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
Many classrooms across campus have experienced significantly lower in-person attendance as students opt to take their hybrid courses from home under the “otherwise present” attendance code. Literary and language arts teacher and newspaper adviser Brianna Rapp had only five students attend her second period Cohort B class in person on Jan. 14 while remaining Cohort B students attended class via Zoom.

‘Otherwise Present’ Attendance and Second Semester Health Concerns Spark Plans to Strike

Akshay Raj and Ryne Dunman | January 25, 2021

A group of Irvine students is organizing a district-wide strike geared primarily against public high schools to pressure administrators to address concerns about hybrid education and COVID-19 spreading...

Gov. Newsom announced that California residents can now opt in for COVID-19 exposure notifications through the app “CA Notify.” According to Newsom, the app does not track location and is designed to help slow the transmission of COVID-19.

Newsom Issues New Lock-down Order

Aryan Mittal and Erin Choi | December 18, 2020

Gov. Newsom implemented the Regional Stay At Home Order for regions under intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity of 15 percent on Dec. 3 as COVID-19 cases skyrocket across California, with a record 37,000...

All potential COVID-19 vaccine contenders must pass three phases of clinical trial before being submitted for approval to the FDA and CDC. Out of eight companies in the United States receiving government funding and dozens more worldwide, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have emerged in recent weeks with a successful vaccine through all three phases.

Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca Reach COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthroughs

Jenny Won, Opinion Editor | December 9, 2020

Update 12/11: On Dec. 11, the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the FDA for individuals 16 years of age and older. Distribution will begin within several days. - After...

Pandemic Culture Transforms Patterns of Social Interaction

Pandemic Culture Transforms Patterns of Social Interaction

Grace Baek and Erin Choi | December 3, 2020

In the span of just a few months, COVID-19 has reached every corner of the Earth and infected millions of people. As federal and state governments set measures to curb its spread, cultural practices and...

ASB students show school spirit by dressing up for “Fall Asleep Friday” and coming to school in their pajamas.

Students Show Spirit for Thanksgiving Season

Grace Baek, Staff Writer | November 30, 2020

ASB launched Thanksgiving Spirit Week with dress-up days and fall festival activities from Nov. 16-20. For “Thankful Monday,” students posted what they were thankful for on their Instagram stories,...

Black Lives Matter protests became prevalent throughout the country around early June, as evidenced by this local protest which took place at the Irvine Civic Center on June 3.

Socially-Distanced Justice Movements Bring Activists Together

Ava Caleca and Krisha Konchadi | November 24, 2020

Although social justice movements typically meet in person or in large crowds to protest, the COVID-19 pandemic has created new obstacles for groups while also opening up opportunities for organizations...

Students are required to be 6 feet apart from each other during all school activities. At lunch, however, students must be extra careful as not wearing masks makes them extra vulnerable.

Students Must Physically Distance During Breaks

Sidra Asif, Staff Writer | October 29, 2020

It is 1:10 p.m., and learners sit closely by their friends as they take off their masks to eat and socialize. Usually, this seemingly ordinary event would not be a problem, but amid a pandemic, it could...

Red Ribbon Week is held every year in efforts to help educate students about drug use. Although events will be distanced this year, they are nonetheless still interactive and help create a supportive school community.

Red Ribbon Week Educates Students Through Distanced Interactions

Haruka Noda, Social Media Team | October 23, 2020

This year’s Red Ribbon Week will take place from Oct. 26-30 and include dress-up competitions, trivia, interviews with police officers and staff members for “Say No to Drugs” messages, pledges and...

Freshman Vismaya Sista uses her long periods of free time in quarantine to look around the world, whether it be in a smaller scale of her backyard or the world within the comfort of her car, and capture the stillness of the world around her. She said she hopes her pictures are a source of inspiration for people looking to get into photography.

Boredom Be Gone with Creative Quarantine Hobbies

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, Staff Writer | October 21, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surplus of time at home, many students spent time catching up on TV shows and staring at their cell phones for hours, while some engaged in unique hobbies and discovered...

Among the alumni attending four-year universities this school year are freshman Kiyan Dhanidina (left), freshman Nishad Francis (middle) and sophomore Liz Moerman (right).

Alumni Attend College in the Age of Coronavirus

Ryne Dunman, Business Manager | October 15, 2020

June 4 marked the first Portola High senior class graduation ceremony after the school’s grand opening in 2016. However, the rippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have redefined college experiences...

Students prepare themselves for grocery shopping with the help of a collection of videos created by special education department co-chair Melody Resendez. The videos include specific instructions and helpful visuals to make the process as thorough as possible.

Special Education Shops From Home

Aryan Mittal, Staff Writer | October 8, 2020

With the Coronavirus pandemic limiting almost all education to on-campus or online-only this semester, special education department co-chair Melody Resendez is making sure her special education students...

PHS Ambassadors typically give campus tours before the start of the school year, but due to COVID-19 regulations, changes had to be made.

PHS Ambassadors Find New Ways to Work Under COVID-19 Regulations

Emma Haag, Sports Editor | October 7, 2020

Every school year is bound to have a few new students from all over the world. Adjusting to new surroundings can be tough, but with the help of PHS Ambassadors, students are able to feel more welcome to...

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