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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 toys will be dropped off under the house trees in the student union.

Giving Back to Others: Toys For Tots

Ava Caleca, Staff Writer | December 19, 2017

Toys for Tots is a charity that gives back during the holidays and students will get the opportunity to donate for three more days. Donations will be collected under the house Christmas trees in the student...

Add some sparkle to your shelves with this simple two-material decor!

DIY Decorations for December

Julia Kim, A&E Editor and Co-Business Manager | December 18, 2017

As you may have already noticed, neighborhoods are being adorned with beautiful lights or ornaments, putting Irvine in the festive holiday spirit. While there are many ways to create personal holiday decor,...

Sophomore and shooting guard #4 Omar Habibeh attempts to work around a defensive Pakuranga player in order to pass the ball to a teammate.

Basketball Defends Undefeated Home Record against New Zealand

Helena Hu and Annie Qiao | December 18, 2017

Students roared with cheers as JV boys’ basketball (9-2) defeated Pakuranga College 69-46 on Dec. 11. Pakuranga College originates from East Auckland, New Zealand, making school history as the first...

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" was first published complete in 1890, in an issue of Lippincott's Monthly Magazine.

The Not-So Glamorous Book: ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’

Faith DeNeve, Contributing Writer | December 18, 2017

Youth, beauty, admiration are the dream, are they not? For some it is, but Oscar Wilde’s “The Picture of Dorian Gray” indicates otherwise. “The Picture of Dorian Gray” is a philosophical fiction...

Alex Beltran speaks from the heart about her hope for her brother's battle with drug abuse.

Irvine Talks about What it Means to be Human

Maryam Shama and Shawyan Rooein | December 15, 2017

Portola High hosted the first annual Irvine Talks on Dec. 9 in the theater. Similar to TED Talks, Irvine Talks is an event where Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) high school students perform or deliver...

Campus control assistant George Mares ensures that drivers in our school parking lot are safe to prevent any injuries.

A New Road to Driving

Anthony Chan, Photo Editor | December 15, 2017

With students now reaching 16 years of age, the school’s parking lot will be expecting many new drivers. In order to park and drive at school, getting a license during or after the age of 16 is required. At...

Chen works with the Scratch program to create games, such as a ball moving through a maze.

Students Scratch the Surface During Hour of Code

Maya Sabbaghian, Co-Editor-in-Chief | December 14, 2017

Students participated in Hour of Code to learn the basics of coding using Scratch, an MIT-developed program, during advisement on Dec. 6. Hour of Code is a global initiative that gives students a 60-minute...

Cheer squad practices a new routine for its upcoming performances.

‘Bulldog, Rumble!’

John Xie, Chloe Ma, and Jenny Zhang | December 14, 2017

With a passion for performance and dance, blended in with their energetic personalities, they gather together each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. to spread their positive attitudes...

Since the novel's publication in 1954, "Lord of the Flies" has been adapted into a movie adaptation in 1963, and another in 1990.

‘Lord of the Flies’: The Darker Side of Children

Wesley Tjangnaka, Contributing Writer | December 13, 2017

In today’s world, many adolescent children yearn to be independent from authority so they can do what they want without consequences. This dream came true for a group of schoolboys, in William Golding’s...

McMurray showcases her abilities while throwing the ball during practice.

Protecting the Pedigree: First Female Football Player

Ava Caleca and Maya Sabbaghian | December 12, 2017

When the whistle blows, she sprints forward across turf and tackles her teammate, only to release when the next whistle sounds. Freshman Lauren McMurray is the first girl to join the football team. “During...

 Desktop Dual USB Charging Station with Dual Alarms by La Crosse Technology.

Top Holiday Tech Gift Ideas Under $30

Ajinkya Rane and Jacob Kim | December 12, 2017

It may be hard to tell with the Southern California weather, but the holidays have finally arrived! Here are some interesting and affordable gifts to buy for your family and friends. 1. Alarm clock...

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