Scio,Oregon – Students and teachers are going the extra mile to help local charities at the Annual Open House for Oregon Connections Academy in Scio this Friday, October 14th in Scio. The event runs from 10 am to 1 pm at Centennial Elementary School 38875 NW First Avenue in downtown Scio.

Oregon Connections Academy

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and student leaders have organized a couple of programs to help support that cause as well encouraging Open House participants to bring donations for the local food bank. These initiatives are part of Oregon Connections Academy Cares events which benefit a number of local community organizations.

Oregon Connections Academy is the leading tuition-free virtual public charter school serving nearly 3,000 students from all over the state. The school operates under a charter with the Scio School District providing in individualized approach to learning with state certified teachers, a state standards aligned curriculum, state of the art technology and community experiences to create academic and emotional success for students

The National Honor Society (NHS) will have a special Student/Teacher Art Gallery to showcase artwork from Oregon Connections Academy students and staff. This year’s NHS President, 17-year old Naomi Smith a senior at Oregon Connections Academy, said, “our chapter of National Honor Society is auctioning off student artwork that was donated by middle school and high school students. The auction is a “Passionately Pink Fundraiser” and money raised will go to the Oregon Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation. I am very excited about this project because I think that we could raise some funds to help this important effort.”

15-year old Sean White is the Oregon Connections Academy National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) President and currently doing eleventh grade coursework. White explained, “we are also having a food drive to support the Linn-Benton Food Share. We encourage families to come help those in need.”

“I am very proud of Sean and Naomi. They are doing a great job leading the NHS and NJHS students,” said High School English Teacher and NHS/NJHS Advisor Katy Naylor. “It is great to see students–especially those in an online environment–reaching out to the community and making a difference.”

The Art Gallery is the brainchild of 17-year old Megan Bernatzki, a senior at Oregon Connections Academy, who does drawings and paintings in pencil, pen and watercolors. “I got involved in putting together this Art Gallery because of my love and interest for the arts, and the hope of finding other students who share that feeling,” said Bernatzki “I am considering studying art in college but I’m also into science, so I’m considering studying to become some sort of scientific illustrator, or possibly even a book artist.”

Megan’s Social Studies Teacher Jess Tuerk called her a “stand out student all around who volunteers heavily in the community, involves herself with school events and manages to keep straight A’s. I’m very proud of her for stepping up and demonstrating real leadership on this new art venture!”

The Open House is one of two annual events that allow students to meet not only their teachers, but other students from around the state. The Open House differs from other field trips in that the whole school gathers in one location. “It opens up the world of Oregon Connections Academy beyond the student’s own neighborhood and gives them and their families a chance to really see that they are part of a statewide experience with students as diverse as their home towns,” said Paula Caballero, an Open House Coordinator and Oregon Connections Academy High School Math Teacher.

Another Open House Coordinator Daniel West, High School Social Studies Teacher, added, “there will be fun activities for students of all levels which will be educational and allow the students to get to know their teachers and their fellow students. I am really looking forward to the whole event. I believe it will be a lot of fun.”

Events planned for this year’s Oregon Connections Academy Open House include: Simon Says, Math Ball Addition, Spelling and Crafts for the younger grades. The Geography of Oregon game, Academic Scavenger Hunt, and a new event called “What does a Virtual School Look Like?” will be available for older elementary school students. Middle and high school students will have a chance use Tangrams, play world games, trivia competitions and other fun things.

Source: Oregon Connections Academy www.connectionsacademy.com/oregon-school/home.aspx

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