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
News
Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump at the second presidential debate. As the election nears its final stretch, both Harris and Trump are busy proving to voters that they are prepared to steer the country away from crisis. “I would like someone that has an actual plan,” AP Economics teacher James Ferrel said. “But I also want an element of humbleness to understand that their plan may not be perfect, and they may adjust as needed. Effective leadership requires them to make those difficult decisions.”
Harris vs. Trump: The 2024 Presidential Debate
Claire Liu and Sky Nguyen | September 17, 2024
The progression of the Airport Fire can be seen from just over an hour after it started on Sept. 9 to its current state moving down the canyon on Sept. 11. The fire is expected to continue spreading over the next few days, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi.
Airport Fire Continues to Grow Amidst Containment Efforts by Fire Personnel
Ruhi Samudra, Co-Editor-in-Chief | September 11, 2024
Parent volunteers from the Portola High Indian Parent Group serve traditional dishes to staff members Julie Primero and student teacher Cole Kong. “I was very thankful to my community and the kids who participated for this event, because it's because of them that staff and teachers were feeling appreciated,” luncheon co-organizer and Portola High Indian Parent Group member Dolly Malani said. “They felt that lively spirit around them, so for me, when they are happy, that means our event is going good. I'm grateful for what they do for students at school.”
Spooning Food, Activities and Gratitude: Students and Parents Celebrate Staff Appreciation Week
Marianne Chan and Mary Lee | May 10, 2024
Senior Yunxin Tao and sophomore Aditya Nair manufacture t-shirts for Portola Printing, Portola High's first ever business. “Sometimes after school, we have a little party with about five to 10 students, heat pressing and folding and quality checking,” business teacher Katherine Dillon. “The next day, we count the orders and make sure we have all the right sizes, all the right numbers [to] make sure they're all good and then we just go deliver it to the classrooms.”
‘Pressing’ On: Portola Printing Makes Progress In Business Goals
Marianne Chan and Alice Ahn | May 6, 2024
People of Portola High
Participants play a best-of-three game with a 60-card deck, and the winner moves on to the next round. Erlandsson said that he often uses Charizard in his strategy as a power card, being a well-rounded card that is effective against different Pokémon types.
Who is That Pokémon Pro? Neo Erlandsson Catches the Top Ranks
Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | June 6, 2024
Mares demonstrates his lettering while patrolling the campus. “[Calligraphy] wasn’t like baseball or football,” Mares said. “I just liked it. It’s kind of just one of those things that you can relax with.”
Meet our Campus Control Calligraphy Connoisseur: George Mares
Mia Jong and Catherine Li | June 3, 2024
Junior Luke Porter and senior Mathias Lee committed to the Naval Academy, and junior Abby Miller committed to the Air Force Academy to pursue their passions and desire to serve their country. “I'm honestly super excited to work in the military after graduating,” Miller said. “I know that might be a weird thing to say, but that is something that kind of drew me to the military academies: it’s knowing that after I graduate, I have a job for at least five years. I honestly think that jobs in the military are just so incredible, and they're so honorable. I don't really want an office job and being in the military is definitely kind of a way to find a job with a larger purpose.”
Answering the Call to Command: Meet Three Military Academy Commits
Hannah Ko and Maya Tedini | May 3, 2024
Hair has become a vessel for self-expression for many due to its versatility. “I just love my hair,” freshman Kate Song said. “Style is something that you could switch up. But my hair is kind of something that shows how I love this color, or I love this style.”
Bulldogs Express True ‘Colors’ Through Dyed Hair
Kayley Winata | April 12, 2024
Decorative Background
Features
Participants play a best-of-three game with a 60-card deck, and the winner moves on to the next round. Erlandsson said that he often uses Charizard in his strategy as a power card, being a well-rounded card that is effective against different Pokémon types.
Who is That Pokémon Pro? Neo Erlandsson Catches the Top Ranks
Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | June 6, 2024
Mares demonstrates his lettering while patrolling the campus. “[Calligraphy] wasn’t like baseball or football,” Mares said. “I just liked it. It’s kind of just one of those things that you can relax with.”
Meet our Campus Control Calligraphy Connoisseur: George Mares
Mia Jong and Catherine Li | June 3, 2024
Arts & Entertainment
South Korean band Wave to Earth’s third album, “play with earth! 0.03,” explores themes of self-fulfillment, love, heartbreak and identity that often intertwine in unexpected ways — from apocalyptic symbolism to languid moments under the sun.
Wave to Earth ‘Plays’ with Sound in Latest Album Release
Marianne Chan and Nicole Lu | September 16, 2024
Spider-Man, one of the most beloved superhero archetypes in Marvel Comics, has been brought to life in various adaptations. Read below to see which films truly did this character and his story justice.
Our ‘Spidey Senses’ Tell Us These Are the Best Spider-Man Films to Watch
Maya Tedini and Parmin Zamani | June 7, 2024
Detective Roland (Jason Wu Chen) suffers a nervous breakdown after being thwarted by kleptomaniac Shalia (senior Sanika Nihalani) once again. In a Q&A after the play, Wu Chen said that he added an element of improvisation to the scene when he spontaneously hurled his cigar lighter into the airport wall.
Honors Ensemble Play “Gate F-10” Takes Off for the Last Time
Marianne Chan and Elizabeth Gao | May 29, 2024
Opinion
Arranging something as subjective as an album in a definitive list is borderline impossible. But there is one thing that music lovers seem to agree on, and Apple Music does not: “An album is a bit of everything,” sophomore Aditya Nair said. “The biggest thing you have to factor in is the impact the album had on people…This can’t be labeled the top 10 or 100 albums of all time.”
Does Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums Ranking “Skip” Too Many Great Ones?
Claire Liu, Staff Writer | June 7, 2024
Casting people of color in media is beneficial in providing representation and telling diverse stories, according to math teacher Jessica Torres. As a first-generation Mexican-American, she feels inspired by Hispanic influencers sharing their stories online and hopes to see future popular media reflect diverse experiences.
Swapping the Roles: Disney Should Continue Casting POC in Live-Action Remakes
Camille Clement and Catherine Li | June 4, 2024
Local community colleges, including Irvine Valley College and Saddleback College, as well as the University of California system, use Canvas as their primary learning management system. Thus, in order to prepare students for higher education, Canvas should be implemented early on in students’ careers.
Full-Fledged Learning Management Systems Benefit Everyone: Why Canvas Triumphs Google Classroom
Michael Sun and Maitri Allani | May 22, 2024
As time progresses, the spotlight on mental health intensifies, illuminating the pervasive stigma that continues to cause difficulties for those in need. It's time to rewrite this narrative, to embrace empathy over stigma and to create a community where mental well-being is a shared priority.
It’s Time to Destigmatize the Meaning of Mental Health
Sky Nguyen and Elizabeth Gao | May 21, 2024
Sports
Many of head baseball coach Bryan Resnick's videos have received millions of views, being a platform to connect with people from different states. “I put out a video about how to hit a home run, and I just started seeing it getting shared and shared and shared and just snowballed,” Resnick said. “I’m really most proud of just being able to build something that people enjoy.”
Home Plate Humor: Baseball Coach Resnick Mixes Comedy and Content Creation
Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | May 30, 2024
Boys’ volleyball sibling duo Jayce and Jett Fukuda smile before a varsity game last year. “I think that was really cool because having so many people there to watch me and my brother because we're so lucky to be on the same team at that time,” junior Jayce Fukuda said. “That was really special and important to me.”
Junior Jayce Fukuda Uses Sibling Inspiration to Fuel Volleyball Success
Elise Ngo and Madeline Chung | May 28, 2024
Issues
May 2024: Volume 8 Issue 7
May 2024: Volume 8 Issue 7

 

April 2024: Volume 8 Issue 6
April 2024: Volume 8 Issue 6

 

February 2024: Volume 8 Issue 5
February 2024: Volume 8 Issue 5

 

January 2024: Volume 8 Issue 4
January 2024: Volume 8 Issue 4

 

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The student news site of Portola High School
The student news site of Portola High School