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 Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” came out in theaters on Nov. 17 featuring a young and ambitious Coriolanus Snow in the defining moments of his life. Viewers watch throughout the film as Snow progresses from a relatively innocent student to a cunning, driven person that goes on to become the despotic leader from the original films.

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Review: A Compelling and Thought-Provoking Prequel

Parmin Zamani, News Editor | November 29, 2023

Katniss Everdeen. Peeta Mellark. Haymitch Abernathy. Finnick Odair.  These are some of the many characters “Hunger Games” fans know and love from the books and movies released around a decade ago....

Senior Belan Ngo reorganizes necklaces in the accessory section at Brandy Melville. “I just got a promotion, and now I'm the accessories manager, so basically I merchandise and market all the jewelry items, and I'm in charge of making sure everything looks good,” Ngo said.

‘Working’ It: Meet the Bulldogs Who Have Jobs

Camille Clement and Nina Krish | November 29, 2023

From serving customers food to tutoring students, let's dive into the jobs of Portola High students, balancing work and school. Belan Ngo As a freshman, senior Belan Ngo was scouted by Brandy Melville...

Interact Club member and junior Sofia Ionescu braids bicolored ribbons into a lei, a Polynesian garland traditionally made out of flowers. Project Hope Alliance, an organization dedicated to helping homeless youth, used proceeds from the lei making to support their cause. Club members were able to gain volunteer hours in exchange for their participation in various charity activities.

Interact Club Steps Up in Annual Hearts and Hands Event

Marianne Chan, Photo Editor | November 29, 2023

The Interact Club volunteered at the Newport Beach Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the annual Hearts and Hands community service day on Nov. 18. The club chose to participate in the...

Remaining steadfast in their friendship, seniors Jamie Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong are looking forward to completing their last year stunting together with the same bond they created over ten years ago. “When we started cheering, we actually requested if we could be on the same team just so we were comfortable in a new sport,” Tabayoyong said. “We wanted to have some grounding, something that we could hold on to, something that we knew that was familiar.”

Duo Jamie Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong Bond Through Gymnastics and Cheer

Hannah Ko and Stephanie Hwang | November 27, 2023

Bonded together by a tight-knit friendship and two acrobatic sports, seniors Jaime Lin and Ashley Tabayoyong foster a unique connection forged over ten years through gymnastics and cheer. Their friendship...

The sense of accomplishment that students feel after receiving a ticket pushes them to be better. “The fact that people acknowledge their good deeds and give them credit for it makes students want to be even better in order to receive more attention,” according to junior Madison Lee.

Person of Ticket: Why PRIDE Tickets Should Be Digitized

Stephanie Hwang, Assistant News Editor | November 27, 2023

Apart from nominating students for a pizza lunch each semester, teachers can also acknowledge good behavior on the spot: PRIDE tickets. Created by the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS)...

Skilled trade workers at the San Diego State University march across campus, conveying their frustrations with wages and the salary pay structure, according to KPBS.

Cal State Skilled Trade Workers Strike Across All 23 Campuses for Higher Salaries

Nina Krish and Elise Ngo | November 21, 2023

One thousand one hundred skilled trade workers participated in a one-day strike across all California State University (CSU) campuses on Tuesday, Nov. 14 to protest against stalled contract negotiations...

Poor air quality from the fire caused multiple schools in Tustin to shut down temporarily. "Nobody wants to close schools,'' vice president of the Tustin Unified School Board Allyson Muniz Damikolas said in a statement released to ABC News. "I want schools opened as fast as possible and as safely as possible.”

Tustin’s Historic World War II North Hangar Burns Down

Aditi Salunkhe, Assistant Sports Editor | November 21, 2023

A fire broke out in Tustin’s North Hangar on Nov. 7. Firefighters initially attempted to put out the flames, but the sheer size of the building made the task too dangerous, so a controlled burn was implemented...

Senior Mathias Lee (fifth from left) gathers at the retirement ceremony of his uncle HeeWoon Yoon (thirteenth from left) with his family to celebrate Yoon’s tumultuous journey as a veteran and commitment to defending the country in the Marine Corps.

Fighting for Freedom: Honor the Brave Heroes Among the Community

Camille Clement and Madeline Chung | November 21, 2023

As Americans honor the bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women on Veterans Day, these Portola High students provide insight into what it is like having a relative in the military, expressing...

Senior Anusha Namburu and senior Haniya Hassaan eat chicken biryani at the Diwali party hosted by the South Asian Student Association “The festivities are associated with firecrackers or explosions that only happen once a year and are often hallmarks of our childhood,” Portola High SASA club outreach director and senior Amogh Baddam said. “We’re just seeing everybody celebrate our culture and having fun together in traditional clothes.”

South Asian Student Association Hosts 7th Annual Diwali Party

Aditi Salunkhe and Sonia Wang | November 20, 2023

Two hundred seventy five high school students attended South Asian Student Association’s (SASA) annual Diwali party on Friday, Nov. 10 at the Pools Park. To celebrate, students wore traditional Indian...

Canta Bella was the second choir to perform on stage. Amongst other great performances of the night, some audience highlights included a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” by Irvine Singers of Irvine High, and University High Madrigals’ performance of “Tchaka” by Syndney Guillaume.

Canta Bella Hits a High Note at IUSD Choral Festival

Tyler Kim, Co-Editor-in-Chief | November 18, 2023

The voice is a versatile instrument; it can cover the entire spectrum of human emotions. Whether it conveys the dream of a child or a tribute to a jazz legend, regardless of enhancement by the classic...

The Irvine Unified Board of Education heard public comments on whether to ban LGBTQ+ flags in its most recent meeting on Oct. 7. “This meeting being perhaps an eye opening moment for students and teachers alike to realize, ‘Wow, there are still a lot of prejudices and misunderstandings about the LGBTQ community,’ and we should talk about that to move forward,” English teacher Doris Schlothan said. “But in terms of coming back to this flag policy, I think [this conversation] is done.”

IUSD Board Meeting Calls Into Question LGBTQ+ Flag Presence in Classrooms

Kayleen Kim and Ruhi Samudra | November 17, 2023

During the Nov. 7 board meeting, the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) Board of Education heard public comments regarding a potential policy that would ban the LGBTQ+ flag from all classrooms,...

Though critics argue that daylight saving harms students’ health and makes them more tired, proponents say that it actually pushes students to be more productive by giving them more time.

Is Daylight Savings Truly Necessary?

November 17, 2023

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