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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

How to Get Free COVID-19 Home Tests

How to Get Free COVID-19 Home Tests

Michelle Kim, Business Manager | February 16, 2022

Students assemble in a line in front of the mini coffee shop. The coffee shop offered many options such as hot chocolate, and the crowd favorite, Affogato, which one of three people at the dance ordered, according to the barista.

Winter Formal Returns ‘A Night Under the Stars’

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, Centerspread Editor | February 16, 2022

Winter formal on Feb 5. in Hangar 21 marked the first winter dance since the COVID-19 outbreak. Over 500 students danced the night away under the twinkling of the dangling string lights within star-themed...

Americans are expected to spend a total of $6.2 billion on jewelry for Valentine’s Day this year, a significant increase from $4.1 billion in 2021, according to the National Retail Foundation.

Are You Breaking Bank on Valentine’s Day? That’s Heartbreaking

Cara Chan, Assistant Features Editor | February 14, 2022

Store shelves are decked out in pastels of pink, red and white. Stocked to the brim with chocolates, candy, flowers and cards, it is easy to tell that Valentine’s Day is here. Americans spend hundreds...

At the bar set to 6-foot-1, senior Aryan Shrivastava practiced solidifying his movement for a jump event that took place on Jan 29. During the event, Shrivastava jumped a personal record of 6-foot 5 and is expecting to compete again in a dual meet against Woodbridge High and Laguna Hills High on the track on March 1.

Senior Aryan Shrivastava Commits to Jumping New Heights at UChicago

Bia Shok, Co-News Editor | February 14, 2022

Using only his own body, momentum and mind, he launches his body into the air and maneuvers his position above the set bar. Over the past four years, senior Aryan Shrivastava has used his knowledge...

Apart from immersing students in the world of imagination, reading can also prepare students for real-world situations. “You take away certain themes and lessons from books, and even if they’re not kids’ moral books, they help you prepare for certain things in life,” senior Aarushi Shankar said. “I get a lot more lessons from books than I do from other places.”

A Novel Idea: ‘Reading Days’ Could Give Students Chance to Disconnect

Sidra Asif and Justin Tang | February 8, 2022

Schoolwork. Social media. Friends. Family. In the constant and chaotic whirlwind of high school life, it is difficult for students to factor self-care into their schedules. Even the simple act of reading...

 Offensive midfielder and freshman Jenna Verplancke takes possession of the ball, blocking a pass from the Trojans. Eventually, Verplancke was able to bring the ball near the goal of the Bulldogs’ side of the field but failed to additionally score during the second half.

Girls’ Soccer Ties While Maintaining First-Place in League

Claudia Lin and Bia Shok | February 7, 2022

Girls’ soccer (6-1-2) tied 1-1 against University High in the stadium on Jan. 21, following a win against Laguna Hills High on Jan. 19. Their next game is scheduled to take place at Great Park Field...

Senior Joel Ong engages in hand fighting and wrist control to set up a shot after getting one point from escape.

Wrestling Faces Crushing Defeat against Laguna Hills High

Martin Yoon, Staff Writer | February 7, 2022

Wrestling (3-3) faced a crushing defeat (6-75) to Laguna Hills High in the gym on Jan. 20 after winning against University High. The next match is against Laguna Hills High on Feb. 5; both teams will compete...

Midfielder and sophomore Aaron Sato attempts to block the opponent after a throw-in from Laguna Hills High.

Boys’ Soccer Barely Misses its Goal against Laguna Hills High

Cara Chan and Arnav Chandan | February 2, 2022

Boys’ soccer (6-7-3) lost 0-1 against Laguna Hills High on Jan. 19 in the stadium. The match was its seventh league game, making the team fifth in the Pacific Coast League overall. Their next game...

It’s Time to Throw Out the Rotten Tomatoes

It’s Time to Throw Out the Rotten Tomatoes

Tyler Kim and Tara Vatandoust | January 24, 2022

It shines at the end of nearly every critically-acclaimed movie trailer. You can spot it on the posters of movies on your watchlist, sticking out like a sore thumb, surrounded by film awards and nominations....

Rams fans cheer in SoFi Stadium after their team scores a touchdown against the Cardinals on Jan. 17 in the wild-card round. The Rams won the game with a score of 34-11 and will face the Buccaneers in Tampa Bay on Jan. 23 in the divisional round.  Senior Maanas Kollegal, who is a Rams season ticket holder, attended the game with his family.

L.A. Rams, Packers, Chiefs, Buccaneers and More Set to Square Off in NFL Divisional Round Playoffs

Aadi Mehta, Staff Writer | January 21, 2022

The playoff picture has been set with week 18 wrapping up the 2021 NFL regular season. 12 out of the 14 playoff teams competed in Wild-Card Weekend from Jan. 15-17, and two out of the six winners will...

Health assistant Mike Byer organizes student files at the health office. On their fifth day of quarantine, students can take a rapid COVID-19 test. If the results are negative, they may return in-person the next school day; however, if the results are positive, they must stay home the full duration of their 14-day quarantine, according to school nurse James Matejcek.

‘Will IUSD Close Schools? Will Winter Formal be Cancelled?’ – Answering Your COVID-19 Questions

Ryne Dunman and Kayla Moshayedi | January 19, 2022

Portola High reported 77 current confirmed cases of COVID-19 in students and 18 current confirmed cases in staff members on Jan. 12, according to the IUSD COVID-19 dashboard. Principal John Pehrson and...

Delegates from Portola High’s DECA chapter don their various medals after concluding the awards ceremony. “All of us were finalists, not everyone got awards but we all got a little pin that we got to put on,” Janolkar said. “I was very proud of Portola because a lot of us didn't know what we were getting into and I think Portola did really good.”

All Portola High Student Enterprisers Place as Finalists at DECA Conference For First Time in School History

Tyler Kim, Staff Writer | January 13, 2022

All 15 competing Portola High student delegates placed as finalists at the in-person 2022 SoCal District Career Development Conference on Jan. 8. California Distributive Education Clubs of America...

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