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
Assistant Principal Brandon Emery discusses how the new school year is progressing with sophomore Tiran Ng and freshman Arshdeep Makar, an integral task that ensures smooth and productive days for the rapidly growing student population. “I think Portola is definitely striving to find its identity in the district,” Emery said. “Being the most populated school on campus in the district, it's emerging as a forefront — like a school that’s testing new ideas and serving as a model for new schools in the district,” Emery said.

New Assistant Principals Steven Chai and Brandon Emery Brew Up a New Campus Culture

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | September 23, 2024

As the school year kicks off, students are not the only ones settling into fresh routines — two new assistant principals have arrived, ready to make their mark. Both with ample experience in K-12...

NAMI Co-Presidents and juniors Such Yang and Chloe Shin work diligently on the 600s staircase to finalize their plans for the first NAMI club meeting on Thursday, Sept. 6.

NAMI Club: The Newest Wellness Haven on Campus

Alice Ahn and Sophia Kim | September 20, 2024

As the school year gains momentum following a refreshing summer break, high school students with demanding academic and extracurricular schedules are likely to experience waves of stress and lose motivation.  Regardless...

Dance 4 member and junior Ria Peregrin performs a solo part alongside period six Dance 3 and Dance 4 students to “Omigod You Guys,” an energetic jazz piece inspired by the dance from the film "Legally Blonde” at the inaugural Broadway Night on Sept. 13 in the theater. Broadway Night consisted of all performing groups on campus each showcasing their work from the last couple weeks in hopes to get more excitement for the upcoming performances during the school year, according to choir director Adrian Rangel-Sanchez.

Portola High’s First Broadway Night is a ‘Curtain Call’ for Success

Nina Krish and Zoha Syed | September 20, 2024

   

Portables on campus have varying levels of quality control — although some teachers have reported little issues, other teachers such as business teacher Katherine Dillon have had to deal with issues such as malfunctioning ACs. “My air conditioning wasn't working for the first two or three weeks, and it was reaching temperatures in the classroom of 87 degrees when we had students in the classroom,” Dillon said. “I had to go teach in the Learning Commons two times when it got unbearable.”

The Pitfalls of the Portables: Maintain Better Quality Control for Portables

Sonia Wang and Senna Kahf | September 19, 2024

Ever since the start of the 2023-24 school year, students have had classrooms outside of the main buildings: the portables. Placed on the blacktop where outdoor sport courts formerly resided, the portables...

Vice President Kamala Harris shakes hands with former President Donald Trump at the second presidential debate. As the election nears its final stretch, both Harris and Trump are busy proving to voters that they are prepared to steer the country away from crisis. “I would like someone that has an actual plan,” AP Economics teacher James Ferrel said. “But I also want an element of humbleness to understand that their plan may not be perfect, and they may adjust as needed. Effective leadership requires them to make those difficult decisions.”

Harris vs. Trump: The 2024 Presidential Debate

Claire Liu and Sky Nguyen | September 17, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump participated in a 90-minute debate hosted by ABC News on Sept. 10. Reaching an estimated 67 million Americans, the debate took place in the...

South Korean band Wave to Earth’s third album, “play with earth! 0.03,” explores themes of self-fulfillment, love, heartbreak and identity that often intertwine in unexpected ways — from apocalyptic symbolism to languid moments under the sun.

Wave to Earth ‘Plays’ with Sound in Latest Album Release

Marianne Chan and Nicole Lu | September 16, 2024

Up-and-coming South Korean indie rock band Wave to Earth dropped their new album, “play with earth! 0.03,” on Sept. 6. The album is composed of seven songs, including a spacey remaster of their previous...

The progression of the Airport Fire can be seen from just over an hour after it started on Sept. 9 to its current state moving down the canyon on Sept. 11. The fire is expected to continue spreading over the next few days, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain Steve Concialdi.

Airport Fire Continues to Grow Amidst Containment Efforts by Fire Personnel

Ruhi Samudra, Co-Editor-in-Chief | September 11, 2024

The Airport Fire in Trabuco and Decker Canyons is currently ablaze and has grown to over 22,000 acres and 0% containment as of 12:37 p.m. on Sept. 11, according to Orange County Fire Authority Captain...

Arranging something as subjective as an album in a definitive list is borderline impossible. But there is one thing that music lovers seem to agree on, and Apple Music does not: “An album is a bit of everything,” sophomore Aditya Nair said. “The biggest thing you have to factor in is the impact the album had on people…This can’t be labeled the top 10 or 100 albums of all time.”

Does Apple Music’s 100 Best Albums Ranking “Skip” Too Many Great Ones?

Claire Liu, Staff Writer | June 7, 2024

Albums are the soundtrack to a generation, so it is no wonder that people cannot help but have elitist attitudes towards their favorites. Now, one streaming site is trying to end the debate. Apple Music...

Spider-Man, one of the most beloved superhero archetypes in Marvel Comics, has been brought to life in various adaptations. Read below to see which films truly did this character and his story justice.

Our ‘Spidey Senses’ Tell Us These Are the Best Spider-Man Films to Watch

Maya Tedini and Parmin Zamani | June 7, 2024

In light of the eight live-action Spider-Man films re-releasing in theaters between April and June to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures, we have curated our picks for the top five adaptations...

Participants play a best-of-three game with a 60-card deck, and the winner moves on to the next round. Erlandsson said that he often uses Charizard in his strategy as a power card, being a well-rounded card that is effective against different Pokémon types.

Who is That Pokémon Pro? Neo Erlandsson Catches the Top Ranks

Olivia Ganes and Mia Jong | June 6, 2024

Gotta catch 'em all! For many, this iconic phrase from Pokémon cards is a staple of their childhood, but for junior Neo Erlandsson, it is a serious pursuit. With millions of players worldwide, Erlandsson...

Global Badminton Academy athlete and freshman Josh Xu lunges down to attack the shuttlecock at a tournament in Frisco, Texas on Jan 16. “I always want to do good in my tournaments and avoid falling down,” Xu said. “It’s really easy for a badminton player to fall down at some point. Sometimes when I lose, I become a little depressed, but I still try to be positive and go train.”

Freshman Josh Xu’s Badminton Journey is a ‘Smashing’ Success

Aditi Salunkhe and Alice Ahn | June 5, 2024

Whether it’s a sports game or a particular school subject, there is typically one activity that tops every student’s list as their absolute favorite. For Global Badminton Academy athlete and freshman...

Casting people of color in media is beneficial in providing representation and telling diverse stories, according to math teacher Jessica Torres. As a first-generation Mexican-American, she feels inspired by Hispanic influencers sharing their stories online and hopes to see future popular media reflect diverse experiences.

Swapping the Roles: Disney Should Continue Casting POC in Live-Action Remakes

Camille Clement and Catherine Li | June 4, 2024

A new trend in Disney’s filmmaking may cause beloved classic films to appear increasingly foreign to older generations. Instead of seeing familiar faces in the new live-action remakes of Disney’s older...

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