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
Families and friends gather to enjoy the music and entertainment in the main area of the event, “I think the best part is the fact that families and students get to come,” Rodriguez said. “They get to ride around and spend time with either their families or their friends. I think that's really cool.”

Irvine Annual Street Shutdown Brings The Community Together

Nicole Ferguson, Staff Writer | May 13, 2025

The second Irvine Annual Street Shutdown on May 3 closed Campus Drive and University drive from 11am to 4pm, working to connect the community through a celebration of local businesses and art. The event...

To stay motivated while studying, junior Emma Saighani-Mirbaz takes breaks after each unit block she reviews. “This helps prevent burnout and makes it easier to focus, whereas a four-hour session would likely decrease your efficiency,” Saighani-Mirbaz said.

A Look Into How Bulldogs Are Preparing For Their AP Exams

Nicole Lu, Staff Writer | May 13, 2025

With Advanced Placement (AP) exam testing in full swing, students prepare to tackle two weeks of rigorous exams. For many, this means weeks of preparation and countless hours of review to master everything...

Freshman Isaac Chhiv hits a powerful forehand during practice. As one of the only two freshmen on the varsity team, Chhiv brings the energy and competitiveness needed to succeed in higher levels, while simultaneously training for consistency in skill during matches, according to head coach Natasha Schottland. “I've really appreciated seeing that growth from Isaac,” Schottland said. “There are a lot of boys who are at his level or higher, and allowing him to have that competitiveness with them is really important for his growth.”

Meet Freshmen Garran McKay and Isaac Chhiv, the Latest Rising Stars of Boys’ Tennis

Annie Xiao and Suhana Kaur | May 13, 2025

Ranked D1 champions in 2023, Portola High’s boys’ varsity tennis team is at the top of the pack — and this season, two standout freshmen, Isaac Chhiv and Garran McKay, have broken through the...

This year’s out-of-state college fair was planned through careful collaboration between Portola’s college and career department and PTSA to allow students to explore various colleges. “We created some questions that we can have students ask the colleges that come, and the colleges participate by stamping on the little card,” college and career coordinator Monica Yang said. “The more stamps they have, the more prizes they can get. That was a huge success.”

How Planning and Partnership Made Portola’s Out-of-State College Fair Its Most Successful Yet

Dania Yamani | May 12, 2025

What often appears to be a smooth and seamless event, attracting students of all grades with free snacks and merch, is actually the result of extensive planning required to bring Portola High’s out-of-state...

Instrumental Music Director Matthew Distante conducts the Wind Orchestra in a rendition of “At the Strongholds of En Gedi” by David Holsinger, an intense and cinematic traditional composition. During the teaching process, Distante said that he emphasizes three key philosophies when it comes to a successful performance: confidence, preparation and focus. “We teach that a lot, and I think that if students are checking all three of those boxes, that's an absolute success of a performance,” Distante said.

“That’s All, Folks!”: Instrumental Music Department Closes the Year with a Cartoon-Inspired Concert

Annie Xiao, Staff Writer | May 12, 2025

  With animated melodies and a cartoon-inspired theme, the instrumental music department and United Sound club wrapped up the year with their final concert, "That's All, Folks," on May 2 in...

Dance Company members and sophomores Seraphine Chen and Sophie Lai choreograph and perform an emotional duet to the song “Streetcars” by Daniel Caesar. Their graceful, fluid moments paint a picture of agony and longing, wowing the audience.

Dance Department Concludes Year on ‘Bittersweet’ Note with Full Audience

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | May 9, 2025

Flashing lights, silhouettes and moving arms lit up the stage as dancers from all four levels and Dance Company took the spotlight at Portola High’s “Bittersweet” dance concert, which took place...

When Perlman started voicing her experiences to the public, she was motivated as she came to realize the importance of sharing her own wisdom. “I strongly believe we have to tell our story before we die,” Perlman said. “This is what I live for.”

Holocaust Survivor Eva Perlman Shares Experiences With Students

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | May 8, 2025

Holocaust survivor Eva Perlman spoke in the student union during office hours on April 24, providing students with a firsthand account of her life experiences. Students from all grades attended the...

The album cover of “Hope, Alaska” captures Castelli’s grandfather, who moved to Hope as a young man and built a cabin, as pictured in the photo. Though he never met his grandfather, Castelli appreciated the cabin in the woods that he left for his family.

Ralph Castelli’s New Album “Hope, Alaska” Contains Mountains of Emotion

Nicole Lu, Staff Writer | May 8, 2025

Alaska-born and Los Angeles-based alternative indie artist Ralph Castelli released his sophomore album, “Hope, Alaska,” on April 25. The twelve-track record pays tribute to Castelli’s backstory behind...

Seniors Alexia Choi and Kiki Yang discuss the script and blocking positions ahead of the rehearsal. Prioritizing communication was essential to solving any problems that arose in the production process, according to Andrews. “One of the biggest issues we’ve had this year, since the advanced tech classes are split into 4th and 6th period, is that we don’t usually communicate well with each other,” Andrews said. “However, many of the problems that arise can be solved with good communication with all parts. Audio talks with lighting to sync up cues, lighting talks to costumes to make sure colors match, costumes talks to props, etc.”

Honors Tech Theater Springs Into Action For the Senior Play

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | May 8, 2025

Freshmen Hailey Chang, Alex Ding and Edward Hoi pose for a photo after qualifying for national competition by placing within the top four within their respective categories. “There are so many people here, and they all look so professional,” Chang said. “So it was kind of intimidating. But at the same time, after doing FBLA districts and placing in my event, I knew that I had a chance.”

FBLA Students Achieve Competitive Success at State Conference

Sonia Wang | May 7, 2025

Ten students from Portola High’s business program competed in the Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference from April 24-27 in Anaheim. Three freshmen qualified for the National...

Distance runner and sophomore Nick Perez passes the 200-meter mark while running the 800-meter run, speeding up to catch up to and pass two runners.

Track and Field ‘Crosses the Finish Line’ With Their Third Consecutive PCL Win

Kayley Winata and Zoha Syed | May 7, 2025

Track and field wrapped up 2025 with the Pacific Coast League Finals on May 2 at Portola High, where girls’ varsity won their third consecutive league championship title and boys’ varsity placed third.  Bulldogs...

Skateboarding may come as a solo sport for some, but behind most skaters is a story shaped by family, friends and the people they ride with. “The first time I ever tried skateboarding was with some family friends,” sophomore Khonsu Marshall said. “They made doing tricks look so effortless, and that’s what initially drew me to it, despite the fact that most tricks are actually very difficult to learn. I borrowed my first skateboard from the family friends I mentioned before. I’m not sure where they got it from, but the paint splatter design on the back interested me. It was very easy to maneuver, and riding it felt very smooth.”

Concrete Waves: Skateboarders Who Ride the Rhythm of the Streets

Tamara Bradley, Staff Writer | May 6, 2025

 

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