March 2025

Prom is right around the corner, and this year’s theme, announced by the high school Student Government, is “Starry Night.” Seniors voted in the months prior for the theme, and “Starry Night” was chosen as the winner. Prom will be hosted from 6-9 p.m. on April 26.

There will be music, snacks, a photo booth, and, of course, dancing. All ORCA high school students are invited and may bring one guest from another registered high school. A permission slip is required and can be found on Field Trip Central.

Details are coming soon to the Field Trip Central, as well as a prom announcement in the video newsletter, so stay tuned for more information. If you are interested in attending, fill out the RSVP form once it becomes available.

ORCA’s annual Spirit Week, hosted by the HS Student Government, kicked off on Monday, February 24, setting the stage for five days of school pride, creative theme interpretations, and out-of-this-world outfits.

Students were challenged to bring their A-game, dressing to impress for a chance to be featured in the monthly newsletter and win a prize. Judged by Student Government, two submissions will win per theme and winners will be announced the week of March 3. 

On Monday, students rummaged through their closets to find clashing patterns and textures to curate the perfect mis-matched outfit, either looking like they’re attempting high fashion or perhaps that all their clothes are in the laundry and they’ve had to work with what remained. 

Tuesday’s theme begged for the opposite — complete symmetry on the color spectrum. Students were asked to dress in all one color, creating the illusion that their clothing pieces blended together. 

Whether from university-bound seniors or college sports fans, Wednesday saw lots of college spirit with many students repping University of Oregon and Oregon State University gear. Beavers versus Ducks debates erupted in classes, but all were united by the promotion of higher education. Teachers repped their alma maters, and some seniors took the chance to announce their future schools in style.

Thursday’s outer space theme was a stellar success, giving students a sneak peek at ORCA’s 2025 prom, Starry Night. From astronauts and aliens to galaxy prints, the school felt like a scene straight out of Star Wars. 

The last day saw pop culture brought to life. Scooby Doo detectives, Hogwarts wizards and witches, and 2000s characters like Cher Horowitz from Clueless popped up in Zoom calls, bringing widely praised movies and series to life. 

Student Government President Emily Pennington summed it up best: “We love seeing all of the submissions that come in and the more participation we have in this incredible event, the more fun it becomes! I hope that ORCA's student body enjoys the themes we have for this year's Spirit Week! I think that they are some of Student Government's best themes yet!" 

Be sure to look out for the winners announced in the monthly newsletter.

At the March 21 HS hangout, a new opportunity to receive used books – Pages & Pals – will be introduced. Students attending the event are encouraged to bring books to donate at the event. 

Students will have the opportunity to browse books at the table and pick what they would like. They will be able to take home a certain amount of books, which will be determined by the number of donations that are brought. 

Students should aim to bring popular and best-selling titles. The goal is to get popular children’s and young adult books that people want to read, not titles nobody wants anymore. Of course, preferences vary, so students are encouraged to bring any books and series that they enjoyed. 

Alongside that, there will also be a competition to see which high school grade levels can donate the most books. This will be a friendly competition for fun, with no prize currently planned. 

"I'm so excited to have a new way to share my love of reading! I hope that students can find a new book they love and share one as well,” shares Lily Jacobs, an ORCA freshman and the one who created this event. “This event is a perfect opportunity to donate and have a good competition. Good luck ORCA!"

Oregon Charter Academy students have the chance to make a lasting impact as Student Leaders at this year’s Fifth Grade Outdoor School. The interest form is now open for students in grades 8-12 who are eager to volunteer for this one-day program, taking place April 25th from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. PST at a forest near Portland.

Outdoor School is a unique opportunity for students to gain leadership experience, work with younger peers, and enjoy a day of hands-on learning in nature. Volunteers will help with field study stations, assist staff with activities, and serve as positive role models for fifth graders.

"We are so excited for our second year of hosting Student Leaders at Outdoor School," said Mrs. Comstock, staff coordinator for the program. "These student volunteers are a huge help to staff, and their energy and involvement make the day so much more fun for everyone."

To qualify, students must be in good academic standing, have a strong attendance record, and be able to arrange transportation to the site. Volunteers must also commit to the full day of Outdoor School and adhere to the event's Code of Conduct. Interested students can sign-up or reach out to Ms. Comstock with questions.

Stephanie Vitro, who taught 10th grade Language Arts until last year, is now an AVID teacher for grades 10-12. She also was the advisor for high school Student Government from 2021-23.

After graduating from Bowling Green University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, she worked as a property manager in Ohio for four years. The experience motivated her to go back to school so she could become a teacher. She taught 10th grade Language Arts for four years before moving to Oregon.

First hired as an advisory teacher, Ms. Vitro has been with ORCA for ten years. She spent two years in that department, and then moved on to teach 10th grade Language Arts. For the past four years, she has taught AVID, and this year she has chosen to focus solely on teaching that course.

When she was in high school, Ms. Vitro found her passion for teaching. “When I was in tenth grade, I had an English teacher, Mrs. Johnson, who was so inspiring to me,” she shares. “She was smart, funny, kind, and I felt so comfortable in her class. I loved the confidence she gave me to engage in discussions and share my ideas.”

Ms. Vitro has been involved with her students in several ways, sharing that her fondest memories of her time at ORCA are chaperoning prom, mentoring her AVID students, meeting students through SG, and all of the inside jokes from Honors Language Arts 10.

ORCA’s February regional event day featured many field trips around the state, including one to Oregon's Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) to explore the museum and its new exhibit, Christopher Marley’s Exquisite Creatures Revealed. Though the day was cloudy and quite cold by Portland standards, ORCA staff set up outside the OMSI building to hand out name tags and greet guests. Many students and parents alike lined up to enter, see the exhibit, and explore the rest of OMSI. 

The exhibit started with a short four minute video discussing the background of the exhibit and the artist. After the video, students got the chance to walk around and look at a stunning variety of preserved animals. 

Snakes such as King Cobras were among the most striking displays but the exhibit had a variety of different animals including insects, reptiles, tropical birds, marine animals, and even a turtle. There was also a showcase of many different types of beetles with vibrant colors. 

Christopher Marley is a nature-focused artist who was raised in Salem, Oregon. Marley started out as a fashion model but later he quit to become an artist, photographer, naturalist and author. He has written 11 books and his artwork has been shown in museums around the country including the Stamford Art Museum and Houston Museum of Natural Science. 

Marley doesn't use taxidermy to create his pieces; instead, he has come up with a way to freeze-dry his specimens so that they have everything intact inside and outside of the body. Marley does not buy his specimens from hunters; instead he works with zoos, breeders, and aquariums to obtain the animals. Marley also only accepts specimens that have died of natural causes. His work isn’t limited to animals; he includes plants and minerals in his work to create an astonishing display of art. 

Many students and teachers expressed that they had a great time exploring the museum and its new exhibit. “It was so great to see so many ORCA students come together at OMSI,” says Ms. Kris, a 7th grade science teacher. “I loved watching them interact with the exhibit and most of all, each other!” 

The next ORCA regional event day is March 14. Check out Field Trip Central to RSVP.

The month of February is widely celebrated as Black History Month — a time to reflect on the past and to celebrate the future of black businesses, entrepreneurs, trailblazers, and people as a whole. Striving towards the goal of equality, whether in the government or in the classroom, remains at the forefront of the work being done to commemorate this month. 

In ORCA classrooms, teachers took extra care to ensure that the stories of those who faced severe racism and inequality were told throughout the month, while educating their students on the importance of a balanced curriculum.

“We want to read stories by black and brown writers throughout the school year, because we want to read stories that have been shared by all different kinds of people from all backgrounds and cultures,” says Language Arts 9 teacher Calla Mapel.

Two of the three novels her students read each year focus on black stories, creating the opportunity for discussions about the Civil Rights Movement, empowerment, and activism. They read both “Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jacqueline Woodson and “Purple Hibiscus” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Mapel’s focus for LA9 is to teach her students the consequence of a sole perspective, something that is highlighted in Adichie’s TedTalk titled, “The Danger of a Single Story,” which her class watches together at the beginning of the year. 

Connecting to her classes’ current module on “The Magical in the Mysterious,” she introduces a lesson on Toni Morrison and magical realism, and a science fiction short story by Octavia Butler, an African American writer who frequently challenged racial and gender stereotypes. 

Stephanie Imig, another Language Arts teacher, celebrated Black History Month by starting each live class with a poem by a black author. The poems she read include: "Poetry Means the World to Me" by Tony Medina, "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou, "Frederick Douglass" by Robert Hayden, and "Praise Song for the Day" by Elizabeth Alexander.

“The poems allow us the opportunity to explore ideas around the importance of remembrance and history, the complexity of freedom, and the importance of having the power to tell one's story,” Ms. Imig expresses. 

But, spotlighting black history in education doesn’t stop with Language Arts at ORCA. U.S. History teacher Casey Comstock is integrating black history year-round, putting extra importance on their stories during the month of February. 

“In the not-so-recent past, black history was mostly left out of textbooks and minimized in the classroom,” says Ms. Comstock. “For me, Black History Month is an annual reminder to reflect on my practice and continue to work towards a more inclusive curriculum.”

This past month her class learned about Hiram Revels, the first African American member of the senate, and later in the course she’ll be spotlighting anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells, along with Civil Rights Movement leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. 

“Some stories will feel personal and accessible and true to our own lives, and some will feel strange and different and eye-opening or completely foreign, and both of those experiences are really valuable for readers to have,” Ms. Mapel states, highlighting the need for diversity in education. 

“I don't want to limit exposure to black and brown voices to just 28 days of the school year.”

Wearing gray and Yale Blue while writing articles for the Yale Daily News has always been Lily Jacobs’ goal. But when given the opportunity to submit an essay to one of the Ivy League newspaper’s competitors, The Harvard Crimson, she couldn’t say no.

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) was launched in 2021 by university students eager to give high schoolers worldwide the chance to have their work read and reviewed by Harvard attendees and professionals. It now garners thousands of submissions annually from over 90 countries.

Students are invited to submit a 500-word max essay in response to various prompts for a chance to win a scholarship toward higher education. Additionally, the top three winners earn automatic acceptance into The Harvard Crimson’s prestigious summer journalism program.

For competitive and expensive schools like the Ivies, global recognition from one of the most challenging essay competitions – along with a scholarship – significantly strengthens an applicant’s chances of getting in.

Lily Jacobs, a freshman at ORCA, dreams of being a journalist and attending Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. With a background in leadership and a passion for literature, she aspires to be at the top of her class and represent her peers through Student Government and by writing for ORCA’s school newspaper, The Current.

A dedicated journalist, Jacobs also participates in the Youth Voices program at The Oregonian, which focuses on teen news across the state.

Additionally, she’s an avid reader who hopes to finish 100 books in a year and dreams of attending Yale not only to partake in the school’s world-renowned journalism program, but also for their 15 libraries, which house over 14.9 million books.

Submitting an essay to The Harvard Crimson, she hopes, will improve her ability to write with impact. Placing in the top five in her region of North America in the Journalism category is her current goal. “If I don’t place, I’ll know where I need to improve, and if I become a finalist, I’ll know I’m on the right track.”

Through the HCGEC program, she has participated in live webinars on creative, argumentative, and journalistic writing, taught by presenters from around the world, including as far as Hong Kong. “[I want] to gain insights into my own writing abilities and determine where I stand in the global competition.”

When choosing which prompt would help her stand out in the fierce competition, she thought back to a group of women called The BottleDrop Ladies, who strive to address homelessness — one of Oregon’s most pressing issues. She chose the prompt: “Highlight a group or individual in your community who went above and beyond during a recent crisis, such as a natural disaster or social upheaval. Explore their passions and impact.” Her decision to spotlight The BottleDrop Ladies stems from her appreciation for unsung heroes. "I loved the idea of recognizing those who do good without seeking any recognition themselves,” Jacobs explains.

“I’m also excited to explore more writing competitions in the future. I’ll be looking into other opportunities and hope to find some new challenges.”

Did you know that Women’s History Month started as Women’s History Week? It started in Santa Rosa, California, in March of 1978 to correspond with International Women’s Day. In July 1978, historian Gerda Lerner chaired a 15-day conference on women’s history at Sarah Lawrence College, which was co-sponsored by the Women’s Action Alliance and the Smithsonian Institution. After the conference, historians and women’s rights activist groups began working together to lobby for a National Women’s History Week.

It spread across the U.S rapidly and by 1980 it was signed into a national holiday by President Jimmy Carter, from March 2-8. In his message to the nation Carter stated, “From the first settlers who came to our shores…men and women have worked together to build this nation. Too often the women were unsung, and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.” 

Change took an act of congress. In 1981, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Representative Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland) co-sponsored the first Joint Congressional Resolution, known as Public Law, 97-28. The resolution stated: “Whereas American women of every race, class, and ethnic background helped found the Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways as servants, slaves, nurses, nuns, homemakers, industrial workers, teachers, reformers, soldiers, and pioneers;...and Whereas despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and undervalued in the body of American history: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United Women’s States of America in Congress assembled, That the week beginning History Week. March 7, 1982, is designated as ‘Women's History Week.'

Congress approved the resolution on August 4, 1981, and requested that President Ronald Reagan issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe “Women’s History Week” with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” In 1987, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project (NWHA), a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and preserving women’s history, Congress passed Public Law, 100-9, which proclaimed March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Since 1988, a year after Congress passed an additional resolutions request, every president has issued proclamations making March Women’s History Month. According to the NWHA, “These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.”

This month is an important time to honor the women who empower us to succeed. One of the most well-known historical feminist icons, Susan B. Anthony was a pivotal figure in the movement for women’s rights and suffrage, or the right to vote. She died in 1906, 14 years before women could vote. Today, many people place their “I voted” stickers on her grave to symbolize her impact, even after her passing. They are a living embodiment of Anthony’s quote about how “There will never be complete equality until women themselves help to make laws and elect lawmakers.”

With 30 players, eight teams, and five games, ORCA Esports is coming into the 2025 spring season bigger, bolder, and hungrier for victory. The mission? The same as last year: to dominate the regular season and to win the league in the postseason. 

The Overwatch 2 team, Stardust Crusaders, is picking up stronger than where they left off. With a 2-0 start, they’ve cracked the top ten, ranking ninth out of 77 teams. But, their unfinished business lingers… After last season’s heartbreaking first-round playoff loss, they’re back, looking for redemption. 

In Super Smash Bros., ORCA’s teams are doubling down. The new Smash Team 2 joins forces with the returning Edge Guards, with both making a bid for a playoff spot after the latter fell short last year. They’ve opened the season with identical .500 records, sitting at #80 and #76, respectively.

But returning hopes aren’t all Esports fans have to look forward to this season. ORCA Esports is adding a new game—Marvel Rivals, a superhero-based shooter title– to the lineup. The debut team is off to a solid start, taking a win and a loss and landing at 42nd out of 110 teams. A strong foundation to kick off the new league, but they’re aiming to much more: to make a statement and earn a playoff berth. 

Meanwhile, the Rocket League craze is reaching new heights, with ORCA fielding three teams this season. Each squad is on a different trajectory with Rocket League 1 off to a strong 2-0 start, securing the #7 ranking, while The GGS has stumbled early at 0-2, sitting at #48. The returning teams have picked up right where they left off at the end of the fall playoffs, but they’ll be looking to make exponential strides this season, dominating their competitors. The new kids on the block, ORCA Rocket League 3, have had a mixed start, going 1-1 and sitting at #26.

Finally, in League of Legends, The Silly Gooses (#11) are battling through a tough division with a 1-1 start, looking to build momentum as the season progresses. 45 teams stand between them and the title; will 2025 be the year they bring it home? 

With the playoffs looming, the big question remains— can they beat the record they set in fall and push a fourth team into the postseason?

TDOV, otherwise known as Trans Day of Visibility, has been recognized on the final day of March every year since 2009, bringing increased representation to transgender individuals. There are over 1.6 million trans, non-binary and gender-expansive teenagers and adults across the United States, including many students, who can frequently experience mistreatment. “More than a third, 39%, of transgender students experience bullying, harassment, or assault while in a higher education program,” according to a blog post from the Point Foundation, an LGBTQ scholarship fund.

According to another Point Foundation blog, this can make school harder. “More than half (55%) of transgender students say that their mental health was not good all or most of the time while at school. More than 40% of transgender college students report not fully belonging to school.” Later in the post, they noted how, “Nearly a third (32%) report unfair treatment by teachers, staff, or school administrators.” 

TDOV is celebrated all over America with events being held in every state to bring transgender awareness. Many of these events can be found on Eventbrite’s website by searching “Transgender Day of Visibility.” The events include galas, variety shows, art showcases, awards, and much more. One event in New York is a TDOV market featuring loads of handcrafted items sold in support of the transgender community.

The founder of TDOV, Rachel Crandall-Crocker, a psychotherapist and the executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Transgender Michigan, is continually surprised as she watches her holiday grow every year, becoming a nationwide representation day for transgender individuals. “I’m happy I created TDOV; however, if I knew what I knew now, I’m not positive I would. But someone else would have,” she states. “I wasn’t the only one who was thinking about it. In fact, I think the reason it caught on was because thousands of other trans people were thinking about it, too.”

Calling all writers. The March issue of ORCA’s newspaper, The Current, will be hosting its second ever short story competition. Be sure to bring your creativity and write an engaging story that draws readers in. 

Prompt: Write a story in which someone time-travels 25 years or more into the past.

To participate in the competition, you must fill out this Google Form and adhere to the following rules and guidelines. Submissions are welcome from March 1, 2025 to March 24, 2025. The winners will be announced in the April issue of The Current. 

Story Rules and Guidelines: 

1. The story must be between 100-500 words.

2. It must be your own original writing; refrain from using AI tools. 

3. The story must clearly respond to the prompt; avoid straying from the topic.

4. Must be school appropriate and avoid divisive themes.

5. Must be grammatically correct.

6. Must have a title.

7. Must include first and last name in the submission. (Winners will have the option to remain anonymous if/when their work is published. The Current members will have access to first and last name.)

This is a great chance to get creative and share your time-traveling stories. Whether you're a seasoned writer or new to competitions, this is your moment to have fun and showcase your ideas. Good luck and let the competition begin.

This month, ORCA is offering a variety of field trips for students in grades K-12. From regional events across Oregon to a state tournament and career expo, students have an array of opportunities to socialize and gain knowledge.

Here are some of the field trips March has to offer.

Regional Event: Chemistry Club Magic Show & EOU Walking Tour (3/14)

Grab your goggles and safety gear as chemistry students at Eastern Oregon University showcase their “explosive” magic at this in-person event. Open to all students from K-12, this field trip offers an opportunity to interact with biochemistry students at a university level, as well as take a tour of campus. The tour includes a scavenger hunt, giving students the chance to explore the college’s grounds.

NW Youth Careers Expo (3/19)

For grades 9-12, students are given the chance to learn and explore a variety of career opportunities offered in the Portland region, along with the pathways for preparation. This is a golden opportunity for ORCA students to meet with leading employers, colleges, and training programs, while hearing from a diverse group of professionals sharing tips and their experiences.

Science Olympiad State Tournament (3/16)

At the start of the year, ORCA students accepted some unique scientific challenges to overcome. Competing at the state level in Oregon, this tournament will showcase lab experiments, engineering design projects, and knowledge challenges. RSVP so you can turn up and support ORCA’s dedicated Science Olympiad team.

ORCA Hangouts (3/21)

Make friends, play ping-pong, and meet teachers outside of the classroom with these in-person social gatherings. Elementary and Middle School Hangouts occur from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the High School Hangouts are from 1-3 p.m. 

These field trips are a small portion of what ORCA is offering in March. To learn more about the events listed, and others that are offered, check out Field Trip Central and RSVP to attend.

March, the third month of the year, consists of 31 days and marks the transition from winter to spring. The month holds several notable dates, such as the birth of Alexander Graham Bell on March 3, 1847 and Albert Einstein on March 14, 1879. But long before that, the month of March held a different importance.

Named after Mars the Roman god of war, March became known as the first month on the earliest Roman calendar, dating back to as late as 153 B.C. Martius (Latin word for March). Other months, like  January, and June are also named after Roman gods. The Roman ruler, Numa Pompilius, is credited for turning March into the third month by adding January and February.

In other countries, like Russia, the numbered year began on March 1 until the late 15th century. However, in Great Britain and its colonies, the Gregorian calendar was adopted in 1752, setting a new precedent in regard to March 25 as the beginning of the new year. (The fiscal year in the U.K. still begins on April sixth, originally aligned with March 25 in the former Julian calendar). There are many cultures that still celebrate the beginning of the new year in March, such as Iran and Ethiopia. 

Would you rather March be the first month of the year or remain the third? Find out what ORCA has going on in March by reading the March issue in The Current.