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
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...

Mid-autumn festival volunteer and sophomore Nollie Chen passes out Pocky snacks to festival attendees. “It’s important for these cultural events that bring people together to have food, not just as an incentive to come together but as something to bond over,” Chen said. “For a lot of people, food is culture, and it’s what brings people together.”

Guests ‘Moon’ Over Culture at the Great Park Mid-Autumn Festival

Alice Ahn and Kayley Winata | October 9, 2023

Friends and family gathered in the Great Park to celebrate East and Southeast Asian culture and tradition at the City of Irvine’s Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept. 29. Local sponsors and organizations...

Junior Vivian Lu reads three original poems as part of the Kenyon Young Writers Workshop, located at Kenyon College. Lu is interested in creative writing and English literature and hopes to expand these interests in her ancient literature club, which she started this year.

Is There Such a Thing as ‘Talent’? Portola High’s Top Achievers Answer

Michael Sun, Assistant Arts and Entertainment Editor | October 6, 2023

It is unsurprising to many that Portola High’s student body is not average. With many students matriculating to top-ranked universities each year, such as the Ivy League, according to Naviance, there...

Dance and French teacher Megan Kirby instructs Dance 1 students on the proper form and technique of pique turns. “There's a lot of learning from mistakes involved and developing skill[s] and having a growth mindset,” Kirby said.

French Teacher Megan Kirby ‘Turns’ to the Dance Studio

Mary Lee and Aditi Salunkhe | October 5, 2023

When dance and French teacher Megan Kirby began her career at Portola High in 2016, her classes mainly consisted of VAPA-related courses: French 1, Dance 1, Technical Theater and Drama 1. However, she...

Chao spikes and attacks the ball down and scores a point in the second set with an assist from setter and junior Lana Nguyen. The girls will next play at Woodbridge High on Oct. 5.

Girls’ Volleyball Concludes Pre-League Season in Landslide Win Against Laguna Hills High

Nina Krish | October 4, 2023

Noah Paniagua and Shion Homma, the drum major and assistant drum major respectively, share jokes with one another during their break. Paniagua said that being a member of a marching band has been a lifelong dream of his. “I just grew up always wanting to be a part of a marching band, so I came into high school and joined the marching band, always trying to look for a leadership role,” Paniagua said. “Whether I’m the section leader or the drum major, I always wanted to see what I could do.”

Conducting Success: Meet Drum Major Noah Paniagua

Tyler Kim, Co-Editor-in-Chief | October 3, 2023

A wicker hat, a Pride of Portola jacket and two gloves. That’s all that drum major and senior Noah Paniagua needs in order to conduct, lead and direct over 100 students in the Portola High Marching Band....

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