STUDENT WORK

Our students produce creative multimedia work from film to theatre to visual art to writing. Through our programs, students autonomously create content and projects around the issues and ideas they care about.

"BLUE SKY"

FILM

By: Ricardo

"DOCUMENTAL"

FILM

By: Victor

"THE DISCIPLINE GAP"

FILM

Written and directed by: Chapel and Aliyah

Collaborators: Kavion, Sincere, Kamryn, Laura, Reed, Evani, Donte, Tay, Gianni, Avery, Leija, and Augie

"FOR THE CULTURE: AN ETHNIC STUDIES DOCUMENTARY"

FILM

Directed by: Cece Chan

"TONY'S THEME"

AUDIO & WRITING

Screenplay by: The Columbia City Youth Theatre Group

A stained glass style piece of visual art with triangles emanating from the center of the piece in yellows, blues, greens, purples, and reds.

Image description: A stained glass style piece of visual art with triangles emanating from the center of the piece in yellows, blues, greens, purples, and reds.

"UNTITLED"

VISUAL ART
by Nacaea

"MONTHLY GOALS"

WRITING
by Claudio

A young boy with an afro, dark sweatshirt and dark pants with a white strip, shoots a basketball midair on a basketball court on a playground with trees and houses in the background.

Learn how to learn – map out a strategy and follow through:

5 Free throws in a row.
- Practice at break.
Turning your homework in on time.
- if you finish your homework then you get free time to play.
Help each other out when they’re stuck on something.
- Ask your class mates if they are struggling.

"VISUAL ARTS ARE A PARADISE"

WRITING
by Xavier

My name is Xavier and i help with visual arts. The reason i chose visual arts is because whenever i do any form of art, i just feel so good about myself. To me, art is an escape from your emotions. Art is your mind on paper. Art can be anything you want for it to be, whether it be dancing, painting, drawing, or so much more. I do art whenever i’m anything other than happy, so i can imagine my way back to happy. Therefore, i hope i can motivate people in the future to use and see art the way i do.

Image description: A young Black boy in black pants, a black shirt , white sneakers, and a grey baseball cap sits on a wall behind a raining, smiling at the camera and kicking one foot towards the camera.

"ORCA RISES UP"

WRITING
by Nuurdiin

A crowd of students of many different ages, genders, and races march down a street in Seattle, carrying signs. The students in front carry a red, blue, white, and green banner that says "WE SHALL OVERCOME" "BLACK LIVES MATTER".

On January 18 2019, Orca observed MLK day. People were singing at the assembly. The assembly theme was “When we Dare to Dream.” We marched and there were police all around us. I felt safe because there were people all around to protect us. This was the first time I ever marched, and it felt good. We gave out food to the community through Rainier Valley Food Bank. You can donate any food to the homeless at the food bank.

Image description: A crowd of students of many different ages, genders, and races march down a street in Seattle, carrying signs. The students in front carry a red, blue, white, and green banner that says "WE SHALL OVERCOME" "BLACK LIVES MATTER".

The back of many people outside marching down the street, a small child in a green jacket on someone's shoulders in the background, in the foreground a young person with black hair and a purple jacket holding two signs that say "BOLD #WA4KIDS" in white lettering on a blue Washington State.

"WHEN WE DARE TO DREAM"

INTERVIEWS
by Aliah, Kat, and Sophia, Compiled by Lisl Stadler (KVRU radio programmer)

The Southeast Seattle local radio station, KVRU 105.7, trained a few Orca students to use professional recording equipment during the march, so that students could interview each other, as well as teachers and family members. Here are a few highlights from the conversations that took place:

Q: Why do you think MLK Day is important?

A: Dr. Martin Luther King Day means protesting for justice and showing that we care about the Civil Rights Movement. He fought to stop segregation, and if segregation was still going on, African Americans would get less education and less freedom. (Samara and Rodjane, 8th Grade)

A: It’s showing we love him, and we’re doing the same thing [as him]. (Aniyah, 2nd Grade)

A: You can see a lot of people here came together to celebrate Dr. King’s life and legacy, and to me Dr. King was just a great man. (Owen, Orca parent)

Q: Why do you think we march?

A: To celebrate the people. (Lachlan, 1st Grade)

A: I think we march as a way to both remember Martin Luther King’s legacy, and to remember and like realize that the Civil Rights movement was the just the beginning. There’s still social problems going on, and what’s happened in the 60’s inspiring us to take action now. (Unknown)

A: Racial justice, yeah, pretty much. MLK’s dream is coming true here at Orca. But it isn’t the best school ever… (Bobby, 5th Grade)

Q: What do you think is the main point that we’re trying to get across?

A: That we all matter, that we all belong together, and that we all need each other.

(Donte, Orca Head Teacher)

A: We are trying to bring the world together to make the world a more just and fair place. (Ms. Lissa, 4th Grade teacher)

Image description: The back of many people outside marching down the street, a small child in a green jacket on someone's shoulders in the background, in the foreground a young person with black hair and a purple jacket holding two signs that say "BOLD #WA4KIDS" in white lettering on a blue Washington State.