By Natalie Ramsey The Charter- 5/21/19 An annual spring rummage sale is one of ACA’s traditions used to raise money for the school, as well as other charities. Families bring in donations and are able to volunteer to help plan, organize, and run the sale. The rummage was started as a fundraiser by the Parent Action Team. Donations of clothes, books, children’ toys, kitchenware, and … Continue reading Rummage Sale

Rachel Shulikov The Charter News 5/22/2019 Last year’s seniors may be the last ones to have done a senior prank, if Seanna Bloemer, ACA director gets her way. She want the seniors to do a “legacy project” instead. But Anna Pullella, this years graduate would rather be the last senior to do a prank.    “My first reaction was shock because senior prank is something … Continue reading Senior prank

Rachel Shulikov Charter News – 4/6/2019 ACA’s opting out rate for the Smarter Balanced testing is about 15 percent, and for every student who opts out this year, ACA gets a zero score for that student. State testing is for students in grades 3rd through 8th and 11th. There are two language arts parts and two math parts. The tests show the strengths that the … Continue reading Testing opt-outs Affect ACA

By Evalina Shulikov The Charter News- 3/10/2019 ACA is planning to have a reunification drill. Although we don’t have a set day for the drill, our school is planning to have it in the beginning of October, in the next school year. A reunification drill is a drill where the whole school walks to a location near the school but not on the school property. … Continue reading Reunification Drill

Rachel Shulikov The Charter News – 4/11/2019     For about ten years the Parent Action Team (PAT) has been putting on the plant sale as a fundraiser. This year Valerie Johnson, ACA teacher and parent is in charge of the sale. The money that is raised is used by the PAT for their projects. This year 30 percent of the funds will be for the … Continue reading ACA Plant Sale

Three New Lunch and Learns By Rachel Shulikov The Charter News – 3/18/2019 Aside from Monday Science Lunch and Learn, ACA staff has started three new lunch and learns. The new Lunch and Learns started at the beginning of the second semester. The subjects will be Social Studies led by Chad Wynne, Math led by Debora Whittet, and English Language Arts (ELA) led by Sarah … Continue reading Three New Lunch & Learns

By Evalina Shulikov The Charter News Briefs- 2/25/2019 Besides being a math teacher at ACA, Mr. Toth enjoys crabbing. Mr. Toth thinks crabbing is “fun and easy.”  His dream is to go to the coast, catch crabs, oysters and make tacos. Some of the places Mr. Toth goes crabbing to are Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay and Astoria. His family usually goes crabbing at bays because … Continue reading Mr. Toth’s Hobby: Crabbing

The Charter News – 2/5/2019 Rachel Shulikov In December, during the winter break, several students, with supervision of adults, redecorated a part of both bathrooms on the upstairs floor. One of the students that helped redo the bathrooms, Paige Stickney said,  “We repainted the doors to help bring a more positive attitude to ACA and give students something positive to look at after the break.” … Continue reading Bathroom redo

By: Hailey Fox The Charter Features – 1/30/19 On Friday February first in the school gym will be the winter formal or Snow Ball. Grades 9-12th should are allowed to join in on the dancing from seven to ten at night. It costs eight dollars if you get a ticket at the study hall and ten dollars at the door. All guests must fill out … Continue reading The Snow Ball is Here!

By Hailey Fox Charter Newsroom – 11/14/2018 Last year when the students at ACA took the science OAKS test, the 11th graders fell short of the district by 0.2 percent. According to administration, the charter by ACA has a clause that states ACA will always exceed the OCSD (Oregon City School District) in state testing scores. Since the scores were lower compared to OCSD’s scores, … Continue reading ACA’s Testing Scores

By: Alyssa DiLoreto After we said goodbye to ACA’s guitar/ukulele teacher, a new one came in and taught/prepared the classes for the Winter Concert.  When the previous guitar teacher left, it took ACA a while to find someone to replace him. Within a few weeks they found Brady Heinsoo, who was willing to step in. “My little sister Hallie goes here.” Says Mr Heinsoo, “She … Continue reading New Long Term Guitar Substitute

By MacKenzie Waterman Usually Alliance Charter Academy has an extensive wait list, but since many students left last year we were able to get through the entire waitlist and still have fourteen spots open. “I just find it interesting that we’ve had a higher turnover than normal.” said Seanna Bloemer, ACA’s Director and a former ES. The school can’t deny access to anyone but, they … Continue reading Student Turnover

By Alyssa DiLoreto – 10/24/18 Portland is long overdue for a large earthquake but if the Bucks for Buckets fundraiser does it’s job, ACA will be better prepared if and when the “big one” strikes. Earthquakes and other natural disasters have hurt so many people, and broken so many lives due to unpreparedness. This year, Oregon City School District is working on being prepared for … Continue reading Bucks For Buckets

By Kenzie Waterman As this school year is coming to the end, unfortunately so is some of our staff’s time here. Vicki Nelson and Nic Chapin are leaving the school and will not be returning next year. Vicki Nelson is the Compliance Officer at Alliance Charter Academy, since September of 2011. “As Registrar and Compliance Officer, I maintain the staff and student database and am … Continue reading Director takes new job, Compliance Officer retires

By Colin Hughes It was announced that Nintendo was striking a deal with Illumination Studios, the company behind Despicable Me and the Secret Life of Pets, on January of 2018, to make a Mario Movie. The release date has yet to be determined, though. The last time there was a movie about Mario was when Super Mario Bros. starring Bob Hopkins and John Leguizamo was … Continue reading Mario’s return to the theaters

By Luke Burton, The Charter News As our seniors move on to bigger and better things we come together to celebrate at graduation. This year, graduation is at Jackson Campus on June 2nd, at 6:00pm. During the graduation ceremony the graduates have each asked a teacher or parent to hand them their diploma and give up to a one minute speech. These speeches usually include … Continue reading Alliance Charter Academy’s 2018 Graduation Ceremony

By Victor Heimbigner OBOB for the ACA will not be the same next year.  What it looks like for the 3-5th grade is undecided and will be determined this summer by the ACA board.  The reason it is undecided is because there is controversy about the book “George”.   Alex Gino is a author who wrote a book named “George”, a transgender kid at the age … Continue reading OBOB 3-5th grade 2018-19

BY CONSTANTINE VANSICKLE Alliance Charter Academy’s very own Destination Imagination (DI) team is heading to globals! Advancing to globals is a huge achievement for such a small team and they are looking forward to representing the State of Oregon at the Global competition at the University of Tennessee on May 23rd through May 27th. But going to globals also has a financial toll. That’s why … Continue reading Destination: Globals

By, Elizabeth Tarsia  As you all might have noticed state testing might have seemed shorter from previous years. Well some changes have been made to the tests themselves and to the prep needed for certain subjects. Before this last testing session there were lessons that needed to be taught previous to taking state tests. Those lessons have been taken away and the test consists of … Continue reading Possible changes to testing weeks

By Colin Hughes If you just came home from the grocery store with a head of romaine lettuce, you’d better get rid of it. There’s an outbreak of E. coli causing almost 150 people to fall sick in 29 states where people eat romaine lettuce. A subsequent study between March 13th and April 25th of 2018 showed that romaine lettuce may be contaminated with E. … Continue reading Recalled Romaine

By Faith Burton Despite news of misconduct seemingly all around, there has been no documented misconduct in ACA’s history, according to it’s administrators. Lara Fabrycki, ACA’s former Director and Nic Chapin, ACA’s current Director commented on misconducts saying that we’ve not had a misconduct at ACA. Fabrycki said teachers are trained every year on misconducts, but because of technology and how people communicate is changing, … Continue reading School Misconducts

By Kenzie Waterman From 9:00 -3:30 on Tuesday, April 17th and Wednesday, April 18th a instructor from the Clackamas Fire Department, District #1 came and taught students how to perform hands only CPR and use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) machine. The class was for 7th grade and above, Parents and staff were also invited. The staff here at Alliance Charter Academy have already been … Continue reading CPR and AED Training

By Constantine Van Sickle The United State’s biggest market of Oregon Hazelnuts might be in danger by new proposed tariffs by China. Oregon produces 99% of all Hazelnut crops in the U.S and with the new applied tariffs, Oregon hazelnut farmers may have something to worry about. China proposed a new 15% tariff to all hazelnuts that are grown in the United States in response … Continue reading Tariffs hit Oregon Hazelnuts

By Alyssa DiLoreto ACA has decided to take a group of students to France and Spain, on June 14, 2019. Students will be traveling through Paris, Provence, and Barcelona, led by social studies teacher Chad Wynne. He is very excited to be taking the students on this trip, saying that foreign countries are very interesting to see, “We will just being seeing all the sights. … Continue reading ACA’s France and Spain Trip as led by Chad Wynne

By CONSTANTINE VAN SICKLE 3/24/2018 A new men’s bathroom may be heading your way! With small urinals and tiny  stalls, the men’s bathroom is in dire need of remodeling. Nic Chapin is the one behind the idea of remodeling the bathroom saying, “It’s a bathroom meant for elementary students, and high school students are using it. It’s like 50-70 years old. It definitely needs a … Continue reading Men are in Support of a New Men’s Bathroom

News Story by, Elizabeth Tarsia  Starting next year our school is offering a program called the College Career Exploration Program. Rather than applying for the ACE program, there is kind of a stepping stone opportunity. If you are not ready for the whole college experience then the CCE program is the right fit for you! The CCE program is not set up the way the … Continue reading ACA’s new CCE program

By VICTOR HEIMBIGNER This is a competition for the kids who don’t love sports and do love books.  Elementary, Oregon Battle of the Books (OBOB) was run by Mary Coleman this year, it was her first time to do this and most of the students first times as well. The students all met on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the library at lunch time, and during … Continue reading Oregon Battle of the books 3-5

News Story by Faith Burton In 2018, as one of the few male dancers at Classical Ballet Academy, opportunities arise frequently. On January 20 2018, Luke went to Seattle with his friend and CBA ballet dancer Natazia Head, to audition for Utah’s distinguished ballet school, Ballet West. A few weeks later, Luke was accepted into ArtEmotion, an extension of Ballet West, and asked to come … Continue reading Luke the Ballerino Is Going Cleveland? Support him in this journey!

By COLIN HUGHES On March 8th, 2018, Nintendo announced two things at once; a new Smash game, and one of the most anticipated characters making an appearance. Nintendo fans watched the Super Smash Bros. Switch reveal trailer and began jumping all over the place, screaming with excitement. After all, according to many, 2017 and 2018 were Nintendo’s best years; The Legend of Zelda: Breath of … Continue reading Smash Bros Switch Reveal

By KENZIE WATERMAN   Megan Coggins our school counselor and teacher of the Becoming Me class just had her baby, Samuel James Coggins (Sammy). She has been on maternity leave since March 12th and will be gone the remnant of the school year. Coggins’ plan, while she’s gone, is to spend some time with her family and new baby. Before Coggins left she spoke with her … Continue reading Megan Coggins’ Return Plan

By Samantha Rands The school is getting a new logo. Nic Chapin, The Executive Director of ACA, sent out a survey to all the high school and middle school students, parents, and teachers. The survey had different logo options to vote on from “first choice” to “fourth choice.” “We [the school’s Admin] want a logo…you’ll be proud of,” says Danelle Till, the School’s Business Manager. … Continue reading Voting On ACA’s New Logo

By RYLIE YOUNG – 03/23/18 This year, to view and applaud all the efforts of students, ACA is hosting a showcase night for students to show off the art they have made in their classes throughout the school year. Tara McLaughlin and her daughter Aila are organizing the Art Night so you can share your favorite pieces of art on Thursday, April 12th in the … Continue reading ACA Hosting an Art Showcase and Family Dinner in the Gym, plus Live Music

By LUKE BURTON Our Middle School OBOB team is going to state. Madalena Larkins, Haladar Wright, Ben Snyder, Coral Anderson, and Cadence Gillespie are going to battle it out against all the other regional winners. The team won the regional battles on March 17th. They competed against 32 other teams and came out on top. The state battle is commencing on April, 7th, 2018, in … Continue reading Middle School Battle of the Books Team Wins Big

By Alyssa DiLoreto As you may know, ACA held the winter concerts in the gym. In the previous story on the Winter Concerts, quite a few students shared many concerns on the amount of space, and sound quality. In a classroom discussion with Jonathan Cheskin’s Orchestra II class, 2 out of 10 students said that there was not very much room. There was also very … Continue reading The ACA Winter Concerts Aftermath

By Elizabeth Tarsia As you all might know, the PAT volunteers just finished up the Penny War fundraiser. Compared to last years goal, met at $900 dollars, this year’s $500 dollars raised was not as good, but we still rocked it! All of the profits made from the penny war will go towards future needs for the school. For example, last year they went towards … Continue reading ACA Penny War

By MacKenzie Waterman, The ACA Charter News Vandalism on student work isn’t much of a problem at ACA, but so far this year, it has occurred twice. One with a triorama for Mrs. Strutz’s class, and the other was with sheets of paper from Mrs. Edinger’s science class. In the spring of 2014, someone ripped down and vandalized a poster for GSA club.    After that, … Continue reading Respecting Students’ Work

By Constantine Van Sickle, The Charter News – 11/22/2017 – On October 9th 2017, Alliance Charter Academy (ACA) officially activated all student Google accounts. Along with that change, ACA has also re-introduced StudentVue, a software that allows students to check their grades. ACA’s push to “keep up with the times” is undoubtedly a controversial idea,  already having parents opt-out of the Google accounts. Not only … Continue reading The New Age

By: Alyssa DiLoreto, The Charter News — There is a new addition to Mrs. Best’s math classes: This is called the 100 Club. When students in the 100 Club turn in their homework on time they remain in the club and receive a 3 percent bonus on tests. The classes include Pre Algebra, Geometry, Algebra Theory, and Algebra Applications. Mrs. Best first heard of the … Continue reading Mrs. Best’s The 100 Club

By: Faith Burton, The Charter News   Fresh on the heals of our safety trainings, ACA experienced a real lock out. It was not our first and it probably won’t be our last. Due to the closeness of training week, students and classes had confusion about if it was a real “lock out or a drill”. Journalism class had just started when Nic Chapin came … Continue reading Alliance Charter’s LockOut