn’t really imagine doing it any other way.”

Looking back, she sees how much she has grown as a student, writer, and person. 

“I think I’m a very different person now as a freshman starting college than I was four years ago as a freshman starting high school. I think that I’ve learned to grow out of my shell a little bit. I’ve also learned to embrace and be comfortable with change.”

“And I think the fact that I joined The Current, is probably the best decision I made in high school. No, I guess… ever,” Ma finishes. 

“I will always be supporting The Current. It has been such a special part of my high school years. I don’t think I will ever forget that.”

In January, two ORCA students began the two-month process of competing in an event called Poetry Out Loud. This competition gathers students from around the state of Oregon to share their creative work, competing through a series of regional and state-wide rounds.

“Poetry Out Loud is a space where students demonstrate tremendous courage,” explains Ms. Steph Imig, a Language Arts teacher who has advised ORCA’s poets for several years. “It is so inspiring to witness students find their own voice at the same time that they celebrate the voice of the poem.”

The journey began right after Winter Break, when ORCA students were invited to curate and recite their best poetry selections at the school’s Wilsonville office. This event offered them an opportunity to advance to the next round of the Oregon contest. Senna Alnasser and Dulce Wiles placed first and second, respectively, earning their spots in the State Semifinals.

They continued their success at the State Semifinals and qualified for the State Finals at the Grand Theater in Salem on March 8. Eleven students from across Oregon participated in the final event of Poetry Out Loud, and ORCA made a strong showing with two representatives, Alnasser and Wiles, a record for the school.

Ms. Imig describes the competition at the State Finals as “phenomenal.” Alnasser advanced to the final round, ultimately placing in the top five in the state. With her participation this year, she became the first ORCA student to compete in Poetry Out Loud for all four years of high school.

"I am so proud of Dulce and Senna. Their poetry recitations were beautiful. It was incredible to be a part of their journey over the last several years,” Ms. Imig adds. “Dulce and Senna are both graduating and will be missed, but it will also be fun to see which ORCA students decide to pick up the Poetry Out Loud mantle."

Every year, the Portland Workforce Alliance gathers 6,000 students from over 75 high schools in Oregon and Southwest Washington to participate in the Northwest Youth Careers Expo. The event consists of mock interviews, a community celebration breakfast, and over 200 colleges, employers, and partners representing healthcare, business, technology, and more.

This year, on March 19th, students from Oregon Charter Academy attended the Expo, immersing themselves in career exploration and meeting professionals in fields like healthcare and technology. 

From 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., students went from table to table, learning about how to create informed plans for potential careers and hearing about the experiences of top professionals. Engaging with employers and experienced exhibitors is a valuable experience; according to the Portland Workforce Alliance’s 2025 Expo Resource Guide, the event “shows students the region’s amazing diversity of career opportunities, and offers information on the skills and education needed for those jobs.”

Students in the ASCEND program or who wish to view more information on different career fields can keep an eye out for details on how to attend the 2026 NW Youth Careers Expo and future PWA Career Days.

On March 10, ORCA students were given a chance to listen to Don Pettit, a veteran NASA astronaut currently orbiting the Earth from the International Space Station. This live broadcast was seen on multiple NASA sites, including NASA TV, NASA Live, and their website. 

Select students were given a window of opportunity to record themselves asking a question for Pettit to answer, with the goal of gaining further insight into the captivating career and daily life of an orbiting astronaut. 

Questions about the International Space Station’s features, space sights, personal experiences and advice permeated the broadcast. One student asked if any of the crew on the International Space Station had seen — with the naked eye or telescope — any planets. “We’ve seen Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn…and don’t forget, we’ve seen planet Earth as well,” Pettit responded. “And we use our telephoto lenses [and] we’ve been able to see the ice caps on Mars, rings around Saturn, and belts on Jupiter.”

Another student asked Pettit why there is no gravity in space. “Actually, there is gravity. The gravity here on Space Station is about twelve to thirteen percent less than on the surface of Earth,” Pettit responded. “However, our orbital motion cancels the local effect of gravity. So you appear to be without gravity, even though you really are well within gravity.” Pettit also went on to say that they prefer the term “weightless” and not zero gravity. 

Throughout the conversation, Pettit gave advice to those seeking a future with NASA and space science and studies. “Study all the cool stuff…and I’m talking about math, science, engineering,” Pettit said. “And when you pop out at the other end from university, then think about applying to NASA and becoming an astronaut. You can arm wrestle me for my job.”

Don Pettit covered all the questions asked by fellow ORCA students, adding his own flair of humor along with his answers and counsel. 

Following the event, The Portland Tribune interviewed two Portland-based ORCA students to hear their experience of asking an astronaut questions. Grace C., a junior, discusses her passion to work in aerospace medicine and Valy L. discusses the feeling of connecting with an astronaut and how “normal” it feels. To view the interview, follow this link. You can also read the Tribune coverage about this event here.

Earth Day, first celebrated on April 22, 1970, is an annual holiday that recognizes environmental achievements and raises awareness about the importance of preserving the planet’s natural resources for the future. 

Since its inception in the 1970s, Earth Day has become a national holiday that many people celebrate and take part in. The awareness day isn’t just about donating and reducing the use of harmful products – it's also about educating people on the importance of protecting our planet for future generations. 

Many human activities, including oil companies drilling on land that is meant to stay untouched, harm the planet and wildlife. Drilling for oil can cause a number of problems such as greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills, water and air pollution, and habitat damage. Not only does oil drilling affect the environment, but it can also affect humans, leading to safety and health concerns for workers. Additionally, landfills produce harmful gases that pollute the air and water, further contributing to environmental damage.

Since 1970, people around the world have celebrated and protested on Earth Day. The theme for 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet, chosen to encourage the use of renewable energy and to inspire future generations to participate in the use of clean energy. 

Did you know that April is National Exercise Month? Throughout the month, events like National Walk Day—a day dedicated to going outside and getting fresh air—and National Exercise Day encourage people to stay active.

April is also recognized as Physical Wellness Month and National Sports Month, so how did the month become a catalyst for health advocacy? Well, it all started with The American Heart Association, which campaigned for Move More Month. 

National Exercise Month is dedicated to promoting a healthy lifestyle specifically for those who have had heart attacks before or suffer from heart disease. Heart disease is a serious medical condition that can affect your everyday life and your longevity, so it’s important for those diagnosed to be physically active. 

Exercise is one of the best ways to prevent and combat heart disease. For those who have experienced a heart attack before, exercise can help with recovery and decrease the chances of having another. 

While National Exercise Month focuses on heart health, the benefits of movement apply to everyone. Exercise benefits both mental and physical health and additionally improves cardiovascular health, lowers blood pressure, strengthens the heart, and reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes.

That being said, exercise isn’t the only factor that contributes to a healthy lifestyle; a good diet is important too.

“Our bodies are meant to be in motion, even just going for a walk in the sun is a great start and should be an important part of your day,” says ORCA health teacher Robin Bender. “Incorporating a healthy eating style is important as well, read those labels on the items you are eating! If you cannot pronounce an ingredient, you probably should not eat that item.” 

You can still enjoy an occasional treat, but in moderation. According to healthline.com, indulging in junk food now and then is perfectly fine, as long as it is balanced with a healthy diet. There are loads of upsides to eating healthily including increased lifespan, resistance to disease, improved digestion, and healthier bones, skin, teeth and eyes. 

Participating in Move More Month events not only shows your support for anyone who has struggled with heart disease, but also improves your own well-being. Interested in learning more about National Exercise Month? Visit heart.org to learn about how you can participate.

Have you ever heard of the Pinocchio paradox?

If not, here are the basics. Pinocchio, the wooden boy, has this little quirk: Every time he lies, his nose grows. Simple enough, right? Now, Pinocchio says, “My nose is about to grow.” And that’s where the logical challenge starts.

Try to wrap your head around this:
When he lies, his nose grows. So, if he says his nose is about to grow and it doesn’t, that would make his statement a lie, causing his nose to grow. But… if his nose does grow, then his statement is actually true! But if it’s true, then he didn’t lie, meaning his nose shouldn’t have grown in the first place. And boom. You’re stuck in an endless logical loop.

Now, that’s what happens when you try to reason with a paradox. You spin around in circles, wasting precious time you could be doing… Well, literally anything else.

Here’s a few more logic bombs:

• If I say it’s opposite day, is it really opposite day?

• If a time traveler went back in time and handed Beethoven a copy of Moonlight Sonata to publish as his own, who’s the true composer?

So, what’s the point here? That, dear reader, is exactly what happens when you apply cold, hard logic to everything in life. You’ll end up like Pinocchio: overthinking and overanalyzing yourself into oblivion. You start applying so much logic that you forget to leave room for imagination and creativity, which is where the real magic happens.

These questions don’t just twist your brain into a knot; they illustrate the point that endless logical analysis can trap you in a place where creativity can’t breathe. You’re thinking so hard about what could be right that you forget the joy of what could be different.

Here’s the thing— logic is helpful in moderation, but too much of it is a creativity killer. You can’t think your way to new ideas if you’re too busy trying to figure out why the idea you just had might not make perfect sense. Sometimes, you need to step outside of that box of reason and be weird— like, throw-on-your-pajamas-to-go-to-the-store weird. Because common sense isn’t actually as common as it’s made out to be. In fact, it’s often overrated. You might miss out on your best ideas just by sticking to the “logical” approach. You know, the one that’s always telling you to stay inside the lines and avoid mistakes.

Weirdly, mistakes are where the real breakthroughs happen. Coca-Cola was originally marketed as a medicine. Fudge was a mishap on the baker’s end when attempting to make caramel. Potato chips were invented by an angry chef when a customer said his French fries were too thick.

You can’t innovate by staying stuck in your little logical loop, trying to make sense of everything. Sometimes, the most beautiful, weirdest ideas are the ones that don’t fit neatly into a pattern. They’re the ones that are unexpected, offbeat, and just a little nonsensical. Just like the Pinocchio paradox— they don’t follow the rules, and maybe that’s exactly what makes them brilliant.

So, stop trying to make sense of everything. Let the weirdness in. Because, let’s face it, if you’re always analyzing everything to death, you’re not leaving much room for the magic. Creativity thrives on the illogical, the spontaneous, the “what ifs” that don’t have to be justified by reason. 

Let’s close with one of the most mind-twisting paradoxes: If you have an old wooden ship and replace every single board as it rots, is it still the same ship once every single part has been swapped out?

After a strong start to the spring season, ORCA Esports teams are pushing for continued success, locking in wins and solidifying their standings as the postseason looms.

The Stardust Crusaders, competing in Overwatch 2, secured two wins but suffered a single loss, dropping from ninth to #13 out of 77 teams in the rankings with a 4-1 record. They remain in the upper quartile and are determined to clinch a playoff spot, keeping their championship hopes alive.

Esports’ first Super Smash Bros. team, The Edge Guards, holds a 2-2 record on the season and are ranked #88 out of 139 teams. Meanwhile, ORCA Smash Team 2 is battling through a learning curve, taking a few losses in March to end the month with a 1-4 record. They’re currently sitting as the #109 seed. They’ll need to rally in the coming weeks to regain the momentum they had in the Fall 2024 season to change their trajectory in time to make a playoff berth.

In their debut season, ORCA’s Marvel Rivals team is staying in the mix at #51 of 110 teams. With a 2-3 record, they remain in contention for the postseason – will they make a statement in their debut season?

The Silly Gooses, ORCA’s only League of Legends team, are on their way to glory, proving to be fierce competition with a #16 ranking out of 46 teams and four wins to a mere two losses to show for it.

ORCA’s Rocket League program features three teams with varying success to start the season. Rocket League 1 leads the group’s standings at #18 with a 3-2 record, whereas The GGS faces an uphill battle, recovering from 1-4 and a #58 out of 84 teams. Their final team, ORCA Rocket League 3 holds up the middle of the pack at #41 with two wins and three losses.

Individually, Rocket League player Christopher Winslow stood out in March, placing fourth in the Top 5 for Goals Per Shot percentage, outpacing the fifth-place finisher from Riverton High School in Utah by a firm 8.8%.

With playoff spots still up for grabs, ORCA Esports athletes are gearing up for a final push, determined to end the season on a high note and carry momentum into 2025-2026 seasons.

Want to dive deeper into the ORCA Esports program and the games they compete in? Stay tuned for the results in the May issue.

Language is a funny thing. One day, you’re reading Pride and Prejudice, and the next, you’re scrolling through a meme about someone getting “bodied” in an argument, “slaying” a dance challenge, or just “vibing” in general.

Ah, English. Once the majestic tongue of Shakespeare and Milton, now a buffet of acronyms, emoji combinations, and an ever-growing list of ways to say “that’s terrible” without ever actually saying it.

In this brave new world of conversational chaos, one can’t help but wonder: When did "cool" become an acceptable substitute for a thoughtful description? When did we stop talking to each other and start communicating exclusively in shorthand? And, more importantly, why are we letting slang take over?

The Rise of Slang: A Love Story for the Ages

Let’s start with the basics: slang. It’s everywhere. You know it’s true because you’ve probably used it in the last five minutes without even realizing. “Lit.” “Bruh.” “Bet.” It’s like English turned into an Instagram caption that never ends. And while these new words may seem harmless (perhaps even fun), they’re not exactly helping you land that high-paying job or impress your grandma at Thanksgiving dinner.

Here’s the thing: the more we rely on these shortened, meme-worthy phrases, the more we let language lose its nuance. Slang is like fast food for your vocabulary—it’s quick, it's accessible, and it’s definitely not doing much for your intellectual digestion. But let’s be honest, we all love a good “savage” retort or a “no cap” confession, even if it makes us sound like we skipped the last few decades of linguistic evolution.

Bad Insults: Dude, Stop Cursing. You’re Insulting My Intelligence

Insults have lost their spark. What used to be a clever battle of wits has now devolved into lazy, vulgar jabs. The art of a well-constructed insult—one that makes you think and laugh—is nearly extinct. Today, it seems like the go-to response is just cursing or throwing out a quick, uncreative remark like “idiot” or “moron.” Seriously, which is going to make you feel worse— someone cursing at you or someone telling you that they’ve seen salad that dresses better than you?

This shift says more about the speaker than the target. When someone resorts to simple, unrefined insults, they’re not just failing to make a point — they’re being lazy. It’s as if they’ve given up on crafting a sharp, intelligent response, opting instead for the easiest and least imaginative way to lash out.

Real insults used to be sharp, witty, and thought-provoking. They challenged the person on the receiving end, often turning the tables with a clever retort. But now, in our fast-paced, online world, insults have become little more than noise. They’re lazy. They’re sad. And they make the person dishing them out look more ignorant than the one being insulted. So next time someone calls you names with no thought behind them, just remember: it's not you they're insulting—it's their own lack of creativity.

Real English? Sorry, It’s on Vacation

Now, here’s the kicker. Have you noticed that nobody really uses real English anymore? The kind where people complete their sentences, conjugate verbs correctly, and don’t leave the entire conversation sounding like a cryptic Twitter thread? In the midst of all this slang and shortcut language, who has the time for proper grammar or articulate expression? Certainly not the average person texting their friends “yo, u up?”

But don’t worry—Language Arts classes are here to save us with proper English! You know, diagramming sentences, knowing how to properly cite sources in MLA format, and memorizing the exact rules for using commas. The real stuff. Apparently, we were supposed to carry that knowledge into adulthood, but instead, it’s been buried beneath layers of "lit" and "fam" like an ancient relic nobody’s bothered to dig up.

Sure, your 9th-grade English teacher might’ve enthusiastically insisted that "mastering language" would help you “express yourself clearly.” But what did they know? They didn’t foresee the rise of social media, where precision and accuracy are replaced with hashtags, abbreviations, and gifs. In today’s world, communication is less about clarity and more about getting the message across as fast as possible—preferably with an emoji in the mix.

So, What Does It All Mean?

At the end of the day, language is evolving. And it’s not just changing; it’s going through an extreme makeover. Slang is here to stay, bad insults are oddly effective, and no one seems to care that nobody uses proper English anymore. Maybe it's because, deep down, we’ve all given up on "correct" language and opted for something more... fun? After all, why say “I will see you tomorrow” when you can just text “see ya”? It’s quicker, more to the point, and definitely more “lit.”

But let’s be real for a second: If we’re going to continue this linguistic experiment, let’s just remember that proper English isn’t dead. It’s just taking a nap. And who knows? Maybe one day, the grammar gods will come back to smite us for all those sentence fragments.

But for now, just enjoy the ride. We’re all “vibing” together, whether we like it or not.

The printable version of The Current’s Science Fiction Crossword can be found HERE. All clues are listed below.

ACROSS

1. A film series created by George Lucas featuring lightsabers and the Force. (2 words)

4. Red pill or blue pill, choice in a cyberpunk world.

7. Science fiction novel by Orson Scott Card, featuring a child commander.

9. The name of the city in Jeanne DuPrau’s lesser-known but genre-defining dystopian novel, featuring characters such as Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet.

10. ____ Park: Dinosaurs, mosquitos, frogs, and, coincidentally, Jeff Goldblum. 

DOWN

1. The first version of this space series is made up of a crew from all across the world (and one from outer space). The voyagers in this sci-fi classic travel across the galaxy in the spaceship USS Enterprise, led by the ever-capable Captain Kirk. (2 words)

2. A movie franchise that kicks off with the crew of a commercial spacecraft waking up from their cryo-sleep to investigate a distress call from an extraterrestrial vessel.

3. 2001, A ___ _____. A film by Stanley Kubrick. (2 words)

5. A 2022 film directed by Shawn Levy that forces Adam Reed to team up with his twelve-year-old self in order to save the world from time travel. (3 words)

6.  A movie about a morbidly bloody reality TV show that throws 24 teens into an arena and forces them to fight to the death, based off of the wildly popular novel by Suzanne Collins. (2 words)

8. Epic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert set on a desert planet, recently adapted into two films.

11. 2009 film directed by James Cameron, set on the moon Pandora.

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

Below are the answers to the Niche Colors Crossword from the issue February of The Current.

ACROSS

1. Apricot = A shade of orange. Also a stone fruit.

3. Aqua = Latin for ‘water’. Also, blue.

5. Zomp = Kinda blue-grey-greenish. Rhymes with  ‘swamp’.

6. Burgundy = A region in France. Reddish.

8. Hazel = Third-most common eye color. A tree, but also a nut and a shade of brown.

10. Mauvelous = How British people pronounce ‘marvelous’, and pink.

12. Viridian = Shade of green, also a city from the Pokemon region of Kanto.

14. Almond = A tree nut, kind of tan. Smells like cyanide.

DOWN

2.  Orange = Second color of the rainbow. A pre-sliced fruit. (Hint: This is not a niche color.)
4. Azure = The color between cyan and blue. Think ‘sky’.

7. Denim = The blue fabric jeans are usually made out of.

8. Harlequin = Bright green color. Name of a frog. Where the Joker’s girlfriend got the inspiration for her name.

9. Bashful = Steel Magnolias: “My colors are blush and _______.”

11. Brat = Charli xcx, it’s a ____ summer. 

13. Red = First color of the rainbow. Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album.

ORCA has many in-person and virtual events for students in all grade levels to attend heading into the spring months. There are several opportunities for families all across the state during the month of April. 

Japanese Internment Guest Speaker (4/10)

This is a virtual opportunity for high school students to join the AP US History class for a presentation held by a guest speaker. The event will run from 10:00-10:50 a.m., and will give students the chance to learn about the experience of being at a Japanese internment camp during World War II. 

MS Swing Into Spring Social (4/18)

This semi-formal event is for middle schoolers to socialize with their peers in person, much like high school’s winter social event. The social, taking place between 4 to 6 p.m. will have dancing, games, and music. For more information and the location of the event, please refer to Field Trip Central. 

5th Grade Outdoor School (4/25)

This annual event for 5th graders will be held in Oregon City from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is a drop-off event, and students will get the chance to explore fun, hands-on activities and hang out with other 5th grade students as they spend time learning outdoors. 

ORCA Prom (4/26)

ORCA’s annual prom will be held in Salem, from 6-9 p.m. It is open to all of high school and students will get to listen to music, dance, and socialize with classmates, as well as dress up in formal attire. The theme is starry night, so be sure to wear your best galaxy-inspired outfits. 

These are just a few of the field trips that are happening in the month of April. To get more information and to RSVP, check out the Field Trip Central.