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
Point guard and junior Lucas Ip fights to score a basket between two defenders. “I think one of our strengths is shooting,” Ip said. “We have a lot of good 3-point shooters, and then we have a lot of players that are able to drive and facilitate the offense, which allows us to get these 3-pointers.”

Boys’ Basketball Faces Loss in Close Game Against El Toro High

Maya Tedini and Hannah Ko | December 19, 2024

Boys’ basketball (5-5) lost 72-75 in a pre-league game against El Toro High on Dec. 5. Their next game is on Dec. 19 against Beckman High at 7 p.m. at home. The Bulldogs started off in the lead and...

Point guard and junior Maddy Nguyen, combo guard and freshman Yuri Ha and shooting guard and sophomore Kelcie Fan kicked off the new girls’ basketball season together. “I love this team because there’s just more chemistry,” Nguyen said. “Just being able to play with them is just a great opportunity for me to be happy, have fun and enjoy my junior year.”

Here are Some Players to Watch Out For as Girls’ Basketball ‘Shoots’ into the New Season

Catherine Li and Kailyn Clark | December 18, 2024

Girls’ basketball (4-8) kicked off the season on Nov. 19, bringing in new players and excitement to the team. Here are three players to look out for during the new season: point guard and junior Maddy...

Captain, center-back and senior Malaika Fawzi takes a free kick from the 32-yard line in the first half. “I think that my role as captain is leading them both on and off the field,” Fawzi said. “Even if we’re down or we mess up or we get scored on, I’m making sure that everyone is working towards a positive goal and bringing each other up.”

Girls’ Soccer Holds Chargers to Tie, Setting Momentum for Season Ahead

Ruhi Samudra and Parmin Zamani | December 17, 2024

Girls’ soccer (1-1-2) tied 1-1 in their recent home game against El Toro High on Dec. 5. Their next game will be at home against Dana Hills High on Dec. 19.  In the opening minutes, the Chargers...

Peer tutoring adviser and math teacher Ran Gu supervises the program in the Learning Commons. “It is very interesting to see how students interact with other students,” Gu said. You're rarely ever put into a position where you have to explain something. As a teacher myself, I found that I learned a lot in trying to teach someone else, and I enjoy coaching students how to teach other students.”

Cultivating Collaboration: The Teachers Behind Portola’s Peer Tutoring Program

Kayley Winata and Dania Yamani | December 16, 2024

With many changes to the peer tutoring program in the past year, such as the relocation to the Learning Commons, new teacher advisers and signing-in processes, the peer tutoring staff has been hard at...

Goalie and senior Giselle Lu leaps up in the water and attempts to block a shot made by Long Beach Polytechnic High. Similarly, utility player Serena Wang managed to make several crucial saves. “We didn’t have as many members of defense as their offense, but we were able to stop the goals and shut them down because we helped each other by basically crashing onto the person with the ball and taking the ball,” Wang said.

Girls’ Water Polo Persists Through Teamwork Despite Tough Loss

Alice Ahn and Kelly Yeh | December 13, 2024

Girls’ water polo (4-3) lost 12-7 at its home match on Dec. 5 against Long Beach Polytechnic High. The Bulldogs’ next games will be at the Corona Christmas Invitational on Dec. 20. The game kicked...

During her English Language Development class, social studies teacher Taryn Sorrentino walks around the room, assisting students during work time. As an AP instructor, she emphasizes the importance of time management. “The first couple of weeks of school, it comes as a shock to students how much they are required to read and how much time it's going to take to really master the content of this course,” Sorrentino said. “The biggest skill I hope to teach students is just how to manage their time and also being mindful of all the things that they sign up for.”

Meet Portola High’s New AP Human Geography Teacher

Zoha Syed and Kelly Yeh | December 12, 2024

This year, social studies teacher Taryn Sorrentino is bringing a fresh perspective to AP Human Geography at Portola High, blending real-world connections with classroom lessons. When the honors point for...

“Moana 2” rehashes the original film in an uncreative way, falling flat in plot structure and storytelling despite captivating visuals and upbeat songs. Unlike the original “Moana” (2016), the sequel included songs that were eerily similar to the first and shallow new characters that fail to entertain.

“Moana 2” Is a Sequel that’s Lost at Sea

Siri Kolanupaka and Sruti Allani | December 9, 2024

Following the $643 million box office success of the original “Moana” in 2016, fans of the franchise were eager to see what the sequel, released on November 27, would bring as the first movie delivered...

“Arcane: League of Legends” Falls Short of Perfect in Season Two

“Arcane: League of Legends” Falls Short of Perfect in Season Two

Catherine Li, Front Page Editor | December 7, 2024

Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers From the gleaming skyscrapers of Piltover to the gritty, grey-filled gutters of Zaun, “Arcane: League of Legends” returned for a second season on Nov....

“Wicked,” a cinematic adaptation of the original musical, follows the story of Elphaba the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch as they explore their magical powers at Shiz University in the whimsical Land of Oz.

‘Wicked’ Movie Adaptation Leaves Audiences Spellbound by its Magic

Aditi Salunkhe and Nora Aljazzar | December 6, 2024

The long-awaited adaptation of “Wicked” finally soared onto the big screen on Nov. 22, bringing the untold story of Elphaba and Glinda to life in a dazzling cinematic musical. With a talented lead...

Over fall break, the members of the City of Irvine High School Youth Action Team hosted the annual YATsgiving event at Heritage Park Community Center on Nov. 30, highlighting the spirit of giving during the holiday season. At the event, 130 students from high schools all across IUSD joined together to enjoy a free pancake breakfast, socialize and participate in hands-on volunteer projects.

Flipping for a Cause: Youth Action Team’s YATsgiving Serves Pancakes and Community Spirit

Annie Xiao, Staff Writer | December 6, 2024

Dance 4's dazzling dance to the song “All That Jazz” from “Chicago the Musical,” choreographed by dance director Samantha Gardner, uses chairs as props to emphasize the different shapes and lines that naturally exist in motion. The ambient lighting and orange background contrast with the dancers' dark clothing, emphasizing the impact of their movements.

Student Dancers and Pop Musicians ‘Shimmer’ at the Fall Dance Concert

Siri Kolanupaka, Staff Writer | December 5, 2024

Board members of the Better2Thrift club pose for the camera at their first meeting. “We’re going to be donating 60% of our profit to charities and environmental causes,” vice president and junior Farouk Merzougui said. “I think that’s a big part. When you have a club, you really need to put some change in the community.”

Secondhand Style, Winning Impact: Inside the Better2Thrift Club on Campus

Suhana Kaur and Annie Xiao | December 5, 2024

With the increase in clothing waste, thrifting and sustainable consumption have gained popularity among Gen-Z, becoming a $28 billion industry, according to NPR. Amid this rising trend unfolds the...

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