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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

True crime is not for everyone. “Most forms of true crime media portray the criminal as the monster and paint a picture of what the victims experienced,” senior Garance Ha said. “There is nothing they can really change. I believe that it’s up to the audience to take the signs and the little warnings as a sign to remain cautious and vigilant.”

Hollywood is Blinded by Money — The Rise of True Crime

Kayla Moshayedi, Media Director | April 13, 2022

With the AP Language and Composition class rounding out its unit on true crime and shows like “The Dropout” and “The Tinder Swindler” arriving on streaming services, it is clear that the true crime...

Both chicken meals from Dave’s Hot Chicken and Raising Cane’s contain chicken tenders, crinkle-cut fries and toasted bread. Chick-fil-A has a more unique side of waffle fries and their signature dipping sauce.

Battle of the Chickens

Grace Baek and Erin Choi | April 12, 2022

What is your go-to fast food restaurant for the best chicken? We decided to review three of the most popular— Dave’s Hot Chicken, Raising Cane’s and Chick-fil-A— to compare the taste and value....

The cover photo for collaborative single, “Will You Be My Light Switch,” by seniors Jaden Path and Puneet Singh features a dark silhouette of Singh creating a heart with her hands under a starry night sky at Joshua Tree National Park. “I was showing him some of my other pictures, and he really liked that one,” Singh said. “And honestly, I really liked it too, because I feel like the vibes of the picture were correct for the song.”

Seniors Jaden Path and Puneet Singh ‘Switch’ Things up with Recent Single

Lauren Hsu and Celine Lee | April 12, 2022

“And I said it all before; in a heartbeat, I’ll be yours,” a soft voice croons. The beat intensifies, gradually speeding up and growing louder. The melodic synthesizers hum low in the background...

Assistant softball coach Jamie Gilbert and head softball coach Chloe Gilbert discuss the girls’ softball team’s defense as the team prepares to practice fielding on March 31. “Both of our coaches are very passionate about what they do,” senior Alexa Becerra said. “They’re both very strict, but they both have a very funny and charismatic personality, and it makes us all want to have more fun.”

Inseparable: The Story of Sisters and Softball Coaches Chloe and Jamie Gilbert

Nate Taylor and Justin Tang | April 11, 2022

As the sun beats down on a dusty softball field, players gather after warming up and donning their gear in the dugout. A long and physically demanding practice awaits them. Yet with the dynamic duo of...

One of the Oscars’ most definitive characteristics is its rule of only allowing films with at least a limited Los Angeles theater release, according to the official website. However, with the rise of streaming upon us, online streaming originals from the likes of Netflix and Hulu have gradually gained traction among the public, with Apple TV+ specifically nabbing its first Best Picture trophy this year with “CODA.”

2022 Academy Awards Leave us Wondering if the Future of the Oscars Might Stray Too Close to ‘Nightmare Alley’ or Soar above the Sand ‘Dunes’

Tara Vatandoust, Staff Writer | April 1, 2022

Once a year, Hollywood’s elite gather in the Dolby Theatre to celebrate contributions to the world of film. However, beneath the glitzy Versace gowns and the elusive golden envelopes lie a series of...

While breaking news may grip you with fear of catastrophic thoughts that leads to endless checking of news, it is important to remind ourselves that news coverage is purposefully written in a more tense way at times. “You have to understand that what you're consuming is a product that's sold by a company that has an agenda,” senior Adam Mabsout said. “And that agenda does not align with your best interest, so you have to take that into account whenever you consume news.”

When the News Gets Overwhelming, It’s Okay to Take a Break

Grace Baek and Tyler Kim | April 1, 2022

You know it when it happens. The sensation of receiving a barrage of alerts and texts following yet another overwhelmingly tragic news event has become cemented in the public consciousness. Particularly...

S2 Episode 04: Women's Rights: Exploring Feminism during Women’s History Month

S2 Episode 04: Women’s Rights: Exploring Feminism during Women’s History Month

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Nnzg5xzIuwATbg26PHGAs?si=c6505e39ec194587 To celebrate Women’s History Month, host Ryan Jung joins speakers Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, Claudia Lin, Shaina Taebi and Tara...

Senior and midfielder Dyaln Quant, along with his teammates, tries to secure possession of the ball for the Bulldogs before sprinting toward the Trojan’s goal.

Boys’ Lacrosse Succumbs to University High in 5-16 Shocker

Clara Ferreira Lopes and Aadi Mehta | March 30, 2022

Boys’ lacrosse (2-4) lost 5-16 to University High on March 23 at home: a game that was intended to be a well-fought win for the team, according to assistant coach Matthew McCarthy. The team defeated...

Disney through the Decades student and senior Desmond Wong is all smiles as he reads a book on Disney history and diversity to enhance his learning of the inclusivity unit. This follows an in-class watch of Pixar’s latest film, titled ‘Turning Red,’ to learn about the Disney company’s new approach to diversity.

How Portola High’s Passion Courses Redefine Interactive Learning

Tara Vatandoust, Staff Writer | March 29, 2022

Social studies “passion” elective courses. These courses have been designed to allow students to pursue their interests through unorthodox approaches and have fun learning about subjects they are genuinely...

Advanced choir and symphonic orchestra perform all ten movements of “Eternal Light: A Requiem” by Howard Goodall. Rehearsals of the piece were broken down into segments to aid performers with the choir singing in irregular rhythms in Latin, according to Canta Bella member and sophomore Kody Lin.

Choir is Even ‘Stronger Together’ After Performing 40-Minute Requiem

Tara Vatandoust, Staff Writer | March 25, 2022

After three months of practice, the choir program reached the culmination of its hard work with 90 minutes of pure, choral harmony. Portola High held the “Stronger Together” concert on March 18 at...

When senior Juli Epps originally came up with the tattoo idea, she envisioned the flowers separately, but after discussing what she wanted with her tattoo artist, he designed the flowers into a bouquet. “At first I was just thinking three separate flowers,” Epps said. “But he arranged them in a bouquet, and I liked that.”

Flowers for Family: Senior Honors Generations with Tattoo

Clara Ferreira Lopes and Zara Shirwany | March 24, 2022

Orange marigold for October, delicate daffodil for April, morning glory for February and the peaceful poppy for August all intertwine to form a bouquet of endearment.  Senior Juli Epps, who turned...

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