Teacher Jennifer Graham offers a Space Exploration Class to 3rd through 6th-grade students at Springs’ Enterprise and Otay Ranch Learning Centers. In one lesson, for example, she demonstrates how protecting an egg relates to real-world challenges faced by engineers who design things like bike helmets, space crafts, and Mars landers. The students worked with partners to design a “landing craft” that protected their “Eggstronaut” while taking flight from the two-story story balcony of the Enterprise building. Students tested to see if their invention worked and wrote about the results.
Continue reading →
Ayesha Chloe Abril, a 6th-grade student with the Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts, is the March 2022 Student Artist of the Month. The Chula Vista resident’s artwork is entitled P.L.A.Y.
Continue reading →
Springs’ Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts (ORAA) participated in the Great Kindness Challenge in January, a week-long bullying prevention program in which students are encouraged to “create a culture of compassion, inclusion, unity and respect.”
Continue reading →
Brynne Dukes is the new principal of Springs’ Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts (ORAA). She has been an educator for 25 years, earning her teaching credential and Master’s degree in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning from Sonoma State University.
Continue reading →
The Arts and Academia: Unlocking Hidden Benefits
Motivation, inspiration, creativity, self-esteem — we associate all these traits with success, especially in young artists, musicians, and actors working toward their dreams. Science has demonstrated that while these strengths may come more naturally to some than others, participation in arts education both in and out of the classroom can bolster not only these but a surprising variety of other skills. Continue reading →
Elsa Hoff is the August Student Artist of the Month. She will be going into the 8th grade at Springs’ Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts (ORAA). She is 13 and lives in Chula Vista.
Continue reading →
Springs’ Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts held a STEAM Fair with students doing projects at home using one of four kits: crystal growing, weather lab, chemistry set, or volcano lab.
Continue reading →
The annual Springs spelling bee was held virtually this year, with each participant given 25 spelling words and 25 vocabulary words. The winners were:
Continue reading →
Meredith Rodriguez, a 7th-grade student with the Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts (ORAA), was named a winner in the Scholastic Book Club’s Picture a President Drawing Contest 2020 for her drawing of former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson.
Continue reading →
Springs’ Otay Ranch Academy for the Arts (ORAA) is continuing distance learning as October begins,based on mandates from state health officials, reported Principal Alyssa Branchaud-Warren. School staff is preparing to reopen the campus; they hope they will receive permission to do so later this month. When school does reopen, Mrs. Warren reported, plans are being put into place to reopen at 50% capacity for half days. Changes are taking place on campus to increase safety when students return.
Continue reading →
