ORCA in the Community: How In-Person Activities Strengthen Our Connections Inside and Outside Our School
February is a month for affirming connections with the people who matter most to us. For Oregon Charter Academy (ORCA), those people are our incredible students, families, and staff members. Together, we've created a supportive and engaged community dedicated to self-improvement and personal growth. However, building that community in the unique environment of an online public charter school requires thoughtful choices about how we interact with each other and the larger community outside our virtual school walls. Over the years, we've strengthened our internal connections by seeking opportunities to gather in person to learn, serve, and just have fun.
Learning Happens Everywhere
A well-rounded education includes more than just academics. To thrive in a technologically advanced and global society, ORCA students must learn to communicate, collaborate, and think creatively with the people around them. Through fun in-person outings, field trips, and service projects, ORCA students put these skills into action and build a vibrant school community by engaging in their local communities.
Field Trips and Field Days
Field trips are a cornerstone of a traditional school experience, and ORCA is no different. But with students scattered across the state, we create opportunities for our regional communities to gather for enriching in-person learning experiences near them. This month, students in our south coast region will visit the Coos Bay Towboat company, while the Portland region spends the day at Powell's City of Books. Students in the Salem area will tour the Oregon State Capitol building, while Central Oregon students will gather at a local library for a LEGO building challenge. Our slate of field trips and activities changes each month, so our students always have something new to look forward to.
In addition to field trips, ORCA also organizes two school-wide field days each year. Our Open House event typically includes a Scholastic book fair and booths for each grade level, or subject area, so students can meet their teachers face-to-face. Spring Celebration recognizes the end of the school year with carnival-style games, arts and crafts, and activities like photo booths, face painting, and a bouncy house. By the end of every school year, students have had the opportunity to gather together dozens of times for experiences they couldn't get anywhere else.
ORCA Students in Service
Community awareness and acts of service are also critical components of the ORCA student experience. By exploring and engaging in the needs of the larger community, students develop empathy and learn that we're all more interconnected than it may seem on the surface.
For example, the ORCA Cares Club is a student-led, extracurricular organization that encourages members to practice random acts of kindness, community service, and social awareness. Members participate in activities like area clean-ups, bottle drop donations, food and gift drives, or even something as simple as mowing a neighbor's lawn each month.
ORCA was also the first virtual school in the Willamette Valley to join forces with Sparrow Club USA — a nonprofit that connects schools and students with area businesses to raise medical funds for local children with life-threatening diseases through community service. Last year, area sponsors Astec Industries, Chambers Construction, and Hayden Homes challenged ORCA students statewide to complete 300 hours of sponsored community service — a challenge that was exceeded. The initiative's goal was to raise a $3,000 stipend for the "Sparrow," Noah, who underwent a life-saving liver transplant at just two years old.
Through these activities, students become more connected with one another and learn that individual and collective action can make a difference in the larger world.
Lessons for a Successful Life
An ORCA education is about more than just logging into a computer everyday. Instead, it’s a place where students can gather to explore our larger community in a safe and supportive environment. The lessons they learn through these experiences support their academic endeavors, preparing them for a life outside of school where they’ll need to collaborate and communicate with others to be successful. In the process, they make deeper connections with their classmates and strengthen our school community.
Join Us for an Info Session
If you’d like to learn more about ORCA’s extracurricular activities, clubs, service projects, or our approach to virtual learning, join one of our virtual information sessions to connect with ORCA staff and preview our learning platform. We hope to see you soon!