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
Ceramics teacher Donovan Miller examines his old gas ceramic kiln. The new kiln, which will be purchased using money from the IPSF grant, will be able to undergo eight different types of firings, allowing for the clay to have a variety of textures.

IPSF Awards Grants to Students and Teachers

Aadi Mehta, Staff Writer | March 18, 2021

Irvine Public Schools Foundation awarded five grants to Portola High student and teacher groups who requested funding for upcoming projects on Feb. 26 as part of the annual Innovative Grant Program.  Senior...

Coach Benjamin Jordon says he took on the new job offer at Portola High to challenge himself. “It would have challenged me as a leader and as a role model … So, taking on the Portola job would have placed me out of my comfort zone in terms of the challenge that's needed at that particular program,” Jordon said.

New Boys’ Soccer Coach Benjamin Jordon Kicks Off with the Right Foot

Bia Shok, Features Editor | March 17, 2021

With a joyful mood, slight smile and confident posture, Benjamin Jordon gazes outward towards a cluster of players while standing on the fresh grass in front of the benches. He gestures gently yet firmly...

Senior Emily Wei takes center stage in cheer’s performance of the song “Ready to Ride,” which they have been learning since February.

Gallery: Virtual Spring Pep Rally

Kate Hayashi and Michelle Kim | March 17, 2021

Social studies teacher Wind Ralston, Spanish teacher Caroline Aldemir and choir director Adrian Rangel-Sanchez all received their vaccinations at Families Together of OC on Feb. 24.

Teachers Receive First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine

Sidra Asif, Staff Writer | March 16, 2021

Teachers and childcare workers became eligible on March 1 to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.  The mRNA-1273 Moderna vaccine is 95% effective, according to an interview with Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel...

Football takes a break from their warm-up during a practice Feb. 26 in preparation for their shortened spring season, which will run from March 12 to April 16. For viewers, four weeks of freshman, junior varsity and varsity football games up to April 8 are currently scheduled to be broadcast over the National Federation of State High School Associations’ online network.

Spring Sports Return to Play under Stringent Precautions

Claudia Lin and Justin Tang | March 16, 2021

With the rate of new COVID-19 cases dropping below 14 per 100,000 across Orange County, the California Interscholastic Federation announced March 3 that outdoor athletic programs for cheerleading, football,...

Irvine Unified superintendent Terry Walker sent out the email officially closing Portola High on March 13 at 12:45 p.m. while students were in their sixth periods.

Portola High Closed Exactly One Year Ago – Today

Ryne Dunman, Business Team | March 12, 2021

Distant. Unthinkable. The virus couldn’t possibly reach the United States. Not California. Not Orange County. Not Irvine. And definitely not our school campus. Friday, March 13, 2020. On that...

Junior Jay Hernandez assembled a box to store their Dungeons & Dragons supplies as well as smaller, unfinished art projects. Plastered on top of the box is a painting by Hernandez of the symbol of “The Bureau of Balance,” where most of the Balance Arc of the D&D podcast “Adventure Zone” starts. The symbol is adorned with forget-me-not flowers, which reference the main plot point of the podcast: to remember the past, according to Hernandez. “It was also a reminder to me to hold tight to the precious memories I’ve made with my friends,” Hernandez said.

Art through the Eyes of a Dungeon Master: Junior Jay Hernandez

Erin Choi and Claudia Lin | March 8, 2021

Skilled, delicate fingers meticulously poke at the screen of an iPad mini as junior Jay Hernandez, with headphones tucked neatly in their ears and Dungeons & Dragons podcast “The Adventure Zone”...

Sophomore Prisha Rapur shifts her weight to her left leg as she extends and rotates her arm to deliver a forehand groundstroke across the court.

Girls’ Tennis Wraps Up Pre-Season

Jaein Kim, Director of Photography | March 5, 2021

Girls’ tennis (1-3-0) lost 4-14 against Santa Margarita High at Portola High on Feb. 26. Three out of the four wins were made by junior and team captain Saachi Pavani and sophomore Prisha Rapur’s...

AP U.S. History teacher Wind Ralston prepares his students for their online AP exam by practicing analyzing a political cartoon. AP U.S. History is one of the classes that includes all units from the curriculum and will not exclude any units due to the pandemic.

Portola High Selects 2nd Testing Window for Upcoming AP Exams

Emma Haag | March 4, 2021

Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses will participate in the second test administration window from May 18-28, according to assistant principal Amy Paulsen in an announcement on Feb. 22. The...

Student Small Businesses: Senior’s Dreams Are No Longer a Delusion Through Clothing Brand Delusional Matter

Student Small Businesses: Senior’s Dreams Are No Longer a Delusion Through Clothing Brand Delusional Matter

Kayla Moshayedi and Ariana Wu | March 1, 2021

As the time on the screen changes from 1:59 to 2:00 p.m., senior Youssef Yassin’s new website, delusionalmatter.com, makes its Feb. 22 online debut, releasing neutral colored sweatshirts and modern...

Club member and freshman Alexander Epps often practices signing to co-president and junior Julianna Epps in one-to-one conversations. Together, they work on basics by asking and answering questions in sign language like, “Do you have a sister?”

American Sign Language Club Motions for Inclusivity

Claudia Lin, Co-News Editor | February 26, 2021

Delicate fingers move swiftly across the body, each one switching through varying hand motions. Co-presidents and juniors Elyse Dudley and Julianna Epps briskly pull the palm of their hands up to the rim...

Activism is a marathon; make sure to watch your step.

Staff Editorial: Putting Action into Student Activism

The Editorial Board | February 25, 2021

From student walkouts over gun safety to protests advocating for racial justice in schools, students have long used activism to confront flaws within academic institutions. According to the Educational...

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