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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

The Black Student Union club puts up a booth during club kickoff on Sept. 21. “When I first came to Portola, I was looking for clubs to join, and I looked at the club list to be a part of something and have a group of people to relate to,” club secretary and senior Jesulayomi Bello said. “I heard they were starting a Black Student Union, and I thought that it would be a lovely way for me to be a part of it.”

First Black Student Union Club on Campus Represents Black Joy and Perseverance

Sidra Asif and Claire Chan | October 20, 2022

Cultural enclaves offer support and union within any environment. Portola High’s population is only 1.2% Black, according to U.S. News, making the first Black Student Union club on campus a remarkable...

Junior Cindy Mei plays a guzheng with her performance group from the Lotus Bud Guzheng Academy. They use guitar picks to pluck the strings and incorporate various techniques seen in other string instruments such as the vibrato, according to Mei. “It's just kind of our tradition,” Mei said. “It's just a great time to perform and hang out at the Global Village Festival afterwards with the rest of my ensemble.”

Volunteers at the 21st Annual Irvine Global Village Festival Facilitate Cultural Activities

Aditi Salunkhe, Staff Writer | October 20, 2022

Thousands of Irvine residents celebrated the city’s 21st annual Global Village Festival on Oct. 8-9 at the Great Park. The two-day event featured music, performances and activities honoring cultures...

During his time at Portola High, mental health specialist Steven Sturm has been a part of school-wide initiatives promoting positive mental health and suicide prevention, while also meeting with individual students in need of mental health support. “I just want to leave an impact on people and help them if they're struggling,” Sturm said. “And that's really what I've developed my career around. And that's what I want to do wherever I go.”

Reflecting and Reminiscing: A Parting Q&A with Mental Health Specialist Steven Sturm

Celine Lee, Co-Editor-in-Chief | October 19, 2022

For mental health specialist Steven Sturm, Oct. 21 will mark the last day of working at Portola High before taking on his new job as an online therapist for young adults with a part of a company employee...

To start off the night of harmonies enlaced with themes of social justice, Canta Bella performed the song “Waiting for the World to Change,” which encapsulated the ways of facing hardships throughout history.

We Are The World: Choir Sings the Past and Present to Call For Social Justice in Fall Vocal Concert

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy and Michael Sun | October 19, 2022

Eloquent poetry and the familiar melody of myriad student voices fill the theater this fall for choir’s “We Are The World” fall vocal concert, which took place on Oct. 5. Highlighting the theme of...

Upcoming College Deadlines

Upcoming College Deadlines

Arshia Sista, Front Page Editor | October 18, 2022

Seniors Rishabh Bajaj, Xasive Espinosa Aldave and Caroline Wang tape posters to the ground in celebration of Homecoming. Spirit Night was inspired by University High’s tradition, according to ASB co-adviser Kate Avery.

First Homecoming Spirit Night Begins Week-Long Homecoming Festivities

Cara Chan and Madeline Chung | October 17, 2022

The first Homecoming Spirit Night on Oct. 10 kicked off a week-long celebration leading up to Homecoming on Oct. 15. Students volunteered to decorate the campus inspired by this year’s horror movie Homecoming...

Red lanterns hang in the air to represent the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Now that Lunar New Year is recognized as an optional state holiday, workers are granted eight hours of free time to celebrate.

Newsom Passes Bill That Recognizes Lunar New Year as State Holiday

Claire Chan, Staff Writer | October 14, 2022

Lunar New Year is now being recognized as a California state holiday. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 2596 on Sept. 29 to represent the diverse communities that currently reside in California.  Many...

New Assistant Principal is Full of Bulldog PRIDE for his New Job

New Assistant Principal is Full of Bulldog PRIDE for his New Job

Tara Vatandoust, A&E Editor | October 12, 2022

Portola High is a campus of leaders. From student advocates to teachers who start initiatives for better educational opportunities, every corner of campus has something special to offer. For new assistant...

Mental health specialist Maureen Muir plans upcoming activities to grow her LGBTQ+ community support group to be district-wide. “There's a lot of ways that this position can expand, and I'm really excited,” Muir said. “I'm so grateful to have been given this opportunity for this position.”

Mental Health Specialist Maureen Muir Leaves Portola for a New District Job

Aditi Salunkhe, Staff Writer | October 11, 2022

After seven years of counseling at Portola High, mental health specialist Maureen Muir officially moved to the IUSD district office on Sept. 26 for a new job focusing on LGBTQ+ community support. During...

All registered voters are allowed to vote in the midterm elections by mail-in ballot rather than attending the elections polls on Nov. 8. Voters who vote by mail must make sure that their County elections office receives their ballots no later than seven days past Election Day, according to the California Secretary of State office.

California Voters Will Receive Mail-In Ballots by Oct. 10 For the Midterm Election

Celine Lee and Maya Tedini | September 30, 2022

Election officials will send out mail-in ballots to 22 million registered voters in California by Oct. 10 in accordance with the midterm election on Nov. 8. California voters will make decisions on...

Fashion Institute of Technology fashion club president and senior Kori Martinez and vice president and senior Paola Morales interact with passing students to promote their club. Sponsored by FIDM, the clubs purpose is to get people into fashion and teach the basics of sewing, according to Martinez.

One Hundred Fifty-Two Clubs Gather at Two-Day Club Kickoff Event

Jana Malek and Gwyneth Yung | September 27, 2022

The annual club Kick-off took place on Sept. 21 and 23. Clubs took the opportunity to gain new members and showcase the passions of the current members.  Each club was assigned a table according...

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