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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 macabre yet hilarious Addams Family was brought to life by the VAPA department.

“The Addams Family” Spring Musical Promises Morbid Hilarity

Jenny Won, Business Team | December 14, 2018

Halloween morning, visual and performing arts teachers came to school dressed as various members of the infamous Addams family. This was more than merely a creative group costume; it was also the announcement...

Insight lands and takes a picture using its Instrument Deployment Camera (IDC) from the surface of Mars.

NASA’s New Rover Getting ‘InSight’ on Mars

William Hsieh, Director of Photography | December 14, 2018

NASA’s newest lander, InSight, touched down on the Martian surface on Nov. 26. It’s mission is to study the interior of Mars. At Vandenberg Air Force Base, InSight was launched on May 5. It has...

The cylinder is a computer-generated model of the old International Prototype Kilogram (IPK).

Scientists Redesign the Kilogram for Better Accuracy

William Hsieh and Junhee Ryu | December 14, 2018

Scientists around the world met at the 26th General Conference on Weights and Measures on Nov. 16 in Versailles, France to redefine some fundamental International System of Units (SI units). This change...

“Flannel and Frost” brought student’s original choreography to the stage. Dancers showcased their talents through groups, duets and solos. Soloists include sophomore Chloe Le from Dance 2, and junior Jasmine Asami and freshman Sofia Topete from Dance Company.

‘Flannel and Frost’ Brings the Heat in Annual Winter Dance Concert

Helena Hu, Centerspread Editor | December 14, 2018

The crowd’s attention was on the stage as bright spotlights illuminated the silhouette of dancers, emphasizing each beat. At the end of each piece, loud applause echoed around the theater. Dance 2,...

Staff Editorial: Proposing a Solution to the Vape Epidemic

Staff Editorial: Proposing a Solution to the Vape Epidemic

December 14, 2018

JUUL, Suorin, SMOK: if you are one of the millions of high schoolers involved in the vaping epidemic, you have heard of these brands. According to the Food and Drug Administration, 3.6 million middle and...

Brian Hawkins, Nikhil Jha, Patrick Cui and Matthew Kwon received the Congressional App Challenge award on Nov. 30 for their work on Portolapp, which was built to help students with the no bell system.

Portolapp Wins Congressional App Challenge

Farhad Taraporevala, A&E Editor | December 14, 2018

Founding developers of Portolapp and juniors Patrick Cui, Brian Hawkins, Nikhil Jha and Matthew Kwon won the Congressional App Challenge for the 45th congressional district of California, awarded by Rep....

Spotlight on Girls' Soccer

Spotlight on Girls’ Soccer

Dylan Gates, Media Director | December 14, 2018

According to the Environmental Working Group, 167 million pounds of pesticides and 17 billion pounds of nitrogen fertilizer are used to grow livestock feed alone. In addition, over 20% of the United States’ methane emissions are from cattle.

Science Teacher Takes on Meatless Monday

Tiffany Wu, Staff Writer | December 13, 2018

While many Californians set timers for shorter showers, switch from dishwashers to sponges and turn off sprinklers, science teacher Sharon Fronk partakes in an international campaign called “Meatless...

Only one week after the movie debuted in theaters, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” has a domestic gross of $143,334,185.

Wreck-it-Ralph Breaks Both the Internet and Box Office Records

Ava Caleca, Social Media Specialist | December 12, 2018

When the idea of “Ralph Breaks the Internet” was released to the public on June 30, 2016, many Disney fans were excited to hear that the movie would also showcase classic characters such as the Disney...

Dressed as a baker accompanied by his fellow gingerbread men creations, this particular performer follows a parade float featuring a 6-foot tall book titled “How to Make the Perfect Gingerbread House.”

Enter a Winter Wonderland with Disney’s Christmas Parade

Julia Kim and Ava Caleca | December 11, 2018

In a whimsical world of dancing, music and magic, Disney cast members perform surrounded by fans of all ages in the Disney Parks Christmas parade, “A Christmas Fantasy.” The parade follows the Christmas...

Students can donate to Toys for Tots by bringing in new toys and placing them under one of the three Christmas trees in the Student Union.

‘Tis the Time of Toys for Tots

Maya Sabbaghian, Opinion Editor | December 10, 2018

Three Christmas trees adorned with silver and purple ornaments stand in the Student Union, each one with paper gift tags marked with age groups hanging off its plastic branches. Under each tree are small...

Daylight Saving Does Not Save

Daylight Saving Does Not Save

Giselle Villegas, Staff Writer | December 7, 2018

In the past midterm election, California voters passed Proposition 7 to allow legislation the option to change the current Daylight Saving Time (DST) period to be darker later by a two-thirds vote. If...

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