Oregon's Willamette Connections Academy News
- April 12, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy principal Heather Engelhardt shares ways for parents to show ongoing teacher appreciation in this month's Woodburn Independent commentary.
- April 7, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy student Addison Kleinke is featured in the Siuslaw News for participating in the 2nd annual Florence Street Vault, a high school pole vault competition.
- April 3, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Kelly Schaeffer is interviewed by KGW-TV about being on the Oregon Ravens, which is part of the Women's National Football Conference, and will be playing in her first game on April 8.
- March 29, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Kelly Schaeffer is interviewed by the Clackamas Review about her upcoming season on the Oregon Ravens, a competitive team in the Women's National Football Conference.
- March 15, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy counselor Kelly Adamo shares helpful time management tips in this month's Woodburn Independent commentary.
- February 23, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy senior Arayah Moore has the leading role as Ariel in a local production of "The Little Mermaid" and is featured in this Canby Herald article.
- February 9, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy parent Timika Chambers shares the importance of school choice for her family in this Tillamook Headlight Herald letter to the editor.
- February 8, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Janis Campbell shares tips for raising avid readers in this February Woodburn Independent commentary.
- January 25, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy's manager of counseling services Angie Smith pens a letter to the editor in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer on the importance of school choice.
- January 25, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy caretaker Christina Duval shares why National School Choice Week is important to her family in this TheWorldLink.com letter to the editor.
- January 10, 2023 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Paula Hoffman's Woodburn Independent commentary features real-world ways to show kids why math matters.
- December 30, 2022 – Willamette Connections Academy hosted its first in-person Scholastic Book Fair and students in attendance created handmade holiday cards for residents at senior living facilities. Learn more in the Canyon Weekly.
- October 31, 2022 – WillCA student Andi Kreutzer finds a safe learning environment in full-time online school after being bullied in her local brick-and-mortar. Learn more in the Tillamook Headlight-Herald.
- October 26, 2022 – WillCA students enjoy a fun field trip to Riverfront Park to decorate pumpkins in time for Halloween. Learn more in the Salem Reporter.
- October 15, 2022 – WillCA counselor Cindy Babikoff gives tips for high schoolers on how they can finish off the school year strong in the Woodburn Independent.
- September 13, 2022 – Willamette Connections Academy (WillCA) teacher Kelly Schaeffer discusses how teaching in a full-time online school made her fall in love with teaching again. Read more in The Newberg Graphic.
- September 13, 2022 – WillCA teacher Carolina Balan encourages people to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by learning about the different customs in Latin America. Read more in the Hillsboro News Times.
- August 31, 2022 – WillCA students from Polk County are recognized for their academic achievements in the 2021-2022 school year. Read more in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer.
- August 26, 2022 – Four WillCA students make the honor roll for the second semester of the 2021-22 school year. Learn more in the East Oregonian.
- August 16, 2022 – Willamette Connections Academy to host information session for those interested in attending the full-time online school. Learn more on the Portland Patch.
- August 4, 2022 – WillCA to host four information sessions this month for interested families in the state. Learn more in the Argus Observer.
- July 21, 2022 – WillCA to hold free elementary school information session on July 21. Learn more on the Portland Mom Collective.
- June 22, 2022 – WillCA seniors Destiny Dorman and Sienna Sansing are featured in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer for graduating from high school.
- June 20, 2022 – WillCA student Javier Sandoval earns spot on the honor roll for superior academic achievement. Learn more in the East Oregonian.
- June 16, 2022 – WillCA student Addison Kleinke, who is considered one of the best up-and-coming pole vaulters in the nation, will compete in the Nike Outdoor Nationals. Learn more in The Register-Guard.
- June 1, 2022 – WillCA student Colin Schecter and his VEX robotics team, System Overload, wins first place in their division in worldwide tournament. Learn more in the Columbia Gorge News.
- May 31, 2022 – Four WillCA students in Columbia County earned honor roll recognition for their first semester school work. Learn more in The Chronicle
- .May 29, 2022 – WillCA seniors Alexander Guy and Michael Sorenson get special graduation shoutout in The News-Review.
- May 23, 2022 – WillCA special education teacher Jennie Richard and The Kleinke Family talk about why some families make the switch to full-time online school during this KMTR-TV segment.
- May 18, 2022 – Leading statewide online school now enrolling students for 2022-23 school year. Learn more in the Argus Observer.
- May 7, 2022 – WillCA student Rose Gray performs at Disneyland with her local opera house youth group. Learn more in The Observer.
- March 7, 2022 – WillCA's Read Across America Day event included a special guest appearance by local reporter Rhea Panela. Learn more on KTVZ-TV.
- February 17, 2022 – WillCA teacher Tristan Irvin shares how you can get your children excited about the elections process in the Statesman Journal.
- February 2, 2022 – WillCA student and actor Kason Utz discusses why full-time online school is the perfect choice for him in this Northwest Observer article.
- September 2, 2021 – Willamette Connections Academy parent Adrianne Gamache shares why she chose to enroll her son in a full-time online school. Learn more on KPTV-TV
- September 1, 2021 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Alison Thomas talks about how the pandemic is affecting enrollment during this segment on KPTV-TV
- August 2, 2021 – Willamette Connections Academy sisters Addison and Brynn Kleinke are bringing home trophies in track this summer. Addison received a gold medal in pole vault at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships. Brynn landed a first place win in high jump at the state championship. Learn more on KVAL-TV
- June 18, 2021 – Graduate Jon Schenk Jr says Willamette Connections Academy helped him prepare for his future career in computer science. Read more about his story in The Newberg Graphic
- June 18, 2021 – Willamette Connections Academy graduate Diego Reyes is thankful the online school helped him pursue his passion for competitive swimming. Learn more in The Creswell Chronicle
- June 10, 2021 – A special drive-through commencement ceremony is planned for Willamette Connections Academy’s Class of 2021. Find out the details in this press release
- May 25, 2021 – Willamette Connections Academy Learning Coach James Hamilton explains why he enrolled his son in the online school and Assistant Principal Heather Engelhardt discusses why online charter schools should be measured differently than their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Learn more on the Pamplin Projects
- April 8, 2021 – Fifth grade teacher Tristan Irvin brings learning to life by taking her Willamette Connections Academy online students on a road trip to several California national parks. Get the full story in The Tigard Times
- March 10, 2021 – Manager of Counseling Services at Willamette Connections Academy Angie Smith has a great conversation about the benefits of full-time online school and differentiates it from crisis online learning on KSLM-AM FM Good Morning Salem
- March 3, 2021 – Students from Willamette Connections Academy are joined by special guest Nick Krupke from Fox 12 for Read Across America Day! See the story on KPTV-TV
- February 26, 2021 – Read Willamette Connections Academy Principal Chris Long's Op-Ed "What lessons have educators learned from the pandemic era?" in the Portland Tribune
- January 4, 2021 – Aspiring hockey professional and Willamette Connections Academy student Connor Schuckmann says the full-time online school is helping him make time for the sport that he loves. Connor’s story is on KPTV-TV
- December 23, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy Assistant Principal Rebecca Chitkowski offers suggestions on how students can stay healthy during quarantine. See her advice in the Statesman Journal
- December 20, 2020 – Sarah McQueen, Willamette Connections Academy teacher, hosts a Lego competition to keep her students engaged and learning in the online environment over the holidays. There’s more in the Ashland Tidings
- September 23, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy biology teacher Claire Steel shares her expertise on how the wildfires provide a teachable moment to children across Oregon in the Statesman Journal
- September 1, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy teacher Alison Thomas shares the difference between true online school and emergency school in The Roseburg News-Review
- August 19, 2020 – Many Oregon parents may be unsure how to manage school delivered to home during the pandemic. Willamette Connections Academy Assistant Principal Heather Englehart offers a few helpful ideas in this story on KTVL-TV
- June 4, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy celebrates its first Graduating Class with a virtual commencement ceremony. Check out all the details in this press release
- April 23, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy student Hailey Eckstein shares her tips for other students new to online learning with KOIN TV
- April 20, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy family The Eckstein's and Director of Schools Melissa Brown talk about the surge of interest in online schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic in this Oregonian article
- March 3, 2020 – Willamette Connections Academy opens enrollment for the 2020-21 school year. Find out what the school has to offer new families in this press release
- September 4, 2019 – Online school gives students, and teachers, the flexibility to learn anywhere there's an internet connection! WillCA School Leader Chris Long talks about her position and this new online school option with the Statesman Journal
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