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
Math teacher Shelley Godett discusses a warm-up question with her Period 7 AP Precalculus class. Students learn about the fundamentals of polynomial and rational functions during the first unit of the course.
New AP Precalculus Class Replaces Enhanced Math 3 and Honors Precalculus
Madeline Chung and Camille Clement | September 22, 2023
Sophomore Lulu Zhao, junior Natalie Song, junior Jawad Khadra and sophomore Jimin Han received the CTE Bulldog Excellence Awards, which is granted to students who demonstrate PRIDE values while taking advantage of opportunities to pursue their career interests, according to the Bulldog Excellence Award pamphlet.
Jadyn Zdanavage Named Bulldog of the Year at Annual Bulldog Awards Ceremony
Skyller Liu and Arshia Sista | May 30, 2023
Junior Makena Wong dances with her friends as the DJ plays various popular songs and sped-up remixes from the last decade, like a mashup of ¨First Class¨ by Jack Harlow and ¨Glamorous¨ by Fergie. The Yost Theater hosted prom on April 29.
Prom ‘Masquerade Ball’ was a Night to Remember
Gwyneth Yung, Photo Editor | May 12, 2023
Senior Joseph Sevilla plays the piano during the lunchtime activities at Ability Awareness Week to showcase the work by Unified Sound.
First Ability Awareness Week Allows Students to Embrace Inclusivity
Arshia Sista, Front Page Editor | May 11, 2023
People of Portola High
Teacher librarian Amber Linehan holds up a copy of “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, which she picked up in a book club. “I know that some of the students are reading memoirs right now, and a lot of kids came in asking for recommendations,” Linehan said. “And I’d say, ‘Crying in H Mart’ is one of my favorite memoirs.”
Meet Portola High’s Newest Book Fanatic: Teacher Librarian Amber Linehan
Elizabeth Gao and Michael Sun | September 20, 2023
Q&A With the Portola Pilot Seniors
Q&A With the Portola Pilot Seniors
Cara Chan and Dheeksha Bhima Reddy | May 25, 2023
3759X members and juniors Pranav Patlola, Martin Pan, Adrianne Chang and Audrey Kim from Fairmont Prep pose with their fourth place winning robot at the 2023 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas, Texas. Eight hundred teams qualified for the world championship out of about 20,000 states teams, according to Pan.
Robotics Team 3759X Builds its Way to World Championships
Hannah Ko and Maya Tedini | May 24, 2023
Sophomore Skylar Nguyen has been practicing aerial silk since her freshman year and is continuing to grow her skillset with more difficult movements. “Usually when it comes to doing my drops the first time is always the scariest,” Nguyen said. “Im usually high in the air, so its not like anyone can really, like, help guide my back. Usually though, after practicing it a couple times, I get used to the height and the drop and the technique.”
Grace Through Silk: Sophomore Skylar Nguyen Finds her Art Form Through Aerial Silk
Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | May 15, 2023
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Teacher librarian Amber Linehan holds up a copy of “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, which she picked up in a book club. “I know that some of the students are reading memoirs right now, and a lot of kids came in asking for recommendations,” Linehan said. “And I’d say, ‘Crying in H Mart’ is one of my favorite memoirs.”
Meet Portola High’s Newest Book Fanatic: Teacher Librarian Amber Linehan
Elizabeth Gao and Michael Sun | September 20, 2023
Q&A With the Portola Pilot Seniors
Q&A With the Portola Pilot Seniors
Cara Chan and Dheeksha Bhima Reddy | May 25, 2023
Arts & Entertainment
Taylor Swift fans anxiously await her arrival at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, eager to see the renowned artist perform songs from all of her “Eras,” or albums. “Truly, my best friend and I were joking that ‘this is the best time of my life,’” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said. “Besides our wedding, tied with our wedding! It was just so much fun.”
Highly Anticipated Summer Concerts Captivate Lifelong Fans of Drake and Taylor Swift
Elise Ngo and Nina Krish | September 21, 2023
Olivia Rodrigo released her second album, “Guts,” on Sept. 8. She is the youngest artist to debut three number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Variety Magazine.
Enchanting Echoes: Olivia Rodrigo's 'Guts' Unveils a Melodic Journey of Courage and Connection
Elizabeth Gao, Staff Writer | September 18, 2023
Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s second studio album “Bewitched” takes listeners on an utterly dreamlike poetic sonic experience through love and loss. The entire album is a practically perfect collection of “Alice in Wonderland” references, ethereal imagery, romantic fantasies of dancing in the streets and the word “melancholy.”
Laufey’s Latest Album has ‘Bewitched’ Us Right ‘From the Start’
Tara Vatandoust, Editor-in-Chief | September 18, 2023
Opinion
Portola High should bring back the old pep rally schedule to reduce student confusion and maximize efficiency. 48 of 60 students polled on Instagram voted they preferred the old pep rally schedule over the new schedule.
Bring Back Our ‘Pep’ with the Old Pep Rally Schedule
Parmin Zamani and Jordan Hata | September 22, 2023
Right after Spain’s historic victory at the World Cup, former RFEF President Luis Rubiales unconsensually kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso said in a statement on Instagram. “Simply put, I was not respected.”
How the Hermoso Incident Revealed the Innate Misogyny in the RFEF
Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | September 19, 2023
Students would benefit greatly from mental health days, which gives students time to relieve their stress and enjoy themselves. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and Portola High should encourage this idea among students through a newly-implemented system similar to Northwood High’s “State of the Student” day.
School-Wide Mental Health Days Should be Adopted
Madeline Chung and Elise Ngo | June 2, 2023
The “practice makes perfect” myth could overpower a musician’s practice. Often, this myth perpetuates a feeling of imperfection and frustration that could lapse in time.
A Journey to Break Free from the ‘Practice Makes Perfect’ Myth
Kayleen Kim, Opinion Editor | May 31, 2023
Sports
Senior and varsity lacrosse player Karam Khurana defends the goal through persistent stick checks and defensive tactics he learned from his teammates throughout the season. He said he looks forward to integrating these skills at SDSU. “I just think all of our losses during the season were setbacks because every time we lost it wasn’t like we got to get back up, but everyone just took it lightly,” Khurana said. “But I feel once we started to find our groove and get those wins, it really helped us out.”
Senior Karam Khurana Redefines the Game on SDSU’s Lacrosse Field
Hannah Ko | May 17, 2023
Outfielder and sophomore Bianca Morrell hits a triple towards left outfield, allowing her to secure third base. Softball (4-13) won against University High 23-10 on April 27 at the home stadium, officially concluding its season and marking the most wins in program history, according to the PHS Dog Pound Instagram.
Softball Ends Season on a Positive Note with 23-10 Win Against University High
Parmin Zamani | May 8, 2023
Issues
May 2023: Volume 7 Issue 7
May 2023: Volume 7 Issue 7

 

March 2023: Volume 7 Issue 6
March 2023: Volume 7 Issue 6

February 2023: Volume 7 Issue 5
February 2023: Volume 7 Issue 5

January 2023: Volume 7 Issue 4
January 2023: Volume 7 Issue 4

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