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
Reviews
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
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’
September 18, 2023
Jake (senior Nick Nieto) defends himself to his bandmates when they confront him over his addiction, which has been a continuing problem throughout his life.
Seniors’ Last Play is Anything but a ‘One Hit Wonder’
June 2, 2023
Among the many new gameplay mechanics introduced to “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” by the Zonai Devices, the “ultrahand” and “fuse” abilities rely on the player’s ingenuity in crafting.
‘Tears of the Kingdom’ is a Crowning Achievement for the Zelda Series with a ‘Master-Handful’ of New Content to Explore
May 26, 2023
Throughout the Super Nintendo World, there are numerous animatronics including coins, Goombas and Pokeys. To ride the new attraction, visitors can enter through a virtual queue on the Universal app.
Universal's Newest Attraction Is Not So Peachy
May 19, 2023
Student Art
Junior Yasmine Cheng first designed the senior mural by hand for the Class of 2024, which represents birds soaring over the sky. “I was just thinking of being free, being independent, choosing your own path, and when we leave high school, we basically can set our own course,” Cheng said. “I was trying to draw this piece and how I reflected on my past few years at this school.”
Soaring over the Sky: Junior Yasmine Cheng Creates Senior Mural for Class of 2024
June 1, 2023
The front of the gallery displayed paintings and sketches from Portola High students. Teachers from each school in Irvine Unified selected a few students’ artwork for awards. “I think its just a huge honor to be able to now say that I have some students whose artwork has been shown in the museum,” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said.
Portola High Hosts Inaugural District Honors Art Show
May 30, 2023
During the full dress rehearsal the day before the concert, seniors Laura Li and Eli Ruminson and junior Rozalia Golema sway to the beat of “Bellas Finals,” a medley from “Pitch Perfect.” While the collective choirs had occasional microphone and lighting issues, the rehearsal helped smooth out most technological obstacles.
Behind the Scenes: Choreography Makes the Vocal Concert “Pop”
May 30, 2023
Lauren Van (right) paved the way for her younger sister Hailey Van (left) to start dancing. “When I was younger, I would always watch my sister doing ballet,” Hailey Van said. “My mom said that I was really interested in doing it, so she signed me up, too.”
Dance Duo: Sisters Hailey and Lauren Van Connect through Shared Talent
May 22, 2023
Bottom (Sloan) gestures with his lamp to the other mechanicals named Starveling (junior Kody Lin), Snug (senior Kiara Knight), Snout (senior Jia Narielwala) and Francis Flute (Shin) as they watch intensely with curiosity and confusion.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream" Enacts the Classical Love Triangle With a Magic Twist
May 10, 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
September 21, 2023
Peter Pan (Alexander Molony) and Wendy Darling (Ever Gabo Anderson) fly off to Neverland in David Lowery’s live action adaptation “Peter Pan and Wendy.” The dark lighting of the scene eliminates the whimsical feeling that the scene is supposed to evoke.
Fly Away from ‘Peter Pan and Wendy’
May 16, 2023
Senior Philip Li created the piece “The Great Whale Fall” with acrylic on wood for his portfolio application to the Rhode Island School of Design. Li incorporated complementary colors orange and blue and created contrast using whales and bananas, according to Li. “‘The Great Whale Fall’ is my first foray into surrealism and symbolism, incorporating a range of elements and ideas,” Li said. “I broke the conventional purpose of grids by making them part of the art itself to represent the flowing time.”
With Acrylic and Denim, Seniors Philip Li and Zixuan Zhang Head to Art School
May 5, 2023
Seniors Elizabeth Bank, Sydney Badescu and Aryan Mittal showcase their passion projects based on their personal and academic interests. Over the course of the 2022-23 school year, they developed and refined their projects. “It was a lot of fun to have the opportunity to do something purely for fun in class and just have a project that I was really excited to work on,” Badescu said.
Senioritis? Not for These Seniors who are Pursuing Their Passion Projects
May 4, 2023
Senior Aiden Park painted this acrylic painting of a vintage Harley Davidson motorcycle in a parking lot. It took around 50 hours to complete, and the dimensions are 30 inches by 20 inches.
Four Students Showcase Their Art as OC Register Artists of the Year Semifinalists
May 2, 2023
Saxophonist and sophomore River Bridson performs a solo during the song “After Sunset” by Larry Neeck played by Jazz II. The jazz program is split into two groups: Jazz I, the intermediate and advanced group led by instrumental music teacher Kyle Traska, and Jazz II, the beginner and intermediate group led by instrumental music teacher Desmond Stevens.
Spaghetti under the Stars: Annual Jazz Night Concert Shines Bright
April 28, 2023
Though slandered by a critic score of 53% on Rotten Tomatoes, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” manages to incorporate notes of tasteful humor authentic to the series’ 36 years of history.
'The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ Levels Up the 36-Year-Old Franchise
April 19, 2023
Dance 3 and 4 took to the stage to perform a graceful and delicate contemporary piece titled “Always Be the One” to the song “I’ll Always be the One Who Makes You Cry” by Eric Hutchinson. The talented group of girls captured the audience’s attention as they skillfully executed their routine.
‘Vertigo’ Dance Concert ‘Spins’ into Action
March 31, 2023
Junior Smira Sonthalia and junior Koyna Bhagat rehearse their duet to the song “Sun Saathiya” for the “Vertigo” dance concert on March 22. The audience listens to the rhythmic jingling of the ghungroos attached to their ankles, which draws attention to their detailed footwork, according to Sonthalia.
Indian Classical Dance Brings Dancers Back to Their Ethnic Roots
March 27, 2023
Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album, ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ on March 10. The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 this week, selling 103,000 equivalent album units, according to Billboard.
Miley Cyrus’ ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ Sounds Like an ‘Island’ Paradise
March 24, 2023
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