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
Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on Dec. 29. President Carter served for one term in office and was an active leader in Habitat for Humanity International after his term. “I think one of the biggest positives is what a president can do after they finish their term as president,” American history teacher James Ferrel said. “So one of the things is that sometimes we hear certain presidents just kind of go into obscurity. What I think, though, is that Carter has definitely continued a legacy of giving back to the community and being a servant, a public servant, for the people.”

Jimmy Carter’s Death Inspires A National Mourning Day On Jan. 9

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025

Former United States President Jimmy Carter passed away on Dec. 29 at the age of 100. Following the death of the nation’s 39th and longest lived president, President Joe Biden declared Jan. 9, the day...

Pohle helps a student understand a calculus lesson during office hours. To help strengthen her relationships with her students, Pohle incorporates elements of her classroom in Madrid into Portola High. “It was cool to see how teachers run classes there because it's just very different,” Pohle said. “I feel like we're just so pressed for time especially in a high school environment. A big focus in Spain itself is connections with people, so everyone is just so friendly and nice.”

From Madrid to Math: How Teaching Abroad Shaped Math Teacher Evelyn Pohle’s Classroom

Dania Yamani, Staff Writer | January 24, 2025

While gap years are often used as a chance to recharge, math teacher Evelyn Pohle challenged the norms by trading her post-graduate downtime for six months of teaching English in the vibrant classrooms...

Co-captains senior Ellen Liu and junior Suhrith Muvvala stand alongside their advisor and science teacher Christian Quinteros to collect their sixth place overall plaque earned at the annual USC Science Olympiad Invitational. “So across the board, our placements have gotten a lot better, and we've gotten a lot more consistent among the 23 solo events, which is helping us place a lot better this year compared to last year,” Muvvala said.

Science Olympiad Finishes Sixth at the Annual USC Invitational

Nina Krish, Sports Editor | January 20, 2025

The annual University of Southern California Invitational made history being the largest in-person Science Olympiad tournament in the country on Jan. 18. Out of 80 teams, Portola High triumphed, earning...

2025 In 25 Words

2025 In 25 Words

Marianne Chan and Stephanie Hwang | January 14, 2025

Junior and dual-enrolled student Claire Hsin is able to work on her IVC assignments on her own time, “I could finish my assignments whenever I wanted since they are posted ahead of time,” Hsin said.

Dual Enrollment: Double the Classes, Double the Opportunity

Sruti Allani and Olivia Ganes | January 14, 2025

To balance high school credit requirements with personal interests, several Portola High students have joined the dual enrollment programs at Irvine Valley College, giving them the chance to get a head...

Defensive midfielder and junior Garan Gurusinghe holds up a strong front as attackers surround him outside of the penalty box during the first half. “There were times throughout the game where they did exactly what we talked about during practice when setting up plays,” head boys’ soccer coach Benjamin Jordon said.

Boys’ Soccer Plays with Passion Despite Losing Close Match Against Northwood High

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | January 14, 2025

Boys’ soccer (4-2-1) lost 2-1 in a league game against Northwood High on Jan. 7. The Bulldogs play next at an away game against Laguna Beach High today on Jan. 14.  Three minutes into the first...

Three years after its initial release in 2021, “Squid Game” debuted its second season on Dec. 26, breaking Netflix records with 68 million views in its premiere week, according to Forbes.

‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Builds Anticipation for the Next Installment

Parmin Zamani and Hannah Ko | January 9, 2025

From deadlier games to unexpected betrayals, “Squid Game” returned with its second season on Dec. 26, ranking the No. 2 most-watched non-English series on Netflix after “Squid Game” season one.  Set...

From Game Plans to Lesson Plans: Teachers Who Shined as Varsity Athletes

From Game Plans to Lesson Plans: Teachers Who Shined as Varsity Athletes

Senna Kahf and Dania Yamani | January 8, 2025

From creating lesson plans to grading exams, teachers are no strangers to juggling commitments. For some teachers, this skill was developed during their own years in high school as they balanced varsity...

After the 2024 Earl Engman, a track relay invitational, Skeete and the hurdles team pose for a photo. “I [like] making connections with people,” Skeete said. “I still keep in touch with a few friends from water polo and track, and they're some of my closest friends now.”

Olivia Skeete: How One Athlete Excels in Multiple Sports

Tamara Bradley and Jinseo Hong | January 7, 2025

While juggling academics with a demanding sports schedule is no easy feat, for junior Olivia Skeete, it is a part of everyday life.  “I [enjoy] making connections with people,” Skeete said....

Workers and volunteers join together in the Operation Christmas Child processing center in Orange County to assemble charity boxes filled with toys and basic necessities for children in need.

Operation Christmas Child Gives Joy To Children This Holiday Season

Nora Aljazzar, Staff Writer | January 6, 2025

Samaritan’s Purse launched their national collection week of Operation Christmas Child from Nov. 18 to 25. Operation Christmas Child allows donors to pack shoe boxes with school supplies, toys and hygienic...

Senior Bianca Morrell catches a pass while playing offense during the LA Chargers Girls’ Flag All-Star game. “I was ecstatic—playing on the fields where the LA Rams get to play, and working with coaches who've had experience with flag football, and playing around with girls who like to compete and who want to win,” Morrell said.

Senior Bianca Morrell is ‘Flagged’ for Success

December 20, 2024

Selected to participate in the Los Angeles Chargers Girls Flag All-Star game on Nov. 25 at SoFi Stadium, flag football player and senior Bianca Morrell played for the Orange County team. OC beat LA...

Student-led acapella group Portobellas delivers a captivating performance of "The Rainbow Connection" by Paul Williams. Portola Singer, Portobella director and senior Sara Haidar, said that their repertoire was highly advanced, demanding both precision and harmony. She said she has formed strong bonds with her fellow choir members over the years. "Choir is such a community," she said. "I guess what I'll miss the most is just being with such a cool group of people, getting to work with people that you probably would never work with otherwise."

Choir’s ‘Spellbinding’ Performance Sells Out the Spirit of the Season Concert, Turning Fans Away for the First Time

Zoha Syed, Staff Writer | December 19, 2024

Choir made history during its annual Spirit of the Season concert on Dec. 6, selling out completely and exceeding the theatre's capacity. All four choir levels were accompanied by Portobella, the Philharmonic...

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