Middle School Clubs

Digital Art Hub Club

WHY JOIN?

Do you love creating digital art? Join the ORCA Digital Art Hub Club! This is a fun and friendly space where you can share your artwork, get feedback from other artists, and find inspiration for new ideas. We’ll explore different digital art programs, solve creative challenges together, and make new friends who love art just like you!

OUR CLUB GOAL

Our big goal is to create a digital art showcase to share with the whole middle school—an awesome way to show off your talent and get recognized for your amazing art!

ACTIVITIES

In Digital Art Hub Club, you’ll connect with fellow digital artists to share your creations, exchange feedback, and spark fresh ideas. Together, we’ll experiment with different digital art tools, tackle fun creative challenges, and team up to design an exciting digital art showcase.

Survival Skills/ Outdoors Club

Do you enjoy the outdoors? Whether you like to hike, bike, ski, etc., staying safe out there is our number one priority! Let’s learn some skills together.

In this club, students enjoy sharing outdoor experiences and learning about survival topics including:

  • What to pack for a hike or other outdoor activity

  • Map reading, compass skills, and mapping apps

  • How to treat water and what foods work well on the trail

  • Animals and plants in the wild

  • Weather forecasts and preparedness

  • Medical training and other certifications

ORCA NASA Club

This club is open to all ORCA students in grades K-12. 

The purpose of this ORCA NASA Club is to:

  • Educate members about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

  • Provide a venue for sharing of educational resources to increase awareness of and interest in astronomy & earth space science.

Opportunities available to members of this NASA club:

During this school year you will receive monthly invites to live streamed 60 minute assemblies hosted by NASA staff broadcast live from either the Space Center Houston in Texas, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, and the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. You will have access to a bunch of enrichment materials, apps, activities and website links with STEM themed content.You will be able to interact with like minded NASA club members to share your interests.

National Junior Honor Society

National Honor/National Junior Honor Society is an organization that gives students the chance to practice leadership through service. Members of NHS/NJHS commit themselves to four core qualities: Character, Scholarship, Leadership, and Service. We meet every other week with all members, and group officers meet every week. Interested students may complete the membership application, which is due by the end of semester A.

Meeting time to be voted upon by members.

Newspaper Club (The Current)

WHY JOIN?

The Newspaper Club is a great place to become more connected with the ORCA community and be part of a team. You’ll get a chance to increase your skills in writing, editing, and digital literacy as you showcase your writing and the achievements of our diverse student body. You'll also have a great time collaborating with a motivated community of student journalists who want to build their experience and skill set.

OUR CLUB GOAL

The Newspaper Club publishes The Current, ORCA’s very own student-run newspaper staffed by high school and middle school students. Issues are released on a monthly basis throughout the school year.The Current aims to provide high-quality, unbiased journalism covering topics relevant to the Oregon Charter Academy community and beyond. Newspaper Club members prioritize teamwork and constructive criticism in a creative, collaborative environment.

ACTIVITIES

We publish our online school newspaper, The Current, which focuses on written news and other creative work and journalism relevant to students in our statewide school community. We value quality journalism, a constructive atmosphere, and having a great time making ORCA a better place. Our meetings focus on planning and editing. If the meeting times don't work for you, you can join the club and contribute by writing articles on either topics we give you or topics you propose. You can also use the Contact link at the bottom of our site to submit comments and articles without joining the club.

K-8 Coding Club

OUR CLUB GOAL

Increase opportunities for students in grades K-8 to learn how to code using a variety of free platforms, coding languages to improve programming skills and interact with other students interested in computer science, coding and game design.

WHY JOIN?

To learn more about Coding using Python, Java Script, C++ and share ideas for coding challenges.

ACTIVITIES

Learning how to code using Python, Scratch, Blockly, Javascript, and other coding languages. 

Completing optional lessons in the Computer Science Fundamentals and Computer Science Discoveries courses on the code.org platform. Sharing projects, apps, mobile games and other creations made using coding skills for other students to beta-test, de-bug and comment on.

Mountain Biking Club

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THIS CLUB:

If you ride bikes for fun, race competitively, or just like to bike this club is for you! We will explore XC, Enduro, Gravity, Road, Gravel, Track, BMX, and more.

Meetings: Subject to participants input

WHY SHOULD STUDENTS JOIN THIS CLUB?

Students should join the Mountain Biking Club because it is a great way to connect with people who have similar interests.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS CLUB?

The goal of this club is to stay in contact with MTB riders in the ORCA community

WHAT ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR THIS CLUB?

We will have many fun Kahoots, Padlets, Quizlets, and more! As well as a website to stay in touch with each other.

MS Yearbook

OUR CLUB GOAL

To produce a yearbook for Middle School students by Middle School students. 

ACTIVITIES

Create the yearbook virtually through Zoom meetings and using Picaboo. 

MS Writing Club

WHY JOIN?

Do you love to write? Are you a budding novelist, essayist, short story writer, or poet? Do you have a million story ideas bursting from your brain? Then you should join the MS Writing Club! Writing is a lot of fun, but it can be even better when you have a supportive community to share it with. Writing groups can help you brainstorm, fix problems when you are stuck, and celebrate with you when you find just the right words. Join us for writing games, challenges, and sharing. Open to grades 6-8. All genres of writing are welcome! 

ACTIVITIES:

Writing games and challenges, mini-lessons on different writing skills, share your writing and get feedback, potential field trips or guest speakers in the future. 

Muslim Student Alliance

The online Muslim Student Association (MSA) can foster a vibrant community through various activities designed to support and engage members. They can organize virtual study circles or halaqas focusing on Islamic teachings, offering a platform for students to deepen their understanding of their faith. Social events, such as online game nights, virtual picnics, and movie screenings, can help build camaraderie among members. The club can also host webinars and guest speaker sessions featuring scholars and professionals discussing diverse topics, from career advice to contemporary issues facing the Muslim community. Additionally, the MSA can coordinate online volunteering and charity initiatives, encouraging students to contribute positively to their communities. Interfaith dialogues and collaborative events with other student organizations can promote mutual understanding and respect. These activities ensure that the online MSA remains a supportive and active community, despite the physical distance.

WHY JOIN?

Students should never be afraid to express their faith and feel safe in their school. At MSA we encourage all Muslim students to join and find other student's here at ORCA who share the same belief!

CLUB GOAL

Our goal is to help Muslim students step outside their shell, and realize they aren't alone. It's time to bring out the diversity here at ORCA and act on it!

ACTIVITIES

Social events, talking about Opportunities for volunteering or get togethers at local mosques, getting to know each other, reading from the Quran and sharing our own personal knowledge on our religion with each other.

Chess Club

OUR CLUB GOAL

To learn how to play chess and make friends.

WHY JOIN?

To make friends while playing chess and learning to beat their parents.

ACTIVITIES

  • Playing chess

  • Making friends

  • Competing in tournaments

Cubers Club/Puzzlers Unite

DESCRIPTION 

This club is open to all puzzlers and cubers alike, we like to solve puzzles, figure out answers to difficult questions, escape from escape rooms. And most of all learn puzzle strategy and cubing strategy. If you want to learn something new join this club, we will also learn how to solve a plethora of Rubik's cubes.

WHY JOIN

If you like puzzles and/or Cubing (That is rubik's cubing), then you should join this club, we will play games, solve puzzles, escape escape rooms, and learn puzzle strategy.

GOAL

To promote puzzle solving and strengthen critical thinking and puzzle knowledge.

ACTIVITIES PLANNED

Escape rooms, puzzle strategy lessons, puzzles themselves, and games.

Spanish Buddies

CLUB GOAL

Practice speaking, reading, writing and listening to Spanish. Also learn more about the Spanish speaking countries.

WHY JOIN?

Did you know that Spanish is the third largest spoken language in the whole world aside from Mandarin and English being the top two? Spanish is one of the many ways to learn more about your inner heritage or even just to satisfy your fascination or curiosity surrounding the Hispanic culture and language that comes with it. Learning Spanish is also a great way to communicate with your family members, friends or even to meet people from other backgrounds unlike your own. We help with conversational speaking, connecting with your peers, learning about Spanish speaking countries, writing, reading and more. There are many more aspects that surround this unique culture, that is why we are diving more into it! Are you ready for what's to come?

ACTIVITIES

  • Breakout Rooms

  • Vocabulary Study

  • Grammar

  • Geography

  • Scenarios of Conversation

  • Kahoot

  • Quizziz

  • Spanish Escape Rooms

  • More to come...

Broadcasting Club

PURPOSE OF THIS CLUB

The broadcasting club leads the video newsletter for ORCA, filming video segments that showcase the amazing students at our school. Learn video creation best practices, collaborate with peers who enjoy video production, and help show off what an amazing school ORCA is in this club!

Join this club if you have an interest in video production and want to help determine the creative direction of the school video newsletter.

CLUB GOAL

The goal of the club is to produce the monthly video newsletter for ORCA, filming video segments that inform and showcase students at the school.

ACTIVITIES

The club will meet once per month and video segments each month will be filmed by club members. On location filming field trips will be planned based on input from club members.

Garden / Farm / Homesteaders Club

WHY JOIN?

Promotes and increases knowledge of agriculture, as well as being around like-minded people who are interested in natural ways of living, preserving, and growing. 

CLUB GOAL

To embrace a healthier way of living through food, to share and learn more about backyard homesteading, animals, gardening, plants, and the food we grow/consume. Through gaining knowledge of where it all starts! 

ACTIVITIES

We will be learning where it all starts, where things are grown, what agriculture is, how plants grow, parts of plants, why plants are essential, how to grow your food, talking about livestock, cultivating valuable and ornamental plants, and other homesteading topics. (ie. Chickens hatching, sourdough starter, plants from seed to harvest, bread making, caring for animals, and much more.)

MEETINGS

We will meet twice monthly or weekly, solely based on student interests.

GSA Club 2.0

CLUB DESCRIPTION

GSA club 2.0 is a welcoming and affirming group for students who want to meet other members of ORCA's diverse LGBTQIA+ middle school community.

CLUB GOAL

Provide a safe space to chat, socialize and discuss LGBTQIA+ history and personal experiences.

WHY JOIN? 

Be part of a diverse group who share common interests and support one another.

ACTIVITIES

We love various activities (especially student-suggested ones) that celebrate diversity and make a meaningful and positive impact on our community.

Craft and Chat Club

WHY JOIN?

Do you enjoy creating things with your hands? Do you want to get in some more social time with other students? If yes, then this is the club for you! All types of crafts are welcome!  

This is a safe space to get some social time in and to encourage others in their crafty endeavors.

Grades 6-8.

ACTIVITIES

  • Share progress on our crafts

  • Socialize: sit and chat 

  • Optional opportunity to create a tutorial to do a basic project in your craft to share with the club!

CRAFT OPTIONS/IDEAS

  • Embroidery

  • Cross Stitch

  • Knitting

  • Crochet

  • Quilting

  • Sewing

  • Sculpture 

  • Painting

  • Drawing

  • Photography

  • Woodworking

  • Leather-working

  • Jewelry Making

  • Cooking/Baking

  • Anything you make with your hands!

ORCA Military Leadership & First Responders Club (MFRC) 

Join the ORCA Military Leadership & First Responders Club (MFRC)! 

Open to all ORCA students in grades 6–12, this dynamic club offers a hands-on introduction to careers in the U.S. Military and Emergency Services (i.e. fire, medical, law enforcement) —without any recruitment pressure.

Explore:

  • Military & First Responder history and traditions

  • Physical and mental fitness challenges

  • Leadership development beyond NHS and Student Government

  • Community service projects that make a real impact

  • Career pathways, specialty training, and ASVAB prep

Whether you're curious about service careers or just want to grow as a leader, the MFRC can help you build strength, purpose, and connection. Come discover how YOU can serve your community—with courage, character, and commitment.

Gamers ‘R’ Us

WHY JOIN

To provide students with an opportunity to play and celebrate their interests in games such as board games, D&D, video games, word games, etc.Students may also explore game creation through Scratch or even designing their own board games. 

CLUB GOAL

To socialize, make friends, and enjoy games.

ACTIVITIES

D&D campaign, video game strategies, artwork inspired by games, word games, game design, and more!

Drama Club

CLUB DESCRIPTION 

Drama club is designed to engage students in the performing arts and theater and also get the opportunity to participate in a play all while staying online!

CLUB GOAL

The goal is to create a production made and written by ORCA students of all ages!

WHY JOIN? 

Students who join will get a chance to audition for a role in the production and given a role best for that student. 

ACTIVITIES 

Audition for roles, help put on a play for the school, and make friends.

MEETINGS

Bi-weekly meetings starting November 8th - time to be updated soon

Photography and Film Club

Photography & Film Club is open for students in grades 6–12 and meets every other week to talk about all things photography. There are fun Kahoots with photography trivia, and each month has a new theme to inspire club members' creativity and keep things fresh. Whether it’s the story behind a shot or the gear and settings used, there’s always something interesting to share because a picture really is worth 1,000 words. Students who enjoy photography at any level are encouraged to join, participate, and share. There is something for everyone!

Bi-Weekly Zoom Meetings, time/day TBA

Music Club

OVERVIEW

Music Club is for 8th grade students interested in creating and enjoying music. Instrumentalists, singers, songwriters, electronic producers, and music appreciators are all welcome. The wide range of skill levels and styles in Music Club is encouraged. Music Club students have access to SoundTrap, a web-based music production tool that comes with a huge sample library to get you started. If desired, you’ll have the opportunity to collaborate on songs with other members of Music Club through SoundTrap, live meetings, and a discussion in the course. We have developed a wonderful culture of practice, kindness, appreciation, and improvement.

  • Performances are a time when students can perform something they’ve been working on for the Club. Performing is optional! We ask that performers sign up ahead of time.

  • Mini-Lessons are taught on topics ranging from SoundTrap details to music theory to the history of a genre. The sky's the limit!

  • Collaboration times are for students to work on the same song together in Soundtrap or outside of it. We also like sign-ups ahead of time to help things run smoothly.

SHOWCASES

The club hosts Music Club Showcases at the end of each semester. The Showcase is a Virtual Field Trip where we invite the entire school to see students perform. The Showcase also includes a website where recordings are posted. We want to use the Showcase to encourage students to polish a song and push it to the next level.