• • October 15: Ballroom Dance Club (One Lunch, Rm. 250) •
  • • October 15: Anime Club (One Lunch, Rm. 254) •
  • • October 16: ASL Club (One Lunch, Rm. 243) •
  • • October 16: Computer Club (One Lunch, Rm. 202) •
  • • October 17: Quiet Study (One Lunch, Blue/Gold Room) •
  • • October 17: Math Competition Practice (One Lunch, Rm. 259) •
  • • October 31: Halloween, First Grading Period Ends •
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
The Student News Site of Ocean Lakes High School

The Current
Nathanial Swindle

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer

Nathanial Swindle is a senior, third-year journalist, staff writer and ex-news editor of The Current. He enjoys helping out his mom at his local VFW post, volunteering and taking care of his two golden retrievers. Nathanial wants to study intelligence analysis at James Madison University and become a data analyst after college.

All content by Nathanial Swindle
Juneteenth continues to be recognized as a day of African American freedom in the United States, even if rights are still being fought for to this day. (Color guard bringing in the American and Juneteenth flags / Wikimedia Commons)

Juneteenth: an enduring remembrance of African American history

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
June 13, 2025
Students observe the aeration process of waste treatment on April 22, 2025. This process increases the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water and helps remove dissolved gasses, improving water quality.

Earth Day at HRSD, science students tackle waste management

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
April 27, 2025
Student and parent drivers leaving the Ocean Lakes High School student parking lot March 20, 2025. After speed cameras are installed outside of the school, it may take longer to clear out the parking lot, as vehicles may travel slower.

VBCPS’ implementation of speed detection cameras in school zones

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
April 3, 2025
Senior Andrew Friedman prepares to present his project on designing and constructing a robotic arm on Feb. 27, 2025. His project will also be shown during the Tidewater Engineering and Science Fair (TSEF).

Academy seniors prepare for project presentations, culminate years of work

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
February 28, 2025
The entrance of the Dachau concentration camp is pictured. In steel letters, the words “ARBEIT MACHT FREI” are written, translating to “WORK SETS YOU FREE,” a lie that thousands would read before entering the camp. Photo taken on July 4, 2023.

Remembering the lives lost in the Holocaust

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
January 26, 2025
Canva infographic depicts relationship between the SAT, ACT, Gaokao and Suneung. Some of these standardized tests, such as the SAT and Gaokao, have reported record-breaking participation numbers in recent years, further revealing the unnecessary importance of these exams. Statistical graph courtesy of Jee Suk Kang (LinkedIn), Science Direct, College Board and ACT.org.

Standardized testing gatekeeps students’ futures, relates to global make-or-break exam landscape

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
November 8, 2024
Canva showcases a checklist of recommended application content that many students submit to their colleges and universities. Although all must be submitted at the same time, teacher recommendations may be completed and sent by the teacher following a student’s application submission on the Common Application.

Tackling the Common App

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
September 27, 2024
The boys varsity soccer team gather in a huddle moments before they faced Deep Creek High School at Ocean Lakes High School on March 25, 2024. Ocean lakes won the game after defeating Deep Creek with a score of 7-1.

Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
June 3, 2024
Senior Jack Hancock expresses his disappointment after being eliminated by senior Daved Holloway on April 8, 2024.

Class of 2024 competes in the long-awaited, annual game of senior assassin

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
April 25, 2024
From left: seniors and counselors Revanth Renukunta, Anna Kain-Kuzniewski, Jesse Gutierrez, Julianna Angeles, Alex Panecaldo, and Molly Ryan Gates hold their council signs to guide delegates on March 9, 2024. Photo used with permission from Christina Barnhart.

2024 Leadership Workshop brings another year of comradery, creativity and service

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
March 14, 2024
The whale lays lifeless on its back after being taped off by Virginia Beach police on March 3, 2024 at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

Juvenile humpback whale found dead at oceanfront

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
March 4, 2024
Junior Marlie Smith, who idolizes Douglass, holds a copy of his autobiography, “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” on Feb. 12, 2024. Marlie and her other journalism classmates selected black history figures that have made significant strides in the arts, this year's Black History Month theme.

Frederick Douglass: abolitionist, author and reformer

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
February 13, 2024
An eroded rock forms on the edge of Lake Tahoe in California on June 22, 2023. Photo used with permission from Aaralynn Malikian.

Traveling and the lifelong lessons students can learn beyond the traditional classroom

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
February 2, 2024
Stephanie Gentile writes down the quadratic formula as well as complex numbers during one lunch in Room 256 on Oct. 24, 2023.

Math teacher adds growth to the classroom

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
November 5, 2023
Scott Sonier enjoys his time with family and friends in the Schola after receiving his award on Oct. 23, 2023. Photo used with permission from Jessica Scheible.

Scott Sonier distinguished as Teacher of the Year

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
October 25, 2023
Nicholas DiNapoli discusses the earth's longitude, latitude, poles and equator during one lunch in room 211 on Sept. 21, 2023.

Science teacher shares passion, relates to students

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
September 20, 2023
Huntington Learning Center located in Virginia Beach promotes their SAT and ACT preparation services to students on Aug. 24, 2023.

SAT switches to digital platform

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
August 25, 2023
Professional skater Tony Hawk poses next to sophomore Maddi Fisher on June 3, 2023, after the contest concluded.

Sophomore skates to first place at the Jackalope Festival

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
June 13, 2023
205 students responded to an Instagram poll asking whether or not they want class rank, valedictorian and salutatorian to come back to Ocean Lakes on May 22, 2023.

Class rank and academic honors to return 2023-2024 school year

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
June 7, 2023
Helen Hou-Sandi presents her story ‘Code Is Poetry - A Musician’s Tale’ of being a pianist, mother and software engineer during WordCamp Europe in Vienna, Austria during June of 2016.

Alumna shows key connection to music and code

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
May 15, 2023
One of the two Something In The Water stages are set up before the start of the concert, taken on April 25, 2023.

Something In The Water returns to Virginia Beach

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
April 26, 2023
The grading scale that Virginia Beach City Public Schools uses to measure a student's weighted grade taken March 4, 2023.

Weighted and unweighted GPA, what is it?

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
March 28, 2023
Chemistry teacher Donald Robertson refers to the periodic table almost every day, even after class. Pictured here is Robertson after class, on Feb. 9, 2023.

Chemistry teacher joins the POD

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
March 11, 2023
Sophomore Lilly Honeycutt meets with her counselor Christopher Murray to discuss the courses she will take in her junior year on Jan. 12, 2023.

Students begin course registration, plan for learning in 2023

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
January 18, 2023
From left: Missy Dunaway, Amanda Hansen, Chief Stephanie Williams, Enrique Rangel-Rodriquez, TeCarala Moore, Elizabeth Dugas, Carleigh Pappas Jacobs, and Yoma Miller explain the admissions process and what colleges look for in students applying.

College night prepares students’ futures

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
December 22, 2022
Sophomore Ian Brite eats school lunch, while freshman Katherine Elliot enjoys a home made lunch in the school’s cafeteria on Dec. 9, 2022.

School lunch prompts big topic of discussion

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
December 9, 2022
From left to right; VFW members Kevin Jared, Mel Carr, Dick Reedy and Charlie Baker hand out "Buddy Poppies" in celebration of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, 2022

Veterans embody the very idea of service and sacrifice

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
November 10, 2022
Class of 2025 executive team stands in front of their decorated hallway, ready for the homecoming decoration contest in early October.

Class of 2025 commits to an eventful year

Nathanial Swindle, Staff Writer
November 2, 2022
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