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

Co-captain and junior Zoe Wynn prepares to hit a golf ball at hole 5, where she achieved a birdie.

Girls’ Golf Advances to CIF Individual Tournament After PCL Finals

Marianne Chan | October 26, 2023

Girls’ golf co-captain and juniors Zoe Wynn and Emmie Ding won the Pacific Coast League's MVP and made league First Team, respectively, with both advancing to CIF Individual Championships after PCL finals...

After the morning arrivals, the bike racks quickly fill up.

Racks for Parking: Improvements Needed

Jordan Hata, Staff Writer | October 26, 2023

One of the most prominent modes of transportation to Portola High is the use of bikes and scooters.  They represent an important part of the school environment, being a major alternative to automobiles....

At their first club meeting on Oct. 19, Reform-All club Vice President and sophomore Kate Shin and treasurer and sophomore Aya Ughayer introduce themselves to members and explain their mission to reform old clothes to give back to the community.

Newest Clubs Build a Community of Visionaries on Campus

Madeline Chung and Camille Clement | October 25, 2023

United by their unique interests, passionate students join together in clubs to build valuable experience. They provide a diverse range of opportunities to meet like-minded individuals. Portola High welcomes...

Junior Deep Goswami creates a rebel base that he started on Monday. The special starships are used to fight evil in the Star Wars universe, according to Goswami.

Junior Deep Goswami ‘Builds’ His Love for Legos

Kayleen Kim, Managing Editor | October 25, 2023

In the middle of the Instagram page of @pumpedsheetlegos, an Arc Trooper Star Wars Lego figure sits. Wearing a white helmet and armed with a black gun, the figurine is marked at $31, made by a passionate...

The City Council voted on the map at Irvine City Hall. Other Orange County cities are also currently facing legal challenges due to their at-large voting schemes including Laguna Niguel and San Clemente, according to the OC Register. “In California we’ve seen a lot of cities move into these districts most recently and probably most contentiously was the city of Anaheim,” Passion Civics teacher Marisa Wilkerson said

Irvine City Council Adopts First-Ever Voting District Map, Moves Towards District Elections in 3-2 Vote

Tyler Kim, Co-Editor-in-Chief | October 24, 2023

The Irvine City Council adopted a new city map featuring six voting districts on Oct. 10 in advance of a March 5 special municipal election to approve district elections.  The final map selected by...

At Williams Regional Park, varsity cross country runner and junior Sophie Guilfoile sets a record-breaking pace in the Pacific Coast League Cluster Varsity Girls three-mile race, blazing past her competitors from schools across Orange County.

Sophie Guilfoile Sprints to Victory at Pacific Coast League Cluster

Madeline Chung | October 24, 2023

Varsity cross country runner and junior Sophie Guilfoile races towards a brighter future, each step hitting the ground with boundless energy and ambition. Demonstrating significant improvement since her...

Performer and freshman Annie Xiao tips her head down to showcase her bamboo hat, a symbolic element of the Chinese ethnic group that her dance represents — the Huayao Dai. “The goal of the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California is to spread the art of Chinese dance and Chinese culture by many different styles through original pieces and adapted pieces,” Xiao said.

22nd Annual Irvine Global Village Festival Connects Diverse Communities Through Cultural Appreciation

Cindy Mei, Social Media Team | October 20, 2023

To celebrate its rich history of cultural diversity, Irvine hosted its 22nd annual Global Village Festival on Oct. 14, where vendors, performers and diverse community members gathered in the Great...

Pep Squad dances on the sidelines in the midst of the game. “Honestly, our team has gotten really good at handling the adrenaline aspect of it because it’s one thing hitting in a wrestling room where your coach is watching,” co-captain and senior Evyn Kingsley said. “It’s completely different when the stadium lights are on you and there’s a whole student section that’s watching you.”

Pep Squad Adds Sparkle to Barbie-Themed Game of the Week

Shaina Taebi | October 18, 2023

Pep Squad held their Barbie-themed Game of the Week on Oct. 6 to honor National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pep Squad decked out with Barbie logos on their boxes, a life-sized Barbie display case and...

Amidst the digital age, mobile planners have become far more prevalent than physical planners; only 21 of 65 students polled on Instagram voted that they use a physical planner.

The ‘Pixel-Perfect’ Planner: Why Digital Planners Outshine Physical Ones

Alice Ahn and Cindy Mei | October 12, 2023

During stressful high school years, planners can help students maintain a healthy work-life balance. With the emergence of online platforms like Todoist, Notion and Apple Calendar, it has become more beneficial...

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a gene editing technology used to modify DNA. Although CRISPR has the potential to treat human disease, the side effects and ethical implications are amongst the drawbacks of this dangerous tool, according to the New York Times.

The Ableist Downside of CRISPR Gene Editing

Elise Ngo, Features Editor | October 11, 2023

What if you could choose your baby’s eye color? What if you could make them resistant to future HIV infection? Editing a human embryo is just one of the many implications of gene editing. Breakthroughs...

Girls’ tennis co-captain and senior Victoria Sarabosing gets ready to return a serve. She was recruited by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) to play Division III Tennis. “Victoria has definitely become more of a leader this year and has led our girls into becoming closer,” girls varsity tennis assistant coach Maithy Do said. “That has led her to becoming a player that stands out, in addition to her commitment and the qualities that she brings to the team.”

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Shows Their ‘Love’ for Girls’ Varsity Tennis Captain and Senior Victoria Sarabosing

Alice Ahn and Maitri Allani | October 10, 2023

Sweat drips down your head as you wait for your opponent to serve. With the swish of your racquet, you slam into the ball and return the serve. The pressure builds as you volley back and forth. For...

Sophomore Cara Lin holds up one of her artworks next to the scene she painted. An experienced plein-air painter, Lin enjoyed meeting with friends and seeing her art improve from last year. “I’m proud of my art having changed,” Lin said. “It’s good that it’s different; I don’t want it to stay the same.”

Beachside Art: Advanced Visual Artists Attend Plein-Air Trip in Little Corona

Catherine Li, Staff Writer | October 9, 2023

Next to golden sands and blue waters, visual art students demonstrated their skill once again during their first field trip of the year on Oct. 1, showcasing their talent for observation and adaptability...

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