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
Senior Zoe Wynn hits the golf ball with a swift drive swing. Wynn’s dedication to perfecting various swing techniques throughout her golf career allowed her to experience many wins. “I've seen Zoe at her highs, as when she won league as a freshman,” girls’ golf coach and history teacher Wind Ralston said. “I've seen her at her lows as well, when she maybe hasn't had the best round. But I would say she was my first golfer who came to me with a lot of skill initially which I was not used to. It's been great to see her grow and evolve as a player. Zoe is always fun, even when she may not have the best round, she still is having fun and her personality is contagious and makes other girls just want to have fun.”

Senior Zoe Wynn Commits to Williams College, Aiming for a Bright Future on the Green

Hannah Ko and Sruti Allani | October 2, 2024

Countless mornings dedicated to the golf course, struggles with fluctuating performance and balancing heavy coursework in the classroom all pays off for senior Zoe Wynn as she commits to play Division...

City of Irvine Peer Support Team Coordinator Jodi Rahn accepts an award honoring her 30 years of service to the Irvine Community. “Jodi has this rare combination of being compassionate and caring, but also incredibly hard working and tenacious, and that's just something that you don’t often find in the same person,” Assistant Chief of Police Noelle Smiley said.

Irvine City Council Meeting Honors Long-Serving Employees

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | October 1, 2024

The Irvine City Council held a meeting to honor and celebrate the contributions of five employees with over 20 years of service on Sept. 24 at the Irvine City Hall. This event recognized multiple individuals...

Campus Control Assistant George Mares works as a bartender at Wild Rivers on weekends and at Portola High on weekdays. “I enjoy both jobs completely,” Mares said. “It’s just always fun. Both jobs are perfect.”

‘Shaking’ It Up: Campus Control Assistant George Mares Makes Refreshments at Wild Rivers

Alice Ahn and Kailyn Clark | October 1, 2024

After the final bell rings and students head home, it is easy to forget about the people who keep the campus running — teachers, staff and other key figures. But individuals like Wild Rivers employee...

Utility player and senior Ryder Tonkovich prepares to shoot a goal against El Segundo High in the first quarter. Different players are substituted in and out of the match to create the most effective team dynamic, according to head boys’ water polo coach Kate Avery. “Especially in those close, competitive games, we want to keep the six or seven players that are performing the best and have the best chemistry to maintain momentum.”

Boys’ Water Polo Pulls Off Thrilling Comeback Win Against El Segundo High

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | October 1, 2024

Boys’ water polo (5-6) won 14-13 at its home match at the pool on Sept. 17 against El Segundo High. Despite facing a two-point deficit in the first two quarters, the Bulldogs quickly closed the gap,...

Senior Maariyah Arif appreciates Dress to Impress for its various styles — from lace to gingham — and its costumes. “I've been playing Roblox for years, and Dress to Impress just started going viral,” Arif said. “I think it's cool to see all the different costumes.”

Glitz and Glamor: Dress to Impress Dazzles Portola High Players

Marianne Chan and Moer Koey | September 27, 2024

One of the online gaming platform Roblox's most popular pageantry games, “Dress to Impress,” has seen a sharp spike in popularity among Portola High students this year. Students across every grade...

Senior Landon Durazo speaks with campus control staff member George Mares during lunch in the parking lot. “Some students get mad at the security guards because they don’t realize it is their job to tell students to get back to class,” Durazo said. “It gets good once you get to know them because they are interesting, and they are interested in stuff I am interested in.”

Safety First: Meet the Campus Control Staff

Olivia Ganes and Nina Krish | September 26, 2024

All students have seen them on campus, but getting to know them is a different story. Campus control spends countless hours making sure the students are safe. Not only do they patrol the campus, they ensure...

Quarterback and sophomore Alondra Hernandez speaks with coach Desmond Hamilton during halftime about her throwing technique. According to head coach Julie Primero, the team has been working towards refining their strategies for the game.

Flag Football Fights Hard but Falls Short Against Sage Hill High

Dania Yamani and Senna Kahf | September 26, 2024

Flag football (2-9) lost 7-26 in a home game against Sage Hill High on Sept. 13. The team hopes to put their best effort into the practices leading up to their next home game against Woodbridge High...

The new phone guidelines spark engagement in various class settings since students are no longer allowed to use their cell phones and must devote their attention to learning instead. “My [advisement] students are more engaged in whatever's happening,” Principal John Pehrson said. “[By] having the cell phones put aside, now they can just naturally get their heads up and interact with people around them.”

New Phone Practice ‘Disconnects’ Students From Their Phones to ‘Connect’ Them to Class

Nicole Lu and Kayley Winata | September 25, 2024

As the school year begins, an evident change has been implemented in many classrooms: the bond students have with their phones has been broken by phone jails, pockets or baskets. High school students...

The U.S. Men’s Gymnastics Team won bronze at the 2024 Olympics, which ended a 16-year-long Olympic medal drought, according to NPR. “Since it became kind of popular over the course of the Olympics, more boy gymnasts kind of see themselves represented in a very highly televised event, where usually it doesn't happen,” former gymnast and senior Hutchison said. “A lot of the promotion for gymnastics is focused on female gymnasts instead of male gymnasts, so it trending over time is really helpful.”

Defying Gravity and Expectations, Men’s Representation in Gymnastics Soars to New Heights

Mia Jong and Dania Yamani | September 24, 2024

They soar, they flip and they twist. In a blur of motion and muscle, the electrifying performances of Stephen Nedoroscik, Shinnosuke Oka and Fred Richard at the 2024 Olympics are not only showcasing incredible...

Formula One club founder and junior Keerthana Pillai recaps F1 competitions and their drivers to club members to open up discussions about them amongst one another. “We’re just like reading and yapping about different things,” Pillai said. “I think that's really nice because there aren't as many F1 fans as there are basketball fans or NFL fans, so it's nice to have a space specifically for that sport where we can talk about it with other people who are interested in it.”

The F1 Club is Off to a ‘Roaring’ Start

Nora Aljazzar and Stephanie Hwang | September 24, 2024

As the popularity of Formula One racing has surged in the last couple of years, Portola High has witnessed a growing enthusiasm for the sport among its student body. In 2023, club founder and junior Keerthana...

Assistant Principal Brandon Emery discusses how the new school year is progressing with sophomore Tiran Ng and freshman Arshdeep Makar, an integral task that ensures smooth and productive days for the rapidly growing student population. “I think Portola is definitely striving to find its identity in the district,” Emery said. “Being the most populated school on campus in the district, it's emerging as a forefront — like a school that’s testing new ideas and serving as a model for new schools in the district,” Emery said.

New Assistant Principals Steven Chai and Brandon Emery Brew Up a New Campus Culture

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | September 23, 2024

As the school year kicks off, students are not the only ones settling into fresh routines — two new assistant principals have arrived, ready to make their mark. Both with ample experience in K-12...

NAMI Co-Presidents and juniors Such Yang and Chloe Shin work diligently on the 600s staircase to finalize their plans for the first NAMI club meeting on Thursday, Sept. 6.

NAMI Club: The Newest Wellness Haven on Campus

Alice Ahn and Sophia Kim | September 20, 2024

As the school year gains momentum following a refreshing summer break, high school students with demanding academic and extracurricular schedules are likely to experience waves of stress and lose motivation.  Regardless...

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