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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

Many families decorate their homes for the month of Ramadan. The most popular decorations are lanterns, string lights, crescents and countdowns.

No, Not Even Water: Ramadan, A Month of Self-Control

Maryam Shama, Opinion Editor | May 23, 2018

Sunset on May 15 marked the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, signaling a month of fasting for Muslims worldwide. Following the lunar calendar, the Islamic calendar has 12 months, Ramadan...

When Status Equals SAT Success

When Status Equals SAT Success

Helena Hu and Dylan Thakarar | May 22, 2018

For many students looking to attend a four-year university or college, taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or the SAT, is a part of their checklist to ensure admission into a college of their choice....

Ng's dedication towards pole vaulting has lead her to practice out of school at Mission Viejo to supplement her normal track practice.

Raising the Bar: Natalie Ng

Simrat Singh and Dylan Thakarar | May 21, 2018

Article updated May 21, 2018: Natalie achieved her personal record of 10'0" as the first varsity track member to compete in CIF. She also finished 7th overall in CIF-SS Division 4 Finals and 13th overall...

Spirit and rally commissioner and future vice president Lauren Hwang leads the crowd in a cheer to kick off the rally.

ASB Closes Out School Year with End-of-Year Rally

Helena Hu and Julia Kim | May 18, 2018

“Who’s the best? PHS!” was the cheer heard around the gym on May 11 as ASB, decked out in beach-themed outfits, buzzed with excitement as they welcomed students to the last pep rally to wrap up the...

Sophomore Gabi Taylor prepares for her leg of the 200 medley relay by waiting on the diving board.

Making History: Swim Waves Hello to the First Year of CIF

Julia Kim, A&E Editor and Co-Business Manager | May 18, 2018

Leaving school at 5 a.m., girls’ swim competed in Division 1 preliminaries at the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) at Riverside Aquatics Center on May 10. Sophomores Gabi Taylor and Haley...

Trevor Dolce plays the marimba, snare drum, and the timpani, the three main percussion instruments as they all represent different skills required to be a percussionists. The marimba requires melodic sensibility, the snare drum rhythm, and the timpani a balancing act between the two.

From Boxes to Bach: Trevor Dolce

Farhad Taraporevala and Junhee Ryu | May 17, 2018

From the beautiful melodies of the marimba to the crisp snare drum beats, percussion coach Trevor Dolce’s performance on May 10 highlighted his skills in a percussion concert performed in the theatre....

Working hard during his art studio class, Nathan Lo works to draw his difficult scenery photos.

Nathan Lo Takes Photography to the Next Level

Junhee Ryu and Simrat Singh | May 16, 2018

As the waterfall flowed in the mountains, freshman Nathan Lo began to look around as he attempted to approach the best angle for the photo. Such dedication was why Lo’s skills in photography and visual...

Speaker Stephanie Zapata encourages students in the audience to discover their healthy coping methods by sharing her own high school experiences with self-care.

Anyone MAY Attend Mental Health Matters Events

Jane Zou, Copy Editor | May 15, 2018

Mental Health Matters month in May kicked off with the first speaker from Western Youth Services (WYS) Stephanie Zapata on May 8. The event titled “What is Mental Health?” occurred in rooms 905 and...

[From left to right] Samantha Gardner, Desmond Stevens, Emily Sheridan and Megan Kirby are in the lobby of the theater greeting parents who watched the show and congratulating the student cast on May 3 while enjoying the company of each other.

The Talented Teachers Behind the “Wizard of Oz”

Lauren Kettner and Farhad Taraporevala | May 14, 2018

“The Wizard of Oz” production demonstrated its talents on May 3-5, bringing together five staff members who put in months of work to guide the musical to its success, including dance director Samantha...

The technical theater crew paints a backdrop for the upcoming “Wizard of Oz” musical, utilizing the color wheel and brush strokes to create a realistic, whimsical set.

Technical Theater: Crew-cial to the Stage

Aaron Sha, Staff Writer | May 14, 2018

From the apprehensive courtroom of Salem to the mystical Land of Oz, technical theater students have been hard at work, pouring their creative juices and technical skills into the performing arts productions....

Boys’ Lacrosse Highlights Last Home Game With 11-1 Win

Boys’ Lacrosse Highlights Last Home Game With 11-1 Win

Ki Joon Lee, Copy Editor | May 14, 2018

JV boys’ lacrosse (9-11) dominated El Modena High 11-1 in its Game of the Month on May 2, boasting its drastic improvement from last year’s season. The team’s last home game was filled with excitement...

Post Malone's second album has already hit large numbers of sales, perhaps indicating a successful publication of music.

Post Malone May be the Next Big Rockstar: ‘beerbongs & bentleys’ Review

Simrat Singh and Ava Caleca | May 14, 2018

Young and up-and-coming hip hop artist Post Malone released his second studio album on April 27 titled “beerbongs & bentleys”. The album’s lead single, the major hit “Rockstar,” featured...

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