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
Attacker and junior Ryder Tonkovich cocks his arm to score a point against Long Beach Poly High in the second quarter. The Bulldogs’ win against the Jackrabbits added to their long list of victories this season, allowing them to build their momentum and confidence, according to head boys’ water polo coach Kate Avery. “We have been playing some good teams and we've come out on top, which is great,” Avery said. “Our offense is looking really good. Our defense has been looking fine. We can always improve there. We are a defensive-minded team anyways.”

Boys’ Water Polo Dominates Their Game Against Long Beach Poly High

Sonia Wang and Mia Jong | September 28, 2023

Boys’ water polo (9-1) won 12-4 at its recent match against Long Beach Polytechnic High on Sept. 19. The Bulldogs’ next game will be a league match against University High on Oct. 3. The Bulldogs...

Math and computer science teacher Ran Gu debugs code alongside senior Vishak Iyer, who just began learning the computer programming language Python. Gu said his move to Portola was driven by his love for teaching computer science, as funding a computer science course is difficult at a middle school.

Math and Computer Science Teacher Ran Gu Graduates With His Jeffrey Trail Students

Cindy Mei and Maya Tedini | September 27, 2023

Graduation is a symbol of experience and ambition. Math and computer science teacher Ran Gu’s transition from teaching at Jeffrey Trail Middle School to Portola High is reflective of this tradition. Over...

These are images of Wang’s draft for the unnamed main character of her game. The character will be able to change forms in order to solve different puzzles.

Portola High Students’ Summer Projects Display Their Coding Passions

Stephanie Hwang, Assistant News Editor | September 26, 2023

Over the summer, Portola High students channeled their passion for coding into personal projects. Some, such as sophomores Siyou Wang and Mylyn Zheng, created a 2D puzzle video game, while others, like...

Co-captain and senior Michelle Moon extends her driver backwards in order to achieve optimal yardage on her swing at hole six.

Girls’ Golf Clinches 202-311 Victory in Match Against Laguna Hills High

Marianne Chan | September 26, 2023

Girls' golf (3-3) won against Laguna Hills High with a total score of 202-311 in a home match taking place at Rancho San Joaquin on Sept. 20. The next match is scheduled for Sept. 28 against Woodbridge...

Senior class council practices their halftime show dance on the evening of Sept. 20. The builds seen in the background are a new concept, according to ASB adviser Kate Avery. “I will say none of the work is easy, but what was helpful is we have people like our senior president and VP and our junior President and VP,” Avery said. “They were all in ASB last year, and so they kind of understood what the expectation was, what the builds should look like and what we need going into them.”

A Behind the Scenes Look at the ‘Epic Adventure’ of the Homecoming Halftime Show

Ruhi Samudra and Shaina Taebi | September 25, 2023

In preparation for the Homecoming football game on Sept. 22 and the dance on Sept. 23, ASB and class council members choreographed dances, made boards for the performance and decorated corners of the school...

Portola High should bring back the old pep rally schedule to reduce student confusion and maximize efficiency. 48 of 60 students polled on Instagram voted they preferred the old pep rally schedule over the new schedule.

Bring Back Our ‘Pep’ with the Old Pep Rally Schedule

Parmin Zamani and Jordan Hata | September 22, 2023

Starting in the 2023 to 2024 school year, Portola High administration has adopted a new pep rally schedule involving two assemblies to accommodate the near 10 percent increase in the student body, according...

Math teacher Shelley Godett discusses a warm-up question with her Period 7 AP Precalculus class. Students learn about the fundamentals of polynomial and rational functions during the first unit of the course.

New AP Precalculus Class Replaces Enhanced Math 3 and Honors Precalculus

Madeline Chung and Camille Clement | September 22, 2023

Portola High administration implemented AP Precalculus, the College Board's new national curriculum, in place of the Honors Precalculus and Enhanced Math III courses starting in the 2023 to 2024 school...

Taylor Swift fans anxiously await her arrival at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, eager to see the renowned artist perform songs from all of her “Eras,” or albums. “Truly, my best friend and I were joking that ‘this is the best time of my life,’” visual arts teacher Kearci Thompson said. “Besides our wedding, tied with our wedding! It was just so much fun.”

Highly Anticipated Summer Concerts Captivate Lifelong Fans of Drake and Taylor Swift

Elise Ngo and Nina Krish | September 21, 2023

As the stage lights illuminate, the audience swells with anticipation. The world fades into the background as backup dancers pour onto the stage and the audience is swept into a whirlwind of electrifying...

Teacher librarian Amber Linehan holds up a copy of “Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner, which she picked up in a book club. “I know that some of the students are reading memoirs right now, and a lot of kids came in asking for recommendations,” Linehan said. “And I’d say, ‘Crying in H Mart’ is one of my favorite memoirs.”

Meet Portola High’s Newest Book Fanatic: Teacher Librarian Amber Linehan

Elizabeth Gao and Michael Sun | September 20, 2023

Books, books and more books. All her life, recently hired teacher librarian Amber Linehan has been fascinated with the adventures of each new literary exploration, whether it be coaching students’...

Right after Spain’s historic victory at the World Cup, former RFEF President Luis Rubiales unconsensually kissed player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. “I felt vulnerable and a victim of an impulse-driven, sexist, out of place act without any consent on my part,” Hermoso said in a statement on Instagram. “Simply put, I was not respected.”

How the Hermoso Incident Revealed the Innate Misogyny in the RFEF

Maitri Allani and Claire Chan | September 19, 2023

Imagine the joy of winning the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in your country’s history. A crowd of 75,784 people cheering as you accept your trophy. This moment was supposed to be one of...

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...

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