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 Leila Ceranic does backstroke, the only swim stroke that is performed on the back and one of the four swimming styles in competitive swimming, during the varsity  practice on Tuesday.

Leila Ceranic Makes a Splash As the Only Freshman on the Varsity Team

Kayleen Kim and Hannah Ko | March 31, 2023

A valuable new member of the swim team joined this past season. Here’s the catch: she is the only freshman on varsity.  Swimming since she was 5, Leila Ceranic took lessons at her private swim club,...

Sophomore Katie Le laughs as she talks to delegates from other local high schools in the U.S. Senate committee about the possible solutions their bloc could propose to combat domestic terrorism. “It’s all about fun, first of all, and some of them were able to practice their public speaking, practice their research skills and practice their ability to follow specific procedures and formats to reach goals,” MUN adviser and social studies teacher Daniel Hunter said.

MUN Competes at University High’s Annual Spring Conference

Maya Tedini, Staff Writer | March 31, 2023

Model United Nations won seven awards at the annual University High MUN Spring Conference on March 25.  Sophomore Ana Girnita: best delegate award in novice UN Human Rights Council Junior SJ Janolkar:...

Dance 3 and 4 took to the stage to perform a graceful and delicate contemporary piece titled “Always Be the One” to the song “I’ll Always be the One Who Makes You Cry” by Eric Hutchinson. The talented group of girls captured the audience’s attention as they skillfully executed their routine.

‘Vertigo’ Dance Concert ‘Spins’ into Action

Cara Chan, Marianne Chan, and Aditi Salunkhe | March 31, 2023

A hush descends over the audience as a synchronized mass of dancers take to the stage and perform an upbeat jazz combination under the flashing red stage lights. The joyful piece is followed by a passionate...

HOSA club president and senior Varsha Raju and competitor and senior Joanna Rhim discuss potential test questions and analyze a case study before the forensic science event in Sacramento. Twenty-two out of the 30 members who competed in the regional competition qualified to participate in the State Leadership Conference and eight members qualified for the international level, according to Raju.

HOSA Club Participates in its First Year of In-Person Competitions since the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hannah Ko and Stephanie Hwang | March 30, 2023

Twenty-two members of the Health Occupations Students of America club participated in the Cal-HOSA State Leadership Conference that occurred in Sacramento on March 23-26. Eight competitors (junior Arjit...

Juniors Pranav Patlola, Michael Sun, Atharv Joshi and Nicholas Tan celebrate their advancement to the state level of the National Economics Challenge. The NEC Club members are currently preparing for the State Finals, which will take place on April 11.

National Economics Challenge Club Fosters Competitive Learning Environment

Aditi Salunkhe, Staff Writer | March 29, 2023

Production possibilities curve, cost-benefit analysis and comparative advantages are just some of the complex economics terms you will hear if you enter one of the National Economics Challenge weekly meetings,...

Spending many hours on a phone can lead to harmful effects like anxiety. Reading books allows students to reach a higher level of thinking and benefits them socially, according to NCBI.

Put Down the Phone and Read More Books

Claire Chan, Staff Writer | March 28, 2023

Many students can relate to the experience of using their phones for hours on end just to feel bad afterward about wasting time they could have used on a more productive activity.  Rather than staying...

Indian Classical Dance Brings Dancers Back to Their Ethnic Roots

Madeline Chung, Business Team | March 27, 2023

Hair wreaths adorned with delicate flowers and ghagras embroidered with intricate patterns are just some of the highlights of a typical Indian classical dance performance. These clothing pieces enhance...

Miley Cyrus released her eighth studio album, ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ on March 10. The album debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 this week, selling 103,000 equivalent album units, according to Billboard.

Miley Cyrus’ ‘Endless Summer Vacation’ Sounds Like an ‘Island’ Paradise

Maitri Allani, Photo Editor | March 24, 2023

Summer cannot come quickly enough. Miley Cyrus released her eighth album, “Endless Summer Vacation,” on March 10, preceded by her first song to reach number 1 on the Billboard, “Flowers” in nine...

Senior Adna Parva worked with her family to create this Haftsin from scratch by obtaining all of the necessary materials. Parva’s family likes to employ a theme for their Haftsin each year, with white and gold being the preferred color scheme this time around, according to Parva.

Nowruz Celebrations Connect Persian Students to Culture in a Historic Year for Iranians

Tara Vatandoust and Parmin Zamani | March 23, 2023

Many cultures celebrate their new years in the wintertime, following lunar-based or Gregorian calendars. But one culture’s annual festivities align with the first day of spring: the Persian New Year. Persian...

Muslim Student Association co-vice president and sophomore Shifa Harsolia and MSA board member Eshal Khoso led a club meeting on March 21 in room 602 to discuss potential locations to host an iftar, a gathering where Muslims break their fast together. The iftar will take place on April 4, alongside nearby MSAs at Beckman, Irvine and Northwood high schools.

Ramadan: A Month of Detoxification for Muslims

Jana Malek, Staff Writer | March 22, 2023

For Muslims worldwide, the appearance of the bright crescent moon amid the starry dark sky marks the beginning of a month of improvement and discipline: the month of Ramadan. Expected to begin on March...

Juniors Jasmine Davis and Haniya Hassan and senior Jana Malek celebrate their win on qualifying for the International conference with their project about pure water filtration in Pakistan.

Virtual Enterprise and Empowering Entrepreneurship Compete at State Career Development Conference

Aditi Salunkhe and Arshia Sista | March 20, 2023

Seniors Jana Malek, Jenny Zhang, Yan Dong and juniors Jasmine Davis and Haniya Hassan from Virtual Enterprise and Empowering Entrepreneurship qualified for the International Career Development Conference...

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