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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

The scope of activism becomes limited when ideas are recycled, shutting off avenues to conflicting beliefs.

Escaping the Echo Chamber

Charlotte Cao and Kelthie Truong | December 16, 2020

In a time when activism is reaching new heights and public discussions about political ideals are  more normalized than ever, social media, like history, has begun to repeat itself. As students scroll...

Destiny, the online library catalog, shut down due to the lack of internet connection, putting a halt to the book check-out and return system.

A Day without Internet at Portola High

The Portola Pilot Staff | December 16, 2020

Irvine Unified School District experienced a mass internet outage due to issues with the district’s service provider, leaving Portola High students and faculty on campus without Wi-Fi access for the...

Released on Nov. 27, Cyrus’ seventh album “Plastic Hearts” has climbed to the number one spot on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.

Miley Cyrus’ New Genre-Bending Album Rocks the Music Industry

Ava Caleca and Sidra Asif | December 15, 2020

While 2020 has brought many ups and downs for everybody, music has been there alongside millions. Pop star Miley Cyrus spent quarantine creating new music and transforming her style into more of a rock...

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, human activity came to a standstill, giving the natural world time to heal. Spending seemingly-endless days in quarantine allowed many across the globe, including those in the Portola High community, to examine their individual impacts on the environment and make personal changes for the better.

Stepping Towards Earth’s Crises

Lauren Hsu and Claudia Lin | December 14, 2020

Dylan Chung, freshman “In quarantine, I started exposing myself to more of that content, sustainable eating. At the end of summer, I started eating more plant-based meals. I was vegetarian...

Senior Wesley Tjangnaka practices his viola to prepare for his solo performance in “October.” Because he is performing for both Concert and Symphonic Orchestra, he has more pieces to practice than others.

Virtual Winter Orchestra Concert Will Create Harmony from Stage to Screen

Jenny Won and Michelle Kim | December 11, 2020

As music director Desmond Stevens waves the baton to each count, half of his face remains hidden behind a mask. Though the music flows every day from Room 304 as it does each winter, this year the sound...

Shalonda Abubakar, the newest addition to IUSD’s community liaison team, is a resource for anyone in the Black and African-American community. She believes a positive mindset can hear everyone for success.

Shalonda Abubakar Joins IUSD as Community Liaison for Black and African-American Families

Emma Haag, Ariana Wu, and Michelle Kim | December 11, 2020

Shalonda Abubakar was introduced to the community as the new community liaison for Black and African-American families as of Nov. 13. According to the IUSD Black and African-American community webpage,...

Apple’s 2020 iPhone 12 lineup offers two new blue color options, dark blue for the iPhone 12 and 12 Mini and Pacific Blue for the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max. With the color choices being one of the most anticipated parts of Apple’s iPhone releases each year, the options of royal and deep blue have been fan favorites of Apple enthusiasts for years, according to Macrumors.

Apple’s iPhone 12 and MacBook Lineup is Worth ‘Chipping’ In For

Jenny Won, Opinion Editor | December 10, 2020

From small perks like iMessage and Memojis to innovations like cutting-edge cameras and retina displays, Apple’s assets have kept the company at the top of the technology market for years. The lineup...

Laguna Hills High joins the Pacific Coast League after having been in the Coast View Conference since August 2017, increasing competition for CIF tournaments.

Laguna Hills High Finally Joins Pacific Coast League

Naila Talib, Staff Writer | December 9, 2020

As of the 2020-21 school year, the CIF Southern Section has admitted Laguna Hills High to the Pacific Coast League.  Every two years, principals and athletics directors from across the county collectively...

Project Success specialist Gil Carey organizes his schedule of student meetings after school. Carey constantly sorts through new appointments and emails in order to make room for several sessions with students throughout the day during breaks, lunches and before school.

New Project Success Specialist Propels Students Forward

Michelle Kim and Akshay Raj | December 9, 2020

Whether he is sifting through student appointments at the back of the counseling office or out on campus talking students through their stress, Portola High’s new Project Success specialist Gil Carey...

All potential COVID-19 vaccine contenders must pass three phases of clinical trial before being submitted for approval to the FDA and CDC. Out of eight companies in the United States receiving government funding and dozens more worldwide, Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have emerged in recent weeks with a successful vaccine through all three phases.

Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca Reach COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthroughs

Jenny Won, Opinion Editor | December 9, 2020

Update 12/11: On Dec. 11, the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine was authorized for emergency use by the FDA for individuals 16 years of age and older. Distribution will begin within several days. - After...

 Senior and executive producer Angela Kim said that in order to capture crisp natural sounds in her footage, she placed the mic near the subject in action. In this shot, she filmed her mother chopping carrots, which will be an ingredient in making kimbap, a traditional Korean seaweed wrap.

PNN B-Roll Challenge Encourages Students to Expand Their Technical Boundaries

Bia Shok, Features Editor | December 8, 2020

PNN is most well-known for its presence on set, producing informational videos for the student body. Beyond their usual lights, camera and action, crewmates also engage in instructional opportunities such...

Students who choose not to prepare for standardized tests may face heightened pressure to take the tests in their senior year, especially if colleges opt for a test-mandatory policy following this admissions cycle.

Colleges Are Going Test-Optional, but Students Need To Play It Safe

Ryan Jung, Staff Writer | December 8, 2020

In response to SAT and ACT testing centers shutting their doors across the nation due to COVID-19, more than 1,500 colleges across the nation are making these standardized tests optional for first-year...

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