ORCA’s 2021-2022 School Year Was One to Remember. What Will This Year Hold?

Written By Lexie Boren

As kids across the country return to their classrooms for a new school year, we're reflecting on the previous year and how our unique programs benefited our students. From prestigious  awards and advanced courses, to the return of in-person events and impressive student accomplishments, the 2021-2022 school year was one of the best in the Oregon Charter Academy's (ORCA) 17-year history. Here are a few of the highlights.

Prestigious Awards

Early in the school year, we received exciting news from Cognia, a global accreditation agency. The education non-profit had chosen ORCA as one of only 79 schools internationally — and as the only school on the west coast —  to receive its School of Distinction Award. In its assessment, Cognia awarded ORCA with a five-year accreditation score of 377.5 out of a possible 400. Most schools' scores averaged between 278.34 and 283.33.

Then, later in the year, we received recognition a little closer to home when Statesman Journal readers selected ORCA as the best charter school in the mid-valley. While we certainly don't seek out awards, praise from both home and afar serves as a reminder that our educational programs make an impact on our students and the community at large. 

Challenging Programs

Building effective and inspiring programs is our most important job at ORCA. We're particularly proud of how our learning model prepares students to lead successful lives after they leave our school. Our career and technical education program, ASCEND, provides high school students with career-relevant skills in a challenging, hands-on learning environment. Last year, students in this program picked between five different tracks: computer science, business and management, education, medical science and veterinary science. 

Highly motivated ORCA students in grades 6-12 participated in our Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) electives, which taught them how to maximize their potential in college or their career of choice. AVID students worked closely with a motivated group of peers all year to learn how to achieve their dreams. 

Through our College Now program, some ORCA students earned high school and college credits simultaneously, thanks to our partnerships with Linn-Benton Community College and Willamette Promise. Dual credit courses included options in the language arts, literature and composition, math, science, history and Spanish. When these students leave ORCA, they can take their college credits to any public university in Oregon and many other colleges and universities nationwide. Since the start of this program, ORCA has seen 1,365 students earn college credits.

Incredible School Events

As crucial as our programs are, we also recognize that fostering a vibrant community and healthy culture is a big part of what makes ORCA so unique. After several challenging years of navigating COVID-related restrictions, we were delighted to return to in-person events. 

In April, ORCA students met in Salem for an Enchanted Forest-themed prom. In June, students and their families gathered in Albany for a Spring Celebration carnival, which served as an end-of-school bash and an induction ceremony for the National Honor Society and Junior National Honor Society. Later that same month, ORCA honored the 330 members of the 2022 graduating class in a ceremony held at the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem.

Our list of notable events even continued into the summer. On July 12, ORCA was one of just seven organizations statewide — and the only school in Oregon — to be selected for a special viewing of the first images from NASA's James Webb telescope. The event featured a slideshow with information about the photos and a Q&A with NASA experts and members of the University of Oregon's physics department. The event was coordinated by ORCA's ​​NASA club, which hosts monthly live streams from NASA space centers with the goal of sparking an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields among students.

ORCA Students in the News

Our team was so excited to see our kids in person again and continue building offline relationships that will propel them into the next phases of their lives. Watching our students succeed is the most satisfying part of our jobs, and we were fortunate to see many of our kids make the news during the 2021-2022 school year.

We can't wait to see the fantastic things our students accomplish in the upcoming year.

New This School Year

While the 2021-2022 school year was certainly memorable, we have several exciting new initiatives planned for the upcoming year that we know our students will love. 

In-Person Field Trips and Events

We’re excited to return to a full slate of in-person field trips and events in the upcoming year. Every month, ORCA students throughout the state will be enhancing their school experience with museum visits, nature hikes, cultural experiences and more. 

Hotel and Tourism Management Program

ORCA’s ASCEND students will have a new pathway to choose from with the addition of the hotel and tourism management program. Students participating in this work-based learning course will be the only students in the state to earn the Certified Hospitality and Tourism Management Professional (CHTMP) credential. With the tourism industry growing by leaps and bounds, this new program will give participating students an advantage as they seek to join this dynamic career field.

Inspiring New High School Classes 

All ORCA high schoolers will have the opportunity to take a few new exciting courses during the upcoming school year, including:

  • Introduction to Photography: Students in grades 9-12 will learn about designing and creating photography, graphics and digital imagery.

  • American and International Team Sports: This course, open to grades 9-12, explores American and international sports and their associated cultures.

  • Food and Cooking: Students in grades 10-12 can learn about the importance of nutrition in food and cooking. 

  • American Sign Language III A/B: All students who have completed American Sign Language II can continue improving their language skills through the addition of this course.

NASA’s New Artemis Program

ORCA's NASA club members will have a front-row seat for the space agency's newest endeavor: the Artemis mission. Artemis seeks to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon while establishing a long-term lunar presence and, eventually, traveling to Mars. ORCA students will join the mission with regular updates directly from NASA. Along the way, we hope more ORCA students will become inspired by the possibilities of STEM careers and move on to accomplish amazing things. 

We're Excited for What's Next

The 2021-2022 school year was one of our best to date, and it was only made possible by the staff and students who collaborated every day to create something special. As we enter a new school year, we're confident that we've established an environment that encourages students to chase their dreams, challenge themselves and seek a brighter future for everyone. We can't wait to see what comes next!

Join an ORCA Info Session to Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about ORCA or the benefits of attending a virtual school, please join us for one of our monthly virtual information sessions, where you'll have the opportunity to connect with ORCA staff and preview our learning platform. We hope to see you there!

Lexie Boren
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