Orinda Academy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Orinda Academy is a college preparatory school based in Orinda, Ca. The mission of Orinda Academy is to assist each student to reach his or her full potential as a successful, confident, self-reliant individual, prepared for the academic rigor of a university education. Orinda Academy is an independent school committed to offering students opportunities for participation and growth in college-preparatory academics, enriching and adventurous educational trips, ambitious and advanced classes in the arts, competitive interscholastic athletics and a rich technological curriculum. Orinda Academy seeks to affirm students’ strengths and potential while developing their critical thinking skills, ethical values, an appreciation for culture and the natural world, a healthy lifestyle, and a sense of social responsibility. Orinda Academy promotes a challenging and engaging curriculum, a diverse student body, a nurturing, yet structured environment, and active communication among parents, students, and teachers.
[edit] History
Orinda Academy is a private, non-profit, co-educational school serving grades 7-12. Founded in 1982, Orinda Academy offers a challenging and enriching college preparatory program that meets state education frame-works, UC college entrance requirements, and is accepted by four-year colleges and universities worldwide. Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Orinda Academy strives to engage each student to reach his or her full potential as a {confident, successful and self-reliant individual.
Orinda Academy is a fully accredited, independent, college preparatory school, serving grades 7-12. North Bay Secondary School Incorporated, and its first campus, was founded in 1980 by Orinda Academy founder and Director, Ron Graydon, with a group of credentialed teachers and administrators. The original school started in Point Richmond with 24 students, three teachers serving as co-directors, and one part time teacher. The original school is now The Marin School and is located in Sausalito.
In 1982, a second campus was opened in Orinda to accommodate the needs of students residing in the East Bay. North Bay Orinda School was headed by Director Ron Graydon, whose staff included founding teacher Norm Coleman. The facility was located at Wagner Ranch School. North Bay Orinda School began its first academic year in the fall of 1982 with 26 students.
The school expanded yearly in population and college preparatory course offerings, athletics, technology, and the arts. In 1991, the school began an ESL program, and began accepting international students. In 1994, North Bay moved to its current site near the Orinda BART Station, at 19 Altarinda Road. The move to Altarinda Road provided North Bay with the appropriate facility to address the demands of a growing population by providing a healthy number of classrooms, science and computer labs, and sufficient office space, sports fields, and transportation to carry out the operations of the school. There is also room for further growth and expansion.
In 2001 North Bay committed to provide more opportunities for scholarships to the school, be more inclusive, and cultivate a larger, more diverse population. This process began with an association with A Better Chance. The association with A Better Chance has provided a boost to the multicultural environment and offerings of the school.
In fall 2003, North Bay Orinda School changed its name to Orinda Academy. In 2004, two buildings were added to the school facility, including a fitness center with a weight room and dance studio. The additional buildings were home to a new music room, art room, and science lab, ushering in a new era for the school with the expansion of the arts and elective programs. The Orinda Academy sports offerings have grown over the years. In 2004, The OA Athletic Director teamed with counterparts from similar sized schools throughout the Bay Area, to create the "Small School Bridge League," under the aegis of the North Coast Section of the CIF. The league’s first championship trophy was awarded to the Orinda Academy Women’s Basketball Team in February of 2005. A Learning Center was also established at OA in 2004. A learning specialist was added to the staff to better serve the students’ academic needs.
Orinda Academy’s growth and improvement is best exemplified by the accomplishment of its students. Orinda Academy students have shared their talents throughout the community with dramatic and musical performance, creative art and writing, athletic endeavor, technological advances, community service, political involvement, and academic achievement. It is no wonder Orinda Academy graduates have achieved success in outstanding universities throughout the world, both large and small, for over twenty five years.
