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
“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” came out in theaters on Nov. 17 featuring a young and ambitious Coriolanus Snow in the defining moments of his life. Viewers watch throughout the film as Snow progresses from a relatively innocent student to a cunning, driven person that goes on to become the despotic leader from the original films.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Review: A Compelling and Thought-Provoking Prequel

Parmin Zamani, News Editor | November 29, 2023
Canta Bella was the second choir to perform on stage. Amongst other great performances of the night, some audience highlights included a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” by Irvine Singers of Irvine High, and University High Madrigals’ performance of “Tchaka” by Syndney Guillaume.

Canta Bella Hits a High Note at IUSD Choral Festival

Tyler Kim, Co-Editor-in-Chief | November 18, 2023
Taylor Swift released her re-recorded album, “1989,” on Oct. 29. The birds on her original album cover were “trapped” on her shirt, but here, they are flying freely, demonstrating the freedom she gained after the fight with her previous label.

Rediscover the Resilience: Get Ready For a Nostalgic Journey Through ‘1989 (Taylor’s Version)’

Elizabeth Gao, Staff Writer | November 7, 2023
Wrongfully convicted of 10-year-old Marcus Tumble’s murder, Jonathan Mollusk (freshman Zubin Bhatia) is pinned to the floor by Tumble’s father (sophomore Alex Lingerfelt) and another assailant, where they proceed to drown him in retribution. In the background, an evidence board — commonly associated with people who have unhealthy obsessions with crime cases — underscores the dubious verdict of Mollusk’s guiltiness.

Fall Play Captures Audience In a ‘Trap’ of Their Own Making

Marianne Chan, Staff Writer | November 3, 2023
Cinephile and science teacher Michael Tang spends time with his podcast group, Job Ang, Paul Hsu and Albert Liu. “I believe that I am the Nick Fury of this group,” Tang said. “I assembled this group, and these are people that I've met over the years. I had all these individual chats, so I started this group chat. Not everyone was friends with each other, but now we’ll watch movies together; we’ll hang out with each other.”

An Update: Where is Cinephile and Science Teacher Michael Tang Now?

Catherine Li and Ruhi Samudra | November 1, 2023
Under the moon’s glow every Halloween, children fill the streets in their venture to pack their trick-or-treat baskets to the brim. Within every bag lies clear winners (and losers), each candy a sentimental link to our favorite memories or stark reminder that our taste buds will be left disappointed.

A Halloween Hierarchy: ‘Unwrapping’ the Best and Worst Spooky Season Treats

Ruhi Samudra and Parmin Zamani | October 31, 2023
Senior Amber Lea practices her trumpet in the music room during office hours. In the Fall Instrumental Concert, Lea performed a trumpet solo that won praise from her peers and mentors. “Every time we were just blown away because the amount of projection that she had, the amount of confidence and just her tone, it just felt so mature for someone that only played the instrument for that long,” Nguyen said.

Amber Lea puts Mozart to rest with her ability to play eleven instruments

Shaina Taebi, Backpage Editor | October 29, 2023
Sophomore Cara Lin holds up one of her artworks next to the scene she painted. An experienced plein-air painter, Lin enjoyed meeting with friends and seeing her art improve from last year. “I’m proud of my art having changed,” Lin said. “It’s good that it’s different; I don’t want it to stay the same.”

Beachside Art: Advanced Visual Artists Attend Plein-Air Trip in Little Corona

Catherine Li, Staff Writer | October 9, 2023
Dance and French teacher Megan Kirby instructs Dance 1 students on the proper form and technique of pique turns. “There's a lot of learning from mistakes involved and developing skill[s] and having a growth mindset,” Kirby said.

French Teacher Megan Kirby ‘Turns’ to the Dance Studio

Mary Lee and Aditi Salunkhe | October 5, 2023
Noah Paniagua and Shion Homma, the drum major and assistant drum major respectively, share jokes with one another during their break. Paniagua said that being a member of a marching band has been a lifelong dream of his. “I just grew up always wanting to be a part of a marching band, so I came into high school and joined the marching band, always trying to look for a leadership role,” Paniagua said. “Whether I’m the section leader or the drum major, I always wanted to see what I could do.”

Conducting Success: Meet Drum Major Noah Paniagua

Tyler Kim, Co-Editor-in-Chief | October 3, 2023
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
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