Four Ways ORCA Builds Community As a Critical Part of Education
A child’s education encompasses more than reading, writing and arithmetic. School is also where they begin learning how to socialize and collaborate with other people. By interacting with their teachers and fellow students — whether online or in person — kids make friends, create partnerships, navigate disagreements and work together as colleagues. In many ways, students will grow up to use these soft skills more often than almost anything else they learn in school.
At Oregon Charter Academy (ORCA), we recognized the importance of student socialization early, and began investing in a robust slate of special learning events, programs and clubs for our elementary, middle and high school students. These social opportunities fall into four general categories.
1. Virtual and In-Person Field Trips
Field trips provide excellent ways for ORCA students and teachers to make connections in educational settings throughout Oregon. Over the years, our students have attended labs at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, hiked Susan Creek Falls near Roseburg and toured college campuses, Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels, cranberry bogs and the Pendleton Woolen Mill. These rich experiences help build community by pulling students out of their typical learning environments to make discoveries alongside their classmates.
2. Student-Focused Programs
We also provide several programs designed to meet our students’ unique educational and personal needs. For example, ASCEND offers focused career and technical education in five different pathways: computer science, business and management, hotel and leisure management, medical science and veterinary science. Our Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program is a college readiness track that prepares students for success after high school, through extra help with rigorous courses. We also offer opportunities for students to get involved in the National Honor Society, Science Olympiad, student government and more.
3. Extracurricular Clubs
We offer more than 30 student-driven clubs at ORCA, which enable our kids to have fun and connect through shared interests and ideas. For example, our Pens and Prose Club brings awareness to the power of writing in a healthy, fun environment. The Newspaper Club offers students interested in writing, journalism, photography and graphic design the opportunity to work together to publish a monthly online newspaper. Our LGBTQIA+ high school community uses The Breakfast Club as a weekly safe space to socialize and discuss their lives. Through involvement in these, or any of our other clubs, ORCA students build community and belonging that ultimately promotes academic success.
4. Synchronous Learning
Even though ORCA is primarily a place where kids study and learn at their own pace, we include regular synchronous learning time into our students' weekly schedules. During these live classes, kids meet online with their teachers and classmates to work through projects together. In our school, group learning supports students' asynchronous work while building community and cohesion among class groups.
Team Sports & Activities
ORCA students can also access social opportunities outside our virtual walls. Our school is an associate member of the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), which means students can play sports on teams in their home districts or participate in other OSAA sanctioned activities like cheer, dance, band and choir. For many students, playing a team sport is a highlight of their school career. These experiences are an important component of a total education because they teach kids the importance of working with a team and coping with the ups and downs of winning and losing.
Real Student Experiences
We focus so much energy on promoting social opportunities because we see firsthand how they enrich our students' lives. Ailey Mora is a sixth-grade competitive dancer who has been thriving in our AVID program. Participating in accelerated coursework has connected her with like-minded students who crave challenges within a flexible educational environment.
"I joined AVID because I wanted to gain skills I can take to college. With the support I get from my teachers and fellow students, I feel more prepared for the future," said Mora. "I love the challenge of setting personal goals, and I hope what I am learning now will help me become a veterinarian or marine biologist one day."
Elena Morris says ORCA's social opportunities created an environment that allowed her as a high school senior to discover the passions that led her to be accepted to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York state, where she’ll start this fall. "Every group I'm involved in has helped me grow in some way," said Morris. "Having the opportunity to share my passions with other students, whether strumming a guitar solo or reciting my favorite poem, has given me the support I need."
Producing Well-Rounded Graduates
Hearing how our social programs have enriched our students’ educational experience lets us know our efforts are on the right track. It's not enough for us to produce graduates who can pass state exams. Instead, we want our students to be well-rounded individuals who are prepared to excel as citizens of the world after high school. We accomplish this goal by using a thoughtful curriculum that allows students to choose their own learning pace while creating spaces for them to socialize and build community at the same time. In that way, we're providing our students with a complete education in a package that suits them best.
To learn more about the social opportunities we offer at ORCA or how to enroll your student, check out the virtual information sessions happening now until September.