Department Overview

Arts - Department Head: Leigh Lightfoot

Welcome to the Arts Department at Orinda Academy. Encompassing the mediums of dance, visual arts, drama, and music, this department is committed to bonding students to creative and artistic experiences. The instructors in this department have over 75 years of combined teaching experience, most have advanced degrees, and all are active in their respective fields. Binding theory with practice, our programs cultivate students' curiosity, technique, and expression while remaining developmentally appropriate and relevant.

At Orinda Academy, students have the opportunity to receive introductory through advanced coursework and instruction, numerous performance and exhibition opportunities, and the full support of a dedicated administration and staff. Feel free to look through our course catalog to gather a sense of what we offer our students' and as always, contact me with any questions you may have.

English - Department Head: Ryan H. Devine

Welcome to the Orinda Academy English Department. The philosophy of the department is to develop a passion for reading in our lower division and elective courses through multi-cultural and traditional world literature; the upper division courses focus predominately on the study of American and European Literature. All courses teach applicable literary terminology and the development of themes and techniques in various movements of literature. The writing program focuses on the knowledge and application of grammar rules and on the development of ideas through a coherent thesis in a well-organized essay. In the upper division courses, our department directs the study of vocabulary and writing towards performing well on the SATs, college essays, the Advanced Placement Exam, and in college. The English Department is dedicated to instilling a strong knowledge of literature and writing with the hope that all our students develop a love for the written word and a desire to continue their studies of writing and literature in college.

Foreign Language - Department Head: Katherine Saxby

Hola y Bienvenidos! Bonjour et Bienvenue! Hello and welcome to the Orinda Academy Foreign Language Department. We offer four to five years of both French and Spanish instruction. The first two years are devoted to vocabulary acquisition and grammar along with an appreciation for the history and culture of various countries. Lessons are taught in a functional, topical approach that focuses on giving students skills that are practical for travel and basic conversation. Lessons include realia such as advertising, movies, menus, travel documents, etc.... The upper division classes continue the study of grammar, vocabulary, and culture while incorporating classic and modern literature originally written in the target language. Students write longer, more grammatically sophisticated compositions and give longer presentations. Our dedicated teachers have organized trips to Spain, Peru, and France in the past and look forward to future trips.

Math & Science - Department Head: Mitch Goldman

Welcome to the Mathematics/Science Department at Orinda Academy. We have a variety of offerings in both disciplines, and offered at different paces. Our department offers a typical college track mathematics program that includes Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Precalculus, and Calculus, and is designed to prepare our students for a future in mathematics and/or the sciences. We take extra care to prepare our students for standardized exams and the AP Calculus Exam. Additionally, students may choose a slower paced program including a 2-year algebra sequence, Elementary Algebra 1-2 & 3-4. We offer a Math A class (a mixture of prealgebra, basic geometry, and other basic skills) for our middle school students, as well as students requiring more preparation. We also offer mathematics labs, typically during 7th and 8th periods, where students can come for help and individual attention.

Our Science program offers a variety of classes and laboratories in the Physical and Life Sciences, including Physical Science for our middle school students, Environmental Science for our 9th graders, Biology and Honors Biology for 10th graders, Chemistry, Physics, and Conceptual Physics. Our goal is for each student to gain a working knowledge of the sciences and to be prepared to take more advanced college-level science courses. We take advantage of the incredible resources and the natural beauty of our area, including many great museums and laboratories.

Physical Education & Athletics - Department Head: Mitch Goldman

Welcome to the Physical Education and Athletics Department at Orinda Academy. We offer our students a variety of class offerings and interscholastic sports teams. Our class offerings include Yoga, Hiking, Tai Chi, Team Sports, and Weight Training. Our interscholastic sports teams include Soccer in the fall, Boys and Girls Basketball in the winter, and Baseball and Girls Softball in the spring. We also hold occasional intramural tournaments and can explore new courses and teams when the interest exists. Our goal is for each of our students to become well-conditioned athletes, learn the individual skills necessary to progress in each sport, learn to play as a team and compete, and all while maintaining proper sportsmanship.

Social Studies - Department Head: Jeff Quittman

Welcome to the Orinda Academy Social Studies Department. The philosophy of the department is to provide a broadly humanistic approach to the ideas, events, peoples, and extraordinary individuals that have shaped the world in which we live. Through courses in eighth grade U. S. History, ninth grade World Geography, tenth grade Modern World History or Western Civilization, eleventh grade U.S. History, and twelfth grade Civics and Economics, students are exposed to a wide variety of traditionally-based yet progressively-tempered methods of instruction. The ultimate goal is to promote each individual's critical thinking skills and to instill a passion and appreciation for the rich variety of past and present experience and the multiplicity of ways in which they connect to and illuminate one another.