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
DECA vice president and senior Harini Rameshbabu introduces an ice breaker activity at the annual Portola High Business Mini Conference. Having put in the time to cultivate the conference, Rameshbabu addresses her peers in the opening activity. Rameshbabu said that her intention to join the business program came from longing for self-discovery. “I just wanted to gain more leadership skills and just overall, learn more stuff about myself and gain communication skills,” Rameshbabu said. “I thought it was a great way for me to learn what I do best and learn what works for me and not.”

Fellow IUSD Schools Join Portola High Business Mini Conference for the First Time

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | October 11, 2024
The progression of the Airport Fire can be seen from just over an hour after it started on Sept. 9 to its current state moving down the canyon on Sept. 11. The fire is expected to continue spreading over the next few days, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi.

Airport Fire Continues to Grow Amidst Containment Efforts by Fire Personnel

Ruhi Samudra, Co-Editor-in-Chief | September 11, 2024
Parent volunteers from the Portola High Indian Parent Group serve traditional dishes to staff members Julie Primero and student teacher Cole Kong. “I was very thankful to my community and the kids who participated for this event, because it's because of them that staff and teachers were feeling appreciated,” luncheon co-organizer and Portola High Indian Parent Group member Dolly Malani said. “They felt that lively spirit around them, so for me, when they are happy, that means our event is going good. I'm grateful for what they do for students at school.”

Spooning Food, Activities and Gratitude: Students and Parents Celebrate Staff Appreciation Week

Marianne Chan and Mary Lee | May 10, 2024
FIRST Robotics president and senior Amy Shok adjusts the robot created for the Orange County Robotics competition before a game. “We had to make sure that everything was going according to plan, and if there was any problem, we were prepared to fix it,” Shok said. “I think that problem-solving mindset was evident in our robot as well. Our robot had a lot of different changes made because the original design didn't account for things such as how the robot would be made.”

FIRST Robotics Team Creates a ‘Crescendo’ at Orange County Competition

Sonia Wang and Kayley Winata | April 9, 2024
Junior Bill Song, senior Gabe Mutsvangwa, junior Sophie Guilfoile, junior Evelyn Lai, senior Kate Abalos and junior Mia Jong (left back to front right) represented Portola High at the 2024 IUSD Sacramento student advocacy trip. The trip encourages critical thinking and student engagement in political discussion, according to Resendez. “You have to sit in a room with a legislator, and have the courage to stand up and say, I have a story to tell, and you need to know about it,” Resendez said.

Portola High Students Join Annual IUSD Sacramento Student Advocacy Trip

Mary Lee, Staff Writer | March 21, 2024
Speaker Alvia Lee addresses an audience of students from different schools during his workshop at the High School Youth Action teen’s (HSYAT) teen summit event. The workshop centered on mission and vision and included recountings of the speaker’s lived experiences. “It was nice that we were able to work with the people beside us,” teen summit attendee and sophomore May Li said. “The most memorable aspect was when the speaker wanted us to ask them what our best traits were, because sometimes you might not notice what they are until you’re told.”

An Electrifying Occasion: HSYAT Celebrates 30th Annual Teen Summit

Marianne Chan, Photo Editor | March 18, 2024
Math teacher Ran Gu receives a $10,000 Innovative Grant from the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF). IPSF awards over $5,000,000 in grants, donations and program support to the Irvine Unified School District each year, according to IPSF.

$10,000 IPSF Innovative Grant Digitizes Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Program

Aditi Salunkhe, Assistant Sports Editor | March 5, 2024
Academic Decathlon Scholastic participants compete in the Super Quiz at Westminster High on Feb. 3. Students wave flags to signify they got the correct answer to their teams cheering on the bleachers. “This really forces you to celebrate when other people know things, and that should be exciting for everyone,” Academic Decathlon coach Eric Graham said.

Academic Decathlon Teams Up for County-Wide Competition

Camille Clement | February 12, 2024
Irvine High student and under-secretary-general Eshika Abbaraju, secretary-generals junior Ruhi Samudra and senior Kayleen Kim and Irvine High student and under-secretary-general Ishaan Gaikwad speak at the opening ceremony. “Kayleen, for example, she's been in MUN since freshman year,” Wi said. “I've been with her every step of the way every single year. It's just it makes me really happy for her that she can leave Portola knowing that she's helped start this tradition. And ever since I met Ruhi in MUN, she's just the person who gets things done and gets things done really well, but she will take absolutely no credit for it and wants no attention for it, and I just love those types of people.”

MUN Hosts First Conference in Collaboration with Irvine High

Maya Tedini, Opinion Editor | February 8, 2024
Junior Yash Malani accepts the first-place award at the IUSD Science and Engineering Fair. “It feels like we accomplished a lot,” Malani said. “It got me looking into the possibility of robotics and the hardware part of computers.”

Portola High Students Win High Honors at 2024 IUSD Science Fair

Mary Lee and Aditi Salunkhe | February 5, 2024
Math teacher Samantha Zimmerle celebrates with her family. “My dad is a teacher, so I always saw him just being so in love with his job,” Zimmerle said. “So just seeing him love that and me being good at math it was kind of just always where I was going to go.”

Math Teacher Samantha Zimmerle Stands Out in the ‘Equation’ as IUSD Teacher of Promise

Tyler Kim and Ruhi Samudra | January 31, 2024
Student host and junior Audrey Kim serves as a referee for a qualification match. A triball, a green, blue or red pyramid-shaped object, scored in a goal is worth five points, and a triball scored in an offensive zone is worth two points.

Portola High Hosts First Ever VEX Robotics Regional Competition

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | January 26, 2024
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