The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot

The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot

The student news site of Portola High School

Portola Pilot

“Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect, to those that are present.” - Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior by George Washington

Help Me Be Good

Jaein Kim, Director of Photography | January 28, 2021

Although coaches have been doing everything in their power to conduct fair tryouts considering COVID-19 restrictions, athletes and coaches alike look forward to a day when players will truly be able to play together, both mentally and physically. Freshman Andi Ruiz is shown shooting a ball during tryouts.

Sports Tryouts Adapt in the Face of COVID-19

Kayla Moshayedi and Ariana Wu | January 27, 2021

As the future of high school sports seasons remains uncertain in the face of COVID-19, sports tryouts have been conducted in a more individual manner, adhering to safety protocols of being 6 feet apart...

The deal between HBO Max and Warner Bros. allows movie watchers to enjoy films such as “Wonder Woman 1984,” “Dune” and “The Matrix 4” either in theaters or at home by streaming on HBO Max for one month.

HBO Max-Warner Bros. 2021 Deal Surprises Movie Chains

Aadi Mehta, Staff Writer | January 27, 2021

In response to the ongoing pandemic and its impact on theaters nationwide, entertainment giant Warner Bros. made a game-changing deal in early December 2020 with newly-launched streaming service HBO Max.  The...

Juniors Christopher Stocks, Anne Wu, Michelle Choi and Arun Malani met with Irvine Unified School District Trustee Cyril Yu to discuss their concerns about the safety of hybrid learning amid the pandemic.

Students Behind @iusdstudentstrike Find Their Voices

Ryan Jung, Staff Writer | January 26, 2021

Irvine Unified’s official Instagram account (@irvine_unified) posted a reminder regarding students’ return to school from winter break on Jan. 2. The post sparked considerable controversy, with more...

Many classrooms across campus have experienced significantly lower in-person attendance as students opt to take their hybrid courses from home under the “otherwise present” attendance code. Literary and language arts teacher and newspaper adviser Brianna Rapp had only five students attend her second period Cohort B class in person on Jan. 14 while remaining Cohort B students attended class via Zoom.

‘Otherwise Present’ Attendance and Second Semester Health Concerns Spark Plans to Strike

Akshay Raj and Ryne Dunman | January 25, 2021

A group of Irvine students is organizing a district-wide strike geared primarily against public high schools to pressure administrators to address concerns about hybrid education and COVID-19 spreading...

For students in IVA, the school campus is replaced by a desk in their own home. Students can learn their core subjects without the inherent COVID-19 risk that in-person campuses present.

Hybrid Loses Students to IVA

Aryan Mittal, Staff Writer | January 22, 2021

About 190 students transferred from the Portola High hybrid model to the Irvine Virtual Academy for spring semester, while only 30 students transferred from IVA to hybrid, according to principal John Pehrson....

Playing team-oriented sports while being physically distanced can create some disconnect between team players. “I think the biggest thing would be playing against each other as a team and going to the games and having that adrenaline rush and experiencing the program and playing in a competitive environment, as opposed to just getting better,” junior varsity volleyball player and sophomore Sarika Menon said.

Orange County Moving into Purple Tier and its Impact on Student Athletes

Akshay Raj, Krisha Konchadi, Aryan Mittal, and Erin Choi | January 20, 2021

Athletes across Irvine Unified schools are facing an array of changes and challenges to athletic practices and training as a result of Orange County’s recent transition to the purple tier of Gov. Gavin...

Physical education equipment custodian Noe Belmudez cleans the sinks in one of the restrooms during second period with a special disinfectant. During each period, the custodial staff must clean every restroom on campus, as well as any other area classified as a high touch point.

Custodial Staff Wipes Away Student Concerns

Akshay Raj and Kelthie Truong | January 13, 2021

Whether they are on staircases spraying down handrails or in bathrooms sanitizing sinks, Portola High custodians Noe Belmudez, Leo Diego, Adrian Espinoza, Armando Medina, Frank Perez and Adrian Saavedra...

After going viral on TikTok and other social media platforms, teens all around the world are watching Megan Is Missing, a horror/thriller movie all about a teenager going missing after meeting a fake person online.

Mediocre Movie Gains Popularity for Obscene Content: ‘Megan is Missing’

Emma Haag and Kayla Moshayedi | January 13, 2021

Content warning: This movie contains scenes of sexual assault, kidnapping, extreme aggression and gore. “Megan is Missing,” a 2011 drama and horror film based on a true story and directed by Michael...

Drawn by AP Studio Art: Drawing student and senior Natalie Yu, this piece is titled “Smile! You’re on Camera,” which is the phrase that Yu explores in her art. Through her use of inverted images and a self-portrait, Yu captures the message that being on camera is something she fears rather than smiles for.

AP Art Students Self-Reflect by Compiling Annual Portfolios

Claudia Lin, Co-News Editor | January 11, 2021

Every year, students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) art classes are not evaluated by their performance on a standard AP multiple-choice exam or their ability to answer a free-response question, but...

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