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
Freshman Jake Wang, sophomore Frances Lee, sophomore Marley Willis, junior Miranda Perdomo, sophomore Claire Kim, sophomore Lauren Slade, junior Justin Tokko, junior Blayze Borroto, freshman Bravo Borroto, freshman Carter Lo, junior Kesin Jayakumar and junior Jamie Youn pose for a group photo after the 2025-26 ASB elected positions are announced. “I think ASB constantly asks students to look beyond themselves, to think about the school community, not just their own experience, and what's best for the group or what's fun for the group,” ASB director and social studies teacher Emily Sheridan said.

ASB Election Convention Ramps Up Student Civic Engagement

Marianne Chan, Assistant Opinion Editor | April 14, 2025

ASB hosted its annual Election Convention on March 28 in the theater to determine ASB elected positions for the 2025-2026 school year. Aside from the preliminaries for the Spirit and Rally commissioners,...

Senior Abbey Reichard drives a vintage Ford pickup truck, Betty, named after a family favorite song, “Black Betty” by Ram Jam. Sourcing an old truck was challenging, but Reichard and her family remained determined; they flew to Arizona last summer to test-drive Betty, made the purchase, then drove her back to California. “You think it’d be easier because nobody wants old trucks,” Reichard said. “But we were searching from March all the way to June. Luckily, one of my mom’s friend’s husbands actually sells old cars, so we were able to find this one.”

‘Driven’ by Expression: How Cars Become Students’ Personal Spaces

Alice Ahn, A&E Editor | April 9, 2025

Indie band Men I Trust’s new album “Equus Asinus” feels melancholy, straying from their typical light, dream pop energy.

I Just Lost My Faith In the Band I Trust(ed)

Sophia Kim, Staff Writer | March 28, 2025

Canadian indie band Men I Trust released their fifth album, “Equus Asinus”, on March 19. Men I Trust is usually known for their dream pop elements, enchanting listeners with unique and charming melodies....

Playboi Carti’s long-awaited third album, “MUSIC,” has fans divided. Although all 30 of its songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100, some say it's bold and innovative, while others cannot get behind the chaotic production.

Playboi Carti’s New Album “Music” Drops, but so Does Interest

Sruti Allani and Siri Kolanupaka | March 28, 2025

After a much-anticipated wait, Playboi Carti released his third studio album, “MUSIC” on March 14. The album consists of 30 tracks, featuring many notable musicians, such as The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar,...

Irvine High Junior Ali Ezzeldine, sophomore Maria Hajjar, junior Dania Yamani, Beckman High senior Jude Tahrawi and Northwood High senior Raya Abutarif give their opening remarks after the Dua. Hajjar introduced this year’s theme: Patience and Resilience Through Hardship. “We were trying to look for something that is very much needed [and] that would relate to everyone,” Hajjar said.

Together in Faith: Muslim Student Association Celebrates Resilience at Annual Iftar

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | March 27, 2025

Portola High’s Muslim Student Association hosted its third annual joint Iftar celebration with MSA clubs from around the county at Rahma Center Banquet Hall on March 19. Iftar, the meal marking...

Freshman Carson Bagley rides over a bridge on a trail in Crystal Cove. While competing in races against numerous skilled riders, Bagley often feels the pressure to perform well. “It's hard to keep focused when you're racing with all the adrenaline and nerves,” Bagley said. “[The adrenaline] is just a feeling you want to go away because it gets you so nervous, but you can't really get it to go away with all the noise and all the people around you.”

Freshman Carson Bagley Takes on Trails with Mountain Biking

Aditi Salunkhe, Co-News Editor | March 25, 2025

The sun is barely up, and the air is crisp as freshman Carson Bagley tightens his helmet and kicks off down the trail. Bagley’s passion for mountain biking has him balancing a rigorous training schedule...

Sprinter and junior Taylor Nguyen and sprinters and seniors Hannah Ko and Nahsima Titanji take the lead in the girls’ varsity 100-meter hurdles, placing second, third and sixth, respectively. “We had one school record by Taylor Nguyen for the 300 hurdles, which was awesome for her to do that first race out,” head track and field coach Cale Kavanaugh said. “We had a lot of our kids who opened up with PRs that were pretty significant or they picked up right where they left off last year, which was awesome.”

Track and Field Begins Season on the Right ‘Track’ with Exemplary Performance

Kayley Winata and Zoha Syed | March 19, 2025

Track and field opened the season successfully during their first meet, with 11 Bulldogs winning first place in their respective varsity events and numerous performances that made school history. This...

These concert-goers at Portola High thrive in the environment of the bright lights, electrifying energy and the pulse of live music.

Meet Portola High’s Avid Concert Goers and their Views of the Stage

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | March 18, 2025

To some, a concert is simply a fun night out, while for others, it is a chance to create memories that stay with them long after the crowd leaves. From the opening to the last encore, frequent concert-goers...

Varsity swimmer and senior Gavin Nicholson executes a backstroke start into the boys’ 200-yard medley relay. This season, the team aims to focus on boosting their overall spirit through bonding activities, such as beach practices and a bonfire, according to head coach Steven Richards. “We have a really good, strong team spirit on our team, Richards said. “I want to see that continue.”

Swim ‘Dives’ to Victory in First League Meet Against Woodbridge High

Annie Xiao, Staff Writer | March 17, 2025

Boys’ swim (1-0) and girls’ swim (1-0) won against Woodbridge High with a point total of 189-149, dominating the Warriors across all levels of competition for the first time in history on March 5....

Students often feel unheard in their school environment, but by taking the Panorama Survey seriously, they can make their voices count and drive meaningful change on campus.

Make Your Mark: Why the Panorama Survey Deserves Student Attention

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | March 17, 2025

Every day, students juggle the challenges of academics, friendships and mental health, yet rarely have the chance to voice their concerns to those who can implement support on a systematic level — school...

S5 Episode 6: Nostalgic Memories: Favorite Childhood Shows

S5 Episode 6: Nostalgic Memories: Favorite Childhood Shows

Stephanie Hwang, Co-News Editor | March 14, 2025

In this episode of the Portola Pioneer, host Stephanie Hwang explores the childhood shows of staff members and students at Portola High.   Music credits: Cookies by Alex-Productions from...

Senior Sanaa Bullock talks strategy on the field with Flag Football coach Julie Primero. Bullock helps the team run more efficiently and keeps spirits up, according to Primero. “[She takes] care of things so that we [can] really focus on practice, getting better, prepping for games, stuff like that,” Primero said. “If they see something that needs to be taken care of, they do it without asking me so that I can focus on coaching. I think it carries over to being an organized leader.”

Team Managers: The Backbone of Team Sports

Kailyn Clark and Zoha Syed | March 13, 2025

When people think of team sports, such as flag football or track, their minds often go to players or coaches. But behind every successful team is a student whose efforts often go unnoticed: the team...

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