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
Freshman Akhilesh Kuppili plays chess using Chess.com, a platform that provides practice through puzzles, matches and videos. “I think playing chess to begin with, not just competitively, is always a skill that can help you in anything,” Kuppili said. “This is always something that will help you with anything, because you’re using your mind on the game.”

Freshman Akhilesh Kuppili ‘Plays’ Chess as a Passion

Mary Lee, Arts & Entertainment Assistant Editor | January 30, 2025

For freshman Akhilesh Kuppili, chess is a passion. With the large number of possibilities and learning curves the sport has to offer, Akhilesh dedicated hours each week to chess after beginning in 2018,...

New Link Crew advisors, Spanish teacher Emily Czaja and math teacher Jessica Torres, stand together as they prepare to guide and support incoming students in the upcoming school year.

New Link Crew Advisors Jessica Torres and Emily Czaja Bring Fresh Leadership and Support to Incoming Students

Olivia Ganes, Assistant Sports Editor | January 29, 2025

The Link Crew program at Portola High has helped freshmen make easy transitions with the help of their peers since its establishment in 2019. This year, math teacher Jessica Torres and Spanish teacher...

Creating tooth necklaces is a largely personal endeavor for Chang, who prefers to wear her jewelry at school. Besides making necklaces, she said she also plans to make earrings.

‘Bite-Sized’ Beauty: Senior Vivian Chang Fashions Teeth Into Jewelry

Marianne Chan, Assistant Features Editor | January 28, 2025

Hoag’s expanded campus will be a blend of relaxing open-air spaces and state-of-the-art amenities, with eleven operating rooms, 155 inpatient beds and 120,000 square feet of ambulatory space, according to Hoag. “I think it’s really important because the community is expanding,” junior Sarrrinah Inamdar said. “[T]he expansion of more surgical units, and especially the cancer institutions, are also very important for the growing population.”

Meeting Community Needs: Hoag Expands Campus in Irvine

Suhana Kaur, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025

Hoag received an additional $50 million donation from the Sun Family Foundation on Jan. 13, bringing their total contribution to the expansion of Hoag’s Irvine campus on Sand Canyon Avenue to $100 million. Hoag...

The Katie Wheeler Library is located in North Irvine and has open access to print and media services, originally being a ranch house owned by James Irvine II. The structure was designated as a historical landmark by OC Park in 2008, according to The Historical Marker Database, and much of the decision to lease the library was due to community advocacy. “I would encourage all the young students to actually voice their concerns, come to city council meetings, reach out, write to us and let us know what your needs are so we can better serve you because the purpose of the City Council is to serve as residents and enhance your life,” said city council member Melinda Liu.

Irvine City Council Votes to Keep the Katie Wheeler Library Open

Mia Jong | January 24, 2025

The Irvine City Council coordinated with the Orange County Public Libraries (OCPL) to lease the Katie Wheeler Library as a city library branch on Jan. 14. The city will operate the library system while...

Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on Dec. 29. President Carter served for one term in office and was an active leader in Habitat for Humanity International after his term. “I think one of the biggest positives is what a president can do after they finish their term as president,” American history teacher James Ferrel said. “So one of the things is that sometimes we hear certain presidents just kind of go into obscurity. What I think, though, is that Carter has definitely continued a legacy of giving back to the community and being a servant, a public servant, for the people.”

Jimmy Carter’s Death Inspires A National Mourning Day On Jan. 9

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025

Former United States President Jimmy Carter passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Following the death of the nation’s 39th and longest lived president, President Joe Biden declared Jan. 9, the day...

Pohle helps a student understand a calculus lesson during office hours. To help strengthen her relationships with her students, Pohle incorporates elements of her classroom in Madrid into Portola High. “It was cool to see how teachers run classes there because it's just very different,” Pohle said. “I feel like we're just so pressed for time especially in a high school environment. A big focus in Spain itself is connections with people, so everyone is just so friendly and nice.”

From Madrid to Math: How Teaching Abroad Shaped Math Teacher Evelyn Pohle’s Classroom

Dania Yamani, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025

While gap years are often used as a chance to recharge, math teacher Evelyn Pohle challenged the norms by trading her post-graduate downtime for six months of teaching English in the vibrant classrooms...

Co-captains senior Ellen Liu and junior Suhrith Muvvala stand alongside their advisor and science teacher Christian Quinteros to collect their sixth place overall plaque earned at the annual USC Science Olympiad Invitational. “So across the board, our placements have gotten a lot better, and we've gotten a lot more consistent among the 23 solo events, which is helping us place a lot better this year compared to last year,” Muvvala said.

Science Olympiad Finishes Sixth at the Annual USC Invitational

Nina Krish, Sports Editor | January 20, 2025

The annual University of Southern California Invitational made history being the largest in-person Science Olympiad tournament in the country on Jan. 18. Out of 80 teams, Portola High triumphed, earning...

2025 In 25 Words

2025 In 25 Words

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | January 14, 2025

Junior and dual-enrolled student Claire Hsin is able to work on her IVC assignments on her own time, “I could finish my assignments whenever I wanted since they are posted ahead of time,” Hsin said.

Dual Enrollment: Double the Classes, Double the Opportunity

Sruti Allani and Olivia Ganes | January 14, 2025

To balance high school credit requirements with personal interests, several Portola High students have joined the dual enrollment programs at Irvine Valley College, giving them the chance to get a head...

Defensive midfielder and junior Garan Gurusinghe holds up a strong front as attackers surround him outside of the penalty box during the first half. “There were times throughout the game where they did exactly what we talked about during practice when setting up plays,” head boys’ soccer coach Benjamin Jordon said.

Boys’ Soccer Plays with Passion Despite Losing Close Match Against Northwood High

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | January 14, 2025

Boys’ soccer (4-2-1) lost 2-1 in a league game against Northwood High on Jan. 7. The Bulldogs play next at an away game against Laguna Beach High today on Jan. 14.  Three minutes into the first...

Three years after its initial release in 2021, “Squid Game” debuted its second season on Dec. 26, breaking Netflix records with 68 million views in its premiere week, according to Forbes.

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Builds Anticipation for the Next Installment

Parmin Zamani and Hannah Ko | January 9, 2025

From deadlier games to unexpected betrayals, “Squid Game” returned with its second season on Dec. 26, ranking the No. 2 most-watched non-English series on Netflix after “Squid Game” season one.  Set...

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