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
Junior Cindy Mei plays a guzheng with her performance group from the Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy. They use guitar picks to pluck the strings and incorporate various techniques seen in other string instruments such as the vibrato, according to Mei. “Its just kind of our tradition,” Mei said. “Its just a great time to perform and hang out at the Global Village Festival afterwards with the rest of my ensemble.”
Volunteers at the 21st Annual Irvine Global Village Festival Facilitate Cultural Activities
Aditi Salunkhe, Staff Writer
October 20, 2022
Upcoming College Deadlines
Upcoming College Deadlines
Arshia Sista, Front Page Editor
October 18, 2022
Seniors Rishabh Bajaj, Xasive Espinosa Aldave and Caroline Wang tape posters to the ground in celebration of Homecoming. Spirit Night was inspired by University High’s tradition, according to ASB co-adviser Kate Avery.
First Homecoming Spirit Night Begins Week-Long Homecoming Festivities
Cara Chan and Madeline Chung
October 17, 2022
California Vehicle Code 21950 states that the driver of a vehicle should always yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway, as shown in the sign. Gov. Newsom signed the Freedom to Walk Act to allow pedestrians to jaywalk without the penalty of a ticket, as long as they cross safely.
New Law Decriminalizes Jaywalking in California
Claire Chan, Staff Writer
October 17, 2022
People of Portola High
All fourteen teachers in the math department, styled as Mario Kart characters, drive themselves to a second consecutive victory in the costume contest after last year’s success. The Halloween costume contest is an important competition for the math department and takes many months to plan, according to math teacher Shelley Godett. “We started talking about it the first week of school,” Godett said. “Because everyone wants dibs on a good costume.”
Staff Goes All Out for the Annual Department Costume Contest
Hannah Ko and Elise Ngo
November 4, 2022
Ambassador and senior Aslesha Chandra listens as senior and transfer Thomas Bittencourt explains his transfer journey to Portola High. “Its complicated; it was pretty worrying,” Bittencourt said. “This isn’t speaking on the ambassador program. Its just like moving from state to state getting unpacked and probably one of the biggest worries for me would be GPA transferring.”
Portola Ambassadors Provides a Helping Hand to New Transfer Students
Jana Malek and Gwyneth Yung
October 24, 2022
The Black Student Union club puts up a booth during club kickoff on Sept. 21. “When I first came to Portola, I was looking for clubs to join, and I looked at the club list to be a part of something and have a group of people to relate to,” club secretary and senior Jesulayomi Bello said. “I heard they were starting a Black Student Union, and I thought that it would be a lovely way for me to be a part of it.”
First Black Student Union Club on Campus Represents Black Joy and Perseverance
Sidra Asif and Claire Chan
October 20, 2022
During his time at Portola High, mental health specialist Steven Sturm has been a part of school-wide initiatives promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention, while also meeting with individual students in need of mental health support. “I just want to leave an impact on people and help them if theyre struggling,” Sturm said. “And thats really what Ive developed my career around. And thats what I want to do wherever I go.”
Reflecting and Reminiscing: A Parting Q&A with Mental Health Specialist Steven Sturm
Celine Lee, Co-Editor-in-Chief
October 19, 2022
Portola Pioneer
Features
All fourteen teachers in the math department, styled as Mario Kart characters, drive themselves to a second consecutive victory in the costume contest after last year’s success. The Halloween costume contest is an important competition for the math department and takes many months to plan, according to math teacher Shelley Godett. “We started talking about it the first week of school,” Godett said. “Because everyone wants dibs on a good costume.”
Staff Goes All Out for the Annual Department Costume Contest
Hannah Ko and Elise Ngo
November 4, 2022
Freshman Dylan Erol and peer tutor and senior Adrian Chow work together to tackle a math assignment solving absolute value equations and analyzing graphs. Since peer tutoring is free and located on campus, it provides a much easier alternative for parents than off-campus tutoring, according to peer tutoring adviser and counselor Melissa Gibson.
Turning the Tables: Students Become Teachers Through Peer Tutoring System
Arnav Chandan and Mia Jong
November 2, 2022
Arts & Entertainment
Polly Benish (junior Kody Lin), Henry Benish (junior Jason Wu Chen), Violet Imbry (junior Niki Abbaszadeh) and Billy Carewe (junior David Sloan) watch in astonishment as they witness Dr. Rex Forbes (junior Ethan Chan) faint from the curse of the Darjeeling Diamond necklace, crumpling to the ground.
Advanced Theater ‘Plays On’ in Fall Show
Elise Ngo and Gwyneth Yung
November 9, 2022
Ceramics, photography and art teacher Donovan Miller demonstrates how to throw a plant pot to his advanced and AP 3D design students. The funds raised from selling the pots will go toward helping the visual art board to raise funds for its annual show.“I dont have a ton of time to make my own artwork anymore,” Miller said. “Normally when I do a demonstration for a project, I like to use that as an opportunity to kind of explore my interest in art.”
Ceramics Teacher Donavan Miller Expresses Himself Through The Arts
Jana Malek, Staff Writer
November 3, 2022
Opinion
Media platforms such as Netflix and Hulu often weaponize and manipulate the trauma of real people for financial gain, failing to provide accurate consideration for these real people’s lives. “I feel like it is impossible to only want to inform. You need people who finance these shows and documentaries, and they want to see certain things,” science teacher Michael Tang said. “I don’t think we can ever achieve objectivity or completely good intentions. It’s so tied to money; it’s so tied to fame.”
Trauma Voyeurism: An Unethical Means of Gaining ‘Clicks’ in the Modern Age
Hannah Ko and Tara Vatandoust
November 7, 2022
While artificially generated art can be produced at a faster rate, it is not comparable to the beauty of human-made art. “I think that [art] often ties into self expression and ties into processing how youre feeling or whats going on in the world and being able to communicate in that way, and those are pretty complex, big things to do,” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said. “So its not as interesting to most people that study art because were like, okay, [the AI] can do some of the things kind of well, but it doesnt have that human aspect that draws you in.”
AI Art Will Always Stay Artificial
Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi
November 3, 2022
While many overlook the importance of tipping workers, it is a crucial practice that acknowledges their hard work and services. Tipping culture prevents people from becoming bound to money and the prospect of its loss.
Tipping Culture: It’s Deeper than You Think
Hannah Ko, Staff Writer
October 28, 2022
While society often perceives trick-or-treating as a tradition reserved for younger children, teenagers can have great enjoyment from the festivities. Many people try to hand out extra candy to teenagers to encourage them to hold on to their childhood, according to Spanish teacher Kari Tubbs.
Trick-or-Treating Is Not Less Sweet as a High Schooler
Mia Jong and Tara Vatandoust
October 26, 2022
Sports
Juniors Kalynne Mendez and Emaleena Elson represent their Filipino heritage and the opportunity to play in an international basketball tournament through the team jerseys. Mendez played in the under-18 division while Elson played in the under-16 division.
Basketball Players Emaleena Elson and Kalynne Mendez Had Their ‘Swish’ Come True
Ruhi Samudra, Staff Writer
November 3, 2022
Sophomore Megumi Chang prepares to shoot during the 2022 USA Archery Junior Olympic Archery Development Target Nationals on July 21. Chang said her interest in archery sparked at 9 or 10 years old after she watched “Brave,” a storyline surrounding a princess named Meredith who is extremely skilled in archery. “I really like archery, because it taught me resilience and discipline and responsibility of your own shots,” Chang said. “Since its not really a team sport, you have to depend on yourself, and its on you.” (Photo Courtesy of Megumi Chang)
Behind the Bow: Megumi Chang Shoots for Bullseye at USA Archery Nationals
Celine Lee and Maya Tedini
October 28, 2022
Issues
November 2022: Volume 7 Issue 3
November 2022: Volume 7 Issue 3

October 2022: Volume 7 Issue 2
October 2022: Volume 7 Issue 2

September 2022: Volume 7 Issue 1
September 2022: Volume 7 Issue 1

May 2022: Volume 6 Issue 8
May 2022: Volume 6 Issue 8

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