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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

Olivia Rodrigo released her second album, “Guts,” on Sept. 8. She is the youngest artist to debut three number 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, according to Variety Magazine.

Enchanting Echoes: Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Guts’ Unveils a Melodic Journey of Courage and Connection

Elizabeth Gao, Staff Writer | September 18, 2023

Prepare to be captivated by Olivia Rodrigo's sophomore album, "Guts," which came out on Sept. 8. This mesmerizing musical journey showcases her artistic progress and reveals a brave vulnerability that...

Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey’s second studio album “Bewitched” takes listeners on an utterly dreamlike poetic sonic experience through love and loss. The entire album is a practically perfect collection of “Alice in Wonderland” references, ethereal imagery, romantic fantasies of dancing in the streets and the word “melancholy.”

Laufey’s Latest Album has ‘Bewitched’ Us Right ‘From the Start’

Tara Vatandoust, Editor-in-Chief | September 18, 2023

Icelandic singer-songwriter Laufey waved her magic wand and revealed “Bewitched,” her second studio album at the stroke of midnight on Sept. 8. Described by Laufey as a “love album,” the serotonin-infused...

Students would benefit greatly from mental health days, which gives students time to relieve their stress and enjoy themselves. Mental health is just as important as physical health, and Portola High should encourage this idea among students through a newly-implemented system similar to Northwood High’s “State of the Student” day.

School-Wide Mental Health Days Should be Adopted

Madeline Chung and Elise Ngo | June 2, 2023

Feeling burnt out, hopeless and discouraged. As stress and anxiety continue to overwhelm high schoolers, the idea of schools offering mental health days is as appealing as ever. Portola High should...

Jake (senior Nick Nieto) defends himself to his bandmates when they confront him over his addiction, which has been a continuing problem throughout his life.

Seniors’ Last Play is Anything but a ‘One Hit Wonder’

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | June 2, 2023

The seniors took their final bows for their last performance at Portola High as the audience broke into thunderous applause. Honors Theater Ensemble, an all senior class, put on a self-written play,...

Physical education teacher and assistant football coach Desmond Hernandez attempts a golf course on a summer trip to Hawaii in 2019. Sports such as golf have helped Hernandez stay disciplined and develop a structured routine for staying active, according to Hernandez.

Jacks of All Trades: Talented Teachers Take on Multiple Sports

Madeline Chung | June 1, 2023

Mastering a sport can require years of practice and dedication, yet these teachers are aces in a plethora of different sports. With extensive athletic backgrounds, they have tested both their physical...

Junior Yasmine Cheng first designed the senior mural by hand for the Class of 2024, which represents birds soaring over the sky. “I was just thinking of being free, being independent, choosing your own path, and when we leave high school, we basically can set our own course,” Cheng said. “I was trying to draw this piece and how I reflected on my past few years at this school.”

Soaring over the Sky: Junior Yasmine Cheng Creates Senior Mural for Class of 2024

Arshia Sista and Shaina Taebi | June 1, 2023

  Painted across from the ASB classroom is the senior mural for the class of 2023. Every year, this standing mural is repainted to honor and represent the graduating class. Now, as the year approaches...

Sophomore Lulu Zhao, junior Natalie Song, junior Jawad Khadra and sophomore Jimin Han received the CTE Bulldog Excellence Awards, which is granted to students who demonstrate PRIDE values while taking advantage of opportunities to pursue their career interests, according to the Bulldog Excellence Award pamphlet.

Jadyn Zdanavage Named Bulldog of the Year at Annual Bulldog Awards Ceremony

Skyller Liu and Arshia Sista | May 30, 2023

Wrapping up a year of accomplishment, achievement and success, the annual Bulldog Excellence and Senior Award ceremonies recognized Bulldogs who consistently represented PRIDE values and academic...

The front of the gallery displayed paintings and sketches from Portola High students. Teachers from each school in Irvine Unified selected a few students’ artwork for awards. “I think it's just a huge honor to be able to now say that I have some students whose artwork has been shown in the museum,” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said.

Portola High Hosts Inaugural District Honors Art Show

Ruhi Samudra and Parmin Zamani | May 30, 2023

Students from across the district filled the Student Union with excitement and awe, showing off sketches and paintings to their families. Boundless creativity among students in grades pre-K-to-12 sparked...

Among the many new gameplay mechanics introduced to “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom” by the Zonai Devices, the “ultrahand” and “fuse” abilities rely on the player’s ingenuity in crafting.

‘Tears of the Kingdom’ is a Crowning Achievement for the Zelda Series with a ‘Master-Handful’ of New Content to Explore

Tyler Kim and Skyller Liu | May 26, 2023

The Game Award winner for Video Game of the Year. SXSW winner for Excellence in Design. Golden Joystick winner for Best Audio. The preceding list, while seemingly vast, is just a fraction of the many...

Online marketplaces have been steadily accelerating in scope, with over 431.4 billion dollars worth of sales being on the internet in 2022, according to Forbes. Despite seeming like a positive, this shift has caused innumerable destruction to physical stores.

Brick and Mortar Stores Should Remain a Staple of the Consumer Model

Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editor | May 26, 2023

Party City. The Disney Store. Toys “R” Us. What do these stores all have in common? They all fell victim to the epidemic of online shopping: their physical locations removed, their operations reduced...

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