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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

After many years of debate experience, Singh says testing his abilities at an extremely high level, he is finally able to see his progress, and is proud of how far he has come.

Junior Amitoj Singh Cuts Close to Nationals at Yale Invitational Debate Tournament

Krisha Konchadi and Emma Haag | October 22, 2020

Junior Amitoj Singh was one win away at the virtual Yale Invitational Debate from qualifying for a spot at the Tournament of Champions over the weekend of Oct. 2-4.  “The Yale Invitational is special...

A Thrifting Guide to Finding Halloween Costumes

Clara Ferreira Lopes, Social Media and Marketing Team | October 21, 2020

With Halloween just around the corner, why not thrift the perfect costume? Here are some tips on how to thrift for the Halloween season: Step 1: Find a Thrift Store Near You The first thing to do...

Freshman Vismaya Sista uses her long periods of free time in quarantine to look around the world, whether it be in a smaller scale of her backyard or the world within the comfort of her car, and capture the stillness of the world around her. She said she hopes her pictures are a source of inspiration for people looking to get into photography.

Boredom Be Gone with Creative Quarantine Hobbies

Dheeksha Bhima Reddy, Staff Writer | October 21, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic led to a surplus of time at home, many students spent time catching up on TV shows and staring at their cell phones for hours, while some engaged in unique hobbies and discovered...

Jeralyn Newton introduces her hand lettering book “Building Self-Esteem One Letter at a Time.” The book contains a series of positive affirmations to direct its audience to a self-positive and uplifting attitude.

Girls’ Soccer Coach Guides Team in ‘Building Self-Esteem One Letter at a Time’

Jaein Kim and Madeleine Young | October 19, 2020

Girls’ soccer coach and science teacher Jeralyn Newton did not expect the copious replies of negative self-image and body image issues from her end-of-summer team check-in Google form. To address...

Musicians Joji (left), Bryson Tiller (middle) and 21 Savage (right) all released new hit albums within the last month for fans to play on repeat. Each artist made a comeback with a refreshing twist to their old styles, surprising many fans but disappointing others.

Finally, New Music to Add to My Playlist: Bryson Tiller, Joji and 21 Savage

Kayla Moshayedi and Emma Haag | October 16, 2020

“ANNIVERSARY” by Bryson Tiller Rhythm and blues singer-songwriter Bryson Tiller released his third album, “ANNIVERSARY,” on Oct. 3. The album contains 10 songs, compared to his most popular...

 Junior Christopher Stocks, junior Keyana Ayaz, senior Sohrob Shahmirzadi and junior Garrett Lee join the Portola News Network reporting team for the 2020-21 school year.

New Personalities Join Portola News Network

Michelle Kim and Ryne Dunman | October 16, 2020

Portola News Network continues to broadcast this year with its biweekly Monday shows despite social distancing accommodations. As the production entered its fourth season with its first episode in...

Among the alumni attending four-year universities this school year are freshman Kiyan Dhanidina (left), freshman Nishad Francis (middle) and sophomore Liz Moerman (right).

Alumni Attend College in the Age of Coronavirus

Ryne Dunman, Business Manager | October 15, 2020

June 4 marked the first Portola High senior class graduation ceremony after the school’s grand opening in 2016. However, the rippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have redefined college experiences...

With the increased use of social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, cancel culture has grown to take a larger toll on celebrities and influencers than it ever has before.

The Toxic Rise of Cancel Culture

Emma Haag and Madeleine Young | October 14, 2020

The toxicity and negative effects of cancel culture is more prominent than it has ever been. “Canceling”  refers to withdrawing support from public figures for engaging in considerably offensive...

While the PSAT may appear less essential to college admissions, the NMSQT is an opportunity for students to get a head start in applying for scholarships if they score high enough within a certain percentage of Portola High school.

Portola High Offers PSAT with COVID-19 Safety Protocols

Ariana Wu and Ava Caleca | October 14, 2020

Portola High will host the PSAT/NMSQT, otherwise known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, on Oct. 17. Because the test will not be held during a school day due to the hybrid learning model,...

With one more year as a member of varsity volleyball, senior Kamdyn Tenorio said she hopes to continue penning her own story going forward, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 this school year.

Kamdyn Tenorio Follows Through as Integral Team Player

Justin Tang, Staff Writer | October 13, 2020

The sport of volleyball rests on the pillars of physical performance and team cohesion. With this in mind, it is no surprise that senior Kamdyn Tenorio has distinguished herself as one of the school’s...

Over the past few months, protestors toppled numerous Christopher Columbus statues across the nation, according to the BBC. Due to the harm that Columbus inflicted on the Indigenous community, many Americans believed that he is undeserving of commemoration.

Celebrate Culture, Not Colonization, by Replacing Columbus Day

Charlotte Cao, Co-News Editor | October 12, 2020

In 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue and supposedly discovered the Americas. In 1495, Columbus forcibly gathered 500 Arawaks, the Indigenous people living in Hispaniola, and sold them as...

Bridging Horizons is a student-run non-profit focused on education inequality in developing countries like India. Organizers chose to focus on India because of their personal and familial connections. The group first reaches out to schools in target countries and teachers in the United States to bridge the gap in communication. They set up digital meetings and start a dialogue about ways to improve schooling between the different education systems.

Nonprofit Bridging Horizons Improves the Indian Education System

Nate Taylor, Centerspread and Photo Editor | October 9, 2020

In early spring, four juniors came together to organize a nonprofit aimed at providing equitable education in developing countries, specifically India.  Today, with a growing team of over 30 members...

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