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

Students in the Portobellas a cappella group hold practices every Friday during office hours and are currently practicing “Waiting for the World to Change” by John Mayer. Before each rehearsal, the group members warm up their voices with singing exercises in a semicircle. Instead of a conductor, the group snaps fingers to keep time, according to junior Nithila Francis.

From Soprano to Bass, Meet Portola’s Student-Directed A Cappella Group: the Portobellas

Mia Jong and Sonia Wang | September 21, 2022

Velvety tones and warm harmonies fill the room, intertwining to create colorfully complex melodies. The music swells and tumbles, leaving a crescendo of shimmering notes lingering in the air.  These...

Many school libraries exclude banned books in their availability of books, specifically books featuring minority groups like POC and LGBTQ+ communities according to PEN America.

Banned Books Negatively Impact Representation

Arshia Sista and Sonia Wang | September 20, 2022

From being sucked into the adventures through time and space of Madeleine L'Engle’s “A Wrinkle in Time” to dipping into the pool with summer reads like Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone With the Wind,”...

Sophomore Joanna Peng admires the sleek, modern design of iPhones. “I am a fan of Apple because of its simple and very beautiful design,” Peng said.

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About the Release of Apple’s New Product Lineup

Aditi Salunkhe | September 19, 2022

Apple’s new product lineup launched on Sept. 7 with the tagline “Far Out,” revealing the iPhone 14 series, which includes the iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.  Apple also announced...

Senior Anne Yang winds up her serve during an after-school practice session. Yang typically spends two-to-three hours a day practicing in order to prepare herself for regular tournaments, alternating between private and group practice sessions.

Senior Anne Yang ‘Serves’ up Success as She Commits to Brown for Tennis

Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editor | September 16, 2022

High school athletes across the country practice hours every day with the hopes of one day making it to the top of their sports. Others spend hours locked in their rooms studying in the hopes of one day...

Seniors Danae Dang and Katherine Martinez write positive expressions on sticky notes on Sept. 8 for students struggling with mental health. The post-it notes will be put up in the counseling building to collectively form a heart, with the hope that they will help someone in need, according to Hope Squad co-adviser Maureen Muir.

Hope Squad Invites The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to Raise Mental Health Awareness On Campus for Suicide Prevention Week

Arnav Chandan | September 14, 2022

Hope Squad hosted its fifth annual Suicide Prevention week activities outside the counseling office during lunch on Sept. 6 and 8. This year, for the first time in the event’s history, Hope Squad invited...

Students walking or biking home from school often had the sun directly on their faces, and temperatures regularly exceeded one hundred degrees throughout the school day, according to CNN. In the future, there are many actions students can take to reduce the frequency of heat waves and stay cool. Taking initiative by voting for climate policies and ensuring that one is hydrated are two easy steps for students, according to science teacher Leanne Lupone.

Record-Setting California Heatwave Disrupts School Activities

Mia Jong and Tara Vatandoust | September 12, 2022

Cancellations and rescheduling of school activities both came into play as one of California's hottest heat waves impacted Irvine residents from Aug. 30 to Sept. 10, according to ABC. Temperatures climbed...

“Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” Netflixs latest hit from Korea, held the No. 1 spot for six weeks for non-English series, according to Deadline.

K-Drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” Takes Meaningful Steps Towards Autism Representation in Mainstream Media

Skyller Liu and Parmin Zamani | September 9, 2022

Amassing 77.4 million hours viewed on Netflix in a single week, “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” captured the world’s attention with its thoughtful portrayal of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.  The...

Korean pop girl group TWICE performs “Scientist” at the Dickies Arena in Texas during the TWICE Fourth World Tour “III” in February. Over the past few years, K-pop has become an international sensation. TWICE is the first K-pop girl group to headline and sell out a U.S. stadium.

We ‘Talk That Talk’ About these Summer K-pop Releases

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy and Cara Chan | September 7, 2022

What do “Red Flavor,” “Alcohol-Free” and “Ko Ko Bop” have in common? For avid Korean pop fans, the answer is clear: all were iconic summer K-pop songs. With the intense heat that we are facing...

Kody Lin Finds her Voice in the Realm of Musical Theater

Kody Lin Finds her Voice in the Realm of Musical Theater

Kayleen Kim, Opinion Editor | June 1, 2022

When it comes down to bright lights and a belting singing style, Canta Bella singer and sophomore Kody Lin, a musical theater fanatic, moves through her journey as a singer with a unique voice in musical...

Physics teacher Ryan Johnson reads a poem from his phone at an open mic in Long Beach. “For me, its a way of noticing the beauty in everyday life that I, for whatever reason, think that people arent already describing as beautiful,” Johnson said.

Creativity in STEM: Ryan Johnson’s Journey with Poetry

Clara Ferreira Lopes and Zara Shirwany | June 1, 2022

At first glance, physics may seem purely fact- and data-based, but physics teacher Ryan Johnson’s poetry proves otherwise. You may walk into his classroom to find him demonstrating the laws of force...

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